Ethan Clarke
Soft plastic baits are a popular choice for walleye fishing. There are a variety of soft plastics on the market that vary in size, colour, and tail type. When choosing a soft plastic lure, it is important to consider the size, colour, and style that will be most effective for the specific fishing conditions. In recent years, there has been a breakthrough in walleye soft plastics with the introduction of Eye-Candy by Northland Fishing Tackle, which features unique shapes, colours, and a Super TPE material that is ultra-stretchy, durable, and buoyant. For those looking to create their own soft plastic baits, there are many options for purchasing bait molds and adding personal touches with fishing lure paint and accessories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Northland Fishing Tackle |
| Product | Eye-Candy |
| Composition | Super TPE material |
| Properties | Ultra-stretchy, tough, ultra-buoyant, absorbent, long-lasting, spongy |
| Colors | Pink, firecracker, green pumpkin, black |
| Shapes | 5 |
| Tail types | Twister, paddle |
| Size | 3-4 inches |
| Use | Swim, jig, combo of both |
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What You'll Learn
- Soft plastic baits with jig lures are good for walleye
- The Gulp Alive brand is popular for walleye soft plastics
- Bright colours like pink and firecracker are good for attracting walleye
- Soft plastics with boot tails are good for mimicking real minnows
- Using an aluminium mould will ensure consistency in your soft plastic baits
Soft plastic baits with jig lures are good for walleye
Soft plastic baits with jig lures are a great way to catch walleye. There are a few things to consider when choosing your soft plastics, such as size, colour, and tail design. Firstly, size is important—most soft plastic lures range from 3 to 4 inches, with 4 inches being a popular choice for many anglers. You can also find smaller or larger options to suit your preferences and fishing conditions.
Colour is another critical factor when selecting soft plastics for walleye. The colour options are endless, ranging from bright and vibrant shades to natural hues. Bright colours like pink, firecracker, and pearl body shades are eye-catching and can attract fish. Natural colours like green pumpkin and black can also be effective, especially when they match the forage base in the system you're fishing.
The tail design of your soft plastic lures is also important. There are two main types of tails: twister tails and paddle tails. Paddle tails, such as the Eye-Candy Paddle Shad, mimic the movement of a real minnow, swimming, wiggling, and kicking, whether retrieved aggressively or slowly dragged. Twister tails create a different action in the water, and both styles have their advantages depending on the fishing conditions and target species.
When using soft plastics with jig lures, there are a few techniques to consider. One method is to "swim it," where you cast out and adjust your reeling speed based on the depth. When fishing in shallow waters, use lighter jigs (1/16 to 1/4 oz), and when fishing deeper, switch to heavier jigs (5/16 to 3/8 oz). Another technique is to "jig it," where you let the lure fall to the bottom and then pop your rod tip to make the bait jump in the water column. Finding the right balance between pop and pause is key to success with this technique.
Additionally, you can create your own soft plastic baits with aluminium moulds, allowing you to customise the size, style, and colour to your preferences. You can even add flashy extras like flakes and glitter to make your lures stand out. Whether you choose pre-made or customised soft plastics, the key is to find what works best for you and the walleye you're targeting.
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The Gulp Alive brand is popular for walleye soft plastics
The Gulp Alive brand is a popular choice for walleye soft plastics. Anglers have reported success using these scented baits for walleye fishing. The Gulp Alive baits are known for their strong scent, which can attract various fish species, including walleye. This is due to the water-based plastic formulation, which makes the baits softer and more effective at dispersing scent.
While some anglers dislike the messiness and durability issues of Gulp Alive baits, others find that their scent and effectiveness in catching fish outweigh these drawbacks. The scent can be long-lasting, however, which may be considered a disadvantage as it can be challenging to remove from hands, tackle boxes, and other surfaces. The strong scent can also attract mice if the baits are stored in a garage or similar space.
Gulp Alive baits are available in a range of sizes, colours, and shapes, including nightcrawlers and minnows. The nightcrawlers, in particular, have a strong scent that can be difficult to remove if spilled. The minnows are designed to be reeled in, creating a swimming action that attracts fish.
When using Gulp Alive baits for walleye, anglers can employ different techniques such as "swim it," "jig it," or a combination of both. Swimming the bait involves casting it out and adjusting the reeling speed based on the depth of the water. Jigging involves letting the bait fall to the bottom and then popping the rod tip to make the bait jump in the water column.
Overall, the Gulp Alive brand is a well-known and effective option for walleye soft plastics, offering a range of scents, sizes, colours, and shapes to suit various fishing techniques and conditions.
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Bright colours like pink and firecracker are good for attracting walleye
When it comes to soft plastics for walleye, colour is a key consideration. While you can find any colour of plastic bait imaginable, from bright shades to natural hues, it's important to choose the right colours to attract walleye. Bright colours like pink and firecracker are excellent for enticing this species. These vibrant hues stand out in the water and grab the attention of nearby walleye, increasing the chances of a bite.
Northland Fishing Tackle's Eye-Candy soft plastics have been specifically designed for walleye fishing and feature striking colours like pink and firecracker. The success of these lures lies not only in their eye-catching colours but also in their unique composition and fish-attracting movements. Made from Super TPE material, these lures are ultra-stretchy, durable, buoyant, and absorbent, allowing them to withstand multiple catches.
The Paddle Shad, for instance, mimics the size of typical forage on walleye waters and exhibits lifelike movements. Its boot tail swims, wiggles, and kicks, perfectly imitating the action of a real minnow. This lure is especially effective when fished with different retrieval techniques, such as slow dragging or snap jigging, enticing walleye with its natural presentation.
