I'm new to soft plastics, but am bringing a Texas Rig setup for my mid-July Moose chain/Basswood motor trip. I'm hoping to primarily target pike and bass with this. Does anyone have any preferred soft plastics/colors for Texas Rigs in the BWCA? I figured I might have some luck whipping a paddletail or senko through weed beds in 6-10 fow. I'm sick of tossing spinners and pulling up a whole salad after every cast.

In previous July trips, we've had plenty of small northern and a few bass on topwater, with some nice largemouth on a live crawler in lily pads. I'm still planning on using wakebaits for topwater (strike pro hunchback, whopper plopper, etc.), but is it reasonable to think I'd hook into some bigger fish (read: non-juvenile pike) if I fish deeper with more "realistic" baits?

Absolutely it will work.

The real question is what soft plastic you're using in your setup. Tubes, grubs, finesse worms and swimbait/flukes all have good success in the BW, and all can be texas rigged.

There are also many threads on this forum discussing this very topic. Just do a search for "Texas rig".

I love dragging creature baits on a texas rig.

I caught a 15" walleye on a Texas rig senko last year. Planning to bring more this year, and some neds too!