Hi all,

 

I just did my inventory to restock what I lost last year and will get an order in. Of course I’ve added a few new things that I wanted to try. I’m sure there is more than just me in this situation (cabin fever is strong).  Primarily I’m looking at soft plastics for this. 

 

If there was one soft plastic that you’d say to someone “if you haven’t fished these, you need to try them”, what would it be?  I’ve thrown a pair of Yamamoto’s in to try (scope shad and yamatanuki). What say you to others?

 

thanks,

rick

I’m a big fan of Elaztech, mostly, TRDs and Zinkerzs.

Rage Bug on a swinghead 4/0 EWG

A-Jay

Rage Lobster

Yamamoto Flappin hog

Rage Tail Structure Bug - midsize 

Hag's 8" Tornado in storm chaser.  

Geecrack revival shad worm in greenback/pro blue/smokin gold

 

 

scott

Mr Twister Mag 8" Buzz Worm 😉

Geecrack Cue Bombs and Imo Kemushi 60 and 95s.   

 

This will be the year of fuzzy baits.     

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Rage Lobster

Yamamoto Flappin hog

Flappin Hog is one of my favorites,  especially on a screw lock football jig. 

Consistently, the biggest bass I have caught in the last 10 years on these: 

 

1) 5 inch Caffeine Shad on a 4/0 Owner Twistlock LIGHT hook (weightless or 3/32 oz depending on your targeted depth).  Weedlines, shorelines, skipped under docks. Give it a couple twitches, let it swim and spiral on its own 3-5 seconds, twitch again, rinse & repeat. 

 

2) Grandebass Airtail Rattler worm - rigged Neko style. Best dam skipping lure I've ever used - gets both a reaction bite upon the fall, as well as when soaking. Undulates on its own. The air in the tip of the tail gets it to float more vertical upon rest. Like flipping the middle finger to nearby bass, it also has a thicker presence and gets bigger bites. Great in open water too when casting to targeted bottom locations. 

 

Both of these lures have air bubbles in their floating tails - they have an action/profile that other plastics just don't.  

Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw.

Yamamoto Zako, paddletail or flukestyle tail

Reaction innovations sweet Beaver or kinky Beaver

Z Man diesel minnow, 4 or 5 inch with z man Texas eye swinging jighead

Note, I fish in Florida!

Fat Ika on 4/0 screwlock.

Deep Creek Lures,  DC8" eel. I've done well, day or night with this bait. I tx rig with a 5/16 sinker. You can also rig it weightless around brush. 

Deps Cover Scat

 

Rage Tail Space Monkey. IYKYK!

Culprit Fat Max Ribbon Tail

 

The best overall plastic I ever used for in and around submerged brush piles, stand alone lay down trees or brush. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

@little giant already suggested it, but I second the Yamamoto Kickin Zako Swimbait. My local bass prefer Chartreuse Shad Laminate. 

 

And @AlabamaSpothunter taught me to use the Deps Sakamata Shad Soft Jerkbait, which I prefer in the 7" length. Here's a Deps bass, but be warned that it is a soft and expensive bait. However, I think bass love it because it is soft. I just hate when I have to keep biting off the shredded head of the bait, turning it into a 6" bait and then a 5" bait and then....:

 

13 hours ago, whitwolf said:

Deep Creek Lures,  DC8" eel

 

Anyone else loving the look of that eel? I'm thinking this is what whitwolf really looks like:

 

On 1/23/2025 at 11:24 AM, A-Jay said:

Rage Bug on a swinghead 4/0 EWG

A-Jay

+1, though most of the time I use Magnum Rage Bug on swing head.

6th sense boosa shakey  worm

Daiwa Yamamoto Neko Macho. 
 

Yes, you can fish it as a Neko rig. But I have good success as a weightless TR with a 3/0 EWG. I say “weightless”, but it’s a heavy bait for a soft plastic and casts well from a BC without additional weight. It skips great and stays clean for the most part in weeds and algae. 

Yamamoto Shad Shape Swimmer amongst others.  With the Kieteck craze still fresh in my memory, I’ve been pleading with Yamamoto to come out with a small swimbait.  They did.  

Wrong wish Toxic. Should've been for Yamamoto to sell their baits for .45 cents each..😆

On 1/23/2025 at 12:07 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Geecrack Cue Bombs and Imo Kemushi 60 and 95s.   

 

This will be the year of fuzzy baits.     

I did that the last couple of seasons. Very fun baits...if a bit expensive.

 

But they work!