Plastic swimmers: Differences, what works when

[Monty]

Thought maybe a thread on the differences in plastic plugs might be interesting.
Maybe a few examples/experiences.

For me:
Magdarters have been more productive in moving or turbulent water than other plastics (my most productive plastic).
Usually use a mixed retrieve, little rod tip action.

Loaded redfins (smaller size) have been more productive in calm water than any plastic, but also have produced in white water (bone color).

Used to use Javelins, they casted better than bombers and swam a bit deeper than bombers if I remember correctly.

I'm not big on Bombers, just never really enjoyed fishing them.

SP Minnow, have not fished it a lot, a couple Bass this year in moving water. Casts great.

Anyone have experience with Megabaits? Just picked up my first.

[finchaser]

Mega baits J110 are 5' and 7/8 ounce they cast great and catch fish even better down to my last 12

[DarkSkies]

Mega Bait and the Mambo Minnow were 2 of the favorites of the Old Farts Fishing Club (OFFC). They even considered calling themselves the Mambo Minnow fishing club, until I convinced them the OFFC name was cooler.

The thing thay makes some of these work, IMO, is the rattle some of them have, and the small profile.

Even though Fin says he is not a profile fisherman, I'm gonna be the contrarian and say sometimes when the fish are scattered or picky, it really has mattered, to me. For example, these big bluefish at night that we are targeting. They do not seem to want to hit 7" plugs when the primary forage is small bait. 4-5" gets the most attention.


I still like bombers though I feel they have dropped in popularity. When I'm fishing rocks or inlet areas I always have it in my head that what I'm throwing might be donated to those rocks. A bomber is a lot cheaper to lose, and I still fish them religiously. If you look at them swimming in the water they have a good wiggle in current.

[DarkSkies]

When they work.....


The SP has been touted as a plug that will make the fish jump out of the water and land on the shore in front of ya.
I lot of guys are tellling me they now won't fish anything else.

I think that is somewhat short-sighted, though....
In rough water, for example, I have done much better with the Mag Darter in side by side comparisons.

I feel that in rough water, where the swell is big, the Mag darter is easier to keep in the strike zon for longer periods than the SP.

Of course, that's just my experience.
Guys who plug fast moving current like the Rips in NJ., or the Mass Canal, swear by the SP.
In those conditions I would agree, but not if the swell is bigger than 3', in my experience. (and the fish are scattered)....if there are a lot of fish around there are many things you can throw to them with success.

[DarkSkies]

Used to use Javelins, they casted better than bombers and swam a bit deeper than bombers if I remember correctly.

Are you talking about Javelins, or Mavericks?

If it's Javelins, Fin has a story he might want to share here. Ask him....

[storminsteve]

When they work.....


The SP has been touted as a plug that will make the fish jump out of the water and land on the shore in front of ya.
I lot of guys are tellling me they now won't fish anything else.

.

I hope you don't classify me as one of those, dark. I love the SP and have done well with it this year. As you said I don't think it works good in a pounding surf. I feel the magdarter is good, or any darter for that matter when the bunker are in.

Monty I use loaded redfins and loaded plugs a lot more when the sandeels are here.

[fishinmission78]

I like the older redfins. They are slim for when small bait is around. Great movement in the water. Good for when the fish are picky as well.

[jigfreak]

For me:
Magdarters have been more productive in moving or turbulent water than other plastics (my most productive plastic).
Usually use a mixed retrieve, little rod tip action.

Yes, that works. Also, I use megabaits around the end of the season. If the sandeels are thick I will throw the small rubber eels or avas. If not megabait is killer, toss it out and slow retrieve. end of day when the morning is colder is a good time.

[Monty]

Are you talking about Javelins, or Mavericks?
If it's Javelins, Fin has a story he might want to share here. Ask him....

Definitely Javelins, when I first started fishing in salty water I used them instead of bombers because they casted much further and could "feel" them better.
I life Fins stories, how bout it Finchaser?

I hope you don't classify me as one of those, dark. I love the SP and have done well with it this year. As you said I don't think it works good in a pounding surf. I feel the magdarter is good, or any darter for that matter when the bunker are in.
Monty I use loaded redfins and loaded plugs a lot more when the sandeels are here.

I noticed the Redfins produced a lot more for me in the fall/late fall last few years when the sand eels were around. I have also caught with them in the bay when small bait was around just after sun up when other plugs/metal/rubber did didlie.

Yes, that works. Also, I use megabaits around the end of the season. If the sandeels are thick I will throw the small rubber eels or avas. If not megabait is killer, toss it out and slow retrieve. end of day when the morning is colder is a good time.

I'm going to throw it a little this week.

[DarkSkies]

Definitely Javelins, when I first started fishing in salty water I used them instead of bombers because they casted much further and could "feel" them better.
I life Fins stories, how bout it Finchaser?

PM him and ask him to answer if he doesn't see this....the old grouchy basstid is grouchier than usual this week...I'm kinda feeling that way as well., until we start seeing more fish......

[surfwalker]

Plastics-they're in the bag, used sometimes. Rebel 4" & 5 1/2", calm water, favorable breeze. Casted parallel to beach/in the trough. 7" Rebel sinker(or simulars), heavier action water and current, good sweeps. Bombers/Redfins- mostly calmer water, decent sweep. There's plenty of others, they are tried, but not overworked. The water activity will dictate their use, or not.

[Monty]

Anyone know who made/makes the top lure?
Caught a small bass with it earlier this week (and of course also missed one), can't remember where I got it from.
The bottom is a red fin.

[DarkSkies]

Something I recently posted. The OP was asking about different plugs that were, and weren't working, this time of year.....
There was some feedback that the only thing working was the SP....

1. Hey - I had a couple of needles in the bag. Should've tried them. Last year they were deadly for me, but sand eels were running then.


2. Any one been catching fish on bottle plugs? I'm curious to learn how to use them.


3. Any one finding the fish hard to hook lately?

Not much time today but I'll try for some quick answers....

1. Needles..and stubby needlefish....should be tried every time out in the fall, whether there are sandeels or not....there are usually lots of needlefish/gar around..and fish will often key in on them...
Many surfcasters have difficulty with them because most productive retrieve is often painfully slow....and many don't have the patience to fish them that way....the first time you get a fish on a needle and feel the explosive action you will be hooked..


2. Bottle plugs.... SS, Polaris, etc....I like to fish them best in current or rough water.....fished slowly as well. The bottle plug is deadly this time of year, but you have to know the water you're fishing in and look for current..


3. Taps instead of hits....there are times when the fish are feeding on small bait...and the hit on a bigger plug is reactionary or defensive rather than aggressive.....


I was having a blast this summer...catching medium to larger bluefish that were feeding on tiny shrimp....until August...blues up to 8# in the back bays that would not hit a small plug, bucktail or rubber...the only way to attract these scattered fish was to aggressively work the popper across the flats...triggering a reactionary strike..
Often the fish would be hooked in the head or the back....as they were not really in the mood to hit bigger things when the forage was so small...I have often found bluefish at night to be pickier than bass...and don't understand the logic of guys who say they will hit anything...even a bare hook....not so true in summer months when they are picky......


**My point is that different things work for different situations and when different forage is around...the waters we all fish can be different...
and
time of night,
water temperature... and
tide stage can also factor in different levels of aggressiveness...