Soft Plastic Tips?

[BayouBassAssassin]

I've read the articles but I have a few specific questions. First, how long do you let your bait sit at the bottom before you start your retrieve? Second, do you raise the rod tip in one fluid motion or tap it up to bring the bait in? Third, how do your retrieves differ from different types of soft plastics? Worms, Brush Hogs, etc.

[FishDontLikeMe1301600221]

depends on my mood,sometimes ill castout and let it sit there for a few seconds sometimes minutes b4 i start to reel,as for rod tip i kind of do suttle little jerks if its like a senko or wacky.if its a lizard on a c-rig then ill just reel in slowly with a stop n go feeling the bottom and if i feel it going over structure like down trees,big rocks ill slowly pull it over and stop to let it flutter on the drop.and I ALWWAYS use diff.retrieves and patterns on diff. plastics.also depends on the water color and weather or not its wavy or not that day and how the fish are biting that day,some days its s-l-o-w others it ripp'n them through cover.

[JacobK]

I've read the articles but I have a few specific questions. First, how long do you let your bait sit at the bottom before you start your retrieve? Second, do you raise the rod tip in one fluid motion or tap it up to bring the bait in? Third, how do your retrieves differ from different types of soft plastics? Worms, Brush Hogs, etc.

I forgot who specifically posted this but i read it somewhere on bass resource.

"Make your jig imitate a crayfish, so move it like you think a crayfish would move."

I take that theory and put it to use with majority of my soft plastic uses. I drag my crayfish/lizards slowly. i'll use my worms slow & let them sink naturally and when on the bottom i'll just give them a little hop.

but really its all in how the fish would like it that day. sometimes they're inactive and the slow style of fishing will keep the lure in their face longer. other days they'll want it fast just start your trip by fishing both ways until you figure out.

[Hammer 4]

If I'm clearing a overrun, could a loooong time..lol

Seriously, at a minium to a count of 30, usually 60..then I give the rod tip about 4-6 quick, short twitches, let it sit, and do the same over..Sometimes I'll slowroll a t rid'd worm, I try different things, until the fish tell me what they want. Unless it's a C rig, I use my rod to do all the action, my reel only takes up slack in the line.

depends on my mood,sometimes ill castout and let it sit there for a few seconds sometimes minutes b4 i start to reel,as for rod tip i kind of do suttle little jerks if its like a senko or wacky.if its a lizard on a c-rig then ill just reel in slowly with a stop n go feeling the bottom and if i feel it going over structure like down trees,big rocks ill slowly pull it over and stop to let it flutter on the drop.and I ALWWAYS use diff.retrieves and patterns on diff. plastics.also depends on the water color and weather or not its wavy or not that day and how the fish are biting that day,some days its s-l-o-w others it ripp'n them through cover.

[Catt]

1) Make a long cast

2) Strip 3 or 4 arms length of line, this will assure a vertical fall

3) Count the bait down, 15' of water count to 20 to make certain the bait is on the bottom, do it in your head if need be

4) Pause a good 30 seconds after the bait reaches bottom

5) Lower your rod to the 3 o'clock position while reeling slack & feel for anything unusual

6) Move the rod from 3 o'clock to 1 o'clock in three motions

7) Pause 30 seconds & feel for anything unusual

8) Repeat 5, 6, & 7 all the way back to the boat

9) If at any time you feel a noticeable tap, tug, line tighten, heaviness, or see line movement.

10) Without hesitation drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook

[Sam]

bass are inquisitive animals so follow what catt says.

but be ready to change the presentation depending on what the bass tell you that they want.  

[Fishing Rhino]

How long?  How patient are you?

Type of retrieve?  Don't hesitate to vary it.

I've done what Catt has suggested with good success.

I've also cast, let the wacky rigged worm sink a bit, then retrieve it a couple of feet with a smooth sweep, pause, and repeat back to the boat.  

Another method I use/try, is to retrieve in short, quick, twitches which makes the worm look like it is "rowing" its way through the water.  I use this mostly in shallow water.

Trial and error will tell you which the fish prefer at that time.

Sometimes they all work.

[Blue Streak]

I think that all varies from day to day. Just as bass want different lures they also want different retrieves. Don't get locked into just one presentation, experiment and find out what they want maybe your way will be the best way.

[roadwarrior]

"Make your jig imitate a crayfish, so move it like you think a crayfish would move."

Be the bug.

8-)

[bilgerat]

I've had bass attack a worm I was 'ripping 'across the surface because I wanted to cast to another spot because nothing happened on the prior cast/ retrieve. This has happened to me often enough that I don't believe it's a fluke.

The point is, as has been mentioned, to try ANYTHING. Perhaps the bass have seen too many "by the book" presentations.

Earlier this month I spent a week in the Poconos fishing. I had quite a few torn up senko style worms. I cut the last 2" off and rigged them on 1/8 oz. ballhead jigs. Cast them out and a slow retrieve, sometimes a yo - yo retrieve. I absolutely killed with this setup. No action to them all, yet I could do no wrong with them.

[DixieAngler]

I usually try something along the lines of Catt's post with minor variations. Works well for me.

Happy trollin'

[infiltwb]

definately depends on my mood hehe. I am a guy who tries to provoke a reaction strike and generally that has worked well for me, big and flashy in the column, but I am a sucker for topwater assassins.

I tend to spend alot of time with spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and topwater frogs, although even with sliding a craw/lizard along the bottom ill tend to go flashy and fast when jigging, not the traditional approact but has served me well overall. If all else fails, i'll slow down and work it kinda naturally in a more natural color or something that works with the water conditions at hand.

[BassAssasin2]

Usually ill just make a cast then let it sit for a few seconds and then bounce it off the bottom, working the rod tip up. IT always works for me and i can really fill the bait when im bouncing it so im always ready for a strike.

[iceintheveins]

This is a tough question because you never really know what the bass want on a given day. Slow dragging, little hops, big hops or lifts, steady reeling, stop and go. They all work at different times and you need to try them all till you find a pattern.

[D4u2s0t]

depends what you're doing, and what you feel like doing.  with worms, I vary it up.  sometimes i'll throw it out, let it sit a while.  sometimes i'll let it fall on slack line.  sometimes i'll have the line tight the second it hits the water, twich it a few times to give that wacky worm some movement.  sometimes i'll let it sit on the bottom, twich a few times, and sometimes i'll just slowly raise the rod tip.  you're best bet is to try all of these techniques, and take note of what seems to work the most.

with other baits, creatures, lizards, etc, I do the same thing.  sometimes i'll crawl it on the bottom, swim it through the middle, let it fall and give a tug, let it fall give a tug, and sometimes swim it off the top.  different techniques will work in different conditions, so try them all and use what works.