Winter fishing with soft plastics?

[bowie06]

Just new to soft plastic fishing and would like to get feedback on winter time fishing using SP....right into catch and release so what can i expect to hook up and what type of sp for winter...

thanks for the feedback

[CHUNQX]

Depends on where you're fishing mate. ..

If you're in WA someone will suggest bass minnows are the way to go. If you're in NSW, squidgies or ecogear, Tassie whole different ball game, same as Vic /SA. Just depends which body of water you're fishing.

[CHUNQX]

Oh yes, be more specific on where you intend to fish and chances are there is someone else who knows the place really well and they'll be able to help you out.

[bowie06]

my location is the south coast of NSW from nowra down as far as
mallacoota.

cheers

[Steersy]

Hi Bowie06

I would suggest you get yourself some 3inch Berkley Bass Minnows in either pearl/watermelon, pearl/blue or pearl/olive colors (if you can find them) and rig these on a 1/16 jighead like a 'Nitro' or Gamakatsu then fish them with a slow, subtle lift (jig, jig) and drop retieve.

They will catch almost anything that swims!

Cheers
Steersy

[Bear]

If you're fishing calmer waters, don't hesitate to go to a lighter jig head. I use a Nitro 1\24 no.4. Even with the smaller hook I hook up with no problems and it's just that extra length for more action. Must admit, I'm getting into the plastics more and more.

[Steersy]

Hi Bear

Good to hear you guys are now giving the SP's a serious crack, keep up the good work!

Cheers
Steersy

[Bear]

G'day Steersy,
A lot of the guys here do use plastics a lot, but I've always been a bit of a hb nut. Been fishing with them a lot more this season and really getting the hang of it.

Started off using a bass technique that has worked well for me and caught a lot of fish. I, on a hb, I get a hit or spook a school of bait fish. I go straight back in with a plastic. More often than not I nail one. Works well.

[Steersy]

And yes the Nitro 1/24th #4 B11 size which is built on a Mustad Aberdeen is a great little jig head but I personelly prefer the 1/24th #2 B12 size which is built on the Gamakatsu light wire hook, just my opinion of course!

Everyone to their own hey!

Cheers
Steersy

[Bear]

True mate, I'm hoping to get Matt to do a few lighter heads as well. Not a bad option on occasions.

[Steersy]

Hi Bear

Yes I too ground my teeth on HB's for years but about 6 years ago now I took a seriouse move to SP's and have not looked back, mind you i still toss a few good hard body's when searching new water and wanting to cover ground. Once i have have found the fish though i typically switch to SP's for a more subtle presentation and as you say this switch to SP's from HB's works a treat at times.

Cheers
Steersy

[Steersy]

Yes I too will be talking to Matt in the not to distant future about doing some custom heads for me and a new range of SP's I have been working on for some time.

Cheers
Steersy

[CHUNQX]

I've never done well on Bass Minnows I must admit. I've been doing ok with Atomic Fat Grubs though. If you're just starting out SP fishing I must say you probably picked the worst time to start. I found that with trying soemthing new its usually more encouraging to try it with some degree of success or you're more likely to give it up thinking it doesn't work. In summer, the bream tend to be more aggressive. However, if you persist through winter and manage to catch a few, while refining your techniques, come summer time, you'll be ready for some really good action. So hang in there. Sometimes in the one day, you'd be casting non-stop for no results for an hour and a half and then for no apparent reason at all they'll come onto the bite really aggressively for the next couple of hours. If you'd given up after the first hour casting, you'd never have experienced that hot bite so it definitely pays to persist.

[bowie06]

I did go fish turos at the beginning of june with a guy that does
bream competition fishing, and with some success, we did a full day and he showed me as much as he could in a day...we used berkley 2" tournament strength grubs and had a hoot, but he has now let the apprentice out of the bag so to speak, and comming on to winter....hmmm i have or had no idea on whether the fish were still going to hit the lures, including hard bodies or not....so keep the info comming people, one can never get too much hey........where does everyone else fish.