Good Soft Plastics For Bass? 2025
tebow reply :
HI guys! I am 15 and I am somewhat of a beginner fisherman. I have fished with pre-rigged rubber worms for a few years but now I would like to start fishing with soft plastic baits instead. The pre-rigged rubber works get snagged to easily and the weedless styles have really bad action. Could you tell me what kind/style of softplastic baits (flukes, ribbontails, senkos, creatures) I should use as well as color, size, and how I should rig it. There are so many types of softplastics, what bait should I use in what scenario? Also should I use a hook or a plain jig or a skirted jig. I also fish for pike so colors and styles for pike fishing would be great too, as well as leaders for pike fishing that won't disturb the action of the bait. Thanks!
Bluebasser86 reply :
Without knowing what the bodies of water you're fishing are like, it's hard to make too many suggestions. I promise you could buy a bag of green pumpkin trick worms and use them rigged about a dozen different ways and catch fish on them in about any situation.
Duster7466 reply :
I don't use much soft plastics these days. Although I'm thinking about digging them out again. But my favorite was always a Texas rigged Berkley 7" power worm. Blue fleck w/ firetail for sunny days and red shad for cloudy days. sometimes I used them weightless, pulled em across thick matted vegetation and let em float down through the holes. Caught lots of fish that way.
DylanB reply :
There is some great reads and videos on this site about the Texas rig. That would be a very good starting point.
scaleface reply :
On 8/22/2015 at 4:34 PM, DylanB said:There is some great reads and videos on this site about the Texas rig. That would be a very good starting point.
This
Done be intimidated by the Texas rig . Learn it. You dont need expensive baits either. The widely available Zoom lizard is a good bait for beginners . You can look at the smooth shiny finish of the Zoom Lizard and if a bass bit it it will leave scrape marks that are easily visible .
LuckyGia reply :
I religiously use ZOOM super fluke. I like the paddle tail over the split tail.
Favorite color is Houdini.
Twitch, jerk, swim, suspended. ... you choose
the reel ess reply :
On 8/22/2015 at 1:37 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Without knowing what the bodies of water you're fishing are like, it's hard to make too many suggestions. I promise you could buy a bag of green pumpkin trick worms and use them rigged about a dozen different ways and catch fish on them in about any situation.
What he said. But buy a bag of Bubble Gum color too. And don't be afraid to use them. They work. Over time you'll notice this color is the one that gone half the time in Walmart and Academy for a reason. You can rig them weightless and use them like a jerkbait or weighted on the bottom. To save money on them, after they get chewed up near the head, cut off about a half inch and re-rig them. They'll still catch.
I like the Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw in black/blue Texas rigged. They tell you the hook to use right on the package. Zoom Super Speed Craw is a good one too. Fish just like a T-rigged worm.
clh121787 reply :
I could probably get away with 3 or 4 plastics for the rest of my life, fluke. Lizard, brushhog. And a senko. Honorable mentions rattle snakes, and biffle bug and ribbon tail worm. I really believe color is the least important detail when presenting a bait. Green pumpkin works for me
Jaderose reply :
Research....practice...fail...research....practice some more.....eventually succeed....young Padawan. This site and youtube videos will teach you all you need to know to start with. Learn how to Texas rig first. DON'T spend a lot of money....except on terminal tackle. Buy the best of that you afford Welcome to a hobby that will give you a lifetime of joy (and make you spend every extra dollar you have but that will come later 
)
Fishing is like most anything else. To get good at it requires dedication. Anybody can catch some bluegill on a cheapo outfit from Walmart and for a lot of people that's just great. To become a GOOD fisherman takes years of practice, I believe. I got SERIOUS about bass fishing about 8 years ago and it's only been in the last couple of seasons that I think I am fishing smart. Reading the conditions and changing tactics based on them, etc. Not just throwing bait after bait hoping for a miracle. I've also stopped being skunked 2 out of 3 times I hit the water. I'm pretty confident now that I WILL catch fish when I go out. AND it's actually the type of fish I am targeting!...Not just some random bullhead that happened by. Am I a good fisherman? To some of the guys on here, not even close, but I don't judge myself on their accomplishments. I haven't crossed the double digit threshold yet but I've come close and it gives me a goal. I don't tournament fish but I think I could and not completely embarrass myself. The best thing I could hope for you is to learn something from your research and then go out and be successful at it. I actually remember the first bass I caught on a Senko that I poorly Texas rigged after watching a few videos. I was as hooked as that 1.5 lb'er. I never looked back after that. GOOD LUCK!!!!
ps......I agree with the above statements about colors...including Bubblegum. It seems I always use it as a last resort but I always catch fish on it. Why not start with it? I don't know.......
the reel ess reply :
On 8/22/2015 at 9:56 PM, Jaderose said:Research, young Padawan. This site and youtube videos will teach you all you need to know to start with. Learn how to Texas rig first. DON'T spend a lot of money....except on terminal tackle. Buy the best of that you afford Welcome to a hobby that will give you a lifetime of joy (and make you spend every extra dollar you have but that will come later
)
ps......I agree with the above statements about colors...including Bubblegum. It seems I always use it as a last resort but I always catch fish on it. Why not start with it? I don't know.......
