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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Fishing Forum Most productive soft plastic |
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04/02/2019 05:32AM
Most everyone knows my most productive soft plastic lure is the ZMAN ShadZ. What is your most productive soft plastic lure? Tube? Curly tail jig? Leech imitation? Lizard? Worm? Senko? Paddle tail swim bait? Craw imitation? Creature bait? Frog? ETC......
Make and model?
Size specification?
Make and model?
Size specification?
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
04/02/2019 05:44AM
As much as I like fishing soft plastic jerk baits like Shadz or Sluggos, I have caught many more fish on a weightless wacky rigged 4” senko. My favorite color is watermelon/black flake. A close second would have to be a 6” roboworm in morning dawn color fished on a dropshot rig.
Moray
04/02/2019 06:00AM
for years now, since i first watched Charlie brewer decades ago, i have used berkley 4 inch black worms, curly tail, with his charlie brewer head. 1/4 oz. size. in quetico and bwca the smallies love this combo.
i bought so many slider heads a few decades ago, it will be a while before i run out.
still use the rig, still hot for bass.
i bought so many slider heads a few decades ago, it will be a while before i run out.
still use the rig, still hot for bass.
04/02/2019 10:54AM
2" or 3" twistertail in white, probably 75% of my fishing no matter where I'm at is done with that. I've caught just about everything that swims in fresh water with twistertails and plenty of stuff in salt water as well. I like to keep things simple.
04/02/2019 12:43PM
I tried the Zman Finesse Shadz last year and they killed! Zman makes a nice mushroom head jig with a wire bait keeper that was great with these. I’m partial to finesse applications and these outfished my usual go-to tubes by a ton.
Second one would be a 5” fluke rigged with a small fitness hook and a spring through the nose of the bait (think of the old school Banjo minnow rig). It’s super weedless from the finesse hook and when the fish eats it head first, the bait rotates on the spring and hits the top lip every time.
Tuna
Second one would be a 5” fluke rigged with a small fitness hook and a spring through the nose of the bait (think of the old school Banjo minnow rig). It’s super weedless from the finesse hook and when the fish eats it head first, the bait rotates on the spring and hits the top lip every time.
Tuna
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles." -Doug Larson
04/02/2019 03:16PM
Stained (not super clear water- at least during the day ) 3-4" Kalins or Power/Gulp Chartreuse.
The two loudest sounds known to man: a gun that goes bang when it is supposed to go click and a gun that goes click when it is supposed to go bang.
04/02/2019 03:47PM
in the BW/Q probably 3" solid yellow , twistertail , but i also like the 5" too basically a bigger profile without adding extra weight. also like the color white to but everybody has there favorite , watermelon-junebug-motor oil-green etc... ;)
keep your line wet, good things will happen
04/02/2019 05:53PM
The last couple years I have had a lot of success and enjoy using the B-Fish-N AuthentX Series Pulse-R... the fish hold onto them longer than any other plastic I've fished. I have had the most success with chartreuse colors.
BUT, my go-to/#1 would be the storm 360 gt searchbait minnow. With that said, I usually am targeting walleye.
BUT, my go-to/#1 would be the storm 360 gt searchbait minnow. With that said, I usually am targeting walleye.
The very basic core of man's living spirit is his passion for adventure.
04/02/2019 06:37PM
I think mine will quickly become the zman and or senko. However, to this point the soft plastic that has caught the most fish for me would be a 3" black twister tail grub. Black and chartreuse twister tail would be close but black would have the edge. This would be on a 1/4 oz jig.
I'm not much of a soft plastic fisherman though. I bought tubes last year but did not try them out at all yet. I have also never fished wacky or neko rigged senkos and will be trying that out this year.
I'm not much of a soft plastic fisherman though. I bought tubes last year but did not try them out at all yet. I have also never fished wacky or neko rigged senkos and will be trying that out this year.
04/02/2019 08:06PM
Gulp! 5" sinking minnow fished wacky style. I don't seem to be the only one who likes this specific plastic, because at times it's been hard to find in the Cities the past few years. Great for skipping under docks or tossing into weeds where you've caught a fish already.
04/03/2019 03:25AM
TeamTuna06:
Second one would be a 5” fluke rigged with a small fitness hook and a spring through the nose of the bait (think of the old school Banjo minnow rig). It’s super weedless from the finesse hook and when the fish eats it head first, the bait rotates on the spring and hits the top lip every time.
