Favorite "Do Nothing" Soft Plastic Rig ?

[ChrisD46]

As the title states - what is your favorite "Do Nothing" soft plastic rig you could hand to someone 9 to 90 and have success with ? ...By "do nothing" I'm talking about casting out the soft plastic rig and at most just giving one or two simple twitches of the rod - mostly just casting and  reeling it in . I'll start first : Zoom Super Fluke nose hooked with a 1/0 finesse wide gap wacky hook .

[Outdoor Zack]

T rigged senko, 4", no weight

[A-Jay]

SK Rage Craw on a Drop Shot ~ Sometimes it's like throwing Live Bait 

 

And the Z Man Finesse T.R.D. on a Ned rig comes in at second, but is challenging to take over the number 1 spot.

 

A-Jay

[jr231]

I think it's the GY fat ika. Spring through early fall you just cast (and it casts far weightless) , then pull up and let sink... Some days it's hard to make it back to the boat. 

[fissure_man]

 

[Fishin' Fool]

59 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

SK Rage Craw on a Drop Shot ~ Sometimes it's like throwing Live Bait 

 

And the Z Man Finesse T.R.D. on a Ned rig comes in at second, but is challenging to take over the number 1 spot.

 

A-Jay

 

Interesting! You use the full size Rage Craw? On what size hook? Do you just nose hook it?

55 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

I think it's the GY fat ika. Spring through early fall you just cast (and it casts far weightless) , then pull up and let sink... Some days it's hard to make it back to the boat. 

 

I bought a few packs of these last year based on all the positive feedback but yet to catch a fish. Tell me how you rig them? Spinning or casting gear?

[jr231]

@Fishin' Fool it's heavy enough for casting. But I like using spinning gear... Rigged skirt up on a 4/0 extra wide gap hook . I don't have color recommendations because every one I've tried has worked... 

 

They're supposed to be killer on smallies ! But I don't know because I'm always fishing for laregmourh. And can say for sure that they are killer on largemouth. The first time I ever tried them I remember being mad at myself I only had one pack... they are getting hard to find ! I have to get em online. 

[J Francho]

I generally like to give a new angler a moving bait.  I don't want them bored, or worried about setting the hook.  Once they've become accustomed to feeling a fish on the line, and getting back to the boat, then I start with feel baits. 

[IndianaFinesse]

Ned rig.

[kbeeb374]

I agree with Francho,  I started my fiancée out on a mepps aglia and a panther martin then moved her to a wacky senko.  She does great with those now and now I am slowly teaching her to use a bait caster.

[A-Jay]

47 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

 

Interesting! You use the full size Rage Craw? On what size hook? Do you just nose hook it?

 

 

 

@Fishin' Fool  I started out using the Baby Craw, nose hooked on I think a size 1 Owner Mosquito Hooks (my drop shot hook of choice btw) and I got a ton of bites but many were in the "Keeper" size.  So, I bumped it up to the Rage Craw - I've used both a 1/0 Owner Mosquito Hook in open water presentatons and when there's a little bottom cover, I'll go with a standard size 1 or size 2 Gamakatsu standard EWG Tex-posed. Bites got A LOT BIGGER.

Both rigs are spinning gear deals with 10 braid mainline & a nylon leader.

The nose hook rigs are usually 6 lb leader.  When I go Tex-posed and the ewg, I will bump up my gear a bit to match the circumstances; usually 8 lb but have gone up to 10lb on occasion. 

This is by far my most effective warm water /  clear deep water bite getter, especially on smallies.   The Tex-pose drop-shot craw is also a decent mid-deep water "search bait" especially on New to me lakes.   The rig can be fished around wood quite effectively and even into it a bit, if you're brave enough.  I've gotten burned a few times pretty good doing it though, a jig is usually a better choice.

