im just jumping on the soft plastic bandwagon (thanks to jazman) and i was wondering what every1 else uses. so please take the time to submit your favourite soft plastic set-ups and lures to give me some ideas of what to get.
Good to hear you're moving to the dark side (soft plastics). I don't have a heap of time right now, but I'll take some pictures and post 'em tomorrow evening. Give us a bit more of an idea what type of fish you will be targetting, and in what sort of water (eg/ port philip bay, rivers etc)
This is my soft plastic/jighead/fluorocarbon collection as it stands at the moment - far too many! I seem to buy them quicker than I can use them. I know you're starting out Poodge, so don't stress, you don't need anywhere near as many as this to catch good fish (see post below)
Out of all the stuff in the above pic, below is what I actually use 90% of the time. I use these to target snapper and flathead in the bay (in shallow water <10m), but have also caught snook, longfinned pike, dory, barracouta, squid, octopus and red mullet using these.
Top left is a spool of 8 pound fluorocarbon - I use a 1 metre leader of this because (1) it acts as a shock absorber to overcome the low stretch of the fireline I use as mainline and (2) it is almost invisible in the water. Next to the spool are a few packs of jigheads - TT jigheads in 1/8, 1/12 and 1/16 ounce weights, hook sizes 1 and 1/0. The green pack of jigheads are Gamakatsu darters, 1/8 ounce, hook size 2/0 - the action of these heads are great for snapper and especially good for use with larger plastics (eg/ 4 inch minnows), but they're ok for 3 inch minnows too.
The plastics are all Berkley Power minnows in 3 inch and 4 inch sizes.
Left column (top to bottom): 3 inch Smelt/scales, 4 inch Smelt/scales, 3 inch Pumpkinseed/scales.
Right column (top to bottom): 3 inch Pearl/Watermelon/Shad/Scales, 4 inch Pearl/Watermelon/Shad/Scales, 3 inch Bloodworm/Scales.
With the snapper I have found that it's good to have some greenish-coloured plastics as well as some brown or reddish coloured ones - on a few trips changing from green to red or vice versa has made all the difference. The flathead don't really care what colour you use.
At the very top of the page is the actual SP/jighead combo that I used to catch my PB snapper on soft plastics (48cm, but mates have caught them to 65cm on plastics) - it's a Gamaktsu 1/8 ounce 2/0 jighead with a 3 inch Bloodworm/scales minnow.
If I were you, I'd grab a few packs of 3 inch minnows in pearl/watermelon and smelt, and some 1/8 ounce jigheads in size 1 or 1/0.
Wow! thats quite a collection jaz. if you are like me with your fishing gear, its as much fun collecting gear as it is using it. that would've cost you a small fortune all of that stuff. i see you have some blade dancers up the top. have you used them yet? are they all they're cracked up to be? i see them advertised heaps and people seem to boast about them. what i see you favour berkley lures a fair bit. have you tried others i.e. kokoda, squidies, etc.
oh with your line i know you use fireline but does is make a difference what type of braid you use because fireline is NOT CHEAP! i am happy to spend the money though if you think it is well worth it as i have a job now.
I bought those blade dancers on special at the fishing show last year because they were 3 for $10, but I haven't used them yet because they are very big (hook size looks to be at least 4/0)! They'd be good for larger pelagics (salmon, tailor). I have heard good reports about the blade dancers in the smaller sizes for trout.
I have used Berkly, Ecogear,Eco Products, Squidgy, and Juro SPs, but I do better using the Berkely minnows. I think it's the scent and the glitter they're covered in that make the difference.
As far as braid goes, fireline is at the cheaper end - the last braid I spooled up with was Fins PRT braid, $75 for 300m! Fireline is well worth the price, and majority of SP fishermen use it. Just do yourself a favour and get the tackle shop to spool it up for you, it will make a big difference.
Yep, I have a pack, they catch fish, but so do most of the Berkely GULP range. The sandworms are supposed to be very good for bream (i don't fish for bream much). Gulps are made of a different material to the normal power minnows, it is not as durable but gives off a lot more scent in the water. They also dry out if you don't seal the pack properly after your fishing session - I have done this once <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/oops.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' /> The GULP soft plastics are supposed to be the closest thing to live bait, and (if you believe the propaganda on the package) actually outfish live bait in head-to-head tests - personally I reckon this is a load of BS but they are good.
If you want to get some, decide whether you want the fatter worms or the thinner worms. The fatter ones are (I think) 6 inches long, the thinner ones are (I think) 4 inches long, but you get more in a pack. A lot of guys don't use them whole, but cut them into an appropriate length for the jighead they are using. Small segments of the worms are also a good bait for garfish <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' />
Another good soft plastic which is similar to the sandworm is the GULP turtleback worm - a lot of keen bream fishos swear this is the best plastic ever for bream.
i have heard that people only like to use about half the worm and was reading a forum on them on another site. one time when i was fishing at mordi i found a discarded packet of Gulp! sandworms that had been opened and were very dry. does it matter with the powerbaits if you store in your tacklebox outside their packets?
Don't take the plastics out of the pack unless you absolutely have to. The pack contains scent and (sometimes) glitter - you want as much of this stuff on the plastic as possible. Also the packs (as long as you seal them properly) are airtight, and will keep the plastics fresh.