Tuna"
The Banjo Minnow!! I haven't thought of that set up in 25 years! I assumed I was the only one to purchase those from that 2 am infomercial back in 1995! Perhaps more popular than I realized, just outside of my circles. Never gave them an honest try (strong jig bias back in those days) . Did you have luck with them?
Don't work forever.
04/03/2019 06:58AM
I’ve always been a fan of the classic 3” Twister Tail, colors vary from white, black, chartreuse, orange, and pink. But the more and more pictures I see of QueticoMike’s big ol smallmouth bass on Instagram, I think I may have to invest in some ZMan ShadZ’s!
04/03/2019 08:30AM
Zwater: "Gulp leech with a pink or orange jighead. Just try to keep the smallie rats off it though:)"
I use the Gulp leech in my walleye hot spot and the walleye tear that thing up. One time I decided to see how many I could catch off of just one leech and I was still catching them with just a small piece of the lure about the size of my thumb nail. No tail left on the lure, just a tiny scrap of black plastic on a jig head and they kept hitting it. Just drop the jig below the canoe, lift it a foot off the bottom and jig it a couple of times and fish on. Some days it can be too easy in that spot. I wish smallmouth fishing was that easy ;)
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
04/03/2019 11:10PM
For Smallmouth day in and day out it would be a green pumpkin tube on a 1/8 oz insider head. Although I enjoy the zman shadz and jerk shadz very much, I can often times catch more fish with tubes( technique is critical). When the fishing is slow( August) I like the various zman Ned rigs. Ned Kehde is a local guy, so we have been fishing them long before they exploded across the country. Elaztech is an amazing material( floats, is very soft and jiggly, and TOUGH) and CRITICAL for true Ned rigging. Last August I was amazed how a little green pumpkin finesse TRD on 1/15 and 1/20 oz finesse mushroom heads just tore up the smallmouth and walleye when nothing else would work for anyone, with many large fish. And as Quetico Mike has been preaching, you can catch many, many fish off of one elaztech bait. Mike, I am anxious to try the Razor Shadz as per your recent BWJ article. Walleye- 4" twister tail, 1/8-1/4 head.
So many fish,so little time
04/04/2019 05:20AM
mgraber: "For Smallmouth day in and day out it would be a green pumpkin tube on a 1/8 oz insider head. Although I enjoy the zman shadz and jerk shadz very much, I can often times catch more fish with tubes( technique is critical). When the fishing is slow( August) I like the various zman Ned rigs. Ned Kehde is a local guy, so we have been fishing them long before they exploded across the country. Elaztech is an amazing material( floats, is very soft and jiggly, and TOUGH) and CRITICAL for true Ned rigging. Last August I was amazed how a little green pumpkin finesse TRD on 1/15 and 1/20 oz finesse mushroom heads just tore up the smallmouth and walleye when nothing else would work for anyone, with many large fish. And as Quetico Mike has been preaching, you can catch many, many fish off of one elaztech bait. Mike, I am anxious to try the Razor Shadz as per your recent BWJ article. Walleye- 4" twister tail, 1/8-1/4 head."
The RaZor is the best subtle top water presentation I have ever used. Just texapose rig a RaZor on a Gamakatsu 2/0 worm hook and you have the complete setup. Best used in calm conditions. A couple of twitches followed by a long pause is all that is required for the presentation. Similar to twitching an original Rapala stick bait on the surface but better. Get the Bad Shad color if you are looking for recommendations.
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
04/04/2019 04:08PM
moray: "As much as I like fishing soft plastic jerk baits like Shadz or Sluggos, I have caught many more fish on a weightless wacky rigged 4” senko. My favorite color is watermelon/black flake. A close second would have to be a 6” roboworm in morning dawn color fished on a dropshot rig."
x2. I like my 4" Senko in Green Pumpkin or brown/orange color with green flake that I really like as well, can't remember the name. In clear water in most of the places I fish, including the BWCA, these 2 are hard to beat.
04/04/2019 05:37PM
Agree with DD and Moray. Senkos fished wacky style weightless in colors mentioned are favorite bass lure. Really like the family of Elazatech baits QM has talked about as well. Gulp 4” minnows on long shank 1/4 oz jigs are favorite for eyes.
