Soft Plastics
The use of soft plastics, or otherwise known as dropshot, is already a very well-known and tested way of lure fishing. When it comes to this art there truly is no definite right or wrong.
I have been fishing soft plastics for many years and if I had to choose, I would never use bait again. The thrill of the chase, the feeling of the knock, a Garrick frenzy and that constant anticipation that anything can happen at any moment has truly changed my outlook on fishing.
When using soft plastics I have found that size, colour and brand seldom make a difference however, like with everything there are some guidelines you can use to improve your chances.
The weather and the colour of the water you are fishing have been the main components in my soft plastic choices. On an overcast day with darker water I tend to use more solid and bright colours something like a pink, purple or blue. Whereas when there are blue skies and clear water I have leaned towards using softer, more natural colours like pearl, olive or white.
The size of the soft plastics I use range between 3 and 5 inches. It often depends on the body of water I am fishing in as to what size I will use. When fishing in the sea or a large river I prefer using a larger minnow usually a 5 inch, whereas if I am fishing in smaller rivers, in gullies or around grass patches I tend to use a smaller minnow. The fish you are targeting would of course also make a difference to the size or you’re plastic. When targeting a Kob or monster Garrick 5 inch would be the better bet.
Different types of soft plastics require different types of retrieves. When using a paddle tail, I prefer to vary the height at which I keep my rod. This causes the paddle tail to swim at different depths although retrieved at the same speed. I have often found that fish will only hunt or strike when your lure is swimming at a certain depth. The next thing I tend to do when using a paddle tail is to keep my rod as still as possible during my retrieve, the reason being that the tail itself creates a vibration in the water that the fish can pick up on. This also works better when fishing in very “stable” water or calm conditions to maximise the vibrations. When using paddle tails we have often fished till after dark and hooked into large Kob that were attracted by the vibrations in the water.
The jerk shad minnow however is not as effective when retrieving with a still rod. The most important thing to remember when using jerk shad plastics is to try and imitate an injured fish with your minnow. Twitching your rod tip on the retrieve will give the plastic a jerk action, fooling the predator into thinking it is a wounded bait fish. When targeting your slower ambush hunters, allow your minnow to sink down to the bottom and then giving your line a jerk by lifting your rod tip will allow the minnow to bounce up and down forming an ark on the retrieve. This also imitates an injured bait fishing trying to swim to the surface. This works especially well when targeting Kob.
These couple of pointers should help you get started fishing soft plastics. There will seldom be a wrong way, so get out there and experiment with the colours and conditions!