Clear (transparent) Plastics…….Grubs, Worms, Swim Baits

[Spankey]

Guys just getting your thought and experience with using them. In 50+ years of fishing I have never tried them. I’m not talking about white or pearl white or even a sand color, I do fish some of those variations.

A true clear (transparent) with fleck colors to them. With lack of any real rains (until yesterday) water conditions have been low and clear. Thinking clear or transparent with fleck through it might be a good option to try in these conditions. In season I don’t do much of buying baits. Generally do my restocking or buying something new/different during the winter. Its been rolling around in my head to try it. 
Has it worked for you in these conditions? If I can find them I was thinking of trying it with 3” and 4” grubs and 4” or 5” ST and CT worms. Maybe a craw if I can find it. 

Just looking for opinions and experience in using clears. No need to give me specific baits you use. I’m not trying to fish anyone for  that info. I’m willing to do my homework and legwork with what. I don’t think there is a lot of these baits out there. Which could be the answer to my question. 

[volzfan59]

I read an article years ago about using clear soft plastics. It was concerning finesse smallmouth fishing with grubs in clear water. I bit and purchased some 3" and 5" clear grubs with silver flakes and some with blue, red and green flakes.

 

Threw them on an 1/8 oz jig head, m/l 7' spinning rod with 6 lb clear mono. For me, I caught a few, had some fun but didn't set the world on fire.

 

 

[Fishingmickey]

Back in the "day".  When I first started serious bass fishing. We have a very clear water limestone reservoir we used to fish. "Smoke" colored grubs 3" on a 1/4 oz jig head were the ticket. Not quite clear but translucent.  I've never see a true clear soft plastic bait. But if I did, I may try a pack.
FM 

[Pat Brown]

I use a LOT of semi transparent or entirely transparent soft plastics when I'm doing a more bait fishy presentation.

 

I think you need some opacity to help hide the hooks.

 

Rarely go solid colors on my lakes anymore.

 

I'd try entirely clear plastics.

 

Zoom has a new one called 'killer blue' that I've done really well with that is almost clear - 'barely blue' is what I'd have called it.

 

Good color.  Would be great to have Zoom do 'killer' - all the other colors and maybe even a killer clear!

[ChrisD46]

Here is a color (Ghost Shad) typical of a clear transparent soft plastic color you speak of popular for clear water applications : Strike King Rage Swimmer Swimbait | Tackle Warehouse . I emphasize "clear water" because if you do not have water visibility approaching 3 feet or more - you might as well pick another color .

[TOXIC]

Timely topic.  Yamamoto just introduced a line of clear plastic colors.  I can’t wait to try them out. 

[Spankey]

19 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

I read an article years ago about using clear soft plastics. It was concerning finesse smallmouth fishing with grubs in clear water. I bit and purchased some 3" and 5" clear grubs with silver flakes and some with blue, red and green flakes.

 

Threw them on an 1/8 oz jig head, m/l 7' spinning rod with 6 lb clear mono. For me, I caught a few, had some fun but didn't set the world on fire.

 

 

That is exactly how I’d be trying them. Light finesse fishing for river smallies. Same set up you are using. 

 

9 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Back in the "day".  When I first started serious bass fishing. We have a very clear water limestone reservoir we used to fish. "Smoke" colored grubs 3" on a 1/4 oz jig head were the ticket. Not quite clear but translucent.  I've never see a true clear soft plastic bait. But if I did, I may try a pack.
FM 

I  should have mentioned smoke in my post. Has always produced. But I got hung up on white and didn’t want you guys to think I was talking about white. I’ve used a smoke put out by Case for years. Case stuff is hard to find nowadays for me. 
I’ll dig on line and find a few/couple of things that I feel good about trying. For the most part soft plastics are cheap to experiment with. It’s easy to try them.

I’ll try them with optimism, looks like it could be a baitfish. Hopefully Mr. Smallie thinks it’s a baitfish. 

[volzfan59]

Kalin's used to have a good selection of 3" and 5" clear (with various flake colors) grubs. I say used to, where I live now the water is any but clear and smallies don't exist so I haven't repurchased any.

[WRB]

Bobby Garland (Canyon-Plastics) makes a clear soft plastic w/red flake grubs and Gitzits.

Frank Pasalich US Bait Co (868/395.0198)

makes custom color soft plastic in grubs, 4” Flutter Craft worm, Little Fishy and Reapers etc.

Tom

[Reel]

Yes, I tried that.  I bought clear hard plastic crankbaits, jerkbaits and floating plugs and just put hooks on them.  I fish really clear water and the success was so.. so !  I got more fish with white or bone.  

For soft plastic, the only time I did it was on lake Memphremagog.  One Spring the smallmouths were chasing those little inch minnows.  You know the ones that explode out of the water when a bass is chasing them.  After trying a lot of things, the best lure was a completely transparent tube with black, blue and red flakes made by Garland.

 

Hey, WRB, you beat me by a minute .......

[Catt]

One of the deadliest worms I ever threw at night was a 7 1/2" Ringed Rascal in a color they called Starry Night. It was clear on the bottom, smoke colored (could see through it) on the top, & loaded with silver glitter. 

