Alexei Volkov
Soft plastic lures are a powerful and versatile alternative to live bait when fishing for crappie and bluegill. They are durable, affordable, and mimic the movement of live bait. They can be rigged in countless configurations, including the wacky rig, Texas rig, Carolina rig, and drop shot. The Texas rig is particularly popular because it is minimalistic and durable. It allows the colour, scent, glitter, and vibration of the lure to work naturally and attract fish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Advantages | Plastic leeches are durable, versatile, affordable, and can be used in a variety of configurations. They also mimic the natural food of fish and can be tailored to specific conditions and preferences. |
| Types of Rigs | Carolina rig, wacky rig, Texas rig, drop shot |
| Techniques | Bobber fishing, jigging, casting and retrieving |
| Equipment | Small bobber, light jighead or plain hook, light split shot, barrel swivel, braided line, monofilament line |
| Plastic Types | Bobby Garland Mayfly, Bobby Garland Live Roam 'R', YUM FF Sonar Minnow, Bobby Garland Slab Hunt R, Freedom Baitz Apache, Freedom Baitz Bonita |
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What You'll Learn
Using a wacky rig
Wacky rigging is a simple and effective technique for fishing with soft plastic lures. It is particularly effective for bass fishing, but can be used for any species. The wacky rig is designed to mimic a dying baitfish, triggering a bass's ambush reflex as it slowly sinks near the cover.
To wacky rig a plastic leech, start by piercing the plastic lure in the middle with a hook. The hook should be weedless, Finesse wide gap, or an Octopus hook. You can also use a TK137 Pro-V Finesse Hook or a Mustad AlphaPoint Tak-Offset Worm Hook. The point of the hook should be exposed, rather than buried in the plastic. This setup allows the lure to hang in the middle of the hook, which creates a dying or injured baitfish profile.
When fishing with a wacky rig, it is important to use a semi-slack line. This allows the lure to fall slowly and wiggle, creating the illusion of a struggling baitfish. Keep the line semi-slack by casting your rig towards structure or cover and letting it fall. The wacky rig is most effective when worked around the edges of structure and cover, such as cattails, weed edges, and docks.
In cold water, a natural, slack line fall is the most effective presentation for a wacky rig. This mimics the lethargic movement of baitfish in colder temperatures. In warmer water, lightly jigging your rod tip can add erratic darting action to your rig, imitating the behaviour of baitfish in warmer temperatures.
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Using a Texas rig
The Texas rig is a versatile technique used for fishing with soft plastic lures. It is a simple setup that can be used by anglers of all skill levels, especially those looking to catch bass.
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. The weight of the sinker should be chosen based on what you are fishing for and the mood of the fish. If you are fishing tight to cover, you may want to add a bobber stop in front of the sinker to keep the weight, hook, and plastic together and prevent snagging on branches.
To rig the plastic, start by threading the bullet weight onto the line, followed by an optional glass or plastic bead. Then, secure the line to the hook. Take the point of the hook down through the middle of the plastic bait at the nose and exit about 1/8 to 1/4 inch down the side. Pull the hook back out of the plastic through this new exit hole. Bring the plastic over the elbow of the offset hook or the keeper on the straight shank hook, and then twist it to lock it in place. Finally, thread the point of the hook back into the body of the plastic to make the rig weedless.
The bead is optional, but it can provide an advantage in stained or muddy water as the clicking sound it makes can imitate a crayfish crawling over rocks and debris. However, some anglers believe that the bead takes away from a realistic presentation.
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Using a Carolina rig
To rig a Carolina rig, you will need the following:
- A strong, abrasion-resistant main line
- A short, light leader line (fluorocarbon or monofilament)
- A bullet or egg sinker weight, appropriate for the depth and fishing conditions
- A small plastic or magnetic bead
- A barrel swivel
- A hook of the appropriate size, either EWG or offset for rigging a plastic snagless
Once you have your equipment, follow these steps:
- Slide your weight onto your main line
- Slide your bead onto your main line
- Tie a barrel swivel to the end of the main line
- Tie your leader to the other end of the swivel
- Tie your hook onto the end of the leader
- Thread your chosen plastic lure onto the offset worm hook
When fishing with a Carolina rig, pick the area you want to target and begin with a series of fan casts. Use a long rod to make a long cast and let the weight pull the rig to the bottom. You will want the weight about 2 feet from the rod tip, so your bait could be 4-5 feet behind you when you cast.
It is important to reel in the slack when using a Carolina rig so that you can feel the moment a fish strikes.
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Using a drop shot
To rig a plastic leech with a drop shot, you will need a rod and reel, a line, a hook, a weight, and a soft plastic lure. The hook should be light but strong, such as a size 2 hook, and the weight should be slender so that it doesn't get hung up on the bottom. The soft plastic lure can be any colour or profile, but a beautifully designed soft plastic like the Keitech Custom Leech will give the lure loads of free movement.
To set up the rig, tie a palomar knot to your hook, leaving a long tag line on the free end of the knot (between 4 inches and 2+ feet). Trim the tag end to the desired length of your weight leader and simply clip on your weight to the line. The weight should be below the hook, with the hook and bait above it. This will allow your soft plastic lure to have more action while it suspends off the bottom, creating a very natural presentation.
When fishing with a drop shot, it is important to focus on moving the soft plastic lure more so than the weight. Instead of dragging the weight all around, a few very light shakes of your rod tip will impart all of the necessary action into your lure. Keep your weight in one spot and vary your retrieve based on what you think the bass would like the bait to do.
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Bobber fishing
To set up a bobber rig, first determine the depth where the fish are holding. In most cases, fish are on the bottom, so you want to keep your bait just off the bottom. Next, measure the line to that depth and slide the slip bobber stop up the line as you go. Tie a knot at the right depth, then pull on the loose ends of the knot to secure it. Add a plastic bead to your line to prevent the knot from getting stuck in the bobber, then attach the bobber. You'll also want a split shot for weight—enough to make the bobber stand up, but not so much that it pulls the bobber down. Finally, tie on your hook or jig. If you're using a plain hook, add a split shot or two about a foot above the hook.
When working with this setup, give it small twitches to create slow, natural movements from the plastics. Vertical jigging around a structure can also be effective. The St. Croix Avid Medium Light Extra Fast Action rod is a versatile option for bobber fishing, as it allows for a little more strength while still making any bite noticeable.
When fishing with plastic leeches, you can use a jig head with a twister tail below a bobber to fish for suspended crappies and bluegills. You can also try drop shotting, where you pitch and retrieve slowly or vertically with the weight on the bottom, shaking your rod tip slowly.
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Frequently asked questions
Popular rigs for plastic leeches include the Texas rig, wacky rig, Carolina rig, and the drop shot.
The Texas rig is minimalistic, allowing the colour, scent, glitter, and vibration to attract fish. It is also durable as it pierces the bait in two places, making for a strong connection.
When using a wacky rig, use a small hook that can accommodate the size of the worm. Hook it through the centre of the worm so that both ends hang off the hook. This setup is good for preventing snags and attracting the attention of fish.
