Plastics and Weights

[jwo1124]

I am pretty much a noobie when it comes to plastics. I would much rather use a spinnerbait, buzzbait, crankbait, or a jerkbait. I know there are times when the bass won't chase things down and are looking for an easy meal, especially the big mammas. Anyway, I read some where, I think it was actually a post on this site where a guy said he won;t go above 1/4 oz. for his soft plastics because anything heavier will straight out kill the action of the lure. I am trying to come up with a gameplan for my plastics, so I am looking for alittle help. So far I have:

Texas Rigged Plastics and Tube Jigs:(not in heavy cover flippin) 1/8-1/4

   

Carolina Rig:1/2-1 depending on depth and wind

Flipping Vegetation with plastics:1/4-1/2 depending on how heavy the veg is

Finnesse(Drop Shot and Shakey Head) 1/8 on ML tackle

Also two other questions regarding plastics.

    1.) When should I use a jig+Pig over a plastic when working heavy vegetation like high hydrilla beds or heavy lilies?

    2.)When should I use a plastics buzz frog over a buzzbait?

Thanks Guys.

[jwo1124]

By the way, that frowning face isn;t suppose to be there. I typed a ":" and a "(" next to eachother not even thinking that that face would come up. d**n you little yellow ........

[skillet]

 IMHO it sounds like you've got a pretty good handle on the weight thing, unless you get into deeper water or heavier vegetation (weights might need to go up a little then). I normally fish pretty skinny water.

 I like the jig for the first of your last 2 questions. Last, when the fish are wanting something that isn't raising as much commotion and you can let the toads drop down into open places in the vegetation (good trick ). Hope this helps ...

                                             As Ever,

                                              skillet

[luckyinkentucky]

I never fish vegetation with anything less than a 3/4 or 1 ounce weight on a Carolina rig.  It takes quite a bit of weight to get that worm through the cover, and you're wasting your time with anything less in my opinion.  

You can use a heavier weight if you decide to use floating worms.  I like to use these on the Ohio River where I do 50% of my fishing.  The heavier weight can be counterbalanced by a floating worm, or even a piece of floating foam inserted into the tube I use.  You can get the foam at BPS or anywhere else that sells extensive terminal tackle.  They also have floating things you can add to your plastics if you choose to get more action from a slower fall with a heavier weight.  The weight stays on the bottom, but the plastic retains some buoyancy.  

[Marty]

When should I use a plastics buzz frog over a buzzbait?

I'll just address this question. Both are excellent fish attractors. My preference is to use the buzzbait when and where I can and use the buzz frog when the vegetation precludes buzzbait use.

That said, buzz frogs are good in open water as well as vegetation, but I have more confidence in landing the fish on a buzzbait on which I always have a trailer hook.

[Matt Fly]

The majority of experience plastic throwers have a confidence color that we like.

As recently as within a month, I have made the simple adjustment from using a 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz.     Normally, my rule has been to use the litest weight the wind and conditons will allow.

There are times when the fish won't hit it unless its moving faster versus slow on the drop.    As I have gotten older, I have learned to make the adjustments with weight alot of the times before switching colors or methods.     One day, I'm on good bite T rigged, 1/4 oz bullet, plum 10 inch, the next day same area, nothing until I made the weight change to a heavier weight.    Thus the two rods rigged with both set ups.

To add something Marty mentioned on Buzz baits, I also like the buzz bait when the water isn't glassed.   A little wind disturbes the surface and noise can be good thing also.    

Don't be afraid to make changes, good fishermen adjust on the fly all the time.

Matt

[Catt]

Texas Rig: 3/16 to 5/16; favorite 1/4

Carolina Rig: 3/4

Flipping Vegetation: 3/8 to ; favorite 3/8

Drop Shot: 1/4 to 3/8

Hydrilla:

Sparse: Texas Rig

Heavy: Jig-N-Craw

Plastic buzz frog: Thick vegetation

Buzz bait: Sparse vegetation

[Tin]

 Thats exactly how i do it, only i cant carolina rig to save me life.  Seems like you have things down though.

[ww2farmer]

Just to add another wrinkle to what every one else has said, when c-rigging in thick grass I like to use a smaller weight, 1/8 or 3/16 oz. This keeps the rig on top of the grass. Anything heavier just drags massive ammounts of milfoil back to the boat. When I want to get under the milfoil, sometimes 3/8 oz is heavy enough, some times 1 oz is NOT, you have to adjust to the condtions and go heavier if needed. All I ever fish in the weeds anymore is tungsten, glides through with ease. I don't even own any non-tunsten worm weights anymore.

[jwo1124]

Thanks for the replies guys