Question For My Fellow Va Anglers

[luv2fish33]

Do you guys think its still to early for soft plastics?? I went fishing Sunday and yesterday at a private pond that is loaded with lunkers, but no luck at all, Its almost like they have had lock jaw or something. Last summer when I fished this place all I needed was plastic worms, but so far this early spring no luck at all with the plastics.

[stevecastle]

Do you guys think its still to early for soft plastics?? I went fishing Sunday and yesterday at a private pond that is loaded with lunkers, but no luck at all, Its almost like they have had lock jaw or something. Last summer when I fished this place all I needed was plastic worms, but so far this early spring no luck at all with the plastics.

I`ve been out with my son probably a dozen times now and have had our best luck with jerkbaits and wire spinners. The water is still cloudy and cold. We haven`t had enough warm days in a row to get things warmed up. That said, he did catch a few recently on texas rigged craws in some old lily pads that haven`t grown up yet. I would try jerkbaits and spinners.

By the way i tried out my new Kistler Argon rod yesterday and it is the best rod i`ve had so far, which isn`t saying much. This coming weekend should be the best so far. Spawn should be on soon.

[Nayte]

I caught a lunker in February on a Chompers hula grub, Texas rigged. Slow and steady till these water temps warm up. I'm from Northern VA and the water temps are ALMOST ready for bass to spawn.

[dhami013]

About a month I threw out a shaky head finesse worm and a baby brush hog. Caught a couple decent sized ones. So I don't think it's too early. But I would try jerk baits, those seem to be the trick.

[bassnmike]

It's not to early for shakey heads and senkos. I use them all year around it's all about the color and how you present it. The water still isn't very warm so the fish aren't going to move that fast yet. Try those fishing slow and a drop shot. I have had my best luck with a drop shot with the bait only about 12in up from the weight.

[s13john]

i use soft plastics all year long

flukes,senkos and shakey head worm

[Wayne P.]

I was catching bass on March 2 with plastic worms. I try them when I can make a cast and my lure doesn't bounce on ICE.

[TheLastRodBender]

I've been deadstickin stick baits since i could get out this year... and it's been working, as well as a couple on flukes... NEVER too early for plastics...

[vaparrothead]

I caught my first fish of 2011 on a soft plastic a few weeks ago. They always seem to produce a few fish.

[luv2fish33]

So Im guessing its really all about location of the fish and a slow presentation

[Sam]

Simple question, difficult answer.

1. Depends on water temperature, clarity, oxygen, wind and cloudy or blue bird skies.

2. Any structure they can hold to?

3. Any docks, boathouses, piers or bulkheads they can use to get out of the sun and into the shade?

4. Are they feeding or on their beds? When the Dogwoods bloom they are on their beds.

5. What depth are they holding?

On Lake Gaston my club tournament in March was won by the guys throwing Senkos and shaky heads under docks. Water temperatures were in the high 50's.

At Mr. Bass on Lake Gaston this past weekend they guys throwing Senkos and shaky heads under docks did poorly.

Go figure?????

You have to get a therometer and check the water temperature to determing what the bass are doing and if they want moving baits or slow falling plastics and if so, at what depth.

Experiment and have some fun doing it.

[luv2fish33]

Thanks for the advice Sam. Im thinking its a combination of cooler water temps and clarity and o2. I think im going to wait until early May before I go back to this pond, they should be back to more shallow water by then and moving around a little more. I caught a bunch of lunkers at this place last year but I didnt start fishing it until May.

[JShrock07]

Thanks for the advice Sam. Im thinking its a combination of cooler water temps and clarity and o2. I think im going to wait until early May before I go back to this pond, they should be back to more shallow water by then and moving around a little more. I caught a bunch of lunkers at this place last year but I didnt start fishing it until May.

Don't give up, right now in most ponds in NoVa the bass are getting on their beds. In fact I have several small ponds I fish (friends houses) where I have pulled decent bass off the beds already. drop shot a senko, I like wacky rigged and polarized glasses. They are there you just have to find them and pound them, dont stop after 10 mins hell dont stop after 30 mins if you see the fish. Just find what she wants.

To answer your question I think Sam did an outstanding job as usually. Soft Plastics work for me all year, its all in how you use them. Speed, color and size. Good Luck to you and Ill be looking for your first soft plastic fish pic of the year

[luv2fish33]

Thanks NitroMan I hope to have a pic here really soon, only problem I have is I catch the big fish when im by myself and its hard getting to the camera lol

[WdyCrankbait]

I have been doing well lately with plastic crayfish. Both the Berkley Chittercraw and now the Net Bait baby Paca Craw (got a 3.5# today on one).

I just started fishing with Sam in his bass club and the one thing I can tell you, plastics are the ticket. Don't get frustrated

[intheweeds]

I have been doing pretty well with plastics. I have found that using a keel weighted hook with a plastic has been working great. I like how you can fish it at different depths and speeds. Try a Rage Tail space monkey on a 1/4oz keel weighted hook. Don't forget to lather it up with MegaStrike.