04/06/2019 11:31PM
yellowhorse: "TeamTuna06:
Second one would be a 5” fluke rigged with a small fitness hook and a spring through the nose of the bait (think of the old school Banjo minnow rig). It’s super weedless from the finesse hook and when the fish eats it head first, the bait rotates on the spring and hits the top lip every time.
Tuna"
The Banjo Minnow!! I haven't thought of that set up in 25 years! I assumed I was the only one to purchase those from that 2 am infomercial back in 1995! Perhaps more popular than I realized, just outside of my circles. Never gave them an honest try (strong jig bias back in those days) . Did you have luck with them?
"
It’s not the Banjo Minnow per se, but a way to rig a fluke (Zoom, Zman, etc.) that is similar. Take a look at this video from Tactical Bassin’ on how to rig them. Best hook up ratios I’ve ever had with flukes and the action is more erratic than with a Texas rigged wide gap hook.
Tuna
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles." -Doug Larson
04/08/2019 12:24AM
bwcasolo: "for years now, since i first watched Charlie brewer decades ago, i have used berkley 4 inch black worms, curly tail, with his charlie brewer head. 1/4 oz. size. in quetico and bwca the smallies love this combo.My number 1 rig for smallies also .
i bought so many slider heads a few decades ago, it will be a while before i run out.
still use the rig, still hot for bass."
" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein. WWJD
04/10/2019 04:15PM
They’ve been out for a few seasons. They work really well in spring. They can be worked slow but still have a lot of action. I use them with a roadrunner jig head and rip them through weed lines. Have caught walleye and LM bass with them down where I live..
04/11/2019 09:41AM
3 inch power grub. Color depends on body of water, but white/cream is probably my most used color. Always use an overhead spinner, for extra flash, plus acts as a leader to prevent bite offs from pike. It’s my go to lure for numerous species.
04/12/2019 01:33PM
Kalin's 4 or 5" Lunker Grubs have landed me many largemouth, smallmouth and pike. I've had luck with the following colors: Mardi Gras, Watermelon Black Fleck, Summer Craw.
In the BW would probably go with the Z-Man Shadz in Redbone. Thanks, QMike.
In the BW would probably go with the Z-Man Shadz in Redbone. Thanks, QMike.
04/19/2019 10:56AM
Bringing this thread back to the top...…….
I also have had a ton of success with Erie Darters and Dixie Darters. Again, Large and smallmouth bass, and the occasional pike in a lake that is not typically loaded with pike here in Indiana.
Often fish them on a standard jig head or use a slider head:
If I'd be on a lake that was not ultra rocky in the BW where I could bottom bounce it, I'd use it more up there.
I also have had a ton of success with Erie Darters and Dixie Darters. Again, Large and smallmouth bass, and the occasional pike in a lake that is not typically loaded with pike here in Indiana.
Often fish them on a standard jig head or use a slider head:
If I'd be on a lake that was not ultra rocky in the BW where I could bottom bounce it, I'd use it more up there.
04/23/2019 08:38AM
trailcheif: "AuthentX Pulse-R! Walleye dig ‘em "
I have that exact lure except with a twister tail, is there a big difference do you know? I am tempted to add the paddle tail my kids could fish it like a swim bait, that presentation would be easier for them, than the typical lift Andy lower walleye retrieve.
T
04/24/2019 05:13AM
timatkn: "trailcheif: "AuthentX Pulse-R! Walleye dig ‘em "
I have that exact lure except with a twister tail, is there a big difference do you know? I am tempted to add the paddle tail my kids could fish it like a swim bait, that presentation would be easier for them, than the typical lift Andy lower walleye retrieve.
T"
I think the one you have is called the Moxi. Have you had good success with it? and in what colors?
04/24/2019 08:52AM
Does anyone have any luck using soft plastics for brookies? I've got some that kinda look like craws (Crackin Craw) and some that kinda look like big bugs/beetles (Bandito Bug), that I'm planning on Texas rigging with weighted hooks, and slow crawling near shore. I may try jigging them as well if slow crawling doesn't work. I have other lures I plan to use as well, but I really wanted to see if I can get some bites on plastics. The aforementioned two kinds are the only plastics I have that I would anticipate a bite on, given the typical brookie forage of craws and insects.
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