Soft Plastics kit for a soft plastic beginner

[DN3]

My goal this season is to finally learn how to fish soft plastics - if you had to put together a "kit" for someone new to fishing them, what would you include? What baits/size of baits, what hooks, etc.   

[CrashVector]

Lol I gave away four of these recently.  New people contact me by email and I just give em one of these kits in a little Plano box.

 

Here's MY list for a beginner:

 

BAITS:

Zoom baby brush hog, watermelon green

Yum dinger, 5 inch, watermelon, green pumpkin

Powerbait pit boss, 4 inch.  Bama bug

Zoom lizard, green pumpkin

Powerbait power worm, tequila sunrise

Z-man finesse TRD.  Green pumpkin/green pumpkin goby

 

HOOKS

Size 3/0 and 4/0 mustad EWG and standard worm hooks

VMC 3-degree offset wacky rig hooks

1/0 owner rigging hook

1/10oz z-man ned heads

 

WEIGHTS

1/8, 3/16,1/4,and 1/2 oz tungsten weights...whatever brand is cheapest.  I like H2O xpress bulk packs.

 

LINE:

For baitcaster: a good mono in 12lb, braid in 20lb.  I like Berkley trilene big game or XL for mono.  I use Hercules no fade braid in green or black.

 

For spinning: Hercules braid in 10lb test.  Berkley Trilene Big Game in 6lb test, trilene XL in 8lb test.  Clear or green.

 

 

NOTE: I suggest these brands for economical reasons.  This whole kit is about $40-$50 total.  I suggest less expensive stuff to people new to finesse fishing to keep the initial costs down while still building a versatile and well-rounded finesse kit base to work from.  You can certainly choose more expensive versions of you wish.

[Cdn Angler]

I would start out with two rigs. 

1) Wacky worm - wacky hook (pick your poison - many options) and any 5 inch worm, use 0-rings on the worm (o-ring tool and o-rings sold together - $10). 

 

2) Texas Rig - Get a 1/4 ounce bullet weight, a 4/0 EWG hook. Use the same 5 inch worm and any other soft plastic that's roughly 5 inches long that suits you. 

 

I'd start off with that and go from there. Swimbaits are also good starters. Any swimbait hook (1/4 ounce) and a 4 inch swimbait. 

 

I'd start off with standard bait sizes/weights before worrying about more niche sizes. A 1/4 oz weight will be useable in most scenarios. 

 

 

[roadwarrior]

Senko ,weightless, 3/0 EWG Gamakatsu Worm Hook, spinning tackle and #6 Tatsu

Fat Ika (same)

Rage Mernace, 3/0 EWG, 1/4 oz bullet weight, spinning tackle & #6 Tastsu

Rage Tail Structure Bug, 3/0 EWG, 1/4 bullet weight, baitcaster & #12 Tatsu

Raged Tail Cut-R, (same)

Rebel Pop-R, baitcaster 

Lucky Craft Sammy

 

[Deleted account]

I'm blinking "Ignore any advise with EWG in it"....

[JustJames]

I always give friends that new to fishing with Senko weightless 3 or 4/0 ewg hook. It is easier to cast and doesn’t hang up/snagged a lot. It can be move different ways fast, slow, drag or just soak it. Most of the problem I see from newbies is patient, I wish I can include that into a pack of Senko.

[WRB]

3 hours ago, DN3 said:

My goal this season is to finally learn how to fish soft plastics - if you had to put together a "kit" for someone new to fishing them, what would you include? What baits/size of baits, what hooks, etc.   

Need to know the rod, reel line combo to suggest a “soft plastic kit”, spinning or casting etc.

Tom

[Catt]

K.I.S.S. ?

 

Zoom's Ultravibe Speed Craw Watermelon Neon. 

Texas Rigged, hop it, drag it, swim it.

 

Zoom's Ultravibe Speed Worm Watermelon Neon. Texas Rigged, hop it, drag it, swim it.

 

Zoom's Trick Worm Watermelon Neon. Texas Rigged, hop it, drag it, swim it, or Wacky Rigged.

 

1/8-1/4 oz bullet weights 

 

3/0 hook of whatever persuasion 

 

Bottle of Spike-It Dip-N-Glo Plastic Worm Dye,  chartreuse, garlic 

 

[garroyo130]

For someone brand brand new, no kit. First thing is learning what a fish feels like and how to set the hook. Trick worm fished split shot on light line. With the very light weight there will be no doubt when a fish takes it and no wondering if it was a rock, weed, etc. 

 

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

I'm blinking "Ignore any advise with EWG in it"....

 

^ offset round bends for me 

[DN3]

10 minutes ago, WRB said:

Need to know the rod, reel line combo to suggest a “soft plastic kit”, spinning or casting etc.

Tom

ive got both casting and spinning.....my spinning combos are a Shimano sustain fj4000 on a 7ft m/f fx custom extreme angler rod, I also have a shimano stradic on a 7ft mh/f bass pro carbonlite....casting i have a couple 7ft to 7ft2 Mh/F w/daiwa tatulas

[Luke Barnes]

When I was very new to fishing I bought a kit off Amazon and it got me on the water. None of it was too quality or anything but it had such a huge assortment it helped me figure out how i like to fish and also what the fish like. 

