Are you struggling with Soft Plastics? 10 Fishing Tips to Improve your catch rates
Are you struggling to catch fish with soft plastics ? Well then this video is for you. We run through 10 detailed tips on how to improve your catch rates when fishing with soft plastics. Covering common mistakes anglers make when fishing with soft plastics and tweaks to your setup and technique which helps greatly.
The 10 tips we Cover include
- Fishing lighter ( using lighter rods, reels, line, leaders and jig heads )
- Fishing slower ( understand the species and what strike zones are )
- Fishing with scents ( taking advantage of fish attracting products )
- Fishing with the rig gear ( understanding technique specific rods )
- Rig the soft plastic straight ( a basic one to ensure right swimming action )
- Learn to use your sounder ( find the fish using marine electronics )
- Experiment ( Use different types of plastics to grow )
- Use the right jig head ( understand the different types and proper usage )
- Fluorocarbon leaders ( why they work and how to use them )
- Don't give up ( stay positive, commit and the results will come ).
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One of the best videos on youtube for a beginners guide to soft plastics 👍🏼
Glad it was helpful! Thanks
Best I've seen. I agree. Excellent
Fantastic video! Thank you for making videos like this - just so helpful for beginners and great reminders for more seasoned fishers who want to do better.
You are so welcome Rowan! Glad you found it helpful. Heaps more stuff like this on the channel and in our members area.
Mate you're amazing. Been watching you from the start, and you're so happy to share what you've learnt over the years. You've also got a great TV personality and really well presented!
Thank you so much for the very positive comment. Its greatly appreciated. Lots and lots of hard work and countless hours to get to this point but so happy you have followed the journey.
New sub here…. Top notch content! Cheers from the states! 🇺🇸. Bill Duvall Washington State.
Great content Alan. Soft plastic fishing is really rewarding. You are right about persisting, cause once you start catching fish, it's difficult to go back to other forms.
Yep 100% agreed, once my confidence got up with soft plastics there is no going back as its so fun and rewarding
Really informative video. I’m just starting out on plastics so these tips are really helpful. I caught my first flathead on a Fools Gold flick-bait recently , Anderson Inlet. First on plastics, first on a kayak so I was pretty happy. All your videos add to the whole experience. Thanks a lot. 🎣
That's awesome to hear, I'm really glad the content has been helpful for you.
Thanks for all the content man. You've taught me quite a bit....though because I've got ankle issues I tend to do bait fishing. You seem like a super chill guy to go fishing with. Keep up the good work bud!
Thanks Nelson, I really appreciate the feedback and so glad you have found the content helpful.
Out of the hundreds of videos I’ve watched on the subject. This video hands down is the most helpful/useful. Fantastic work.
I'm glad you found it helpful, lots of other instructional content and fishing adventures on the channel I'm sure you will enjoy. Thanks
One thing I would have liked to have heard was dealing with wind. Wind mixed with jighead selection and ways to counteract the wind. We often times struggle in these conditions because it requires you to either fish from an undesirable angle or going too heavy and un natural. Great video!
Some great tips there Alan, I do most of what you said but sometimes I do tend to wind in too fast and I have missed on a few flathead because of it. You're right, DON'T GIVE UP.
Thanks John, Glad you found it helpful !! Its very surprising how sometimes by slowing things down it can increase catch rates, often the natural current will add a lot of action to the plastic even when its not being worked.
Loved the video Alan 👍🏼 very useful tips and tricks in there. Can’t wait to put them into action! Especially tip 1, I always find I fish a bit to heavy for what ever species I’m targeting
Thanks Jared, I'm glad you enjoyed it. yeah fishing light can make a massive difference and is lots of fun. You'll lose the occasional fish but you will catch plenty more in the long run.
Perfect tips. Really found it easy to understand! First time here. Going have to look through the other vids!
Awesome! Thank you! There is heaps of helpful content on the channel which I'm sure you'll enjoy !!
More of these videos please... I'm only a minute or so in. Just describing your setup for the day has enlightened me somewhat. Thank you. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it, there is plenty of helpful instructional content on the channel to enjoy. Cheers
Thank you. great video that encourge me not give up.