[Spankey]

Doing a bit of a search without having to go neck deep looking. There is not much to choose from or much there. But on the positive side Zoom, Kalin and Mr. Twister have a few things that are clear with flecks. 

[rgasr63]

I didn't go with super clear but Charlie Brewer sells a color called Monkey Milk that works pretty good in cooler clear water. I used it with a pink or purple headed jig.

[MAN]

I have fished a zoom fluke that was clear with no flake.  I didn't have any luck.  Looked like just a hook darting through the water.  But was told that even though the fish may not see the bait silhouette dancing through the water,  They feel it becouse of the surface area of the bait pushing against the water and onto the lateral line. 

 

I have caught fish on clear topwater torpedo's though.  

[Fishlegs]

I've used a Zoom Fat Albert that's clear with silver flake. It is truly clear plastic. It's not my best producer, but I have caught fish with it. The water I typically fish is not very clear though.

[Spankey]

13 minutes ago, Fishlegs said:

I've used a Zoom Fat Albert that's clear with silver flake. It is truly clear plastic. It's not my best producer, but I have caught fish with it. The water I typically fish is not very clear though.

That’s the one I was thinking of trying.  I use the Fat Albert’s on a regular basis. I might be able to pick that up locally. Just buy it and use it in clear to stained water conditions and see what it produces. Was just going with a hunch that clear might draw a few more bites in the clearer water. I don’t want to make color out to be more than it is. I typically don’t because like everyone else we all have patterns that produce better than others. 

[bowhunter63]

Throw the Fat Albert a lot.shad colors if I’m higher in the water column. Darker colors if I hug the bottom 

[scaleface]

I have some 4 inch worms , one is clear with flakes , one is sand and another milky. I havent had a lot of success with them but that doesnt mean a thing . just havent thrown them under the right condition. Water is not clear in my area .

[fishballer06]

The Rage Tail Menace Grub in "Glacier" is a go to swim jig trailer for me. Goes great with a white or sexy shad colored skirt. Works well on chatterbaits and spinnerbaits as well. 

[Mobasser]

Spankey, you might look at the Charlie Brewer website. They have a 3" paddle tail grub in smoke bluegill color. Basically clear with green flake. I'm following your post, because I've thought about finding some clear plastics to fish LM in a clear quarry lake I fish. Good post.

[Spankey]

44 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I have some 4 inch worms , one is clear with flakes , one is sand and another milky. I havent had a lot of success with them but that doesnt mean a thing . just havent thrown them under the right condition. Water is not clear in my area .

I fish this 4” Mann’s finesse worm that was discontinued years ago in “sand”. Called a Dragin’ Worm. 4” straight tail that goes into a point, flatter belly worm. A favorite of mine on the river Smallies especially August and September when it’s the clearest. But like a few killer worms that have been good producers on the river they are long discontinued. Downfall of being old school. 

 

13 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Spankey, you might look at the Charlie Brewer website. They have a 3" paddle tail grub in smoke bluegill color. Basically clear with green flake. I'm following your post, because I've thought about finding some clear plastics to fish LM in a clear quarry lake I fish. Good post.

I’ll check CB out. I still slider fish on a regular basis but that stuff is hard to find locally. I did do a bit of digging around online. Have a short list of a couple of things. Never gave a paddle tail any thought. I’m not finding a single craw in clear w/fleck or a TRD style. Did find a few decent grubs to try. I’m leaning toward picking up a silver & black, clear bluegill or sungill and a clear w/white fleck. I have no intention to jump in neck deep with clear baits. Have a hunch and a curiosity to try something. 
We are getting hammered with rains right now. But it will clear up. Unless we keep getting effects of hurricanes, it should stay clear until mid October or later. 

[scaleface]

25 minutes ago, Spankey said:

I fish this 4” Mann’s finesse worm that was discontinued years ago in “sand”. Called a Dragin’ Worm. 4” straight tail that goes into a point, flatter belly worm.

That could be the ones I have. 

[Fishlegs]

18 hours ago, Spankey said:

That’s the one I was thinking of trying.  I use the Fat Albert’s on a regular basis. I might be able to pick that up locally. Just buy it and use it in clear to stained water conditions and see what it produces. Was just going with a hunch that clear might draw a few more bites in the clearer water. I don’t want to make color out to be more than it is. I typically don’t because like everyone else we all have patterns that produce better than others. 

If you can't find that color locally, Academy sports has them on their website. That specific color is usually crazy cheap on there.

[fin]

23 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

I think you need some opacity to help hide the hooks.

 

That's my experience too. Even with worm colors that are so light or translucent that the hook is clearly visible, I have had little success.

 

Hard baits are a different matter altogether. I'm a sucker for clear or part-clear hard baits. I also like clear skirts. I've also had luck with that SK ghost color in their swimmer, but not with their stick baits.

 

I bought some of those clear with silver flake grubs back in the 80's, and still have a few. I don't think I've ever caught anything on them.

[TnRiver46]

Smoke grub is a killer