 

Secret to the Whole Deal - cast it out, LEAVE IT !  No 'working" the bait - just let it soak for a bit - you decide on how long, but the bites will let you know.  After some time drag it a bit - again, you decide how far.   But overworking it will often result in less action, especially if the bite is tough.  If the bass are nailing it while I moving it - I switching to something else.  Think Live Bait. 

 

I'd say try it - you just might like it.   oh, and dipping the claws can be Money !

 

A-Jay

[Megastink]

5" Strike King Ocho wacky rigged on a 2/0 short shank heavy wire hook. Proven rig, works just about everywhere.

[Darren.]

Hmmm... do nothing rig for me would probably be 

between a GYCB Shad Shape Worm on the drop shot,

or a 4" Stik-O wacky rigged.

 

Though I tend to be fairly active with both, there are

days when I cast them and "do nothing".

[crypt]

Charlie Brewer slider grub 3-4 inch.no weight,texas rigged.

[ww2farmer]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

I generally like to give a new angler a moving bait.  I don't want them bored, or worried about setting the hook.  Once they've become accustomed to feeling a fish on the line, and getting back to the boat, then I start with feel baits. 

 

Same here...my kids started with little crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits. When they time came for them to move to "feel" baits, it was some thing that was stupid simple and got lots of bites.....a 4" finesse worm on a wacky jig. I had them fish for rock bass with it first, so the action was fast a furious.

[bigfruits]

2 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

But I like using spinning gear... Rigged skirt up on a 4/0 extra wide gap hook .

 

 

QUAKEnSHAKE turned me on to the Gamakatsu Deep Throat Hooks. Perfect for the Ika, hook is not too thick for spinning gear. I use a Med XF spinning rod (852s) with a good backbone and 8# FC.

He even measured and took pics here!: www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/179595-fat-ika-rigging/#comment-2023534

 

Fat Ika is the most fun for do nothing. Pretty weedless so more targets available compared to a wacky Senko. Rigged like Yeajray231 does so it falls away from you.

Senko is a big producer but not much joy until a fish is on.

 

For you fishing nerds. Value in grams. Weighed 3 baits of each (all pretty consistent) and took average.

4" Senko	7.4
5" Senko	10.1
Fat Ika	10.5

 

[fishwizzard]

My wife fishes with me occasionally, and I give her a 4" z-man finesse worm on a Slider head.  It is weedless and she can just cast and crank.  I need to buy some actual slider worms at some point, but the Z-mans are great for standing up to the hoards of panfish that attack it and are so thin that little hookset is required.  

 

 

[chattooga_ basser]

Gambler Sweebo or a Trick worm texas rig with a 2-0 hook

[MassYak85]

Wacky rigged stick bait. All they have to be able to do it cast it and all the action comes from it sinking. 

[roadwarrior]

4 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Fat Ika

 

I bought a few packs of these last year based on all the positive feedback but yet to catch a fish. Tell me how you rig them? Spinning or casting gear?

[MDBowHunter]

Ned rig or dropshot for sure, been doing it for a couple years. 

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

I generally like to give a new angler a moving bait.  I don't want them bored, or worried about setting the hook.  Once they've become accustomed to feeling a fish on the line, and getting back to the boat, then I start with feel baits. 

Only problem with this is chasing lures into the trees, because most novices cant cast all that well. In my case the reservoirs I fish have trees lining the entire shorelines and the trees hang out 10' past the bank and when the levels are high you need to be very accurate or know how to skip a bait. If not your pulling their lures out of trees all day long.

 

[WRB]

Slip shot rig, taught lots of youngsters and older folks to bass fish using this rig on spinning tackle.

Tom

[ChrisD46]

Cool replies ! ... Certainly worthy enough for an experienced fisherman to want to try / re visit .

[Scarborough817]

crosstail shad or roboworm on a drop shot

[Outdoor Zack]

7 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

@Fishin' Fool it's heavy enough for casting. But I like using spinning gear... Rigged skirt up on a 4/0 extra wide gap hook . I don't have color recommendations because every one I've tried has worked... 

 

Why do you use an EWG over a round bend? (just curious)