Great video and very helpful and informative as always. Would love to see a video that deep dives into water conditions and water geography. Correct gear set up, lures, jig heads, colours etc are all must do's and super helpful. BUT, if you don't understand the water conditions you are floating on or casting to from the bank you are seriously limiting your chance of catching.
Thanks for that....I'm in the UK and took so much from this video. The fish maybe different but the method is the same 👌 Subscribed and now looking for more confidence boosting advice 👍
nice channel with wholesome topics mate. i used alot of soft plastics when i was fishing as a kid. caught some real massive pikes using soft plastics! :)
Great video mate , love watching it. Great stuff 👏 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
What a great video. Thanks for the tips 🤙
No problem 👍
G'day Alan, I so needed this video. Information that will come in handy. I'll give it a try next outing. I've been building and using high performance rods & what you said makes a lot of sense for their use. Cheers, tight lines Stevo
Thanks !! Glad you enjoyed the vid and good luck with the high end rod building, thats something i follow very keenly
Another great video Alan, full of good information. I’m getting so exited for my trip to Australia next week where I’ll have a month of traveling around and doing some fishing, so I’ve subscribed and been binging your videos. You’ve got a great presentation style. Normally we would be in South West Florida for the winter where we have a winter home (from Canada where my wife and I live and I do a lot of freshwater fishing), but in Florida I fish exclusively with soft plastics although my tactics also include a lot of trolling. We catch lots of spotted sea trout, snook, Sheephead, jack cravelle, snapper, pompano, and bluefish (Taylor in your area), grouper and sharks. I’ll definitely work on slower retrieving as you’ve suggested, and will be buying a good selection of baits as I also find switching up and experimenting to be a recipe for success. Wish I could bring my Hobie pedal yak with me, but hope to be successful using some of your land based instructions as well. I’ll be in Melbourne area for a week starting Jan 27, so maybe I’ll be lucky to run in to you then. Tight lines……
Really informative video mate
just found your vids...enjoy your patience in helping folks understand various fishing. Question is: When trying to fish soft plastics o have a lot of frustration which I feel is related to a given lure and the retrieve rate of the reel. if you have time msybe a segment on better understanding retrieve rate and adapting to a given reel-Tod's retrieve rate?
Great stuff as always Alan
Thank you greatly Tony
Great video and very informative especially for someone with no fishing background and trying to learn. One tip or details that I would have liked seen covered is what type knot and whether it is cinched tight or with a loop when tying the line to the jighead.
Thanks !! Great question, there is lots of stuff like this already covered in detail in our members area which might be worth having a look at. My usual setup is braid, 1 rod length of fluro joined by a double uni and then joining the jig head to the fluro leader using a uni knot or FG knot if the rod has really small guides. I haven't found loop knots to make any real improvement when using soft plastics this may be different for bibbed lures but not plastics. This is the easiest, and probably the strongest setup. Hope that helps and as said early maybe alos check out our members area which has tones of helpful stuff for those new to fishing or new to a certain technique like soft plastics
Invaluable Tips...tight lines lads 🌊🎣
Much appreciated!
Your videos are certainly educational I regard my self a reasonably good fisho but always learn something new from you 👍🏼
Thank you !! Im really glad to hear that a lot of effort goes into making sure we pass on plenty of tips each episode.
Another great video Alan. What doing one on how you read the weather and tides and best times to head out?
Thanks Andy, yeah I have a few vids done already on tides and best cond to fish but that found in our members area. Cheers
liked & subscribed. now I can have good night sleep thinking about all these valuable tips. these days i mainly fish for mangrove jack. but there are days when i absolutely want to fish deeper and not only top water, and specifically during higher tides thanks again
Excellent tips to the point that feel very confident , on its uses thanks to you blessings, thanks for teaching us.. and in may in the north east coast of the u.s.a i will be giving it sure try..
Well done Al...as always.
Thanks Steven !!
Great beginners video, I’m 33 and new to soft plastics and I’m going out tomorrow near balmoral beach in Sydney to give this a go 👌
Good luck!! I hope you get a few. Soft Plastics is a really fun and rewarding form of fishing, don't give up if it takes you a little while to get the hang of it.
how did it go?
