FANTASTIC PLASTICS

You only need to look at that massive wall of soft plastics in most fishing tackle stores to know they are an effective lure option. Soft plastics are available in a myriad of styles, sizes and colours to suit almost any species. They’re soft and flexible, feel realistic and are either scented or can be scented to smell and taste real. In this article, I’ll step through the basics of selecting, rigging and fishing soft plastics, for those getting started and those looking for a few tips to catch more fish.

SOFT PLASTIC ANATOMY & SELECTION

When it comes to selecting a soft plastic, anglers commonly refer to an old saying “match the hatch”, a fly fishing term that relates to tying a fly that matches the insect hatch the fish are feeding on. So, when it comes to soft plastics, we want to select a plastic that matches what our target species likes to eat, be it baitfish, worms, crustaceans or even frogs.

Here’s a few popular soft plastic styles -

Curl Tails – A great starting point for beginners and deadly in the hands of experienced anglers, curl tails feature a curl tail designed to create action on the sink, retrieve or even with the water flow. Curl tails respond to most retrieves