Soft Bait Aggravation.

[Fishing Cop]

As many of you know, soft baits get expensive. I buy Rage Tails and Zoom Speed Craws and others and pay 5-7 dollars a pack at least. 

The problem is, I can get a bite or a nibble and when I get the bait back to the boat, the legs, tails, arms etc. are missing. Then I have to throw away the whole bait that I only made a couple cast with. Very aggravating and expensive. I stopped trying to set the hook on most of the nibbles because of this or when I do set the hook, it just rips the tails right off. The baits are expensive but seem cheaply made.

Do yall have this problem?

[thunderballs]

This may be wrong, or not much help, but I lost the claws on my rage craw trailer I was using yesterday. I kept fishing with it, and still caught fish.

Now I probably wouldn't fish all day with a tore up trailer, but try it for a while and see what happens.

[Fishing Cop]

I usually try it that way too, but very soon the other claw or tail is missing.

[gardnerjigman]

Use cheap twin tail grubs as jig trailers and stuff while fun fishing. Break out the rage and other expensive stuff on tournament day.

[smalljaw67]

It sounds like you are fishing around schools of bluegill which are notorious for that but it hasn't been that big of a problem. The thing is you need to be careful with how long you let the fish have it, if it is a bass it can end up swallowing it. The best way is if you know they are gills then lift the bait up with a slow steady lifting of the rod from the 3 0'clock position to the noon position, the small fish either let go or if it is a bass it may run or pull with it but it is very hard not to set the hook if you don't know what you are getting bitby.

[flyfisher]

par for the course.  if it bothers you that much fish jigs with no trailer or hard baits.  Other than that, you just have to deal with it.

[Fishing Cop]

i think it is mostly Bream or Perch. I try to ease it away but it still happens. I am still trying to learn to fish a jig. I have never caught a fish on one. Just can't get the swing of it.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I've lost tails and pincers before and guess what?  It still catches fish without them.  Hooked into some of the biggest fish I have ever hooked into with 1 pincer on my rage tail chunk.  Also if you are getting bluegill, perch or other smaller species taking your baits apart, put it down and pick up a crankbait and drag it through them, there has to be a bass somewhere around there that wants to eat...

[hatrix]

They have those elaztech plastics. You could try those. I don't think they will pull that apart. I tried to use craws once but it didn't work out. I spent what seemed like forever trying to get a weighted screw lock in it. I eventually gave up and have never tried them again.

[gulfcaptain]

Or here is a suggestion, keep all your old baits, buy some Mend-It and repair the ones that can be and use the others that are missing pieces to repair others.  The cost of the Mend-It is a lot cheaper then the cost of a couple bags of plastics.

[Weld's Largemouth]

As many of you know, soft baits get expensive. I buy Rage Tails and Zoom Speed Craws and others and pay 5-7 dollars a pack at least. 

The problem is, I can get a bite or a nibble and when I get the bait back to the boat, the legs, tails, arms etc. are missing. Then I have to throw away the whole bait that I only made a couple cast with. Very aggravating and expensive. I stopped trying to set the hook on most of the nibbles because of this or when I do set the hook, it just rips the tails right off. The baits are expensive but seem cheaply made.

Do yall have this problem?

You are fishing in a lake with too many toothy fish

[RSM789]

Or here is a suggestion, keep all your old baits, buy some Mend-It and repair the ones that can be and use the others that are missing pieces to repair others.  The cost of the Mend-It is a lot cheaper then the cost of a couple bags of plastics.

 

+1.  I keep torn up baits off to the side for the day and toss them in a bag of the same when I get home.  Every few weeks, I get them all out & use some Mend-it on them while watching a ballgame.  There is some odd sense of satisfaction from catching additional fish on a fixed bait (& I'm not even Scottish!!)

[Fishing Rhino]

They have those elaztech plastics. You could try those. I don't think they will pull that apart. I tried to use craws once but it didn't work out. I spent what seemed like forever trying to get a weighted screw lock in it. I eventually gave up and have never tried them again.

 

Here's a simple solution.  A candle and a safety pin.  Open the safety pin and heat it in the candle.  Then melt a hole where you want to insert the bait holder (screw type, barbs or whatever).  Then, put a drop of super glue in the hole when you want to rig it.  Quickly slide it over the holder, and let the glue set up.

 

Make sure you have the bait lined up before the glue sets up. 

 

It's hard enough just to push the hook through elaztech baits, and impossible to push or twist the "holders" into the elaztech material.

[Arv]

Or here is a suggestion, keep all your old baits, buy some Mend-It and repair the ones that can be and use the others that are missing pieces to repair others.  The cost of the Mend-It is a lot cheaper then the cost of a couple bags of plastics.

This.

I love Mend-It. Saves a ton of money. 