I always thought that color was such a gimmick until I started fishing with a guy who always has one tied on. It's the #1 color, followed by Limetreuse and Methiolate. I have three bags of more natural colors that I don't even take. They used to have a color that was all three swirled, called sherbet, but they are discontinued.
Chris at Tech reply :
Yes, research. The reality is that people can very easily get overwhelmed with plastics with all the different sizes, colors, styles...
You absolutely do not need every style, size and color. My recommendation would be to narrow it down to a plastic or two per style, and then concentrate on selecting a few good colors for your water conditions. Just as an example, I stick to watermelon, green pumpkin, junebug and some variation of black for just about all my plastics. I do have a few exceptions to this rule but it holds well the majority of the time.
Jaderose reply :
I've got bag after bag of every type of bait in tons of different colors. They all look great...in my storage drawers in my garage at home. On the water, I use about 4 types in about 4 color combinations...lol. Couple that with the fact that 90% of the time I'm throwing a swinghead jig in an appropriate size for what I want to do with it, the VAST majority of my tackle sits unused. But that's ok....I'M READY FOR ANYTHING!!! Lol
I haven't found much I CAN'T do with a swinghead jig
Raul reply :
In practical terms all you need are:
"Senkos" ( stickbaits ) ( even though they´re million light years far away from being my favorites, but one has to recognize they are super proven fish catchers )
"Flukes" ( jerkbaits )
WRB reply :
Welcome to BR.On 8/22/2015 at 12:44 PM, tebow said:HI guys! I am 15 and I am somewhat of a beginner fisherman. I have fished with pre-rigged rubber worms for a few years but now I would like to start fishing with soft plastic baits instead. The pre-rigged rubber works get snagged to easily and the weedless styles have really bad action. Could you tell me what kind/style of softplastic baits (flukes, ribbontails, senkos, creatures) I should use as well as color, size, and how I should rig it. There are so many types of softplastics, what bait should I use in what scenario? Also should I use a hook or a plain jig or a skirted jig. I also fish for pike so colors and styles for pike fishing would be great too, as well as leaders for pike fishing that won't disturb the action of the bait. Thanks!
The one thing we all have in common is we were new to fishing at some point in time.
It's always helpful to know a few things; what region are you located in, Great Lakes area? What type of tackle do you have; spinning or baitcasting?
You stated you have Pike where you fish, toothy fish like Pike tend to destroy soft plastics quickly.
The rubber worm rigged with hooks could be Creame soft plastic worm?
I would start with a Sliding weight Texas rig if you have a rod & reel outfit that can perform using this rig. If you have a medium action spinning rod & reel for example, then the T-rig may not be my first choice. With spinning tackle a split shot-mojo rig, drop shot or finesse C-rig (slip shot) are better choices for 6 to 8 lb line and smaller hooks.
Tom
lo n slo reply :
Zoom
Berkley
Mann's
Catt reply :
Price wise I would start with
Zoom's Trick Worm, Baby Brush Hog in watermelon neon (red). H2O (Academy) 2/0 straight shank hook will fit both nicely.
Yum Dinger same color, 3/0 or 4/0 EWG hook
Bullet weights: 1/8, 3/16, & 1/4 oz will cover all water depths.
That's all you need for any body of water & clairty
Fish them weightless, weighted, T-rigged & Wacky
Then you can add all the other confussion!
P.S. green pumpkin neon is a suitable subsitute!
greentrout reply :
I've fished a few plastics in my time. But the best for me has been and is the Zoom Trick and Finesse worms. Texas rigged with green pumpkin, june bug and watermelon with red fleck. On pressured waters, the finesse worm can work wonders. Don't overlook it. Fish with BC and Spinning.
The Old School Basser...
tebow reply :
Thanks for all the answers guys, especially Jaderose!!! I actually just went fishing earlier today (after airsofting with my friends) and caught three or four small bass. I used GULP earthworm colored worms texas rigged sortof. I didn't really have the right hook to do it but the fish didn't mind. Do you guys think GULP works better than other soft plastics because of it's strong scent? I am going to buy some hooks and some of the baits listed above soon! Thanks for the answers!