How did go for you ?
I managed to grab a couple of small flathead and then a few smaller of “trash” fish by catch. Was so much fun
Nice NIce @@Hazy154
Hello from New York! I have been fishing soft plastics for years but am not so good at teaching how to. I have a friend new to the sport, and I have been looking for videos to help my friend with the basics. You make a great video. Full of really nice tips! Perhaps even I may learn something new 😊
Thanks !! Im glad you found it helpful.
Great to hear someone near to our KIWI fishing ways
Thank you mate. From Canada
You are very welcome. From Australia. Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent advice thank you :-) Just starting on the plastics .....
Thanks Craig, glad it was helpful !!
I am doing research and finding tips for land-based fishing using soft plastic in Singapore 🇸🇬, your content is great to begin with ❤
Glad it was helpful. Cheers from Australia
Great information and video thanks heaps.
Glad you enjoyed it, Thanks Alby
Great video, very helpful
Great video with amazing tips! I just started fishing and enjoy every single moment of it (despite not having caught one yet). I am constantly having the tail of my soft plastic bitten off by the fish without landing the hook. Any advice on this?
I use 6lb fireline on a St.Croix lt Triumph rod 6'6" with a size 30 Pflueger reel. I have lots of luck with that setup. I have landed 16lb channel catfish on it and I have pulled in 5 foot waterlogged cedar trees. Fishing with light tackle is super fun!
Good job loved the tips
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you !!
bought two reels for softbaiting and two softbaiting rods,so excited and I hope I can catch my first legal snapper to take home!Interesting tip on using lighter gear as I had bought heavier braid and fluro for softbaiting (20lb braid,30lb fluro).I might rig up one reel with lighter gear now:)
Good luck Rory with the Snapper fishing. Yeah when i target them with plastics i generally go 10-15lb braid and leader. If bait fishing i go much heavier
mans so much man,I might get some 10-15l braid and leader to increase my chances.
Great vid. I think staying positive keeps you casting, and if that lure is in the water you increase your chances!
Very true!
Nice vid. At 7:18 fast action doesn’t mean stiff, it essentially means the rod taper increases quickly. Which means a whippy tip as opposed to a rod that bends equally along the blank.
As a kiwi I admire the way you guys embrace light tackle. Many anglers here use 4000 reels 20lb braid a 5 to 10 kilo rod and 20lb fluorocarbon. But 6lb fluorocarbon just doesn't hold a 15lb snapper. 15 lb minimum. I use a daiwa certate 3000 with a 4 to 7 kilo rod. 8lb fireline and 20lb fluorocarbon. 3/8 1/0 Berkley nitro jigheads. These are great tips. A lot of us use Berkley gulp for the scent
What is a kiwi?
@@melmeza3608 A fruit... I guess he's saying that he's gae or something, i don't know 😂
@@giuliozapelli6824 oh lol
Choice mate same here! Tight line 👍
@@giuliozapelli6824 You just attempted to insult someone that kindly offered up some useful fishing tips, but fucked up your spelling. Nice one!
Thanks Alan.
No worries!
Awesome.
……3 seconds….for some reason that actually made me laugh. Knowing how hard it is to catch fish, and you make it look easy. Nice work! 🐟
Great Video. Thanks for all the info. Never caught a fish on a plastic or any lure for that matter. Hanging to give it a try. :)
Thank you have been trying plastics but not much success to much to choose from but a bit clearer now
Thanks Mark, Im glad you found it helpful.
Thanks Alan. Very informative and very eloquently explained especially for an old rookie kayak fisherman. Most uplifting and very inspiring as I’ve had very little “luck” lately fishing in Nelson Bay. I’ll now put your tips into practice and hopefully increase my catch rate and stop blaming the conditions…… ie weather, tides, moon, etc. Thanks again
Thanks George, your very welcome. Subtle changes that can make a massive difference to catch rates, I really hope it brings you some success.
As a kiwi my 3 tips are use Berkley gulp, be drifting and cast ahead of the drift. And use the lightest jighead possible to get to the bottom. And don't take bait until you have mastered it.
