The new trends in soft plastics?

[bassin butch]

Seems like the trends today are headed toward super soft plastics just consider the biggest of all the senko and subsequent knock-offs. Now I see a new trend in very strechy plastic baits that you can pull to twice their original size such as the snap-back lures and some new knock-offs. What are the trends that you would like to see? I personaly would like to see manufacturers produce a soft plastic bait designed exclusively for dock skipping. Basically a heavy tail weighted lure to improve skipping distance.

Bassin
Butch

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Hi Butch,
I too have noticed the trend in soft plastics changing. I'd say most are for the better. I was around when just about all you could get was a straight tail Creme worm and have greatly enjoyed the new creations of today. You are right about a skipping bait, not sure how they would go about it, but I'm sure it could be done and would sell very well. I really like the Terminator Snapback baits, bet those pesky bluegill get mad when it stretchs and then escapes intact.
I guess I would like to see improvements in the smell and taste of plastic products, seems that with most of them, you can still smell the plastic by-products after a while. Also, I think the baits should have more natural color schemes, mixed red and brown and have an almost see through body, much like a real worm. Good post, good idea, keep it up. Johnnie Crain Iowa Pro Staff.

[MMT]

I for one do not particularly care for the new snap back plastics. I feel that any small shop owner would be crazy to carry them as they would surely prevent the sale of traditional soft plastics from that store. I've spoken to many tackle shop owners about this and they agree that if these baits catch on, they will kill the industry for small shop owners. I've toyed around with them and although they are more durable, I'm not all that impressed. As far as a tail weighted bait, that is a good idea but unlikely due to the injection molding process that remains constant throughout the process. It could be done with multiple injectors but that would be extra work. It could also be done with handpours to a much easier extent with two pots. I do it all the time but you will sacrifice some durability in the bait. I would guess that you can heavily salt the tail of the bait and use a floating type lightweight plastic for the mid section and head. Would it be that much better than a traditional senko? Along those lines, all Senko imitators are not created equal but that may be a blessing rather than a disadvantage. I look at it this way....nowadays, I see a very large percentage of serious anglers fishing the Senko a large percentage of the time. I do feel that fish will become used to the fall rate. They will still hit but we are still in the beginning stages with this bait. In a few more years, the bites may decrease as fiah become more educated....then something with a different fall rate may be the hot ticket. It pays to be original and unique.

[bassin butch]

Johnny/MMT: Thanks for the replys. As far as snap-backs hurting sales I think the reduced quanity ie 4 in a package vs traditional 8-10 count will make a difference. I for one will always buy plastic baits that give me more lures. I realize that snap-backs are going to last longer but I personaly remove any soft plastic that has any hint of dammage and tie on a new one. Usually at the end of a tourney day I have many to throw out. Colors per Johnny are ever important and I agree with him the plastic/petroleum smell is a major turn off.
I have used many lures for dock skipping my choices are #1 Carolina slug (Power bait) #2 a crawfish (most any brand). I do think think that a bait made to skip will sell and be a hot mover. I have been bass fishing for 25 years now and picked up skipping 5 years ago. Many seasoned vets are good at this but there are many guys that just cant get the hang of skipping. Also the vets could benefit from a tail heavy lure as well. Take a round rock and try to skip it and then try a flat one guess which one go farther every time. Now take a lure make it flat/compact put a heavy tail on it and they are on the way to sales.

FYI: This is the best web-page on the net period! And guys like you pros are a major reason for this.
Sincerly
Butch

[brendanc]

Butch,

Have you ever tried pegging your soft plastic with a short cut roofing nail(s)? This can really improve not only the balance of the bait, but also the action it has on the fall. You can add as much or as little weight as needed to obtain the right balance for skipping. I have tricked out 7" worms to the point that I could skip them way back under docs. When the finally hit the back wall, they fall tail first... this type of rigging also keeps the line above the lure as it falls. You can feel the bait down better without having the "pendulum" effect you get with a Texas rigged worm. It works with just about any soft plastic.

This is just food for thought.

As for the industries trends, I would like to see more of the combination of hard plastic with soft plastic. Like the combo fish imitations that Castiac bait company has been making. Incorporating soft plastics into popper’s, jerk baits and even jigging spoons could make for some real deadly presentations. I know some companies are already putting out these types of baits, but so far the ones I’ve seen are nothing to special.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone…

BC

[mofish]

All of you make good points about the different worms. I made a post a while back about making your own worms. During the "off season" when ever that is for you. You can experiment with different worms and come up with your own creation.

Its really not all that hard to do. I bought some Durams Water Putty at Home Depot and some super sculpty clay at a hobby shop and just started playing around with different shapes and colors. It would not be hard to make a bait that works however you want, what ever color you want. Its alot of fun and who knows you might come up with the next hot ticket.

Make your pattern bait out of the clay. Coat it with Fingernail polish or epoxy to make it slick and shinny. Then mix up the Water putty and pour around the clay pattern that you have made. Then to just experiment with the bait at the lake. You can buy the liquid plastic from differnt places or you can melt down your favorit color worms that are left over from a day of fishing.

Check out tacklemaking.com for lots of helpful hints, and places to order material.

Buy all means have fun doing it.

[Eric]

Tail weighting worms like suggested above is the best way I know for getting an ideal skipping bait. Senko style baits, smaller finesse worms and tube baits are hard to beat in my opinion. A " fat " tube ( one that is dipped a second time to create more bulk ) will skip with very little or no weight added, very easily. And along with a Senko stlye bait can be fished from top to bottom like a jerkbait or worm/jig. A rattle alone can give you the weight needed inside a tube for skipping. One thing many anglers dont realize is skipping has more do do with casting technique than bait style. I have been in situations that called for heavier 1/2 oz jigs and even small tubes with a 1/4 oz or heavier jighead to get the bass to bite. They were keyed on a fast falling bait. If you practice skipping with different lure styles you may find that different casting angles are required. I guess practice makes perfect.

[Scott Johnson]

Alot of the soft plastics are changing. I think it will be for the better, but lets not forget about the riggin styles to help us.I found a new jig head that will allow you to skip worms,tubes,grubs,and other soft plastic uder docks and the lure stays on.They are made by a guy from the south.But can be purchased on a website. The name of the head is called a spot getter. They are very different James Proctor made the mold for them there is no one around that has them or anything like them that I found. The web site if anyone is interested is www.als-worms.com.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Once again, the pro staff has gone overboard to help come up with ideas. As JoeMo would say, "I'll taking notes," Skipping baits properly is technique oriented, not everyone can do it for sure, consistantly. Heavier baits are easier to skip. I have found that by using a quality spinning outfit I can skip lures under docks etc. much easier than with baitcasting rigs. There's always something new on this site (great stuff). Johnnie Crain Iowa Pro Staff.

[JT_BAGWELL]

One of the hottest soft plastic bait companies is about to step into the lime light. Worminator Custom Hand Poured Baits is about to launch their website. This will give everyone the opportunity to buy some of the baits on the top pro's could get before. I had to opportunity to talk to Paul Higgins and Rick Morris (owners of worminator) and some of the details that go into the production of these lures is just phenominal.

Jeremiah T. Bagwell