Soft plastic lures are one of the most timeless baits in any angler’s tackle box, from realistic presentations to irresistible action, soft plastic baits are a top notch bait for almost any species. At Fin Feather Fur we offer hundreds of options of soft plastic worms, grubs, craws, and creatures to help you land that personal best.
Soft Baits
Types of Soft Plastic Lures
Since soft plastic baits and lures are designed to mimic real prey and live bait that fish are eating, there is a massive selection of soft plastic baits on the market. At Fin Feather Fur Outfitters our store has over six hundred different soft plastic lures to choose from! Don’t let that intimidate you as we can filter them down and help you find the perfect soft plastic for your fishing trip. Some of the most common soft plastics are:
- Senkos
- Flukes
- Craws
- Grubs
- Creatures
- Worms
- Toads
- Swimbaits
There are plenty of other options like soft plastic trailers, tube baits, lizards, leeches, and when it comes to the creature baits those can get really crazy and creative with what you are throwing.
Popular Soft Plastic Lure Rigs :
There are several popular soft plastic bait setups that anglers everywhere take advantage of. One of the most common is the classic Texas Rig. A couple other popular options are the Carolina Rig, and Drop Shot setup. Let’s break down what soft plastics work for these set ups and when you should use them.
Texas Rig :
The Texas Rig is used with soft plastic lures, a bullet weight, an offset worm hook, rigged in a way that makes it weedless. Thread the hook point through the top of the soft plastic bait, push the hook out the side of the bait, and slide the bait up the hook shank onto the bend in the hook just below the eye. You can push the tip of the hook into the back of the bait to make it weedless. The Texas Rig pairs very well with soft plastic worms, craws, and creature baits. It is typically jigged along the bottom to get a bottom feeding bite. Read the full Bass Resource article on Texas Rig Fishing.Carolina Rig :
The Carolina Rig is a bit more complicated. Consisting of a weight (bullet weight or egg sinker), an optional bead, a swivel, a leader line, hook, and the soft plastic bait of your choosing. Cast out your Carolina rig and let it hit the bottom; you can slowly drag the weight across the bottom. With the soft plastic trailing behind the weight, creating a natural presentation for the fish. The Carolina Rig pairs very well with soft plastic lures like worms, lizards, and crawfish.Drop Shot :
A drop shot rig is where a hook and bait are positioned above a weight on a leader, allowing the soft plastic bait to hover off the bottom creating a natural swimming presentation which is very effective in clear and deep water. The best soft plastic lures for a drop shot are typically worms, grubs, and minnow or bait fish plastics. Check out Wired2Fish post on Drop Shot Fishing.
Benefits of Using Soft Plastic Baits
The most obvious advantage of using soft plastic lures is the realistic presentation and movement they provide when tempting that fish to take a bite. With soft plastics being such a versatile bait, it allows anglers to adjust size, color, presentation, and type of plastic bait entirely until they are dialed in on what the fish are biting. Being able to accurately “match the hatch” or present a soft plastic lure that resembles what is actually living in the water and the fish are feeding on can significantly improve catch rate for anglers. The biggest advantages or benefits of soft plastic lures are:
- Versatility
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Scented
- Rigging Flexibility
- Weedless
- Realistic Action
Most Popular Soft Plastic Bait Brands :
With thousands of soft plastics on the market, there are a couple of brands that have made a name for themselves and stand out among the rest.
Z-Man :
Z-Man soft plastics are known for their long lasting baits, and proprietary ElaZtehch formula which creates super soft baits. Their action has a very realistic presentation. Some of the most popular Z-Man soft plastics are the Big TRD, Z-Man SMH Worm, and the Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ.Strike King :
Strike King has time and time again revolutionized the soft plastic lure market with unique tail designs, high-grade plastics, and versatile actions on Strike King baits. Some of their most popular models are the Stike King Rage Tail Craw, Strike King Rage Tail Grub, the KVD Ocho, and of course the Strike King Finesse Worm.Berkley :
Berkley soft plastic lures have some of the most advanced technology in soft plastics. With their Gulp! Technology that is ultra scented to attract fish from further distances, the MaxScent technology which infused the scent directly into the soft plastic baits, and their PowerBait material for being soft and durable has made Berkley soft plastics some of the best baits in angler’s tackle boxes. Some popular Berkley soft plastic lures are the Gulp! Minnow, Powerbait Power Swimmers, and the Powerbait Jerk Shad.Keitech :
Keitech doesn’t necessarily have any crazy technology, but Keitech soft plastic baits simply catch fish. Anglers everywhere love them for their durability, effectiveness, and versatility when it comes to presentations and types of baits. Some of their most popular baits are the Swing Impact FAT, Easy Shiner Swimbaits, and the Original Swing Impact Swimbait.
Soft Plastic Lures For Sale
When it comes to buying soft plastic lures for sale online, you can’t beat Fin Feather Fur Outfitters. Trusted by anglers everywhere we offer some of the top brands and variety of soft plastic baits. With creature baits, finesse worms, tiny jigging grubs, even large soft plastic swimbaits, we have whatever soft plastics you need to catch your next pb.
Frequently Asked Questions About Soft Plastic Baits :
What are soft plastic lures good for?
- Since soft plastic lures come in such a wide range of sizes, colors, and creatures they can target just about any species out there. Additionally, if you want to fish a natural or realistic look, their soft bodies allow them to swim much more naturally than a hard bait.
How To Rig Soft Plastic Lures
- There are thousands of different types of soft plastic baits, with them come a variety of ways to rig them. Some of the most popular are Texas Rig, Carolina Rig, Jigging, Wacky Rigs, and more. Check out the Bass Dozer guide to modern rigs for soft plastics.
What fish like soft lures?
- With soft plastic lures being so natural looking and accurately mimicking natural prey, almost all freshwater fish will eat them. Most commonly anglers will use them for bass, walleye, crappie, trout, and even use larger soft swim baits for pike.
Ask Our Expert Soft Plastic Lure Team
At Fin Feather Fur Outfitters we have an expert fishing team ready to answer your questions about soft plastic baits and lures and will happily help you find out what plastics you need in your tackle box for your next outing.