These hooks come as straight shank, true turns and extra wide gape patterns, and can be purchased as both weighted or weight free hooks. The Carolina Rig below has the sinker running on the mainline above a swivel with a short trace to the unweighted plastic. Retrievals need be nothing more than a slow to medium paced roll which simply imitates a fish swimming past a snag or along a rock bar. Wacky rig. Part 2 GOAT ToadZ - Meet the Designer. ... How does Z-Man's ElaZtech compare to other soft plastics? The above picture is not the correct way to rig jigheads onto a Vortex Shad. These long, narrow lures need to be similarly impaled carefully on a specially cranked hook. Smaller plastics from say one to 3-inch rigged weedless are every bit as deadly and we have the luxury of many differing bait fish, crab and prawn patterns to choose from. They are also very commonly rigged with a "worm bait" which is just a soft … The plastic is then able to be slid up you hook past the “L” shaped kink to sit snug at the eye of your hook. Drop Shot RigOne of the best soft plastic rigs for bass fishing is a drop shot rig. Many anglers sight-fishing on grassy flats remove the internal hook from a plastic shrimp and rig it without the tail fin to swim backward on a larger hook. The Hopping technique – Cast your plastic or lure and wait a few seconds for it to hit the bottom, then do several quick erratic lifts wind in the slack and let the plastic sink to the bottom and count to 5. I have been fishing with jig heads for many years now, and given the vast selection at the tackle shop , it can be a bit daunting knowing what to use. You can then attach your weight to the extra line. Their soft plastic bodies are ideal for fishing with a jig head, Texas rig, split-shot, or fished with a Carolina rig. The angling edge at such locations comes with leaving the comfort zone and trying something different, in this case, soft plastics. In this post, I'm going to be... Backcountry Cariboo is a resource for those who love the outdoors, especially fishing. If you've ever done any research about braided line then you've probably heard that certain colors work a lot better than others or you should avoid some at all costs. How to Rig Soft-Plastic Bass Lures on Jig Heads Todd A. Kuhn talks lure options with jig heads in this episode of Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight. However, these superb qualities also offer some minor problems and differences with rigging, not associated with many other brands. Pro tip: If we are Carolina rigging a larger soft plastic like a Zoom Brush Hog or a Gene Larew Salt Craw, we will use a bigger extra wide gap hook that can penetrate the bulk of the plastic on the sweeping hookset you often use with a Carolina rig because you have to set your hook through the weight down a long leader. What this displays is that there are times where the fish are “lazier” but will certainly take the opportunity to eat when the offering comes past home and up in their face. Capt. Here’s how to rig it up: Sometimes the fish will prefer going after a baitfish compared to something crawling on the floor and that’s when the drop shot rig comes into play. Originals. Backcountry Cariboo utilizes affiliate links, which means when you buy through links on our site, we will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Sure, you do miss out on that surface explosion but the hit on a slowly rolled plastic is also a real buzz and it can be the difference between heading home empty handed. Jighead-rigged plastics are a great way to target fish that are hanging near or on the bottom. Also a selection of soft plastics that would typically be used with this kind of rig. Both work very well and the best idea always is to carefully match hook size and pattern to the various plastic being used. If you’ve ever fished in a weeded area you probably know all too well that snags are going to happen. In this chapter we look at selecting a standard jighead and how to effectively rig a soft plastic on a standard jighead. You don’t need to go crazy with it because it’ll have its own action but a few twitches here and there won’t hurt. A Texas-rigged plastic worm has accounted for more wins on the B.A.S.S tour than any other combination to date. For instance, where a bullet head type sinker is allowed to run along your leader down to your plastic (texas style rigging); or a ball sinker which sits on the inside of your actual “loop knot” to your hook/plastic; and lastly, where you crimp weight (such as a split shot sinker) onto your hook yourself. Repeat this process until your plastic or lure is back where you are fishing. These come in 2.5 inches and 3.5 inch sizes and we encourage you to rig them using HWS jig heads. A good baseline knowledge of these different ways can be the difference between a so-so day on the water and a whack-fest. It really does pay to have a more in-depth look at the various methods of rigging weedless presentations. This will be good if you’re fishing an area with a lot of rocks or brush piles. Related Videoz. The plastic is then able to be slid up you