Soft Plastic Starter Suggestions

[whichway]

Hi

I have caught the very occassional fish on SPs, but I think I will be doing a bit more in the future. I will be fishing around the southern bay for whatever you get there.

So I want to go out and spend about $50 on SPs.

Can you give me a general idea of sizes, colours, brands and what weight heads I should use.

Whichway

[Blackened]

G'day

Have a good read through all the associated threads on this subject.

Gulps in watermelon/pumpknseed in minnow grub and jerk shad in 3'' and 5'' will be a good start.

Everyone will have their favourites.

Dave

[bluefin59]

Try 4 inch pumpkinseed berkley powerminnow or powerbaits 1/8 1/4 tt jigheads depends how deep you are going to fish a dab of supa glue to attach the plastic to the jighead is good for me ....8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

[shin25]

as a general rule i like to have a hook that is roughly 2/3 the length of the plastic with 1/2 way enough for plastics over 5 "
wieghts depend on depth your fishing
dont be scared to try big plastics 5" plus

some of the plastics that have worked for me

squidgy flickbaits 85mm to the 190mm sashami shrimp,evil minnow and pillie
4 the big ones
shads cant go past the green tiger and evill minnow in 65mm to100+mm
new prawns any colour is good fish light jig heads with these

berkly powerbait 4"minnow in pumpkin seed scales
" shrimp tequilla gold and new penny any size love the 5.5"
gulps worms awesome plastic i like the more natural colours took a
to fraser isl last year cleanded up on the dart whiting and
lizards much to the dismay of the old blokes

these are the ones ive had most success on but everyone will b different
what type of fish are you chasin?

[84mick]

Hmmmm somethings telling me that this is going to be a long thread :P
I love the Berkley Powerbaits and the Gulps in Pumpkinseed color, been using the new shrimp in the New Penny color to.
With jig heads I tend to go for the shorter length hooks so the SP will move more life like and the lead light as possible.

Cheers, Mick.

[BilgeBoy]

I use Gulps....this would be a good starting kit:

1 x packet Pumkinseed 3" Minnow - Flathead love these
1 x packet Water mellon 3" Minnow - Everything pretty much will have a go
1 x packet Nuclear Chicken Shaky Shad - Moses perch, grassies, squire
1 x Packet Glow Shaky Shad - Snapper
1 x New Penny (Prawn)

Thats a good starting kit. Oh and I find I get more hits on the drop, so keep working ya rod tip, lift and let drop...pull in a bit of line, lift and let drop. It is all in the action of the SP. Practice, and a rod with a good soft tip to work the SP and you will be on your way.

I have been playing with SP's for a while now and have only just started to get the action...still learning!!

When ya finished, just put the Gulp back in the packet for next time!!! The juice in the packet will work back into the used bait!! If you leave them on for more than an hour or so out of the water, they will shrink up and you will need to cut them off.

The place that sells sports gear and sounds "Super Smart" is a good place to find them. They also have a great range of Jig heads to go with ya Gulps. Just ask them, they will point you in the right direction!!

BilgeBoy

[whichway]

Hi

thanks for all of this. Very helpful.

Can anyone explain how jighead weights work. I assume the shallower the depth, the lighter the jighead.

Whichway

[BilgeBoy]

The lighter the head the better. SP's are all about trying to present the bait as naturally as possible. They weight is mainly for current speed. The more run the heavier the weight to get it into the zone.

I would suggest that when you are starting out, you may need a little more weight to assist with casting!! I know I did. Again, talk to the guys in the tackle stores, they will give you a good starting point.

BilgeBoy

[gladbream]

pumpkinseed in the whole gulp range, but my preference is the turtle back worm 4". if you find its too long bite 1" off the top and reset. awesome for al species around your area.

[whichway]

Hi

This is probably a dumb question, but if you have to put the Gulps back into their bag to stop them from drying out, do you take the jighead out first.

Whichway

[BilgeBoy]

I take the Jig heads back out!! But I am a mista tidy tackle box!!

There are heaps of SP's that come with Jig heads in them, but they are usually the bigger dryer variety. Someone else may be able to tell us if they rust in the juice that comes in the packet!

BilgeBoy

[T1]

I would normally recomend the Berkley TMSK special but they don't import these to OZ anymore... So no point leading you down the wrong path! Berkley Gulps Jerk Shads in anything will usually be a good starting point for the bay...

Oh, and definitely stick with the TT jigheads - extremely tough hook!

Take Care T

[Tinn]

Best advice don't start or you will be hooked and broke. But i agree with T1 go the jerk shad in any colour best of luck

[Kleyny]

Hi

This is probably a dumb question, but if you have to put the Gulps back into their bag to stop them from drying out, do you take the jighead out first.

Whichway


My brother put a jig head back in my gulp packet and the lead has reacted with the juices.:-/ foamin at the ball

neil

[craig51063]

storm make a great range of plastics my favourite ones are the twiching nippers.
retreved with tiny jerks the y are deadly on bream , flathead and whiting .make sure you match your local nipper colours .

[kingtin]

storm make a great range of plastics my favourite ones are the twiching nippers.
retreved with tiny jerks the y are deadly on bream , flathead and whiting .make sure you match your local nipper colours .

And they're currently half price at you know where.

kev