All soft plastics outing- what are you rigging up

[casts_by_fly]

Hi All,

 

In another thread I mentioned an experiment I wanted to run on an upcoming outing- an all plastics trip.  I find that I don't fish straight plastics as much as I should, probably because I haven't caught as many fish on them over the years (probably because I haven't fished them as much as I should!).  So in the interest of forcing myself to do something to be better overall, I'm going to do it.  I'm not talking about just throwing a texas rigged worm all day, I mean trying to cover the range of the water column and variety of presentations.  I'll rig up 5 rods (maybe 6) and leave all of my hard baits, wire baits, and jigs at home.  I'm in the north east with lots of clearer water (2-10' visibility depending on the lake) and plenty of grass.  I'm not fishing deeper than 10-12' really.  Mostly largemouth, but some smallies depending on the lake.

 

I'm throwing a toad, a big Keitech (6" or so), a texas rigged beaver, a texas rigged UV speedworm, and a fluke.  If I carry a 6th rod its a spinning rod with a wacky senko (or maybe a fat Ika).

 

What 5-6 rods are you rigging up if you were doing this?

 

thanks,

rick

[Deleted account]

"We are going to the job site today with only screwdrivers, what kind of screwdrivers would you bring?"... Nope.

[casts_by_fly]

10 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

"We are going to the job site today with only screwdrivers, what kind of screwdrivers would you bring?"... Nope.

 

I need to get better at using a saw, so I'm going to practice using my saws today so that when I really need them I can do it confidently.

[NHBull]

Neko

Ned

wacky

DS

SM SB

[Fat Ika]

33 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Hi All,

 

In another thread I mentioned an experiment I wanted to run on an upcoming outing- an all plastics trip.  I find that I don't fish straight plastics as much as I should, probably because I haven't caught as many fish on them over the years (probably because I haven't fished them as much as I should!).  So in the interest of forcing myself to do something to be better overall, I'm going to do it.  I'm not talking about just throwing a texas rigged worm all day, I mean trying to cover the range of the water column and variety of presentations.  I'll rig up 5 rods (maybe 6) and leave all of my hard baits, wire baits, and jigs at home.  I'm in the north east with lots of clearer water (2-10' visibility depending on the lake) and plenty of grass.  I'm not fishing deeper than 10-12' really.  Mostly largemouth, but some smallies depending on the lake.

 

I'm throwing a toad, a big Keitech (6" or so), a texas rigged beaver, a texas rigged UV speedworm, and a fluke.  If I carry a 6th rod its a spinning rod with a wacky senko (or maybe a fat Ika).

 

What 5-6 rods are you rigging up if you were doing this?

 

thanks,

rick

@casts_by_fly This is fun. Thanks.

 

Smallies

2.5" Deps Cover Scat w/ 1/0 Ryugi Infini  on a medium spinning braid-leader setup

OSP DoLive Shot w/ 4/0 Owner J-Light +1/16 or 1/8 oz DS weight on medium heavy casting flouro

3" Spark Shard w/ 1/8 oz DG Stefan Guppy Head - Switch between spinning/braid-leader and casting straight flouro

Does a marabou hair jig count of I tip it with a little plastic?

Howie's 3" Tube and 3/8 oz goby tube head - med/hvy casting

Drop Shot wacky 3" stickbait, DS ned, or DS 3-4" DS worm/baitfish profile

 

Largies

3.5" Deps Cover Scat w/ 3/0 Ryugi Infini on a med/hvy or hvy casting straight flouro

Horn Toad Hvy casting straight braid

3.8 - 4.8 Keitech depending on the my mood/cover. Maybe Trokar swimbait jighead in sparse cover, Owner Beast, or Owner Flashy Swimmer

Zoom Mag Speedworm w/ 5/0 Gammy G-Finess Hybrid Worm Hook on med/hvy to hvy casting straight flouro or braid in heavy gras

4.5 Adrenaline Craw or Mag Rage Bug - T-rig, free rig or jika rig depending on the situation

Fat Ika w/ 4/0 Ryugi Infini on med/hvy to heavy casting

Wacky 5" General on Decoy Hunter Hook size 1

 

Shakeyheads /neko rigs always considered

 

 

[Deleted account]

25 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I need to get better at using a saw, so I'm going to practice using my saws today so that when I really need them I can do it confidently.

