There are many ways to rig soft plastic lures, but in general, they are easiest to rig by using basic offset worm hooks, in the Texas rig style, which keep the baits' bodies straight. These hooks also allow for a number of retrieval techniques. When weight is needed, a weighted offset worm hook, such as a Slider head will usually do the trick, but when the lure is supposed to be suspended just off of the bottom as it is being reeled, a Carolina rig, which keeps the weight about a foot in front of the lure, is best. There are certain baits that perform better than others when fishing for largemouth bass on any given day. Here is a ranking of ten soft plastic lures that are generally most productive, starting with the overall best soft plastic lure.
- Yamamoto Senko
- Zoom Finesse Worm
- Gene Larew Sinking Slugger
- Zoom Trick Worm
- Yamamoto Single or Double Tail Hula Grub (must be fished weighted)
- Zoom Super Fluke
- Zoom Brush Hog
- Strike King Coffee Tube (must be fished weightless. Any jighead of the right size should work)
- Bass Assassin Shad Assassin
- Berkley Power Bait Original Power Worm
Fishing Bass Lures
These lures are all very different, and may require different weights or retrieval techniques, but they all have one thing in common: they catch bass. All of these lures are typically best when they are colored naturally, in shades of gray, brown, olive, or in black, as bright colors such as chartreuse and pink can startle wary fish. The first thing to try for bass in any general body of water is usually a Yamamoto Senko, as these baits do not require weight, and they may be fished virtually motionless, or with a slow, twitching retrieve, and bass find them irresistible. When fishing in shallow water near the shore, or right up against a bank, Zoom Finesse Worms, Trick Worms, and Gene Larew's Sluggers are great baits.
Bass Fishing Around Structure and in Deeper Water
Zoom Brush Hogs and Super Flukes are excellent lures when fishing near structure, such as logs and dead trees, or rocks, but the Fluke is best when fishing in shallow water, or along the surface in these areas, and a weighted Brush Hog does best along the bottom. Bass Assassin Shads also work in these areas. Tubes are great in general when fishing deeper water, and a Carolina-rigged Berkley Power Bait Power Worm also does well when fishing along the bottom in water deeper than four feet. Yamamoto's Hula Grug is very productive when fishing from a boat, and casting to the shore, and slowly reeling the lure back out, particularly in shallower water, or along shady banks.
These lures are all great, but they may be more productive in certain areas and water depths. To find out which baits work best in certain areas of farm ponds and lakes, experience with the lures, and with different retrieval techniques is imperative, so get out there and try them out!
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