While bright colours like pink and firecracker can be highly effective for walleye, it's important to consider the natural forage base in the system you're fishing. Sometimes, more subtle colours like green pumpkin and black may better match the prey that walleye are accustomed to feeding on. By varying the colours of your soft plastic lures, you can experiment with what works best in different fishing conditions and environments.
Additionally, the size and style of your soft plastics can also make a difference. Most soft plastic lures range from 3 to 4 inches, with 4 inches being a popular choice for many anglers. You can also choose from various shapes, such as short and stubby or long and skinny, to mimic different types of prey. Combining the right colour, size, and shape can lead to a highly effective lure presentation that entices even the wariest of walleye.
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Soft plastics with boot tails are good for mimicking real minnows
Soft plastic lures are flexible rubbery baits that can mimic a variety of aquatic creatures, including minnows, worms, crawfish, lizards, and frogs. They are often used for bass fishing, but their versatility extends to walleye as well. When it comes to targeting walleye, soft plastics with boot tails are particularly effective in mimicking real minnows.
The Northland Tackle Eye-Candy Paddle Shad is a notable example of a soft plastic with a boot tail that excels in imitating a minnow's natural movement. Its boot tail design enables it to swim, wiggle, and kick in the water, replicating the subtle and lifelike actions of a minnow. This lure measures 3-1/2 inches and can be presented in various ways, including aggressive ripping, slow dragging, snap jigging, or a steady retrieve. The durability, softness, and buoyancy of the Super TPE plastic used in its construction further enhance its resemblance to live bait.
The Eye-Candy Paddle Shad's lifelike action is not just a visual attraction for walleye but also creates a natural swimming motion that emits vibrations and subtle cues that walleye detect through their lateral line system. This system is composed of sensory receptors that enable fish to perceive subtle changes in water pressure and detect nearby prey or potential threats. By generating these subtle cues, the boot tail design of the Paddle Shad becomes a potent trigger for walleye to strike.
Additionally, the boot tail design of the Paddle Shad allows anglers to experiment with different retrieval speeds and techniques. For instance, a slow retrieve will cause the lure to gently wobble, resembling an injured or struggling minnow, which can trigger a predatory response in walleye. Conversely, a faster retrieve will make the boot tail vibrate more vigorously, creating the illusion of a fleeing or panicked minnow, which can also provoke aggressive strikes from walleye.
The versatility of soft plastics with boot tails, exemplified by the Northland Tackle Eye-Candy Paddle Shad, makes them a valuable tool in an angler's arsenal when targeting walleye. Their ability to closely mimic the appearance and movement of real minnows, combined with the flexibility in presentation, increases the likelihood of enticing strikes from these predatory fish. Anglers can further enhance the effectiveness of these lures by incorporating scents or fishing them in areas where walleye are known to feed on minnows.
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Using an aluminium mould will ensure consistency in your soft plastic baits
Soft plastic baits are a popular choice for anglers, and for good reason—they can be incredibly effective in attracting walleye. While there are many options available on the market, such as Northland Fishing Tackle's Eye-Candy, which has been a huge hit with anglers, making your own soft plastic baits allows you to connect with your fishing on a deeper level. It gives you the freedom to create baits tailored to your specific needs and preferences, ensuring you have the perfect lure for your next fishing trip.
Creating your own soft plastic baits starts with crafting moulds. You can purchase moulds in various shapes, sizes, and colours, or you can take it a step further and make your own custom moulds. This allows you to get creative and design unique baits that stand out from the standard options. Aluminium is an excellent material choice for these moulds, and here's why:
Using an aluminium mould ensures consistency in your soft plastic baits. Aluminium moulds, such as those offered by Ultra Molds LLC, are precision-engineered to produce baits with uniform size, shape, and detail. This consistency is key when you find a design that works for you—you can replicate that successful bait over and over again, ensuring you always have a reliable lure at hand. The durability of aluminium also contributes to this consistency, as it withstands the stresses of the moulding process, delivering the same high-quality results with each use.
Aluminium moulds offer versatility in creating soft plastic baits. They can be designed with intricate details and unique shapes, allowing you to experiment with different styles of lures. Whether you're aiming for a natural look with colours like green pumpkin and black, or something brighter like pink or firecracker, aluminium moulds provide the flexibility to achieve your desired appearance. You can even incorporate multiple colours in your baits by using techniques such as pouring two colours in one mould with a short delay in between, creating eye-catching lures that stand out in the water.
Another advantage of aluminium moulds is their ability to produce baits with fine details and smooth finishes. The material's thermal conductivity contributes to even heating and cooling, ensuring your soft plastics cure consistently and can be easily released from the mould. This results in baits with clean, precise details that can make all the difference in their performance. Additionally, aluminium's durability means your moulds will last for many bait-making sessions, providing a reliable return on your investment.
Overall, using aluminium moulds for creating soft plastic baits offers consistency, versatility, and attention to detail. With these moulds, you can produce lures with uniform quality, experiment with different designs, and achieve precise results. So, if you're looking to elevate your fishing game and create your own customised baits, aluminium moulds are an excellent option to consider.
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Frequently asked questions
Some good soft plastics for walleye include Northland Fishing Tackle's Eye-Candy, which comes in five striking shapes with fish-attracting movements, and Ripple Shad Powerbaits, which are more expensive but durable.
When it comes to colour, it's best to stick to what you're confident in or what matches the forage base in the system you're fishing in. However, it's important to note that you can find any and every kind of coloured plastic bait imaginable.
There are three main ways to fish soft plastics for walleye: "Swim It", where you cast out and adjust your reeling speed according to depth; "Jig It", where you let the jig fall to the bottom and then "pop" your rod tip to make the bait move upwards; and a combination of both methods.