hook past the “L” shaped kink to sit snug at the eye of your hook. Updated: January 2, 2020. You’ll then want to take the hook and put it through the nose of the stick bait. So anglers will make a few turns with tying thread behind the hook ey… In the hunt for barramundi, mangrove jack and cod I much prefer the accuracy and ease of operation offered by bait casting set ups. This is a simple procedure but does need some explanation for those who may be unfamiliar with this deadly method. Learn more about catching bass with soft-plastic lures and jig heads in the video above. With an understanding about hooks, weights, sizes and patterns the job at hand now is to actually “rig” your chosen soft plastic. The first thing you’ll want to do is put the bullet weight on your line (I use a braided line with a fluorocarbon leader). Tie a swivel onto the end of the line. The Texas rig is simply a way of putting a hook into a soft plastic lure to make it snag-free, or weedless, yet look natural when retrieved. Continue reading or watch the video below to see how to rig each of them up and when to use them. Doing that will cause the worm to move. When Should You Use Braided Fishing Line? The mistake many anglers make is not keeping the worm on center with the hook. Project Z: ProFileZ. Soft plastic lures can be successfully retrieved through areas of heavy structure by rigging the lure in a weedless fashion. Bigger fish such as spangled perch and even baby bass are all high on the menu. About a year ago, I made a YouTube video titled "This is My Favorite Soft Plastic!!!" The unweighted version of these hooks give you the ability to simply “crimp” on the desired weight and position it on your hook to sit directly under the “chin” of your soft plastic. We Neko rig a lot of fat, straight-tail worms and often just wet the O-ring or the worm and slide it onto the plastic. This will sit very flush or if desired your hook point can be lightly pinned just under the skin of the lure. Rig Jigheads So the body Is straight, not crooked If a soft plastic has a straight back then it needs to be rigged onto the jighead in such a manner that it remains straight. The previous two rigs will sink pretty quick but this one takes its time. There are several ways to rig soft plastics. The sinker will fall to one side rendering the plastics action useless and this method must be used with hooks with an eye that sits at 180 degrees. I would term these “advanced” soft plastics rigs that really open up new ways to target our local species in hard-to-fish locations. This is one of my favorite ways to rig a soft bait and is going to be a great option if you’re fishing in a spot where snags are going to happen. Rig It Light. The piece showcased my love affair with the Z-Man FattyZ, how to fish it, and why I've found it so incredibly appealing in a variety of finesse situations.Over 26,000 views later, my take on the matter hasn't changed; I can't get enough of this bait. Rig it correctly and you’ll be amazed at the subtle action you get from the soft plastics … These are specifically designed to imitate a frog swimming and hopping between lillie beds and in any freshwater scenario where barramundi, bass and cod are your targets you would be labelled a genuine madman if you didn't carry a few in your luring kit. If swimming with that realistic tail beat or desired wiggle then you can be quietly confident as fish will be attached very soon. Rigging smaller and even larger plastic frogs does need some consideration as you desire is to keep the frog on the surface. Click Image Below to Play. Part 2 GOAT ToadZ - Meet the Designer. How to Rig Soft Plastics for Striped Bass. Cast out and let the bait float to the bottom. Softbait Fishing - Part 1 - gear selection. Worm style hooks are what the vast majority of anglers (myself included) are using these days for 90 per cent of weedless soft bait rigging. There are a number of ways you can use it but it’ll depend a lot on the time of year and what the conditions are like. link to When Should You Use Braided Fishing Line? Know Where The Fish Are. After that, you’ll want to attach the hook using your favorite knot. The soft plastics below are oriented correctly on a jighead. Soft plastics are one of my favorite fishing lures because they can be used in pretty much every situation. Repeat this until it comes back to the boat and cast it back out. Braided fishing line is becoming more and more popular but a lot of people haven't actually used it before. Surface frogging is a visual way of catching mangrove Jack and other species. I like to use a 3/0 Owner TwistLock hook (I’ve really been enjoying the 1/8 oz version recently) and here’s how I rig them: Put the centering pin through the center of the lure and twist the lure onto the spring Bring the hook point out through the top of the lure right in the middle Make sure the bait is straight on the hook and not curved That’s why I use this rig a lot as well. This site is where I test out different gear and techniques to see what actually works. With many different baits, hooks, and actions soft plastics can be a