A couple of folks have written to me offline and asked what kind of bait I was using last week when my buddy and I caught 104 trout in two days. Well, I happened to leave all my salt water tackle in my boat, which is stored in Venice. I happened to have a couple of bass rods at home, so I took them. I went to Palmetto State Armory in Summerville and picked up a few of my “Go To” baits. I got several packs of Bass Assassin plastics…color was Chicken on a Chain. I picked up a few packs of 1/4 oz. jig heads. I prefer plain lead…no paint, but they didn’t have plain ones like I wanted with the screw on shank. I’ve tried a bunch of different ones.
Nothing holds a plastic like a screw on shank!
I know you’re messing with me. LOL No, I do NOT fish it like the photo shows. I insert the hook as shown, then slide it up to where the retainer spring is touching the plastic. Then, I grab the plastic by the tail and spin it around the hook as I gently push it up toward the jig head. I had to unscrew the plastic to show folks the wire spring retainer. I really like the Bass Assassin plastics, but they are very soft. Maybe that’s why I like 'em. Because they are so soft, jigs with just a barb on the lead head will not hold them very well. The spring coil works masterfully.
IF I’d had my choice, I would have been throwing my Vudu Vixen by Egret Baits. Color is Pearl (white) with a Chartreuse tail. It comes with the plastic molded onto the jig head…all one piece. It is very aerodynamic and virtually indestructible. You can cast it WAY OVER YONDER! When I went to Palmetto State Armory, I found the imitation shrimp by Egret Baits, but they don’t cast nearly as well as the compact Vudu Vixen. That’s why I went with the Bass Assassin Chicken on a Chain. While on the subject, Matrix Shad makes a great plastic in color, Green Hornet.
