Stretching/roughing up soft plastics

[TriStateBassin106]

Pictured here are two finesse TRDs in the color "yoga pants" basically black. The TRD on the right has been "roughed up" or "stretched" compared to the one on the left. What is the point of doing this to soft plastics? More salt? Especially the ones zman makes. I've never really done this until it was recommended by another forum member. 

 

I am generally curious. 

[throttleplate]

more natural looking i have been told, also brings some salt out. I am doing that to some worms, tube, and craws when i am watching a boring movie show.

 

When done i put them in a good sealed bait pouch and soak em with bass attractant and let them marinate.

 

These are the plastics i will use on the next trip and replentish the ones i lose so rinse and repeat.

[tander]

I do this to all my Z Man products. I rough them up to get most of the salt out of them so they will stand up on the bottom.

 

[Finessegenics]

More natural looking is true (at least to our eyes) imo, but people do this with elaztech to make the bait float more by taking out some of the salt. 
 

An interesting tip I’ve been given was to roll my tubes against a table to “soften” the colors. It’s supposed to look more natural in clear water. The bait ends up looking like a “matte” version, similar to yours. I’m sceptical of its effects though.

Edited March 8, 2021 by Finessegenics

[Mike L]

I read somewhere that roughing up any Berkley plastic will release more of the added scent as opposed to other brands. 
 

Don’t know if that’s true or not. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[throttleplate]

9 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

More natural looking is true (at least to our eyes) imo, but people do this with elaztech to make the bait float more by taking out some of the salt. 
 

An interesting tip I’ve been given was to roll my tubes against a table to “soften” the colors. It’s supposed to look more natural in clear water. The bait ends up looking like a “matte” version, similar to yours. I’m sceptical of its effects though.

this is the first time i am scuffing up baits and also dont know if it makes a big or any difference.

[Mobasser]

I don't know so much about roughing up soft plastic baits when they're new, but I'm a firm believer that a worn chewed up worm that's caught some fish, will work better than a new one. I can't explain why, but I've proven it over the years. I usually fish them until they're unfishable.

[Jig Man]

It’s just a way to get salt on your carpet.

[DitchPanda]

Randy Blaukat talks about it alot on his YouTube channel. Not sure if there is much to it but he's a well respected pro whose made a living bass fishing for 35 years...so I trust his judgement.

[SAL321]

With the TRDs I usually throw them in water. If they float I leave them alone, if they sink and just flat lay on the bottom I pull em out and roll and stretch them to get them to float.

[TriStateBassin106]

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

Randy Blaukat talks about it alot on his YouTube channel. Not sure if there is much to it but he's a well respected pro whose made a living bass fishing for 35 years...so I trust his judgement.

Any videos from him about it you could recommend? 

[DitchPanda]

His YouTube channel is intuitive angling...he has a lizard mod video from 3 weeks ago and a brush hog mod video from a month ago he talks about it both videos. I've also seen him mention it in other videos.

[Emiliano]

Yes, Randy always talks about that for every soft plastic lure and jig as well, I love his channel.  I think that "roughing" works well for some type of plastic with too much translucent touch when new (ex Zoom).

In general my motto is the less you touch the bait the better fish will bite 

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 3/7/2021 at 6:27 PM, TriStateBassin106 said:

Pictured here are two finesse TRDs in the color "yoga pants" basically black. The TRD on the right has been "roughed up" or "stretched" compared to the one on the left. What is the point of doing this to soft plastics? More salt? Especially the ones zman makes. I've never really done this until it was recommended by another forum member. 

 

I am generally curious.

It just reduces the amount of salt so it makes the bait more buoyant, with elaztech anyway.  I prefer soaking them in water overnight to achieve that.

If you've ever had a bass grab a bluegill or crappie that your reeling it, after the bass lets go of it, it looks like someone took a brillo pad to the fish.  I guess that roughing up a bait could achieve that same look in a sense, at least from our perspective.    

[Deleted account]

I rough up my baits by rubbing them against the inside of fish's mouth.