The Makita 10" sliding miter is a beast with a compact foot print, but you'll need some hex wrenches to adjust the stops...  

[casts_by_fly]

10 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

The Makita 10" sliding miter is a beast with a compact foot print, but you'll need some hex wrenches to adjust the stops...  

 

bobber stops, punch weights (with skirts), and similar accessories are allowed within the spirit of the rules…

[BrianMDTX]

My kinda thread! 
 

MH/F baitcaster:

1/8 oz. tungsten bullet weight; Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG

9” Mann’s Jelly Worm TR

 

MH/F baitcaster:

Gamakutsu 4/0 EWG hook

Daiwa Neko Macho TR

 

MF spinning:

Gamakatsu 1/0 circle octopus hook

5” Senko WR with O-ring

 

MXF spinning:

Gamakatsu 3/0 EWG hook

Zoom Trick TR

 

MLXF spinning:

VMC weedless Neko hook

5” Senko Neko Rig

or

Gamakatsu 1 drop shot hook

3/16 oz. Lazer Sharp drop shot weight

4” Senko

[FryDog62]

• 5 inch Caffeine Shad on Owner Twistlock Light 4/0 3/32 oz hook
• 5 inch Wacky Worm weightless with #1 VMC Neko hook
• Grandebass Airmail Rattler with 1/16 oz rigged Neko style w/VMC #2 hook
• Maxscent Tube on 1/8 oz Owner Phantom Tube Hook 
• 3 inch Ned Zone worm on 3/32 oz Shur-Set Ned head on 7 lb fluoro BFS rod

[Bankc]

I'd just go with some Senkos, some 3/8oz. bullet weights, and some 1/0 hooks.  If you're going to focus on just using plastics, that's all you need to catch bass.  And paring down the options will help you to focus on technique.  Once you get the hang of it, you'll figure out how easy it is to expand out with more techniques and presentations.  

 

Most days when I go bank fishing, this is all I bring.  One rod, a few worms (or craws or whatever, it doesn't matter), and some hooks and weights.  And most days I do alright.  It's truly more about where you cast and how you retrieve than what you have tied on.  Crawl, hop, swim, long pause, no pause... lots of ways to change it up if the bass aren't biting without changing any gear.

[T-Billy]

3.5" Sweet Craw (beaver) Trigged

7" Culprit worm Trigged

3.8 Keitech Fat Weighted scewlock hook

5" Senko Wacky Weedless Berkley Fusion wacky hook

TDR Bug on a 1/8 football head

Goat Toad

[DitchPanda]

Weightless fluke

 Ned rig

Weightless senko- either wacky or Texas rigged

6inch mister twister phenom worm Texas rigged 3\16 weight

Zoom mag 2 Texas rigged 3\16 weight

[king fisher]

Zoom Trick worm

Zoom Magnum Trick worm

Zoom Ole Monster

Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper

Rage Bug 

 

T rig.

C rig.

jig head.

[Bass Rutten]

Drop shot 3-4" worm

Shaky head 5-6" worm

Ned rigged trd

Jika rigged beaver/creature

Keitech 2.8-5.8

 

This is very close to my actual starting lineup for me these days as I've been gradually drifting away from hardbaits. Sometimes a wacky, flick shake,  or neko will replace one or more of the above.

 

2 hours ago, Deleted account said:

"We are going to the job site today with only screwdrivers, what kind of screwdrivers would you bring?"... Nope.

If you want to learn to drive screws leave your hammer at home! ? 

[Bankbeater]

Weightless Fluke

Split Shot Rig with a 4" or 6" straight worm.

