Fishing With Soft Plastics

Soft plastics, a staple in every angler’s tackle box, are versatile and effective lures that mimic the look and movement of various aquatic prey. These lures are made from pliable materials that give them a lifelike feel and action in the water. In this article, I’ll delve into the art of fishing with soft plastics, sharing insights and techniques that have proven successful in my angling journey.

Soft plastics, as the name suggests, are artificial lures crafted from soft, flexible materials. Unlike hard baits, such as crankbaits or spoons, soft plastics don’t possess rigid structures. Instead, they come in various shapes and sizes, imitating a wide array of natural aquatic creatures, including worms, baitfish, and crustaceans. This flexibility allows them to mimic the fluid motions of live prey when submerged, making them irresistible to predatory fish. You can also make your own soft plastic lures.

The key to the effectiveness of soft plastics lies in their ability to imitate the movements and textures of real underwater creatures. These lures are designed with precision, featuring details like fins, tails, and appendages that create a lifelike appearance. When you cast them into the water and retrieve them, they exhibit a natural swimming or crawling action that entices fish to strike.

Soft plastics can be used in both freshwater and saltwater environments, making them a versatile choice for anglers targeting a wide range of species. Whether you’re after largemouth bass in a serene lake or hunting for redfish in the salt marshes, there’s likely a soft plastic lure that can match the local forage and attract your target species.

10 Types of Soft Plastics

I’ll delve into the diverse world of soft plastics, specifically focusing on 10 types that every angler should have in their arsenal. These soft plastics cover a broad spectrum of shapes, sizes, and actions, making them essential for various fishing situations. Here’s a quick introduction to the 10 types we’ll be exploring in detail:

Drop-shot Baits: These slender, finesse-style baits are perfect for finesse techniques and excel in clear or pressured waters.

Toads: Designed to mimic frogs and other amphibians, toads generate explosive topwater strikes, especially in lily pad-covered areas.

Worms: Classic and versatile, soft plastic worms come in various lengths and styles, making them a timeless choice for a variety of species.

Creatures: These baits imitate aquatic creatures like crayfish and aquatic insects, enticing predatory fish with their lifelike profiles.

Soft Jerkbaits and Shad Tails: Known for their erratic darting action, these baits closely mimic injured baitfish, triggering reaction strikes.

Tubes: With their hollow bodies, tubes are excellent for finesse presentations and are particularly effective for smallmouth bass.

Soft Stickbaits: These baits have a slender profile and subtle wobbling action, making them irresistible to bass and other predators.

Craws: Designed to replicate crayfish, craws are go-to baits for bottom-bouncing presentations, especially when targeting bass.

Trailers: These soft plastics are meant to be added to other lures like jigs and spinnerbaits to enhance their appeal and action.

Beavers: Beavers offer a unique, flipping and pitching presentation, often producing strikes in heavy cover where big bass lurk.

Each of these soft plastics brings something special to the angler’s toolkit, and in the following sections, we’ll explore their characteristics, rigging options, and when and where to use them effectively. You can also check our list of the best soft plastic baits.

Drop-shot baits

Drop-shot baits are slender soft plastics designed for finesse fishing techniques. They’re rigged by attaching the hook above the weight, allowing the bait to suspend above the bottom. This setup offers a lifelike presentation, making it effective in clear or pressured waters.

When to use drop-shot baits? They shine in situations where a more subtle approach is needed, such as when fish are finicky or the water is exceptionally clear. Their natural movement and enticing action make them a go-to choice for targeting cautious bass, panfish, and other species when finesse is key.

Toads

Toads are soft plastic lures designed to mimic frogs and other amphibians. They feature a hollow body and often have leg appendages that create lifelike kicking and splashing actions. Toads are most effective in topwater presentations, producing explosive strikes from predatory fish. 

Use them in areas with lily pads, dense vegetation, or open water when fish are actively feeding near the surface. They excel during warm months when frogs are abundant and can be particularly enticing to largemouth bass and pike. Toads are a top choice for anglers seeking thrilling topwater action.

Worms

Worms in the angler’s world are soft plastic lures that replicate the appearance and movement of earthworms or other aquatic worms. These versatile baits come in various lengths and styles, including straight-tail, curly-tail, and ribbon-tail designs. Worms are a timeless choice, suitable for a wide range of species, including bass, trout, and panfish. 

They’re effective in diverse environments, from freshwater lakes to flowing rivers. Use worms when fishing in situations where a natural, slow-moving presentation is needed, such as when fish are in a lethargic or finicky mood, or when targeting bottom-feeding species like catfish.

Creatures

Creatures in angling refer to soft plastic lures that imitate aquatic creatures like crayfish, insects, and small crustaceans. These lures typically feature multiple appendages, claws, and legs, providing a lifelike profile and movement. Creatures are highly effective when targeting predatory fish that feed on such organisms. 

They shine in situations where you want to trigger aggressive strikes, like when bass or pike are hunting near the bottom, or when fishing in areas with abundant underwater structure. The lifelike action of creature baits makes them a go-to choice for enticing strikes from opportunistic feeders.

