Salmo Lures – Collector quality baits that catch more than just the eye

My lure collection consists of 1000 individual hard baits. The majority of those baits are musky, pike and other big game lures. What draws me to larger lures? I think it’s partly because of their bold designs, sheer size and wild colour schemes. I also think it’s because these lures were designed for one specific purpose: seek and capture the top predators in any given body of water. It all goes back to my adoration for the “Hemingway way of life” (excluding the way he ended his life), and how he fished for big game, occasionally with a machine gun, but always with bold presentations. The overall lure industry has always impressed me by bringing mass-produced products to market while keeping artistry at the forefront - yes, in part due to the very nature of said products use, but also I believe the lure makers are proud of what they make. Salmo is one of those lure makers, and they are well deserving of having their pike and musky lures in my collection – this is a first post in a series of posts documenting the various standout baits in my collection.

Salmo Lures is a Polish tackle company that has a dedicated world-wide following (including a burgeoning North American fan base). Their lures are built tough, to exacting standards and feature fantastic finishes and top quality hardware that rivals any in the industry. Started by a team of fisheries biologists, Salmo produces hyper-realistic offerings that catch fish as well as the eyes of fisherman - not always an easy proposition. The baits themselves are made out of a tough-as-nails space-age foam and are meticulously hand painted and tested. From my understanding, there is a three month process from start to finish for each lure! Salmo also has a lifetime guarantee on their baits, which speaks directly to their dedication to the craft. But as they say, the proof is in the pudding.

DINNER BELL (top - shown in Green Tiger) and TURBO JACK (bottom - shown in Carbon Killer)

When I first laid my eyes on Salmo's baits I thought they had created something special. When I first laid my hands on their baits, I knew they had created something of exquisite quality, construction and beauty. But do they catch fish? Boy do they! It is well documented that Salmo is a world leader when it comes to baits that catch not only numbers of fish, but giant fish as well (a simple Google search confirms this beyond a shadow of a doubt). More importantly to me however, these baits offer a secondary appeal - they display beautifully in my lure collection, with pristine finishes that are second to none.

Topwater Bottom Line: If you are looking for consistent high quality fish catching lures, or if you are looking for lures to display on a mantle (or wall, if you’re like me), Salmo has you covered. I suggest the FATSO, TURBO JACK, DINNER BELL, SKINNER and HODAG to start, but you won’t go wrong with any of their fine selections. If you’re going to throw these particular baits, I suggest using a heavy action baitcaster paired with a musky rod, and a minimum of 65 pound test (note: Salmo does sell a large variety of lighter tackle options for bass fisherman and the like). If you’re going to hang them on a wall, I suggest finishing nails through the packaging peg holes or lure line eyelets – simple as that. These baits may be a little hard to find, but at reasonable 9 to 25 dollars a piece they are well worth the search. As always, please practice catch and release with these lures.

Topwater Rating:

5 out of 5 bobbers

Top-notch materials, hardware, paint and engineering - Salmo Performance Fishing Lures delivers on all counts.