I'm wondering what you all think the best all-around fishing lure is and what colors. I am leaning towards rooster tails and jigs, and chartreuse, as red turns grey a few feet deep.

Mepps Black Fury, #3 or #4.

The best lure is a hook and a worm.

Field and Stream did an article on the 50 best lures of all time; check out their website.
The only thing I disagreed on was how they rated the Acme Kastmaster which is definitely a great all rounder. I have caught bass, trout, bluegill in fresh water and bluefish and stripers in salt water. Just depends on size. There are a lot of other colors but I am kind of old school I just use silver and gold mostly.

If you are thinking of using it in a survival kit remember that a lot of lures require you reel it in to create the right action. Since in a survival situation you will be most likely be improvising a fishing set up without a reel; spoons and spinners are not ideal. Instead use flys and jigs; these do not require a reeling action. Jigs are probably easier to fish than a fly.

Or whatever crawly things you happen to find under a rock at streak/lake side...

plastic worms, crankbaits

The best lure is the one you have with you <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm somewhat confused by some of the choices. Assuming one does not have a reel, how does one draw in a spinner quickly enough to impart the necessary action? You could possibly haul the line in hand over hand, but I'm assuming you'll foul your line pretty quickly.

My emergency kit contains jigs, a few flies, and some jigging spoons. Without some means of quickly reeling in line, most crank baits, stick baits, spinners, top waters, etc. will be useless. These baits require angler manipulation via rod, reel or a combination of both, to impart the action required to obtain a strike.

IMHO, lures that make a vertical presentation, i.e jigs, flies, plastic worms, make the most sense for an emergency kit. They can be hopped, swam, or drug along the bottom.

Just my 2 cents.

For inland freshwater sport fishing I too would go with one of the various Mepps spinners. But for survival I would have to echo the plastic worm or jig. Much easier to maintain the proper action with a minimum of tackle.

I agree. I'd rather use the space in my kit for more hooks & line than for lures. Even in my larger kits I've not really included any type of lures. It seems to me it's a waste of survial energy to cast and retrieve a lure. I want to use as little energy as possible.

Also, think about what the fish are eating. Best to match the hatch when fishing.

Adam