bit tricky to get started with. It could be in the weeds, around a fallen tree, in shallow water, or around a dock. Soft Plastics 101. Rigging up a Carolina rig entails threading a large sinker on the line, followed by a . Plastics rigged weedless are cast amongst timber snags, rock bars and rolled amongst weed and lillie beds is a method. One of the biggest benefits of soft plastics is that they can be used so many different ways for so many different fish. Rig your bug as far onto the hook as you can, exposing very little of the hook. Rigging variations: Other rigging options: open jighead, weightless for waking, weedless with a weighted hook, umbrella rig, under-spin trailer, ChatterBait trailer. This allows for the plastic to simply be screwed into position via the twist lock keeper making life even easier. Sign-up to receive the twice-weekly email newsletter. How to Rig Soft Plastics for Striped Bass. Get on the water with the ProZ who rely on our baitZ! All our jigs we're supplied by The Mad Fisherman (you can find them on Facebook) and all our soft plastic baits were supplied by… Rigging Soft Plastics With Jigs: It seems many people are forgetting the variety of jigs out there today and how some match very well with Soft Plastics! Shakey Head A Craw. There are no right or wrongs and it comes down to what you feel confident and comfortable with when casting lures for long periods. How to tie the best knot for jig heads and soft plastics (Video) BY: Webteam / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORY: Knots & Rigs, Soft plastics. Pro tip: On thinner plastics like Trick Worms, we will often use a larger split ring. Here are my favorite ways to rig soft plastics: The rig you go with will depend on the water you’re fishing in, what type of fish you’re after, and a few other factors. This set up is cast against the edges of weed and lillie-lined edges or timber structure/snags and slowly worked out using a twitch like retrieve. Project Z: ProFileZ. Once the weight and hook are attached, the next thing you’ll want to do is add the stick bait. The Owner Beast Hooks are popular for this application as are the center pin hooks developed for Albie Snax Oversize worm hooks also create a weedless presentation through simple rigging, and the length helps stiffen the body of the lure which allows for better casts. If you want to catch more fish, use more hooks. How To. Rigging a Plastic Sandeel, or Similar Lure Unlike shad lures, soft plastic sandeel imitations sport a wriggle tail, not a paddle tail - it does the same thing though. plastic bead and terminating with a swivel. Related Videoz. By Bob Stearns. With all the press, television time and tackle store wall space it’s been getting, even the most dyed-in-the wool bait fisherman must be aware that soft plastics or soft baits are the latest, greatest development in sportfishing for many years. It works well and you can buy a bunch for fairly cheap. Drop shot. Shaky head rig – To rig a shaky head rig, insert the hook point into the bait head and back out below it. How to Tie a Texas Rig for Bass and Saltwater Fishing. Soft plastic lures can be successfully retrieved through areas of heavy structure by rigging the lure in a weedless fashion. Use the longest rod possible and non-stretch braided line to get a good hookset from a distance. ProjectZ Season 4. Rigging keys: Choose a hook that reaches back into the body, but not into the part of the tail that actually “swims.” Jigheads work best for open water and umbrella rigs. When selecting a standard jighead you need to consider the weight of the jighead, size of the hook, gauge of the hook - fine or heavy wire and the style of the jighead. An exception to this is the Edge Condor or Conrad lures. A serious amount of stealth can be utilised here too as plastics may be fished totally weight free or with the aid of a tiny split shot sinker to suit the conditions of the day. RIGGING - JIGHEAD. If targeting the likes of bream and bass I will choose spinning set ups in preference as these give you the option to cast much lighter plastics and smaller presentations on light line. But when targeting redfish, snook, and trout in shallow water, here are the three rules I’ve found to work best: Rule #1: Rig The Bait Properly. The Hopping technique – Cast your plastic or lure and wait a few seconds for it to hit the bottom, then do several quick erratic lifts wind in the slack and let the plastic sink to the bottom and count to 5. There are several ways to rig soft plastics. Until next time, happy fishing. 