Great video Alan, I’m yet to catch a fish on soft plastics. These tips I’m sure will land me a fish.
Glad you found it helpful. I hope it helps ya catch a few with soft plastics
Me too. I had the great shame of fishing yesterday and the fish were mocking me😂. They were everywhere! Jumping all over the place even almost jumping into me. Reckon the pricks would have a nibble of my line, not a chance 😂😂😂 But I had fun nonetheless
Thanks again, great video. What is your knot of choice for joining braid to leader?
Most of the time just a double uni which is quick to do and works great, ill do an FG knot if im using a rod with ultra small guides.
Some amazing tips.. I hear a lot of people tell me things like, don’t bother with lures because if you don’t know how to use them, they don’t work…. It if you don’t research, experiment, and then learn.. how will you ever know how to use them..
Soft plastics work a treat. Once you know the basics you'll catch plenty. And so much less preparation and so much more fun as you feel the bites
❤helpful Thanks ❤.
Good video mate, looks like the local Redcliffe ground. Some big snapper to be found there as I'm sure you're familiar with
Thanks !! Yeah 100% some decent snapper around here at the moment in the shallow reefs, ive dropped 2 big ones and caught a few smaller models already. ill be going hard on them over the coming weeks.
Awesome content, have been enjoying the light gear and plastics. Would there be a advantage of standing up as opposed to sitting down when fishing plastics?
Thank you. You 100% have a bit more control when standing up and working lures bit only marginal and will still catch plenty sitting down so all depends what your comfortable with
I think you have a bit more control standing up, but if you get used to it, it doesn't really matter as this video clearly demonstrates
Hey mate, really appreciate the info given. I have a queation for you. When spooling a new rod is it better to go all fluro carb or braided with a leader? I was told that braid tends to float on the surface making it harder to get your plastics to sink. I have a savage black series 7ft rod and reel combo. What line would yku recommend?
100% spool your reel with braid and then finish with 1 rod length of fluro. this works really well. Gives you best of both worlds and has no issues sinking.
Mate, watching you catch fish is like watching the batting highlights in a 20/20 cricket match.
Hey love the tips mate. Love your kayak setup too and was just wondering what one it was? I take it your also running an electric motor from what I could tell.
Thanks !! The Kayak is a Hobie Pro Angler 14. Yeah in this vid i had a 28lb trolling motor attached but most times I'm just using the foot pedals.
Great work, and thanks for the advice. I love fishing, but don't get to go much. I know you've said choose the right gear for the right fish. But if I was to choose one weight braid line, what would you recommend for general fishing, example catching bream and flathead? Regards: Dom
Id usually go 8lb for allround purpose for pinkies, flathead, squid, bream etc
@@fishingmad Thanks for the advice
great video, my problem seems to be hooking the fish ?
Good tips, thanks Alan 👍 I'm still yet to catch anything on soft plastics, but still trying. Although I do sometimes have trouble reconciling all of the plastic we see in the ocean and being swallowed by fish/birds with the rise in popularity of soft plastics fishing. I mean we literally created plastics that are designed to make them want to eat them, and when they get away with part or all of one, or find a discarded one, you know that's not digesting in their stomach. I wonder how ethical it really is to be using them, but they are so much more convenient than bait. Is this something you've ever thought about?
Thanks David, yeah I have put lots of time and effort to discuss this with local brands. Its a great question. Some soft plastics on the market are biodegradable but honestly none of the manufacturers can really say how long it takes for them to break down or if they pass through the fish. There are claims but I'm unsure of the exact numbers and couldn't say if studies have any conclusive answers. I have made a big effort to mainly use biodegradable products and to use stinger hooks on longer plastics which prevents a lot of the tails being bitten or eaten off. Its a great question and hopefully the manufacturers who make these products are taking the topic seriously and can help drive positive environmental impacts. Were also seeing signs of biodegradable lines being introduced this year so it is slowly moving in the right direction.
I use Berkley gulp which is biodegradable for that very reason
Also don't be afraid to downsize your hooks. Even its down from a 1/0 to a 1 it will allow the plastic to have a better more natural action without compromising your hookup rate.
