Plastics dominate modern bass fishing for good reason. They’re versatile, affordable, and catch fish in nearly every situation.
Endless Variety
Worms, creature baits, craws, swimbaits, tubes, flukes – plastic baits imitate everything fish eat. New designs appear constantly. Despite this variety, a handful of proven shapes catch most fish.
Rigging Options
Texas rig plastics weedless for heavy cover. Carolina rigs cover deep structure. Drop shots suspend baits precisely. Wacky rigs create irresistible falling action. Ned rigs work in tough conditions. One bait, multiple presentations.
Color Considerations
Green pumpkin and watermelon work in clear water. Black and blue handle murky conditions. Natural colors when fish are finicky, bright colors when they’re aggressive. Having both options covers most situations.
Soft vs Firm
Soft plastics feel natural and fish hold them longer. Firm plastics last through more fish. Choose based on bite conditions – when fish are striking short, softer baits get better hookups.
Scent and Salt
Many plastics come pre-scented or impregnated with salt. Fish do hold these longer on average. Whether it truly matters is debated, but it doesn’t hurt. Scent additives are optional but popular.
Hook Selection
Wide gap hooks work best with bulky plastics. Offset shank hooks rig worms neatly. Match hook size to plastic size – too small and hookups suffer, too big and action dies. This relationship matters.
Cost Efficiency
Plastics are among the cheapest effective baits available. A bag of twenty costs less than one crankbait. Fish don’t care about price tags. Stock up on proven colors and don’t worry about premium pricing.