[annexation]

Yeah, I think this is a problem for everyone who fishes soft plastic, appendage-y baits from time to time. It's bothered me enough to invest in a few aluminum molds so I can melt down and recycle ripped up baits into new ones.

 

It's not necessarily cost-effective compared to, say, just buying more bags. But it's fun for me to reincarnate old baits - and they catch fish.

[F14A-B]

To you're point, soft plastics tear, softer plastics tear even worse... I use Rage Craws/ Rage Rigged, other than that it's pit boss or other slightly more durable baits....

[Fishing Cop]

I guess I need to check out more durable baits.

[GoDeep]

As many of you know, soft baits get expensive. I buy Rage Tails and Zoom Speed Craws and others and pay 5-7 dollars a pack at least. 

The problem is, I can get a bite or a nibble and when I get the bait back to the boat, the legs, tails, arms etc. are missing. Then I have to throw away the whole bait that I only made a couple cast with. Very aggravating and expensive. I stopped trying to set the hook on most of the nibbles because of this or when I do set the hook, it just rips the tails right off. The baits are expensive but seem cheaply made.

Do yall have this problem?

YES! Not bad mouthing Rage Tail baits, but the durability I've found is just not there. They catch fish, but it gets frustrating when they tear so easy. Mend It is making a fortune off of repairing RT's baits. Zoom, Z-Man, and Gene Larew baits I've found are the most durable.

[roadwarrior]

The cost of soft plastics is such a small part of the price to fish. I want the best possible chance

of catching fish when I have the opportunity to be out on the water. I put a much higher value on

my time than the cost of a bait.

 

[A-Jay]

It sounds like you are fishing around schools of bluegill which are notorious for that but it hasn't been that big of a problem. The thing is you need to be careful with how long you let the fish have it, if it is a bass it can end up swallowing it. The best way is if you know they are gills then lift the bait up with a slow steady lifting of the rod from the 3 0'clock position to the noon position, the small fish either let go or if it is a bass it may run or pull with it but it is very hard not to set the hook if you don't know what you are getting bitby.

 

 

i think it is mostly Bream or Perch. I try to ease it away but it still happens. I am still trying to learn to fish a jig. I have never caught a fish on one. Just can't get the swing of it.

 

 Let's talk about where you're fishing; the specific spot.

 

As you're fishing your jig, think about casting "around" and or "near" the bait fish and not necessarily right in them.   While casting to different spots, if you find you're feeding trailers to bass food, you probably found a good spot.  Try backing off a little of working your bait out & around that area. 

 

We all know they can be anywhere but often times the bass you're looking for is not sitting in the middle of the bait but somewhere on the perimeter just waiting . . . . . . . . .for you jig perhaps.

 

And as for "getting the swing if it", something that helped me learn to fish one was to lighten up the jig a little.  I was fishing too heavy a bait and it was just dredging the bottom.  I had no feel.  Once I went lighter and the jig was able for fall & swim slow & more naturally, I started getting the rod ripped out of my hand - just something to think about.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[Fishing Cop]

Thanks A-Jay.

Most of the soft plastics that are getting tore up are coming on a T-Rig, fished close to the bank and under docks, so shallow water usually. It doesn't happen to a jig usually. I can't even get a bite on a jig. It feels so heavy. 1/2 oz with a trailer. I can fish the T Rig and catch fish when they don't rip apart a NEW plastic. But as far as the Jigs are concerned, I am just at a loss.

[Brian6428]

They have those elaztech plastics. You could try those. I don't think they will pull that apart. I tried to use craws once but it didn't work out. I spent what seemed like forever trying to get a weighted screw lock in it. I eventually gave up and have never tried them again.

Same here. Elaztech+screw lock= bad time

[hatrix]

Same here. Elaztech+screw lock= bad time

I could of just used a normal weighted hook and been fine I am sure. I was almost force of habit to grab a screw lock and a good majority of my hooks have screw locks any more.

[5fishlimit]

Thanks A-Jay.

Most of the soft plastics that are getting tore up are coming on a T-Rig, fished close to the bank and under docks, so shallow water usually. It doesn't happen to a jig usually. I can't even get a bite on a jig. It feels so heavy. 1/2 oz with a trailer. I can fish the T Rig and catch fish when they don't rip apart a NEW plastic. But as far as the Jigs are concerned, I am just at a loss.

Go smaller on the jig, 1/4oz + trailer.

The size you're using is better suited for water 10+ feet deep, IMHO.

[Fishing Cop]

Go smaller on the jig, 1/4oz + trailer.

The size you're using is better suited for water 10+ feet deep, IMHO.

Sometimes I do fish deeper water with a jig. It just seems heavy. Maybe it is suppose to feel that way. Still waiting to catch a fish on a jig though. I just don't have any confidence with a jig, so therefore, I don't fish it too often.