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Jonocoogee
07-08-08, 08:05 AM
Well, The time has come and i have finally made the move to using soft plastics, after being a dedicated bait only man all my life i am making the switch to try sp's. I have got a new 2-4 kg shimano rod and i'm ready to give it a whirl. I just was wondering if anyone had any useful advice for me. I am a complete novice when it comes to sp's and all i know so far is to make them bounce off the bottom (well thats it in lamens terms). If anyone could help me out with some good types to buy that would be great. I was also wondering if the work at night or do they need daylight to make them visible to fish??

Any help would be much appreciated, I know there are a few of you out there that do well on them and hopefully you can share your tips of the trade.
stylo
07-08-08, 02:36 PM
Lots of posts on here and online mate. Do a search on here and other forums .. read some magazines too - they have a **** load of hints and tips !

Here are some vids to get u started - http://www.purefishing.com.au/armchair/
armagh6
07-08-08, 02:48 PM
Jono, in my experience, soft plastics are the best bait to use for targetting flathead, as they are lazy buggers and wait for food to come to them. (You need to pan your casts to cover maximum area). I would start by trying to hone your skills on the flatties and see how you go. Sand flat areas are great, particularly at high tide. You'll need light tackle, particularly to provide accuracy with casting. You can vary retrieve styles and speeds. SLOW is normally best. Jerk and let sink, then slow retrieve works well. I have hooked a big model before, with the sp just lying in the water, while I was baiting the other rod. Also, usually you hook them on 'the drop' and it's just a matter of setting the hook.
I have had great results with the Berkley power 3" pearl minnows, although if the fish are there, they will generally take anything. The nuclear chicken ones are great too.
It'll take some time to master, but patience and persistence is the key, and you'll be hooked once you catch your first fish.