Turkey sandwich reply :
Gulp is just different and the worms are awesome on a drop shot (don't worry about that yet). The best advise on here is the simple advise.
The basics you'll need to get started catching fish:
Soft plastics (should start with a plastic worm imho, it works everywhere in almost any condition and it teaches you a lot of other things while fishing it.)
8-12lb test mono
Bullet weights ( 1/8th to 1/4oz will cover most applications)
Work hooks or extra wide gap hooks in 3/O-5/O
Zoom Trick worms in Pumpkin, watermelon, and junebug. (You may also pick up a jar of dip'n'dye to dye the tails instead of buying extra colors with chartreuse tails)
Spinnerbaits:
White/blue 1/2oz spinnerbait with Willow blades
Black spinnerbait with Colorado blades
Jigs
3/8 to 12 oz
Black/blue, an orange/brown color, and a color with olive/green.
These are probably the easiest lures to learn to fish with that will catch you fish virtually anywhere. They'll also teach you a lot of other things the better you get with them, like how to feel the bottom, cover, etc.
Good luck, man!
thirtysixit reply :
The Zoom fluke is an awesome bait to learn with! Texas rig that bag boy and hang on. I learned on a spinning reel and would throw a Fluke Jr. with a 1/32 bullet weight on it. You can't go wrong with pearl color. Check out Glenn May (bassresource) on youtube. You will learn enough to get you started.
On 8/22/2015 at 9:32 PM, LuckyGia said:II religiously use ZOOM super fluke. I like the paddle tail over the split tail.
Favorite color is Houdini.
Twitch, jerk, swim, suspended. ... you choose
bigbill reply :
Well color can matter on certain days much more than the brand.
Number one plastic for bass. The split shot rigged 6" long black worm.
Fish it slowly. Move it a few inches, pause, wait a few minutes repeat.
Fish it slow.
Colors for me so far.
Black shad
Red shad
Black
Green shad
Electric Blue silver flake
Sonik reply :
My two cents:
1. Start watching Bassresource's videos on YouTube.
2. For soft plastics, I know and like Zoom and Bass Pro brands. Zoom is really good and available everywhere. I have been buying more Bass Pro brand plastics in certain styles. They have salt and their 8up scent on them already and so far this year, they've beat my Zooms heard to head.
Green Pumpkin
Watermelon Red
June bug
Zoom/Bass Pro
Trick Worms/Fin-Eke Worms
Senkos/Stik-O (5-6")
Super Fluke/Sassy Sally (pearl color)
Baby Brush Hog/Crack Craw
Z-Hog or UltraVibe Speed Craw/Riverbug
FinCulture reply :
Zoom trick worms look very nice in the water. since you're just starting out, there's no need to get all wrapped up in all the soft plastics out there. just get a bag of senkos, a bag of creatures/craws, and a bag of flukes and get out and fish! See what works for you and build off of it!
Catt reply :
K.I.S.S. 
roadwarrior reply :
The Senko, weightless, in shallow water (<10').
Rage Tail Structue Bug, Jika Rigged.
Rage Tail 10" Thumper, T-rigged
Rage Tail Cut-R, T-tigged
MegaStrike MegaBug on a ShakE2 Pro Series
MegaStrike MegaTube Craw, Shake2
YUM Houdini, weightless
Siebert Outdoors Jig/ Rage Tail Craw
Chatterbait/ Rage Structure Bug
Colors: Black w./ Red Flakes, Blue Fleck (purple), Green Pumpkin w/ Black Flakes,
PBJ and Alabama Craw
Kentuckysteve reply :
I can't really help you with the pike fishing but as for the bass you can ask a thousand people and get a thousand different answers.All ponds,lakes,etc are different.The plastic and color that works for me may not be so hot in your area and vise versa.Also everyone has a different style of fishing different plastics.Experience is the best teacher.I would buy a few bags of different worms/creatures and fish them.You will figure out what works for you and what won't.Not everything will work and you will end up like all of us with a tub of plastics in the garage that you seldom ever use but hey...that's bass fishing.When i started using plastic worms i had no idea what to use either.I would go into my towns little bait shop and look at the worms hanging on the racks to see what people were buying the most of.That's what i bought and it worked.Also i would watch people fishing around me to see what they were catching them with.Just buy something you are comfortable using and go fishing.
WillBass24 reply :
I've found that the Charlie Brewers slider worms are the best. I use the 4" worm that's junebug color with chartruese tail. I use it with snag less slider jig heads. I have caught tons of bass on them. Both largemouth and smallmouth. My PB on these is 4.12 pounds.
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