Agreed !! Great Tip
these lures and jig heads are soo expensive these days
Great Vid. Great info for noobs like myself
Glad you enjoyed it
Another great vlog. I am looking to purchase a new spinning reel & have been looking at the Shimano Nasci 2500 or 3000, can you please advise if this reel is any good, does it have sealed bearings & drag for saltwater fishing & is it a braid ready reel. If it's not braid ready how can that be overcome. Any other reel suggestions in the same price range that meet the above criteria will be much appreciated. Thanks & keep up the great work.
The Nascis are excellent reels considering what you pay. At that price point you also have options like the Daiwa Exceller, or Legalis and if you can stretch your budget a tad options like the Miravel, TD Black and Vanford. Nothing beats going into your local tackle store and feeling in your hand before buying as everyone will have a slightly different preference
@@fishingmad Hi thanks for your reply & advice, however can you please answer the other points about sealed bearings & drag, also is the Nasci reel braid ready?
Where abouts was this filmed Alan love it btw
Filmed around Altona last week. Got some awesome footage that will be shared over the coming week or two from there
gtood little vid mate.
Thank you
Can you make a video of the best cheap plastic combos with rods reel line jig heads and plastics
I've got gear guides and videos like this in the FishingMad members area on this topic and its something we chat about regularly in our members podcast. ill try and cover something on KZhead over the coming weeks.
@@fishingmad ok sick is that a paid member ship thing
Yeah here is the link fishingmad.com.au/member which will show you all the benefits such as workshops, giveaways, competitions, maps, rigging guides, tutorials etc. plus I've always made sure there is heaps of good free content on the FishingMad YT channel and website too.
@@fishingmad ok thanks
I am a true newbie to fishing in general. How do I tie that leader to the braid ?
Double uni knot or FG knot is what I use, we have some detailed easy to follow step by step tutorials on these in the FishingMad members website.
Hey man just a quick question! I’m going to guilderton to fish in the Moore river. What colour and size/type of soft plastic should I use. I’m going mainly for bream and wanting to catch some absolute stonkers. I would appreciate any advice!
For bream my goto is a 2.5 inch Zman grub or Zman st grub in midnight oil rigged on a 1/20 jig head. I just caught some huge ones this week using that setup
@@fishingmad cheers bri
Hi from Finland. Some useful tips in this video, but why cast with your right hand then immediately switch the rod to your left? Why not just swap the reel handle to the left and continue to hold the rod with the hand you've just cast with?
I do the same. I'm right handed.
When using soft plastic, do you recommend using any sort of sinkers such as split shots, or just run them without?
No don't use any sinkers or splint shots they will impact the swimming action of the plastic, just get the jig head weight right and you'll be fine.
@@fishingmad okay thank you
Great video, thanks for the advice. I am trying to get into bream fishing with lures and plastics and reevaluating what size jigheads I use. Targeting flathead I’d rarely use anything smaller than 1/4oz but wondering why I’m not getting any by-catches.
Yes for bream you really need to be using jig heads from 1/16 trough to 1/40. I mainly use 1/20th. Bream are very finicky. This vid might be helpful kzhead.info/sun/ddqRcbmkj4WAo3k/bejne.html cheers
What size rod was you using in length
7 foot
❤❤
Is it ok to reuse soft plastics? or do you bin them after each session?
100% can re-use as long as there not damaged. Some brands like zmans you can catch 20+ fish and there still in good shape
thanks helps heeps
I catch plenty of fish using light tackle I use 8 pound braid and 14 pound monofilament leader I landed a 44 1/2 inch Red fish using this set up you just have to play the fish
Talk about trying something new. Rigged a 4 inch paddle tail on a long shank hook no jig head and put it on my paternoster rig as would a pilchard and just let the paddle tail flap about in the current and caught 2 nice fatties. Vs mate using pilchards
Great stuff, yeah surprisingly drifting with soft plastics works a treat. Flatties love em especially on a paternoster type setup
@@fishingmad especially in westernport where current runs strong and jig heads are so light and next to useless at holding the bottom
Yep great point, these tips are even more important for systems like Western Port. Knowing at which parts of the tide you can actually fish with plastics, what weight jig head to use to keep it in the strike zone and how to keep it in the strike zone. Good luck out there I hope these tips help.
