Omar Khalid
Fishing with plastic baits is a popular method for catching bass. Soft plastic lures come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and can be used to mimic the natural prey of bass, such as worms, lizards, and crawfish. When using plastic worms as bait, it is important to be gentle and slow, dragging the bait across the bottom of the water body and feeling for brush or rocks. The Carolina Rig and Texas Rig are two commonly used setups for plastic baits, with the Carolina Rig being ideal for covering large areas of water and the Texas Rig being a versatile foundation rig. Proper maintenance and disposal of plastic lures are crucial to minimize their environmental impact, as they can pose a threat to fish and wildlife if not handled responsibly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of plastic baits | Soft plastic baits, hard lures |
| Soft plastic baits | Worms, tubes, lizards, swimbaits, jerkbaits, beaver-style baits, hog-style baits, etc. |
| Hard lures | Crankbaits, jerkbaits, poppers, glide baits |
| Soft plastic worm types | Straight tail worms, curly tail worms, swimming worms |
| Soft plastic worm brands | Zoom Trick Worm, Zoom Ol' Monster, Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm |
| Soft plastic lizard brands | Texas-rigged green pumpkin lizard |
| Soft plastic swimbait brands | Keitech Easy Shiner, Gambler Big GZ |
| Soft plastic jerkbait brands | Zoom Super Fluke, Yamamoto Shad Shape worms, Z-Man Jerk ShadZ |
| Soft plastic Ned rig brands | Z-Man Finesse TRD |
| Soft plastic beaver-style bait brands | Reaction Innovations Beaver |
| Soft plastic hog-style bait brands | Zoom Brush Hog |
| Colors | Various |
| Hooks | O-rings, twist locks, bait keepers, zip ties, J-hooks |
| Techniques | Flipping, pitching, shaky head, drop-shot, wacky rig, Texas rig, Carolina rig |
| Fishing locations | Shoreline, docks, grass, blowdowns, logs, reeds, other grasses |
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What You'll Learn
Soft plastic worms and how to rig them
Soft plastic worms are a must-have bait for bass fishing. They are popular because they give a lifelike action and are available in hundreds of different colors, shapes, and sizes. They can be rigged in several ways, making them incredibly versatile. Here are some of the most common ways to rig soft plastic worms:
Texas Rig
The Texas rig is the most popular way to fish a soft plastic worm. It is a very simple technique to learn and master. To create this rig, place a bullet weight on the line above a 4/0 worm hook. The weight should slide freely on the line. Then, impale the tip of the hook back into the body of the worm so that it becomes "weedless". This rig works well when fishing around grass or brush.
Carolina Rig
The Carolina Rig is another excellent method for bass fishing. It is a little more technical than the Texas Rig but is still relatively simple. To create this rig, place an egg sinker or a Carolina Rig weight on your line. The weight should slide freely. Then, tie a swivel to the line under the weight, followed by a 12- to 24-inch leader of a lighter line. Finally, attach your worm hook to the end of the leader. A Carolina Rig is perfect for covering a lot of water and works well when fishing in main lake points or flats.
Wacky Rig
The Wacky Rig is a soft plastic worm hooked right in the middle of its body. This rigging style gives the worm a lot of action and is excellent for catching fish, even when other methods have failed. Due to its even shape, the Senko Worm is a good choice for this rig. When displayed on a Wacky Rig, both ends of the worm can move freely in the water, giving a natural appearance that bass find irresistible.
Shaky Head Rig
The Shaky Head Rig offers a unique presentation for rigging a soft plastic worm. Using a specialized shaky jig head, the worm is threaded onto the head on a small spring-like wire. Then, the hook is placed through the worm's body for weedless applications. The Shaky Head Rig is effective because it bounces off the bottom and stands up vertically when paused, which can effectively draw in a strike. This rig is also useful for areas with thick vegetation.
Ned Rig
The Ned rig is a finesse technique developed for fishing in heavily pressured waters. It uses lightweight mushroom-style jig heads and extra-small soft-plastic baits. This rig is excellent for tough conditions late in the summer.
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Flipping and pitching techniques
Flipping and pitching are rod and line handling techniques used primarily for catching bass in shallow water cover. They are particularly useful when fishing around cover such as grass, blowdowns, logs, or docks. These techniques allow anglers to make quiet presentations with pinpoint accuracy, which can be advantageous when fishing in tight spaces or around structures that are difficult to cast using standard techniques.
