Soft Plastics and Snapper

[5cougarsthanx]

Scalem,
If its not a rude question what reel is Uncle Frankoo using for his offshore plastics.I have 2 6500 baitrunners loaded with 30 lb braid.Would these be suitable for running plastics.
Cheers
Cougarman

[Scalem]

Scalem,
If its not a rude question what reel is Uncle Frankoo using for his offshore plastics.I have 2 6500 baitrunners loaded with 30 lb braid.Would these be suitable for running plastics.
Cheers
Cougarman

Personally, I like the Shimano 6500 series, they are a great reel and priced in my budget because I can't get my finance director to approve anything higher... but Frank recently sold one in perfect condition because he does not use it anymore. I mentioned you were asking, so rather than me telling you, Frank will jump on later and answer for you.

Scalem

[Frank OO]

Hi Josh,

I have been watching this thread without comment and it seems that some of you guys know your stuff.

The Sensor Braid (Coloured Stuff) is fantastic because you can actually count the depth. Once you have been on the bottom a few times you will automatically know what colour will get to the bottom for each depth.

TT jig heads are great as long as you use the heavy wire. You can also use the Nitro jig Heads from Super #####. The main thing to watch is the thickness of the shaft. If the shaft is too thick it will split the Plastic and it wont swim correctly.

I am amazed at the number of people that I have personally seen fishing Soft Plastics that take too big a bite in the plastic. This will stop the lure from swiming properly. Keep the the bite nice and short even in the big plastic amd make sure that you actually swim the lure to see that it swims smoothly without spinning.

Snapper and Pearlies will take just about anything but nothing beats a well presented lure. Coral will not take a plastic that does not swim like a fish.

When it is all said and done. That is what you are after. Make the plastic swim naturally, whether it be bouncing on the bottom or slowly swiming down from the top.

As far as the rods and reels go, We are all on budgets but nothing will replace quality. Egrell rods and the best in Diawa.

My Stradic 2500, 4000,5000,and 8000 have all been stripped because the size of the offshore fish are too big for the cheaper reels.

It is easy to say get the best but if you have one really good rod and one really good reel that may be all you need. Ask Eric Grell. He only fishes with the S10H.

He also catches the biggest Tuna, Barra, Snapper and lately 20 Kg AJs.

Frank OO

[trueblue]

Franko, you're still tempting me to go and see Eric............

[3Vs]

Frank

Have you tried the TT Headhunters yet?

[Frank OO]

3Vs,

I haven't heard of them until now what is the difference?

Frank OO

[5cougarsthanx]

Frank,
You mentioned not putting the plastic to deep on the jig head
Have you got any pics of what a properly rigged plastic looks like.Also in regards to the reels you use.Do you have any problems with the braid not flowing off the reel properly and if so how do you get around this.
Regards
Cougarman

[trueblue]

Franko

I'd like to see the way you are putting the hooks into the plastics as well if you don't mind...

cheers

mick

[Frank OO]

5cougarsthanks, Mick,

All of the latest reels are built to lay the braid on the reel so that it is evenly distributed over the spool. This is why some of the older reels are not suited to casting plastics. They work really well if you are fishing with bait but as soon as you start casting you end up with knots. This happens especially if you use the cheaper braids.

I will try to take some photos of a rigged Plastic

Frank OO

[3Vs]

Frank

The headhunters are apparently extra heavy duty, in the words of their website -

"The following jig heads are built on Extreme Heavy Duty Chemically Sharpened Mustad hooks. These are very tough hooks with the 8/0 withstanding over 50lb of direct force".


http://www.ttlures.com.au/jig_heads.php

[Frank OO]

Thanks 3Vs,

I will check it out.

Frank OO

[Frank OO]

Hi Mick and others who may be interested,

Although the hooks are not rigged perfectly, I hope it will give you the idea.

I have included the right and wrong way to rig your plastics. You will also find a photo of two types of Jig head as well as another method of rigging your hook. (Weedless).

This is great for weed or snaggy areas and also great for Barra in the snags.

Frank OO

[5cougarsthanx]

Frank oo,
Thanks for taking the time to post the pics.When you put the plastic on to the jighead do you first of all sit it next to the plastic to work out where you will bring the hook back out of the plastic and do you start the hook penetration in the centre of the plastic.[
Cheers
Peter

[murf]

Thanks Frank OO

I have not yet tried placcies seriously yet out in the deep blu sea and I have just learned something from your photos

I am just starting to gear up to give the snapper some stick this year when it cools down

Cheers Murf

[Frank OO]

5cougarsthanx,

I just thread them on like you would a worm. After you do the third or fourth one you will be doing it blind folded. I noticed another post talking about the difference between Guldp and Squidgies where they mention that a plastic is only good for one fish.

I will use mine until they are really dead. It is not uncommon to reuse the same plastic 5 or 6 times. Just cut the head off and rethread the plastic. It will be smaller but they will still work.

Have fun. Frank OO