Soft jerkbaits and shad tails

Soft jerkbaits and shad tails are soft plastic lures known for their erratic darting action, closely resembling injured baitfish. Soft jerkbaits typically have a slender, elongated body with a forked tail, while shad tails have a more pronounced paddle-shaped tail. 

These baits excel when you want to imitate wounded or fleeing prey, making them perfect for triggering reaction strikes from predatory fish. Use them in situations where fish are actively feeding on smaller baitfish, particularly in open water or around structure. Soft jerkbaits and shad tails are effective for species like bass, walleye, and pike, especially during their feeding frenzies.

Tubes

Tubes in angling are soft plastic lures characterized by their hollow, tube-like design. These versatile baits are typically used for finesse presentations and are particularly effective for smallmouth bass. They have a cylindrical body with tentacle-like extensions that mimic prey like crayfish and baitfish. 

Tubes shine in situations where a more subtle and finesse approach is required. They excel in clear or heavily pressured waters, and their natural movement can entice cautious fish, especially when fished near the bottom. Tubes are a go-to choice for smallmouth bass anglers, particularly in rocky or aquatic vegetation-rich environments.

Soft stickbaits

Soft stickbaits are slender soft plastic lures with a subtle wobbling action. They typically have a straight or slightly tapered body design. These baits excel in imitating slender baitfish and are versatile in various fishing scenarios. 

Use soft stickbaits when you need a lure with a natural, finesse presentation. They are effective for a wide range of species, including bass, trout, and panfish. These baits work well in clear or moderately clear waters, and their subtle action is particularly enticing to fish that prefer a more delicate, slow-moving prey. Cast them around structure or open water when a finesse approach is required to entice strikes.

Craws

Craws, short for crayfish, are soft plastic lures designed to replicate these aquatic crustaceans. They typically feature a segmented body with pinchers and legs. Craws excel in bottom-bouncing presentations and are highly effective when targeting predatory fish that feed on crayfish. 

Use craws when fishing in areas with rocky bottoms, submerged vegetation, or near structures like logs and boulders. These baits are go-to choices for bass anglers, especially in freshwater environments. Craws shine in situations where a natural crayfish presentation is needed to trigger strikes, making them a valuable addition to your tackle box.

Trailers

Trailers in the angling world refer to soft plastic lures that are meant to be added to other lures like jigs, spinnerbaits, or buzzbaits. These supplementary baits enhance the overall appeal and action of the primary lure. Trailers come in various shapes and sizes, from crawfish imitations to paddle-tail designs. 

Use trailers when you want to customize and fine-tune your lure presentation. They are particularly effective in situations where you need to mimic specific forage or add extra action to your lure. Trailers can make a significant difference in enticing strikes from various species, including bass and pike.

Beavers

Beavers, in the realm of fishing, refer to soft plastic lures designed to imitate aquatic rodents, particularly beavers. These lures usually have a compact, chunky body with multiple appendages and a textured surface, resembling the appearance of a beaver. 

Beaver-style baits are highly effective in heavy cover or dense vegetation. They excel in situations where fish seek shelter, such as submerged timber, lily pads, or weed beds. Use them when you need to present a bait that can penetrate thick cover effectively. Their unique profile and action can entice strikes from big bass and other species lurking in such habitats.

Soft Plastic Rigging Techniques

Soft plastic rigging techniques are fundamental skills every angler should master. These techniques involve attaching soft plastic lures to hooks and weights in various ways to mimic natural prey and entice fish to strike. Proper rigging ensures lifelike action and presentation in the water, increasing your chances of success on the water. Fore more in-depth information, read our ultimate guide: Soft Plastic Rigging Techniques.

Carolina Rig

The Carolina Rig is a versatile soft plastic rigging technique. It involves a sliding sinker above a swivel, allowing the bait to move freely while the weight remains on the bottom. This rig is excellent for covering expansive areas, probing deep water, and enticing finicky fish. It’s a top choice for bass anglers targeting fish holding in a variety of structures, from submerged rocks to offshore humps.

Wacky Rig

The Wacky Rig is a finesse technique where a soft plastic bait, often a worm or stickbait, is hooked through its center, creating a wacky, erratic action. This rig excels in clear or pressured waters when a subtle presentation is needed. It’s highly effective for bass, particularly during their spawning season, and can provoke strikes when other methods fail.

Texas Rig

The Texas Rig is a weedless soft plastic rigging technique. It involves inserting a hook into the bait and then burying the point in the body, making it snag-resistant. This rig is perfect for fishing in heavy cover or weedy areas where fish seek shelter. Bass anglers frequently use the Texas Rig to target fish in tough-to-reach spots.

Ned Rig

The Ned Rig is a finesse technique featuring a small, buoyant soft plastic bait threaded onto a jighead. It’s a subtle presentation that works exceptionally well for bass, particularly in tough conditions or when fish are inactive. The Ned Rig is a favorite among finesse anglers for its ability to tempt bites from even the most cautious fish.