--- title: "OL Guide To Fishing Soft Plastics" date: "2007-03-19" modified: "2021-02-01" authors: - name: "Outdoor Life Online Editor" link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/outdoor-life-online-editor/" url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/node-1006030051/" categories: - "Fishing" --- # OL Guide To Fishing Soft Plastics ![]() *Confused by the variety of soft plastic baits offered these days? Don't be. From swimbait tips to finesse worm tricks, we've got the scoop on how to catch more bass this spring. Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Grub]() *Description: Short, pudgy, with twist or spear tail Sizes: 2" to 5" Application: Crappies, bluegills, bass, walleyes Rigging: Jig 1/16 oz./3/16 -1/4 oz. Rod/Action: Pole/6'MH Spinning Line Test: 6-10 lb. Retrieve""Vertical: jig, swim, hop Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Spider Jig]() *Description: Tentacles at head, split twist-tail Sizes: 2" to 5" Application: Bass Rigging: Jig 1/16 oz./Jig 3/16-1/4 oz. Rod/Action: 6' MH Spinning/7' MH Bait-casting Line Test: 6-8 lb./12-20 lb. Retrieve: Short hops Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Soft Craw]() *Description: Pincers and legs like real crayfish Sizes: 2" to 5" Application: Bass in spring Rigging: Jig 1/16 oz./Jig 3/16-1/4 oz. Rod/Action: 6' MH Spinning/7' MH Bait-casting Line Test: 6-8 lb./12-20 lb. Retrieve: Short hops Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Tube Bait]() *Description: Hollow, squid-like; falls in spiral Sizes: 1.5" to 5" Application: Crappies, bluegills, bass Rigging: Jig 1/32 to 1/8 oz./Texas rig Rod/Action: Crappie pole/7' MH Bait-casting Line Test: 6 lb./12-20 lb. Retrieve: Vertical-jig, short hops Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Slop Critter]() *Description: Mimics frog/rat; upswept hooks Sizes: 3" to 5" Application: Bass under surface vegetation Rigging: Pre-rigged weedless Rod/Action: 7' MH Bait-casting Line Test: 20 lb. Retrieve: Crawl over weed mats Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Lizard]() *Description: Mimics a salamander Sizes: 4" to 8" Application: Bass in wood; bass in clear water Rigging: Texas rig/Carolina rig Rod/Action: 6' MH Spinning/6Ã'½' MH Bait-casting Line Test: 8 lb./12 lb. Retrieve: Short hops, drag points Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Twist-Tail Worm]() *Description: Ribbon tail Sizes: 6" to 10" Application: Bass in wood or grass Rigging: Texas rig Rod/Action: 7' MH Bait-casting Line Test: 12-20 lb. Retrieve: Short hop Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Paddle-tail Worm]() *Description: Flat, beaver tail Sizes: 6" to 8" Application: Bass in thick grass Rigging: Texas rig with pegged sinker Rod/Action: 7' MH/H Bait-casting Line Test: 10-14 lb./14-20 lb. Retrieve: Short hops, flip in weeds Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Straight-Tail Worm]() *Description: Fake night crawler Sizes: 6" to 8" Application: Bass in shallow cover Rigging: Weightless; bury hook in body Rod/Action: 6Ã'½' M Spinning Line Test: 8-12 lb. Retrieve: Skip under bushes Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Finesse Worm]() *Description: Short, slender Sizes: 4" Application: Bass in clear water Rigging: Texas rig or split shot Rod/Action: 6' M spin Line Test: 4-6 lb. Retrieve: Hop on rocks, drag points Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Soft Head]() *Description: Fish body, blunt tail Sizes: 2" to 6" Application: River bass, stripers Rigging: Jig Ã'¼ oz./Jig Ã'½ to 1 oz. Rod/Action: 6' MH Spinning/7' MH Bait-casting Line Test: 6-8 lb./20 lb. Retrieve: Dart/pause, swim, hop Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Creature]() *Description: Worm body, twin tail, legs Sizes: 6" Application: Bass in thick cover Rigging: Pegged Texas rig Rod/Action: 7' MH or H Bait-casting Line Test: 14-20 lb./20-30 lb. Retrieve: Short hops, flip in brush Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![French Fry]() *Description: Small worm, blunt at both ends Sizes: 4" Application: Bass in clear, open water Rigging: Carolina rig Rod/Action: 6Ã'½' M Bait-casting Line Test: 6-8 lb. Retrieve: Drag points Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Centipede]() *Description: Flat, lots of legs, small twist tail Sizes: 4" Application: Bass on beds Rigging: Texas rig Rod/Action: 6' MH Spinning Line Test: 8-10 lb. Retrieve: Short hops Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Soft Jerkbait]() *Description: Chunky, tapered Sizes: 4" to 10" Application: Suspending bass Rigging: Texposed hook, little or no weight Rod/Action: 6Ã'½' M Bait-casting Line Test: 10-14 lb. Retrieve: Twitch/pause Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Swim Bait]() *Description: Fish-like, blunt tail Sizes: 6" to 8" Application: Big bass, pike, muskies Rigging: Pre-rigged with molded-in weight Rod/Action: 7' H Bait-casting Line Test: 14-30 lb. Retrieve: Swim or twitch Outdoor Life Online Editor* ![Swim Bait]() *Description: Fish-like, blunt tail Sizes: 6" to 8" Application: Big bass, pike, muskies Rigging: Pre-rigged with molded-in weight Rod/Action: 7' H Bait-casting Line Test: 14-30 lb. Retrieve: Swim or twitch Outdoor Life Online Editor* Confused by the variety of soft plastic baits offered these days? Don't be. From swimbait tips to finesse worm tricks, we've got the scoop on how to catch more bass this spring.