@@fishingmad thanks let you know how I go... if the rain ever stops
Can you provide rod and reel type again?
Any 2-4 or 2-5kg rod paired with a 2500 size reel. This vid I was using a Daiwa TD Commander rod and Shimano 2500 reel. Cheers
Hi, may I ask where this location is?
im so tired of breaking good rods... i have to buy the cheapest superstore rods now. Constantly cracking tips in the car... on a doorway... in drop etc etc last one was a beautiful graphite $250 job... 2 fishing sessions... crack!!!
Must have cracked 7 rods in the lasf 12 months... clumsy fisho.
Oh no, thats no good. I'm sure all anglers can relate to this. I have broken several rods in recent years and even watched as big fish have dragged them into the water. My back seats fold down which makes it heaps easier these days.
Great video well said but unfortunately I never did give up for 3 and a half years I've never caught a fish on a soft plastic before I've tried everything except the fish finder because I'm usauly land based . I've tried all the jigs When I gave up I switched to pilchards only temporarily I then caught 8 tailor and 5 Dusky flathead Tailor I have caught with a butter knife made lure Buth they wouldn't touch any plastics Still my cache rate for Bout 272 days and 3 hour sessions Never caught a fish not anything on soft plastic I believe more that it's a myth and a money making thing I'll still give it a go but I know I'll catch nothing with plastics
No one knows what to say mate.
having fished oyster leases almost 100% of the time, I can say hand on heart, "fluoro" is nowhere near as good as "mono" for abrasion, mono is far better, I fished yrs thinking Fluoro was the way to go, but mono is way better after yrs of trying both, and it ties better, and about 1/10th of the price..anyway just an observation, I'm sure people have different opinions.
How long is the rod?
6 foot 8 inches, anything around 7 foot is great. If your doing land based and need extra casting distance then you can go a bit longer
what about casual fisherman that only have 1 rod?
In that case just stick to something like a 2-4 kilo rod and 2500 size reel with 10lb braid so you can target a whole heap of different species with 1 rod.
Mine get stuck lol
Looks like Waranga Basin
How bout landbased only. Boats n kayaks not apply.
The same tips apply 1000%, the only tip that doesn't apply is using your marine electronics. ill try and get something together specifically for land based fishing soon.
Please take me fishing i need help😟
Im out fishing with FishingMad members all the time, always happy to catch up.
I hate bait fishing now, it seems boring unless its a live bait and you actually catch something
Yep fishing with lures and plastics is addictive
U hate hardbait sir???
How do I avoid blowies 😂😂
fish deeper or in stronger current, they stay in the shallows in plague numbers.
sucks that you cant were sunnys
Show us the bloody fish, don't just net it
I felt the same. 😅
Good info, but fishing is about fishing, so show us your catch...
Rod/reel combo with fishing kit as an emergency setup kzhead.infoUgkxntWMOZsO1Zfv-pdn_XuffEtNkTYAYu4Z recommend but started to use this every day. The rod is thick and seems durable. I keep it neatly tucked into a regular backpack all the time with my fishing gear, and can grab it anytime, put it on my back and go anywhere. I just read in another review that the rod length below the reel is adjustable as well, so I will try that too for even more portability. Probably the best setup I've ever owned. I lost the cap for the eyelets, but no big deal since I still have the black cloth sheath that came for the pole and I use that. Very portable and high quality.
I can’t catch flatties in the estuary at the place I go camping as it’s an extremely popular caravan park I used to catch 1 or 2 flatties in 5 hours wich is shit because I suck but others always used to catch heaps but now days it’s completely fished out and there’s commercial trawlers outside the estuary I fish it’s called patonga camping reserve but I can’t catching any fish anymore because everyone takes everything and the trawlers tech everything how can I catch fish in overfished or fished out places because I used to but I can’t anymore even when I did I got way less then everyone else no matter my set up or lures everyone got more then me anyway so I’ve always been shit at catching fish but any how do I catch fish in fished out places
look for a place that isnt fished out !