No Luck With Plastics.

[Jdm219]

Like the title says, I have no luck with plastics. No matter what retrieve,technique, or how I work it. I just can't get a fish. I've tried senkos,flukes,craws,worms,shakey head baits,grubs and turtles. I've found fish spinnerbaits then went back over that area with a plastic and it didn't work. What am I doing wrong? What do I do?

[Scott F]

How clear is the water you fish?

[Jdm219]

One place I fish is really clear. And the other is kinda dingy.(t's a marina)

[PersicoTrotaVA]

What colors are you using?  What do the fish eat in your fishing spots?  Baitfish? Crayfish? Worms?

[sparky241]

Well I guess I'm not alone here either, I don't know what they eat around here, other fish?

[David D.]

You may just be fishing them too fast. If you leave a worm or stickbait of some kind on the bottom and just slowly twitch it back then you will catch a fish at some point.

Plastics are generally a bait that is fished much more slowly.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

Well I guess I'm not alone here either, I don't know what they eat around here, other fish?

Do some research(google is our friend) to find out what kind of stuff lives in the lakes and rivers around where you live.  Find out what kind of shad, bluegill, small fish, crayfish, frogs, worms, lizards, salamanders, newts, bugs, etc.  Pay attention to the colors.  This can be the first clue as to what lures you should be using.  Find out what the fish eat naturally in your area and you can get a pretty good idea as to what plastic baits to use.

[Jar11591]

Soft plastics are different than hard baits. Hard baits you feel a big hit, and the can feel the lure stop moving. A hit on a soft plastic more often that not is just a "tap-tap" or a subtle "thump" in the handle of the rod. My guess is you are getting bit, but just not feeling the hit and by that time the bass has spit the plastic. If you're not getting bit on a senko, then something is askew...

[einscodek]

You may just be fishing them too fast. If you leave a worm or stickbait of some kind on the bottom and just slowly twitch it back then you will catch a fish at some point.

Plastics are generally a bait that is fished much more slowly.

X2

Fish them confidently and patiently.. if you aint catching fish on plastics somethins wrong.

Spinnerbaits are great but plastics are just as or more effective.. I esp love soft jerkbaits and worms.

[roadwarrior]

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

[Jdm219]

Do some research(google is our friend) to find out what kind of stuff lives in the lakes and rivers around where you live. Find out what kind of shad, bluegill, small fish, crayfish, frogs, worms, lizards, salamanders, newts, bugs, etc. Pay attention to the colors. This can be the first clue as to what lures you should be using. Find out what the fish eat naturally in your area and you can get a pretty good idea as to what plastic baits to use.

Shad,bluegill,minnows,bugs,frogs. I even seen a bass go after a small bird yesterday. Pretty cool. But somebody mentioned fishing senkos. I've tried fishing them weightless t-rig with no luck. Maybe I'll try again.

[FrankW]

Hi Jdm219,

 

There is something wrong with your technique or equipment if you are not catching fish on plastics.  Since you are catching them on spinner baits then that tells me there are fish present.  What rod, reel, line, hook, weight are you using?  Are you fishing from a boat? 

 

I suggest you pay more attention to where you are catching your spinner bait fish.  If you catch a fish and then fish the same spot and don't catch a fish, you need to fish other sports that are just like that spot.  For instance, if you catch one by a stump close to shore then fish other stumps close to shore.  If you catch one on outside grass then fish other outside grass.  You need to stay away from your target and cast so you bait makes a minimum entry disturbance.  More than likely you are fishing too fast and you need more or less weight, smaller or bigger bait.  We can't say for sure unless we know more about how you are fishing your plastics.

 

Fank

[CDMeyer]

Try to just use a power worm, but find the fish with a spinner bait like you said..... you will now know they are there, so then just slow down and focus, and you should start to catch em' this will give you confidence in them then, hope this helps

[Jdm219]

Hi Jdm219,

There is something wrong with your technique or equipment if you are not catching fish on plastics. Since you are catching them on spinner baits then that tells me there are fish present. What rod, reel, line, hook, weight are you using? Are you fishing from a boat?

I suggest you pay more attention to where you are catching your spinner bait fish. If you catch a fish and then fish the same spot and don't catch a fish, you need to fish other sports that are just like that spot. For instance, if you catch one by a stump close to shore then fish other stumps close to shore. If you catch one on outside grass then fish other outside grass. You need to stay away from your target and cast so you bait makes a minimum entry disturbance. More than likely you are fishing too fast and you need more or less weight, smaller or bigger bait. We can't say for sure unless we know more about how you are fishing your plastics.

Fank

Pro qualifier on a buccoo micro guide. 30 pound power pro. It serves it's purpose on the local waters. I've brought in big fish with it. Yesterday was the first day in weeks that I didn't bring in a fish. A guy that was fishing nearby caught about 4 largemouth in an hour or so on a powerbait worm in tequila sunrise. But he was using Texas rig. Unfortunately I have no luck with the Texas rig.