When using flipping and pitching techniques, it is important to use strong and tough lines that can withstand the rigours of throwing into line-damaging cover. High-speed reels, around 6:1, are also recommended to ensure quick line pickup and solid hooksets. Additionally, longer rods ranging from seven to eight feet can provide more accuracy when flipping baits.
To execute the flipping technique, hold the rod straight up in the air with the reel at shoulder height. Let out the line until the bait is at waist level, keeping your thumb on the spool to engage the free spool. With practice, you can master the timing and technique to achieve a quiet, splashless entry for your bait, which can be crucial in certain situations.
Pitching is similar to flipping but is used when the target cover is within a rod length or two. It involves dropping the bait directly into openings in the cover, such as half-submerged branches. By adding a few extra feet of slack line, anglers can achieve precision strikes with minimal effort.
Both flipping and pitching techniques can be practiced at home to develop a smooth and quiet presentation. These techniques offer a specialised skill set for bass anglers, providing a precise method to target bass in shallow cover.
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The Texas rig
To set up a Texas rig, you will need a bullet-shaped slip sinker, an offset or straight shank hook, and a soft plastic bait of your choice. New anglers should start with a 1/4-ounce tungsten weight, which is denser than lead and therefore transmits more information to the angler. For the hook, an Extra Wide Gap (EWG) or straight shank hook is recommended. Finally, choose a soft plastic bait such as a worm or creature bait.
To rig the hook and bait, start by inserting the hook point directly into the centre of the head of the soft plastic bait. After about half an inch of penetration, turn the hook and direct the point straight out of the bottom side of the lure. Continue to push or thread the lure up the shank of the hook and over the keeper or onto the offset bend. Finish with the bait straight and true on the hook shank. You may also pinch a small bit of plastic to cover the point, ensuring a solid hookset while keeping the bait snagless.
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The Carolina rig
To set up the rig, start by adding a sinker to your mainline. You can use an egg-type or bullet-type weight, depending on whether you are fishing through grass or other snag-prone areas. Next, add a bead and tie a swivel to the line. Choose a leader line type and length—a short, light piece of fluorocarbon or monofilament is a good option as it allows the lure to disconnect from the weight and move more freely. At the end of the leader line, tie on a hook, at least a 3/0 worm hook. Popular soft plastic baits to use with this rig include lizards, worms, crawfish, and other creature baits.
When fishing with the Carolina rig, drag your pole using a sweeping motion, parallel to the surface of the water, to move the lure over the structure. Keep your motion smooth and avoid jerking the rig. This technique is effective for fishing in areas with grass, blowdowns, logs, or docks, and it can help you learn about the composition of the lake bottom.
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The wacky rig
To set up a wacky rig, you will need an o-ring, a hook, and your preferred soft stick bait. You can use a tool like the VMC Wacky Rig Tool or the VMC Crossover Pliers to get the o-ring onto the worm, or you can use a cylinder tube or spreader pliers. Simply slide the worm into the tube, roll the o-ring onto the plastic, and then attach the hook. Alternatively, you can use a zip tie instead of an o-ring by firmly fastening it to the center of the bait and then sliding the hook underneath.
When fishing with a wacky rig, you can pitch it to docks, posts, trees, laydowns, bushes, grass, or anywhere else bass might be found. Let it sink and then give it a few short pops on a semi-slack line to hop it off the bottom. The wacky rig mimics the movement of a crawfish, collapsing and getting smaller when it pops off the bottom, then floating undulating to the bottom.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some tips for fishing plastic baits for bass:
- When fishing near reeds and other grasses, use flipping and pitching techniques.
- Use a soft plastic worm on a Texas rig when fishing away from the bank.
- When using a Carolina rig, ensure your bait floats just off the bottom.
- Use a slow, steady retrieve when fishing with plastic worms.
- Use a lighter line when worm fishing to create more natural action in the bait.
Some popular plastic baits for bass fishing include:
- Soft plastic worms, such as the Zoom Trick Worm and the Zoom Ol' Monster.
- Soft plastic lizards, such as the Texas-rigged green pumpkin lizard.
- Soft plastic jerkbaits, such as the Zoom Super Fluke.
- Ned rigs, such as the Z-Man Finesse TRD.
There are several ways to rig a plastic bait for bass fishing, including the Texas rig, the Carolina rig, and the wacky rig. The Texas rig is a foundation rig used in different setups, while the Carolina rig is excellent for covering a lot of water. The wacky rig is simple and effective, with the bait pierced in the middle and hanging between the gap of the hook.
