if minnows aren't working - what plastics

[T&KK]

There's been times that the minnows just aren't working and I didn't bring waxies because I didn't think I would need them or want to buy them. What good plastic bait is a good one to have as a backup in the tackle box?

Thanks!

[PTocko]

Shrimpos,ratsos, bro's bloodworms. Basically (IMO) anything that has a thin noodle tail that whips when you jig has worked for me - crappies, sunnies, perch. I often use these instead of minnows. Hope this helps and good luck, ice is coming!!!! Paul

[Ed Carlson]

The Gulp Magots and Waxies do work. We find them usefull in tipping small #3 Chubby Darters as they do not mess up the action as baddly as meat does.

For larger scent chunks like whole minnow heads, I prefer to carry Salted Fatheads, and then pinch them off or use them whole depending on the situation. They store and travel easy, and no water pails to slop about in my portable.

The Little Atoms Plastics are very productive scent and attraction options. Seen them really tear up the perch and Gills, even walleyes. I just ordered up some more tonight in anticipation of being on some perch by weeks end.

I also ordered up a bottle of the Little Atoms Formula #9 scent, the additive they use to flavor the plastics with. Good stuff, and with a bit of old school ingenuity I will be making my own stash of scented plastics with the LA-#9 formula.

A tip... is take a razor blade and pick some bass plastics out that the colors work for you and slice slivers thick at first and then cross cut into 4 pieces so you get a final sliver that is triangular in shape and tapers off to a thin point. Now soak in the scent option of your choice...Gulp Juice, LA-#9, Dr. Juice, Snuss Spit..whatever turns ya on.

Storing up a selection of colors in a Lindy Tube-It rig makes for easy selection on the ice. The little tubes are handy for the pre-scented home engenered plastics. wink

[T&KK]

Ed,

great tip! I don't know why, but I never though of recreating a plastic out of a bass plastic. How well do the scents hold? I have no experience with scenting artificial bait. I have just always just used live bait in the winter.

Thanks for the inputs so far.

[joneshat11]

Use any of the Little Atom Plastics and Gulp Alive. You will then stop buying minnows. The only live bait I ever use anymore are waxies and they are now getting weeded out from myself using. I haven't used a minnow for fishing in about 7 years now. Do yourself a favor and get rid of the bait bucket to save the weight!!

[T&KK]

joneshat11,

What all are you fishing for with plastics? Gills all the way up to eyes?

[joneshat11]

Mainly Gills and Crappies. The little atom I many use the glow wedgges and micro nuggies. The gulp I many just used the waxies last year and excited to try the 1' fry and minnows this year. For the walleyes I never fish with anything other than Jigging raps and spoons. With those I never use bait anymore ether. Going to try the Gulp minnow heads though on the raps and spoons but still think I might wast time trying to rebait when a school is underneath.

[eve21]

Jones-

I also am not using much bait any more catching eye's and crappies but mostly with darters and jigging raps's. Have used bait with spoons all the time, which spoons are you using baitless? Any baitless tricks?

[joneshat11]

I think that most people stray away from what spoons are actually designed to do. You just have to pay attention to how you are jigging the spoon to allow the spoon to flutter down but also keep tension on spoon. The problem with going bait less is that you have to pay more attention to just more than the feel of the bite but also visual bites like line angles. Many time when going baitless the fish bite and don't hold on so you have to see the visual bite to get a hook set. When watching the vex. you know when the fish is there so jig spoon allow it to fall and flutter in the fishes nose and pay attention for anything to be different not just for you rod tip to move. I think the best way to learn this stuff is to find articles on how guys tightline. It more teaches people how to pay attention to more than a rod tip.