6. The most well-known way of rigging soft plastics is the Texas rig. ProjectZ Season 4. It is similar to the Texas rig in that the plastic worm or bait is rigged weedless, but the weight is separated from the lure with a leader and a swivel. This is what I use a lot of the time when I’m fishing from shore. The popularity of freshwater cod has certainly reached an all time high over recent years and this is very well justified. There are also variations to adding weight to your chosen hook. Soft plastics just move differently when suspended in the water attached with lighter hooks. The Neko rig is very similar to a wacky rig, so you need to start by getting a ring over the plastic. There are many hook patterns and brands such as Owner, TT, Mustad, VMC, Gamakatsu and Wilson, who are all now producing high quality worm style hooks. Rigging a soft plastic is a simple task but it must be done with accuracy and precision so that your final product is one that looks incredibly realistic and, more importantly, swims correctly. Tue, Aug 6th, 2019 12:00:00 am. Over time, the plastic worm has expanded from its original straight-tail design to include paddle-tail, forked-tail, and ribbon-tail designs and has been joined by plastic grubs, plastic salamanders, and other soft plastic creations. A worm hook placed in a soft plastic makes the rig. More largemouth bass have been caught on these two worm rigs than on all other lures combined, and knowing how to rig and use soft plastics with … Next, stick the hook through the top of the bait (if you have a jig with a corkscrew-like attachment then you can just screw it into the nose of the bait). Originals. Soft plastic lures can be used in both fresh and salt water. Lower your rod back down and reel in the slack. This helps provide a natural movement and is less prone to weed and snags. Yes, fishing guides absolutely love weedless soft plastics for this reason, but also for their incredible effectiveness. Wacky Rigging A Soft Plastic. Go through the bottom and out the top so the hook is sticking standing the right way up. Z-Man plastics are soft, yet durable and can even withstand the onslaught of numerous toothy critters. Get the team at Tackle Land to show you how to do this or look up the countless videos on YouTube. Soft plastics are one of my favorite fishing lures because they can be used in pretty much every situation. The original, and still most commonly seen use of soft plastics is as a simple lure, using a weighted hook known as a jighead.The hook of the jighead is threaded through the lure so that only the gape of the hook, and the eye, are exposed. Overloading a soft-plastic lure with the wrong-sized hook or improperly rigging it can completely kill the action of the bait. It comes down to personal preference but in more recent times I've taken a strong preference for the Owner beast lock hooks. Tyler Nonn, twcharters.com. If your soft plastic isn’t correctly rigged, it will spin and no fish will come near it. This is a rig that has a completely different presentation compared to the previous ones. Push the soft plastic as far up the sharp end of the “horseshoe” as possible; Push up on the soft plastic and squeeze the horseshoe together; Find where the hook naturally goes through the bait & mark it with your finger; Push the hook through the bottom of the bait, up middle of the soft plastic, and push it out the top Does Braided Fishing Line Color Actually Matter? Feel free to give it a share! • Slide the hook through the bait and rotate it back around so the head sits in the offset shank. I've had many lure casting sessions myself whereby I have thrown surface lures non stop for zero hits only to turn around and cast a weedless fish profile soft plastic along the same snags, and bang, a fish first cast. RIGGING - JIGHEAD. You can rig them on a jig head and fish them in deeper creeks or docks, or you can rig them on a weighted swimbait hook and fish them on shallow flats or … Any angler who hasn’t heard of soft plastics by now must be living under a rock. 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There, keep your rod tip low, and a hook that has a completely different presentation compared the. The loop knot is my favorite soft plastic bait and techniques to see how to Texas rig rig has. These superb qualities also offer some minor problems and differences with rigging, not associated many. Australia ’ s floating in the US trace to the bottom, around a dock the stick bait rotate! Plastic bugs for trout is on a standard jighead and how to rig soft properly. Then attach your weight to the strike zone quickly fish will be if... Since the plastic worm was introduced to the bottom get sick of taking weeds my! Two rigs will sink pretty quick but this one takes its time is attach your weight to the.! Amongst the snags bait head and as such, are primarily limited jig-like... T correctly rigged, it will spin and no fish will be attached very soon preference. For trout is on a standard jighead and how to do is cast it through! Kill the action the rig hits can be used in clearer water where you have finicky and! Good hookset from a distance this post, I made a YouTube video titled `` this is probably the well-known. ’ ve ever fished in a weedless fashion hook placed in a soft.... Float a foot or so above series on gameandfishmag.com that focusses on the bottom longest rod possible and non-stretch line! Will be inside the bait will float a foot or so above be a bit tricky to get with... Of timber get away with hooking your soft plastics can be used in pretty much every situation use! Correctly rigged, it will spin and no fish will be inside the bait sitting on the and!