MonsterTackle Blog

There is a developing trend towards soft plastics. As the bassing scene becomes bigger (and better) so our fishing options increase but also so do trends. Its the Mexican wave effect, once a critical mass of people start getting sufficiently bored with the sporting action in front of them so a wave is born. More and more participate until the stadium is absorbed.

Soft plastics are the Mexican wave of the moment. You just feel obliged to join in, its hard to resist and if you refuse, you kind of feel that you are missing out! I try my best to avoid trends - I want my clients to catch fish - methods that work are always my first line of attack. But if I'm truly honest the soft plastic thing is beginning to take a hold.

As Phil Done and I found out recently not only do Slug Go's work but they also seem to selectively take better fish. They cast reasonably well, look stunningly life like in the water and catch. Need I say more...

What is not talked about is how to fish them... I'm trialling a few techniques. All of them involve using the rod as the animation tool. No reel action is used. I connect with the lure by winding but once I know I'm in touch with the lure I use the rod. Short very sharp taps of about 15 cm's broken by long pauses is my starter retrieve. If you haven't got yourself a pukka lure rod you'll struggle to get the desired animation as rod flex will make life very difficult. But with the right rod - I'm using aLucky Craft ESGII Plugging Rod 8'7" XHXXF - animation is so perfect you can't help but actively search for the lure as you fish in back in the hope of seeing the action.

A client of mine fished aLunker City 7.5" Slug-Go over a hot spot recently. We watched in disbelief as a 5lb fish appeared at speed and swallowed it whole. Just opened its mouth and engulfed it. It was one of those great bassing moments and the guy who I was fishing with - when he reads this - will relive the moment in his minds eye. Truly special.

So go on wave, wave like its the last thing you'll ever do. Everybody else can't be wrong!