Hey Poodge, this is my first posting. Jazman coerced me into it yesterday (Damn his black soul Arrgh!).
No seriously mate, Jazman got me onto the soft plastics in the first place. He likes the Berkeley and gulps. I like the squidgies. We are always trying to persuade each other to try our style.
I have'nt been fishing them long, I fish Altona. I get really vicious hits from pinkies and flatties on the soft plastics. I have used Jazman's 3'' minnows in black and smelt...they go off! Also squidgie fish and squidgie wrigglers #3 (I think, about as long as your thumb) in flash prawn (brown with black spots) gary glitter (orange and black, not as good) and black gold squidgie fish. Steer clear of the dodgy 'snack-pack' Kmart variety SP's. I have'nt used them before, but I don't think much care is given in making them.
Try to get away with as little weight as possible, I use 1/8 jighead with a size 2 hook. Last week flash prawn in a metre of water full of weed and sandy patches was murder for two big 45cm flatties (I also dropped one).
Don't forget to set your drag so if a big fish gets interested, it can pull out line (that's how I lost mine). Check out any bait fish you see where you are fishing and get something that looks similar in SP, chances are that's what's on the menu. I like a dark coloured back and light underside pattern.
Fresh air, tight lines, scales slime and fins, 'tis the salty sea dog life for me, Arrgh!
Fresh air, tight lines, scales, slime and fins, 'tis the salty sea dog life for me. Arrrgh!
I haven't used squidgie flickbaits myself, but I would imagine they are like the Berkeley flick baits. My understanding of a flick bait is any soft plastic that just sits inanimate and needs the angler to 'flick' it around by manipulating the line to endow it with motion (eg, moving the rod, reeling in short jabs). I have caught flatties and pinkies on the berkeley flick baits. I think I like the 'wrigglers' because they have maximum motion (the floppy tail goes crazy) when they are descending and being 'flicked'. I think this looks like a poor little bait fish pumping its little tail to swim around, while the combined 'flicking' makes it seem like it's in distress, a suicidal combination when any predatory fish are lurking about.
I am thinking of trying a paternoster rig with a wriggler 30cm off the bottom (with the SP unweighted, just with a normal hook threaded through it). This way the wriggler still looks like it's swimming around because of the current and wave action, but you can leave that rod and concentrate on flicking another terminally rigged with a soft plastic that needs flicking.
Also, if you are like me, you'll love having something to actively fiddle with like a flick-bait, and if it contributes to the bag, well......BONUS!
Remember, always think you are a fish and experiment with whatever crazy thoughts pop into your head while you're in the pescatorial trance.
AARGH.....thanks fer yer hospitable welcome.
Fresh air, tight lines, scales, slime and fins, 'tis the salty sea dog life for me. Arrrgh!
Mike's (flounderpirate) efforts and success with soft plastics show you don't need really flash gear to catch good fish on sp - he uses mono line and no graphite rod, but still catches good fish.
Technique and persistence (I believe) are the key elements of his success:
-Fish your sp slow and deep
-Use as little weight as you can
-Fish shallow and deep areas until you find the fish.
-Be on the water before sunrise <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' />
I am new to SP's and outfish my stubborn brother who insists on using bait 3 to 1. I use size 2 hooks with a 1/8 jighead (I have'nt perfected my casting technique yet, so I need the weight, but try to use as little as possible). I haven't got the style or expertise of Jazman, but I don't do too bad for a hack.
I use an ordinary rod with 2kg monofilament on an average reel, nothing flashy or expensive, just adapting to different situations, patience and luck. I dare say though that in tricky situations where fish are nibbling lightly or shy, or you have other situations that test your gear (eg. Big fish pulling hard), having an outfit with all the trimmings might land you that elusive fish, which you might lose on cheaper gear.
I usually fish from 6am-1pm. Just try every theory you have, tides, moons, times, reefs, birds lures, berley even your crazier ones eg, shallow water, rigs etc. Don't be afraid to do something different to everyone else, which they might think is nuts (assuming it is legal).
Just experiment until you find your favourite method that works, and don't let other people put you off, try your way and see for yourself.
Listen to as much advice as you can and try what appeals to you.
Fresh air, tight lines, scales, slime and fins, 'tis the salty sea dog life for me. Arrrgh!
mike... (can i call you mike?) when you said about the paternoster rig i think thats called dropshotting and is it a bass technique. i dont think its used much in aus though.
Dropshotting isn't used much in Australia but those in the know use it very effectively in certain situations, for example:
-When the tide is running very hard and a normal jighead won't get to the bottom, you can whack on a huge sinker and drop shot successfully
-When you need to keep the plastic in the strike zone for a long time (ie/ not move it very far from where it lands) but still want to 'work' the plastic
That makes sense Jazman. Sure you can call me Mike, what's in a name anyhow?
I have'nt tried that way yet, it was just an idea, but in the situation Jazman mentions, it would work well in theory. I would prefer a wriggler, or SP that has maximum action on its own (no need to jig).
Have you ever tried a 'Hot Tail' wriggler? The tail of the SP is a different (often much brighter) colour to the usually duller colour of the SP body, they claim this is suppossed to induce more aggressive strikes from fish...has anyone proven this?
Fresh air, tight lines, scales, slime and fins, 'tis the salty sea dog life for me. Arrrgh!
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