Never Really Used Soft Plastics Before Now. Any Tips?

[mcwiggles]

I mostly use spinners, and crank baits. I have some soft plastics but I dont really know how to rig them or use them in the water. Any Tips are appreciated. Thanks.

[Sam]

Tips?  Plastics come in all shapes, colors and sizes.

 

There are a number of applications for plastics.

 

No way we can give you all of the information on plastics.

 

What we can give you is a suggestion to make a list of the presentations and go to YouTube and watch the videos.  It is also important to watch BassResource's YouTube videos.

 

As you find out the names of the baits and presentations go to a pond and practice, practice, practice. It is not important if you catch anything. What is important is that you perfect the technique.

 

Look through this Forum for names of techniques, such as drop shot, shaky head, Texas rig, Carolina rig, flip and pitch, etc. Then read, read and read some more about each technique and the baits that are suggested to be used with that specific technique.

 

Good luck on your quest to be the best bass fisherman you can be. It is a lot of and we all have traveled the journey you will be taking. So be patient, watch those YouTube videos and read, read and read some more.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Get you some Fat Ika/Palm Trees reverse texas rig one with 4/0 Gamakatsu Deep Throat hook(or 4/0-5/0 hook of your choice) throw it out, IF  it doesnt get bit on the fall, once its on the bottom hop or slowly twitch/drag it back to you.

 

[nascar2428]

One word, SENKOS.

[Smokinal]

^^^^ Great advice Sam. This is such a huge topic, the only thing I can add is to not get overwhelmed with all the different types, colors and presentations of soft plastics available. I'd pick 1 or 2 baits that intrigue you, go out with just these 2 baits, and fish them; get some confidence in them; then pick 2 more etc... If you try to learn all 3,472 different baits and methods at once, you're going to get frustrated. 

 

I'd start out with a simple stick bait like a Senko and some sort of texas rigged craw bait. probably 2 of the most used soft plastics out there.

Go get em!!

[Darren.]

You'll get a ton of suggestions!

 

Here's my super-easy start to soft plastics. Wacky rig it.

 

Buy some Bass Pro or Gary Yamamoto Senkos in 4" and/or 5" lengths.

 

Stick to Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Magic, etc. In the Bass Pro, I love Hot Pepper Frog, too.

 

Next, buy some Gamakatsu Wide-Gap Finesse hooks - start in the 1/0 size, it will work for both. You can always change to larger or smaller depending on how you like it. I use #2, #1, #1/0, and #2/0 for this. Could also opt for weedless variety if you fish sticks and such.

 

Slide the hook in roughly the middle of the worm, or around the egg sack, perpendicular. So the worm hangs horizontal when you hold your line above the hook.

 

Now cast out toward areas you are familiar with as far as knowing fish are there. Let the worm sink. It will dance and shimmy as it goes down in the water.  Hang on, be patient, and fish SLOW. Don't fish it like a spinner bait or crank.

 

If no hit, lift with a couple twitches in the tip and let er fall again. Rinse and repeat.

[Darren.]

There's a ton of info on Wacky Rigging, just Google it and you'll see. Lots of us here on the forums use it a LOT of the time.

 

Here's one: http://www.insideline.net/1999/xiques-0910-99.html

 

That's just to give you an idea, it is but one link in a million....

[Templeton]

What kind of rod and reel combo would some of y'all recommend? Do fast action tips really help in detecting bites? 

[mcwiggles]

Thanks guys for all the help. I currently have the Abu Gracia Black Max reel on a 7ft Denali Jadewood series rod. Another questions is should i use a spinning reel or my caster for this? And what types of fish mainly go after the senkos and what not?

[Darren.]

Thanks guys for all the help. I currently have the Abu Gracia Black Max reel on a 7ft Denali Jadewood series rod. Another questions is should i use a spinning reel or my caster for this? And what types of fish mainly go after the senkos and what not?

 

You can use a bait caster for senkos, particularly the heavier salt versions like Yamamoto's. Of course this depends on how light a weight you can cast.

 

I use a Shimano Chronarch 50e and Diawa Lexa 100 and can cast weightless Zoom Finesse worms (not far, but I can cast them) with no problems.

 

Senkos cast extremely well. So you may be fine.

 

I also use spinning gear for soft plastics.

 

Normally target bass with this type of rig, but I've caught perch, bluegill, crappie, pickerel as well.

[mcwiggles]

You can use a bait caster for senkos, particularly the heavier salt versions like Yamamoto's. Of course this depends on how light a weight you can cast.

 

I use a Shimano Chronarch 50e and Diawa Lexa 100 and can cast weightless Zoom Finesse worms (not far, but I can cast them) with no problems.

 

Senkos cast extremely well. So you may be fine.

 

I also use spinning gear for soft plastics.

 

Normally target bass with this type of rig, but I've caught perch, bluegill, crappie, pickerel as well.

Do you just use smaller baits for like bluegill or crappie? 

[Darren.]

Do you just use smaller baits for like bluegill or crappie? 

 

If I am targeting them specifically, yes. But sometimes the very hungry ones will take a 5" Senko, believe it or not.

 

However, let's define smaller. For me, it would be baits 1-2 1/2" in length for targeting those species. If I'm targeting bluegill specifically, I like to use live bait.

 

For bass I'll use worms down to 3" (small Senkos), but I'd say the median size worm I use is a 4". I have caught more on them over time than any other size.

[Duckbutter100]

Aaron Martens vid's are pretty good too. Try to get out of the vid why you are presenting lure X in that particular way not just how to do it. I think knowing how to fish plastics is great but understanding why you are fishing them that way in a particular situation is what really matters.

 

Seems like everytime everyone agrees rigging or fishing a bait the "correct" way someone else changes it up with great results so dont think there is always a right and wrong way to do it. 

[hoosierbass07]

  The number one rig to catch bass with soft plastics is Texas rigged and Carolina rigged.  

[ClackerBuzz]

the name of the game is "low and slow". that will catch you fish.  after you learn patience feel free to speed up, experiment etc.

also relocate often. ur first cast has the highest possibility of catching a bass in the area so relocate often. 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/

[roadwarrior]

We have an extensive library with both articles and videos. You can access them in the green bar

at the top of the page or start here if you like http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/worm_fishing.html

Every link will take you to related articles.

[Sam]

One more tip.

 

Add MegaStrike to all baits you throw.

 

Just a suggestion.