Soft Plastics - Worms And Creatures

[TheToxicGamer97]

Hello,

    I am a beginner bass fisherman (16 yrs. old) and know very little. I have some experience so far with crank baits and spinner baits. I've been using some soft plastics (all worms) but haven't had any luck. I would like to know how to better perfect my strategy for using plastic worms. I generally use a Texas rig with a 3/16 oz bullet weight (that could be the wrong weight, I can't quite remember) on a spinning reel with 8lb fluorocarbon. When I cast out I let it sink to the bottom first and wait a few seconds. then I will jerk it up, reel in slight to regain tension, then let it sink again and repeating. I've heard this is a decent tactic, but it doesn't seem to work for me. Any information about better rigs or retrieving tactics would be much appreciated

My second question is about creature baits. I know absolutely nothing about this and I would like as much info as possible about these. I was looking on tackle warehouse at the new Rage Bugs and look really cool. The problem is I wouldn't know how to rig them and how to use them in the water to attract the bass. 

Thank you in advance to any information you can provide me about the world of soft plastics

[timsford]

I havent tried the rage bugs but beaver style baits are very productive for me. My personal favorite is the yum wooly hawgtail and the berkley power hawg is a close second. The reaction innovations sweet beaver and smallie beaver are very good also. I use black and blue in stained water and green pumpkin in clearer water. I use a 3/16 ounce weight 90 percent of the time but go smaller or larger based on water depth. The best advice i can give is to fish slow with plastics. My retrieve consists of mostly shaking or dragging but i always mantain bottom contact. Fish around any cover you can find and take your time picking it apart. If you still cant get bit downsize and try small finesse worms or tubes or the smaller 3 inch creature baits. Rig them texas style and size your hook according to the size bait you are using

[roadwarrior]

Spend some time looking around the forum and in the Library at the top of the page, especially "Fishing Articles". 

This will get you started: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/worm-fishing.html here are a few articles that might

help:

 

"Just Getting Started"
Guaranteed To Catch Bass
I just cant catch bass
Learning to fish on your own
 

[David D.]

First off, read those articles that RW posted.

I primarily fish soft plastics because my local ponds have too much vegetation for exposed hooks. Pretty much all that I use are SK/Rage Tail. For me, Rage Tail products just catch fish. I have a lot of confidence in them and have pretty much every type of plastic that they sell.

My favorite worm to fish is the RT Cut-R. I either T-rig it with a 1/8 oz bullet weight or Rage Rig it. My retrieves vary, depending on what the fish are hitting. What you need to understand is that while the retrieve you are using may sound good to us as people, if the fish don't want it then they just don't want it. Mix up your retrieve, you really can't do anything wrong. Find out what the fish like at any given time by experimenting.

For creature baits, I love the new RT Bug. I have only been out to fish with it twice but it has earned it's place. I T-rig it with a 1/8-1/4 oz bullet weight or Rage Rig it and again, I try different retrieves until I find one that the fish are liking.

[TheToxicGamer97]

My favorite worm to fish is the RT Cut-R. I either T-rig it with a 1/8 oz bullet weight or Rage Rig it. My retrieves vary, depending on what the fish are hitting. What you need to understand is that while the retrieve you are using may sound good to us as people, if the fish don't want it then they just don't want it. Mix up your retrieve, you really can't do anything wrong. Find out what the fish like at any given time by experimenting.

For creature baits, I love the new RT Bug. I have only been out to fish with it twice but it has earned it's place. I T-rig it with a 1/8-1/4 oz bullet weight or Rage Rig it and again, I try different retrieves until I find one that the fish are liking.

Very helpful, thank you. But what is a rage rig?

[TheToxicGamer97]

I havent tried the rage bugs but beaver style baits are very productive for me. My personal favorite is the yum wooly hawgtail and the berkley power hawg is a close second. The reaction innovations sweet beaver and smallie beaver are very good also. I use black and blue in stained water and green pumpkin in clearer water. I use a 3/16 ounce weight 90 percent of the time but go smaller or larger based on water depth. The best advice i can give is to fish slow with plastics. My retrieve consists of mostly shaking or dragging but i always mantain bottom contact. Fish around any cover you can find and take your time picking it apart. If you still cant get bit downsize and try small finesse worms or tubes or the smaller 3 inch creature baits. Rig them texas style and size your hook according to the size bait you are using

Those baits seem decent, and I haven't really tried that retrieve tactic. The gave me a good amount of insight. Thanks

[robster80]

ive caught my 2 biggest bass - 2 8lbers on a black berkley powerbait. they always seem to catch fish when other techniques arent working.

