|
|
Member
Posts: 226
Location: Oshkosh,WI | With all the new plastics on the market, how often do you use the plastic over live bait? What circumstances do you use one over the other?
What kind of profiles do you like? (lizards, worms, minnow, split tails, leeches, ect..)
Last year while fishing the Berkley Walleye Cup with Dan Stier and Gary Parsons, we were forced to use only artificial bait to catch our fish. For the majority of the time a jig and a Gulp minnow was all we used. We caught a lot of fish this way and what I noticed is that the fish hit harder and inhaled the bait deeper.
Since then, I have started using the same baits out on the bago system with great success but in certain situations. I love the plastics in the weeds for starters. It is possible to rig them so they are weedless and can get into the thick weeds a lot better than live bait. Not only that but the plastics are more durable and stay on the hook a lot better.
Late last summer and into fall there were days out on the reefs where we could not catch a fish on a crawler or leech and put many in the boat with the black/silver 3" gulp minnow. I think active fish love the bait and if circumstances allow the plastic to closely resemble the natural forage there is great success with artificial baits.
The questions comes back to how much confidence do you have with artificial bait? Would you use it in a tournament situation or is it something that you fall back on as a last result?
Troy
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Troy.
I guess firstly, I have to admit that even though I've started using plastics more often with better success these last couple of years, (in my gut) I still don't feel they can outfish live bait day in and day out. In my opinion, nothing or nobody will ever be able to imitate all the fleshy tastes, reactions and subtle cues that real baitfish or other live bait put off in any fishing situations. I'm sure all of you will agree that it's the way we use and manipulate the plastics we use, that elicits reaction strikes more often than anything else. And most often, these particular fish have to be in a better than negative mood to fall for these presentations. So when I'm trolling at faster speeds, or fishing waters where I know the fish are on the bite because of optimum conditions, I have more confidence in plastics. But put me on the river or lake, where the fish are belly down to the bottom because of ice cold water or bad weather fronts, and it's real/live bait in their face every time for better results.
Edited by walleye express 6/5/2005 7:41 AM
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 73
Location: NW Illinois | On the Mississippi, I fish almost strictly plastics once the water temp drops below 50 in the fall, until it warms back up in the spring. It took me a few years to develop the confidence, and I still bring the meat, but use it much less often. I agree that after cold fronts, or when the fish are under strong negative influences, meat is going to work better. That being said, I also believe there are always some fish that are active to neutral, and these fish can be taken more effectively and quicker with plastics.
Warmer water, I still use plastics instead of bait on my dropper for Dubuque rigs, and have had great success picking up fish on the dropper. Some days well out performing the bait, others 50/50. I like ring worms for my drop plastic. Can't beat ringies on the river!
John | |
| | |
| I like using Gulp while jigging....and I use it alot. I don't think I catch more fish with Gulp...but when they hit it, they whack it so hard it is worth the wait. Man they hit it..when they hit it. I love that! | |
| |
|
Confidence with Plastics