[Jdm219]

Try to just use a power worm, but find the fish with a spinner bait like you said..... you will now know they are there, so then just slow down and focus, and you should start to catch em' this will give you confidence in them then, hope this helps

I'll try this tomorrow on my spinning setup. Hopefully I can bring in a few fish.

[WIGuide]

If you aren't catching them on soft plastics, there's something wrong. It's really hard to tell exactly what it is you're doing wrong without actually watching you fish. Best advice I can give though is slow down, be patient, and be confident!

[FrankW]

Hi Jdm219,

 

Ok, that gear will work.  Tell us how you rig it.  The size of hook/weight/worm.  The depth/color of water.  What kind of cover are you fishing?  Are others who fish with you catching fish with plastic.  Can you afford a guide for a trip?

 

Frank

[Hattrick7]

I think color is an important factor at least in my experience. Also the t rig allows a lot of versatility for different baits. I'd use a 3/0 ewg hook as a general hook size. Get differnt styles of plastics like stick worms, curly tails, finesse worms, creatures.

Try a pit boss in green/ green. Finesse worms try a roboworm in differnt colors. For some reason the bubblegum color (morning dawn, margarita mutilator) gets me bit in clear water.

But in general a green pumpkin or black blue stick worm or curly should get bit. I would drag it across the bottom and not necessarily hop it. One thing you may want to try is to keep the rod tip about 9 or 10 o'clock and just slowly reel it in.

[K_Mac]

If you aren't catching them on soft plastics, there's something wrong. It's really hard to tell exactly what it is you're doing wrong without actually watching you fish. Best advice I can give though is slow down, be patient, and be confident!

Yep. All the talk about what the bass feed on in a given lake makes for interesting discussion, but makes little difference when it comes to bass eating a plastic worm, creature bait, or Senko. The only certainty is these baits will catch bass when fished anywhere close to right in more or less the right spot. There are many videos available to show the correct way use them and to find the right spot. Even better would be having a skilled bass fisherman to show you. Good luck.

[Jdm219]

Hi Jdm219,

Ok, that gear will work. Tell us how you rig it. The size of hook/weight/worm. The depth/color of water. What kind of cover are you fishing? Are others who fish with you catching fish with plastic. Can you afford a guide for a trip?

Frank

I usually don't use plastics but when I do I try to use a Texas rig. The depth is anywhere from 2-11 feet because it's a marina. I use a 1/4 bullet weight, ewg hook. Size depends on what bait I pick. And I usually try powerbait worms or a Texas rigged senko-weightless. The bottom is somewhat weedy with some rocks. And my buddy that I fish with uses mainly spinnerbaits. It's a confidence bait for us. And lastly I cannot afford a guide mainly because I'm a highschool student working like 10 hours a week.

[Jdm219]

I think color is an important factor at least in my experience. Also the t rig allows a lot of versatility for different baits. I'd use a 3/0 ewg hook as a general hook size. Get differnt styles of plastics like stick worms, curly tails, finesse worms, creatures.

Try a pit boss in green/ green. Finesse worms try a roboworm in differnt colors. For some reason the bubblegum color (morning dawn, margarita mutilator) gets me bit in clear water.

But in general a green pumpkin or black blue stick worm or curly should get bit. I would drag it across the bottom and not necessarily hop it. One thing you may want to try is to keep the rod tip about 9 or 10 o'clock and just slowly reel it in.

Sadly, they don't sell roboworn baits at my local basspro. But I do have some pink senkos and pink flukes. As well as pumpkin,watermelon magic,black/blue and a few other colored senkos. For flukes I have baby bass,shiner,white/chartuese, and some more random ones. After reading all your guys' posts, I'm feeling somewhat confident on trying these baits tomorrow. I have quite a few different colored worms as well as different sizes. So they all will see some use tomorrow hopefully.

[Jdm219]

If you aren't catching them on soft plastics, there's something wrong. It's really hard to tell exactly what it is you're doing wrong without actually watching you fish. Best advice I can give though is slow down, be patient, and be confident!

I believe I may be fishing them too fast with not enough patience. I'm so quick to change what I'm using and not give anything a chance. Lol. It's time to slow it down a bit.

[Jdm219]

I just also realized that I don't really know what techniques to use.. That might be something important.

[Hattrick7]

I would downsize your weight to 1/8 oz to weightless for a t rig. Try a weightless wacky rig senko also. 

[DBL000006]

For one color of the Plastic worm, could be important. Depending on the main feeding for your bass in that body of water. The color does help on what the Bass are feeding on. You gotta be confident in the colors you like to use. The main colors for all plastics should be: Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Black or black and Blue, Junebug (In Stained or Clear water) Pumpkinseed and (Brown colored plastic) Red Bug.  You said your fishing the plastics fast. What you want to do is... Cast the worm out. Let the worn sit for 10 seconds. Jerk your rod a few times. That'll cause your worm to shake or move around a little. If that isn't working. Swin your worm on the Bottom. Meaning, hop it along on the bottom Do that a few times. Then let it sit for a few seconds. Figure out what type of app the Bass want. Then keep doing it. If the bite slows. You change up. Change colors as well