Mastering Soft Baits For Bass
Part Two

by Mark Romanack

Grubs are the soft plastic lures to use when bass are feeding on the bottom. "The bottom of my livewell often tells me when I should be fishing a grub," says two-time B.A.S.S. Angler-of-the-Year Kevin VanDam. "If bass are spitting up pieces of crayfish in my livewell a grub is going to be the best possible lure choice. The same is usually true if the bass are spitting up minnows."

If the forage is minnows, a curl-tail grub does an excellent job of imitating baitfish. Double-tail hula or spider grubs and tube bodies do a better job of mimicking crayfish.

"I match the lure size I'm using to the forage and then select a color that is very close to the bottom or available cover," says VanDam. "The more natural the grub matches the size and color of available forage the better it will work."

A jighead with the line tie pointing out the front is an ideal match for most grubs. Round-head and darter-head designs can also be very good. Regardless of which style jighead you use, the hook must be thin wire and needle sharp.

A few of the more popular grubs on the market include the Mister Twister Curl Tail, Gene Larew Skirted Double Tail, Zoom Fat Albert, and Kalin Triple Threat.

Grubs that have been impregnated with scent and taste enhancers are especially hot items. Bass tend to hit these baits more readily and hang onto them longer. Products in this category include Berkley Power Bait, Reaction Lures ReAct Strike Stimulant, and Riverside Gotta Bite.

Soft plastic jerkbaits have made a strong impact on bass fishing in recent years. The Lunker City Slug-Go started a fishing craze that has spread everywhere bass are found.

Plastic jerkbaits are usually fished around shallow weeds or timber in an attempt to lure bass out of the cover. Because this fishing style patterns bass that can see the bait as it swims and darts, the water must be fairly clear for good results.

"Soft plastic jerkbaits have more action than crankbaits," explains VanDam. "A Slug-Go never moves in the same way twice, making it appear like a weak or sick minnow."

As with other plastic lures, select colors that closely match the type of forage available. If shad, alewives, or emerald shiners are plentiful, the smoke/pepper shad or alewife/shad colors are good choices. If bluegill, sunfish, and perch are a major forage, perch and chartreuse/pepper are good choices.

Soft plastic jerkbaits are best rigged on a 5/0 wide-gap hook and fished using fairly heavy line. The heavy line helps to prevent the bait from sinking as quickly. If you want the bait to run a little deeper, use lighter line.

One of the best ways to fish these lures is to twitch them until the lure nears cover that holds bass. When the bait is in position, kill the twitching action and let it slowly sink right in the face of waiting fish.

Other popular soft plastic jerkbaits include the Berkley Power Slug, Zoom Meat Head, Culprit Jerkworm, Lucky E Strike Scatter Shad, and Bass Assassin Shad Assassin.

Floating worms are fished in much the same way as soft plastic jerkbaits. Ironically, the plastic baits used with this presentation aren't intended to float. Good floating worms include the V&M Bait Floating Worm and Zoom Trick Worm. These baits have a thinner design than other worms and are cast without weight on a 2/0 hook.

"A floating worm rig has a more subtle action than a jerkbait," explains VanDam. "When I throw a floating worm, I usually choose a color I can easily see. Bright colors often stimulate an angry response."

One of the best times to fish a floating worm is around the spawn. These baits have less action than a soft plastic jerkbait so they are easier to keep in front of fish you've spotted. A spinning outfit and 8- or 10-pound-test line is the best way to fish floating worms.

The fishing opportunities available to anglers who embrace soft plastic baits are endless. Angling techniques and presentations outlined in this article only represent a few of the ways soft plastic can be used to catch bass. The beauty is there's hardly a largemouth or smallmouth that can resist the natural look, feel, and taste of these lures.


Copyright (c) 1997 Mark Romanack. All rights reserved.

Home | Library | Fishing | Freshwater Fishing