[TheToxicGamer97]

Spend some time looking around the forum and in the Library at the top of the page, especially "Fishing Articles". 

This will get you started: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/worm-fishing.html here are a few articles that might

help:

 

"Just Getting Started"

Guaranteed To Catch Bass

I just cant catch bass

Learning to fish on your own

 

Once again, very informative, thank you

[TheToxicGamer97]

ive caught my 2 biggest bass - 2 8lbers on a black berkley powerbait. they always seem to catch fish when other techniques arent working.

I thought powerbaits were bad because they dry up

[robster80]

i havent noticed that. not sayin they dont tho. im tryin a couple other brands this year also. big bite baits and v and m

[TheToxicGamer97]

i havent noticed that. not sayin they dont tho. im tryin a couple other brands this year also. big bite baits and v and m

good to know

[The Fisher]

Senkos are really productive plastics. Check out the Senko FAQ info at the top of the forum.

[TheToxicGamer97]

Senkos are really productive plastics. Check out the Senko FAQ info at the top of the forum.

I don't see this FAQ of which you speak

[gnuisance]

try watching bassresource vids on youtube. They have a video for every type of rigging you could think of. If you are fishing shallow areas try wacky rigging a senko. Pull it to the top of the water and let it flutter down, drives em crazy.

[roadwarrior]

On 6/16/2014 at 6:47 AM, TheToxicGamer97 said:

I don't see this FAQ of which you speak

 

 

 

[Fishes in trees]

The power bait line of soft plastics doesn't dry up.  The Gulp line of plastics (same company, Berkley) does dry up and shrivel pretty quickly if it is out of the package and not in water.

 

I've don't fish a tx rig with a slip weight very often, but when I do I have better results dragging the rig rather than hopping it.  I wouldn't use a tx rig on the spinning gear like you are doing, not because it think it is a bad rig, but because I think that there are better rigs out there for spinning gear.

 

For spinning gear & 8 lb fluorocarbon line, I 'd get some Brewer Spider Slider heads, both in 3/16 & 1/4.  Get a modest assortment of worms, some straight tail and some paddle tail, and that's all I'd throw.  Drag it, swim it, whatever, just throw that rig around enough objects and you will get bit.

 

So far this year, I've had better luck with paddle tail worms as opposed to straight tails, but some years that is reversed.   I've just never been comfortable with the weight sliding up & down on the line.  I like knowing where the weight is.

[TheToxicGamer97]

The power bait line of soft plastics doesn't dry up.  The Gulp line of plastics (same company, Berkley) does dry up and shrivel pretty quickly if it is out of the package and not in water.

 

I've don't fish a tx rig with a slip weight very often, but when I do I have better results dragging the rig rather than hopping it.  I wouldn't use a tx rig on the spinning gear like you are doing, not because it think it is a bad rig, but because I think that there are better rigs out there for spinning gear.

 

For spinning gear & 8 lb fluorocarbon line, I 'd get some Brewer Spider Slider heads, both in 3/16 & 1/4.  Get a modest assortment of worms, some straight tail and some paddle tail, and that's all I'd throw.  Drag it, swim it, whatever, just throw that rig around enough objects and you will get bit.

 

So far this year, I've had better luck with paddle tail worms as opposed to straight tails, but some years that is reversed.   I've just never been comfortable with the weight sliding up & down on the line.  I like knowing where the weight is.

I don't use spinners on Texas rigs, only worms. When I use spinners I use them as is. What is the advantage of the Slider Heads?

[The Fisher]

On 6/16/2014 at 6:47 AM, TheToxicGamer97 said:

I don't see this FAQ of which you speak

It's the third topic down on the first page of this forum. Here is a link

 

 

[NathanW]

I thought powerbaits were bad because they dry up

nope. You are getting these confused with Gulp.