Weightless Senko

Texas Rig

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Id say 95% of my outings are soft plastics only. Ill time to time throw rocket shad spinner baits. During trout season in-line spinners. I have crankbaits that I keep buying only to never use. Jerkbaits that maybe get used 30 minutes a year. I packed my bag for my yearly trip to my "secret" lake no hard baits just soft plastics.

 Ikas, senkos, 4 types of neds, 3 types paddle tails, gulp minnows. 

[ironbjorn]

Senko

Fluke

Culprit Worm

Rage Craw

Rage Swimmer

[Wprich]

-Wacky rigged 5" Senko
-Ned rig Roboworm or X-Zone Ned Zone
-Texas Rigged Brush Hawg
-3.25/3.75 inch Rage swimmer or Keitech swing impact
-Shaky Head either 4.5 inch Robowworm fat or 5 inch strike king fat baby finesse
 

 

 

[Columbia Craw]

Worm

Craw

Tube 
H Grub

SB

[casts_by_fly]

The all plastic outing is happening today. I’ve already stripped out my tackle bag.  It dropped about half of its weight with not having my spinnerbait, jig/chatter, and hard bait 3700’s in it.  Maybe the boat will go faster now. I’m heading to a lake I’ve only fished once (last year) but has good fish. It also has a bunch of musky so the 6” keitech might be where I start. 
 

After all of the great lists above, I think I will carry the spinning rod too. I had forgotten about a ned rig. I don’t fish them as much as I should and it’s already rigged for one so…

[gim]

Good luck @casts_by_fly.  It takes a fair amount of mental fortitude to stick to one "type" of fishing during an entire outing, especially when you aren't necessarily doing it most of the time.

[casts_by_fly]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Good luck @casts_by_fly.  It takes a fair amount of mental fortitude to stick to one "type" of fishing during an entire outing, especially when you aren't necessarily doing it most of the time.

 

That's why I have to leave the boxes at home- no choice at that point.  Its an evening session so not like I'm burning a long full day on a distant water.  My only mistake might be going to a place I don't know well.  I fished it last year in late summer and had a lot of fish blowing up frogs.  I think I remember catching a couple, but had a poor hookup ratio on the frog.  That at least tells me there are enough in there, even if I don't know where.  Its only ~50 acres or so though, so I can make a couple rounds of the lake easily enough.  Worst case?  I'm still out in the boat fishing on a Thursday.

[Mobasser]

T rig worm or craw. Various brands.

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Good luck @casts_by_fly.  It takes a fair amount of mental fortitude to stick to one "type" of fishing during an entire outing, especially when you aren't necessarily doing it most of the time.

I’ve done it before. By removing the thought process of which bait types to try, it’s kinda peaceful lol. 
 

Unless you bring 15 types of soft plastics! 

[WRB]

Spinning rods to me are finesse soft plastics.

1/8 to 1/4 oz drop shot with 7 lbs FC, size 1 Mosquito hook.

Wacky 4.8 Flick Shake worm

4 1/2” to 6” straight tail Roboworms, nose, wacky and weedless hook.

1/8 oz Slip shot cylinder weight with 5 lb Copoly line and weedless down shot hook #5133 size 2/0.

4 1/2” to 6” straight and curl tail worms, Roboworms and Iovino hand pour worms ( they float off the bottom).

casting rods for larger worms and creatures.

Medium fast witn 8 lb copoly line,

5” to 6” Senko weightless or 3/32 nose weight.

3/16 oz shaky jig and 1/8 oz T-rig with 6” to 7 1/2” Roboworms, Iovino and Uptobs worms.

MHF rod with 12 lb FC line,

1/4 to 7/16 oz jig with GYCB twin tail 4” & 5” Hula grub and twin tail grub.

7/16 to 3/4 oz jig with silicone, living rubber skirt and 3” to 4” Chigger craw.

T- rig with 3/16 to 3/8 bullet weight plus glass bead. 3/0 to 6/0 straight shank round bend worm hook.
6” to 13” hand pour worms, Roboworms, Iovino and Upton straight tails.

Tom