 

But my first step into getting more serious bass fishing I bought an Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp bass kit from Wal-Mart. It has EWG, offset worm, drop shot, and wacky hooks. Bullet and drop shot weights, bobber/sinker stops and some belly weighted swimbait hooks. So about all I need terminal tackle wise for the techniques I use. Well worth it. 

 

The Zman Ned Rig kit is a great way to break the ice on the ned rig. It has everything to fish a ned assuming you have the equipment. 

[WRB]

44 minutes ago, DN3 said:

ive got both casting and spinning.....my spinning combos are a Shimano sustain fj4000 on a 7ft m/f fx custom extreme angler rod, I also have a shimano stradic on a 7ft mh/f bass pro carbonlite....casting i have a couple 7ft to 7ft2 Mh/F w/daiwa tatulas

OK, so you don’t have a finesse outfit unless the Stradic is 3000 or smaller and coupled with the M/FC spinning rod.

Catts suggestions work well for your casting combos.

I would add 5” Senko #301, weedless wacky rigged for the spinning combo.

Tom

[DN3]

13 minutes ago, WRB said:

OK, so you have a finesse outfit unless the Stradic is 3000 or smaller and coupled with the M/FC spinning rod.

Catts suggestions work well for your casting combos.

I would add 5” Senko #301, weedless wacky rigged for the spinning combo.

Tom

I will probably have a few other combos soon as well....have a Metanium mgl b and bantam mgl - but prefer the feel of daiwas so those may get sold 

 

going to order some senkos tonight

[Danika 327]

3 different yum dinger colors -9$ for all three packs

yum lizards- 3.50$

trick worm- 3.50$

4/0 wide gap hooks- 2-5$

wacky rig hook- 2-4$

bullet weights- 1-3$

offset hook-2-4$

 

 

this is just what i think is a good setup for first timers and something that wont brake the bank.  

 

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

Wacky Rig: 

Gamakutsu 1/0 circle octopus hooks

#956 5” Senko

1/4” ID O-rings

 

Use on your spinning rig. Don’t set the hook. When the bass grabs the bait and runs with it, lift the rod up and reel in the slack until the hook sets itself. 
 

Texas rig:

Gamakatsu 3/0 EWG hooks

1/4 oz. bullet weight

Zoom Trick worm and/or 5” Senko. 
 

Use on your casting rig. It takes practice and experience to discern the “tap-tap” of a bass lightly taking the bait vs. feeling structure. When you know a bass is on the line, lower the rod while reeling in any slack and then set the hook like you mean business! 

[TOXIC]

I’m not sure we are still offering this kit but you might be able to source it on tackle warehouse or some other sites if it’s not available through GYCB website at www.baits.com 

[BlakeMolone]

A standard sized Summer craw rage menace with a 1/4 ounce weight and 3/0 ewg hook can do almost everything and works in almost every water condition.

[ABart61]

Yum baits sells a Christie Classic fishing kit for $32.99. Also Bass Pro Sells kits

Includes: 

(16) Christie Critters
(16) Christie Craws
(16) Baby Christie Critters
(16) 5” Dingers
(2) 3/0 EWG Hooks
(2) 3/8 OZ Bullet Weights

 

[T-Billy]

Getcha some Senkos, Trick Worms, and Beavers of some sort. Straight shank, and offset worm hooks, bullet sinkers and stops, and go learn to fish a Texas Rig. Most important rig/technique in bass fishing IMO.

[Catt]

On 3/20/2022 at 12:57 PM, Catt said:

K.I.S.S. ?

 

Read over all the answers

 

A Senko type stick worm.

 

Straight tail worms 

 

Craw worms 

 

Creatures

 

Plan of curltail worms 

 

Texas Rig fishing ain't as much about the lure as it is about presentation. 

 

My suggestion start shallow & target everything you see!

 

The #1 key to understanding the Texas Rig is felling the bite. 

 

Once that little light goes off you're done, you will not wanna throw anything else.

 

[T-Billy]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Read over all the answers

 

A Senko type stick worm.

 

Straight tail worms 

 

Craw worms 

 

Creatures

 

Plan of curltail worms 

 

Texas Rig fishing ain't as much about the lure as it is about presentation. 

 

My suggestion start shallow & target everything you see!

 

The #1 key to understanding the Texas Rig is felling the bite. 

 

Once that little light goes off you're done, you will not wanna throw anything else.

 

^^^The solution.^^^

[NoShoes]

8 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Read over all the answers

 

A Senko type stick worm.

 

Straight tail worms 

 

Craw worms 

 

Creatures

 

Plan of curltail worms 

 

Texas Rig fishing ain't as much about the lure as it is about presentation. 

 

My suggestion start shallow & target everything you see!

 

The #1 key to understanding the Texas Rig is felling the bite. 

 

Once that little light goes off you're done, you will not wanna throw anything else.

 

best bite in bass fidhing

 

even though that frog is a thrill in itself.