The Soft Plastics Week Contest Winner Is....

Thanks everyone for participating in Soft Plastics Week.  It was fun reviewing all of these great baits and it was great getting all of your feedback.  After reviewing your comments on the blog posts, on Twitter and on Facebook we have a winner:  Ikaika Shook!  MSPBass was close on his heels and won't go home empty handed.  I'll get a consolation prize out to him as well.  Here's what they won.

First Prize goes to Ikaika and he will receive three packs of Trigger X plastics, including the Big Moe.  He will also be receiving a pack of some trailer keepers I am really impressed with.  They are called the Hitch Series and do a great job of keeping those plastics in place.  Look for a full review of them this week. Congrats Ikaika!

Since MSPBass was so close to winning and expressed his love of fluke style baits, he will be receiving a pack of Trigger X Minnows.  They are a new twist on an old bait and have the Trigger X Ultrabite Pheromones added.

Soft Plastics Week Standings:

ikaika.shook 27

MSPbass 24

samuel groves 17

Thoughts of a Christian Bass Fisherman 10

Rich 15

Jody White 8

BassPundit 7

MNAngler 5

BassFishinNick 3

Matt 3

Ace2 2

Tony C 2

Eugene C 1

Thanks again everyone!

Soft Plastics Week - The Berkley Powerbait Chigger Toad

Today is the last day of Soft Plastics Week and I'm finishing it up with a cool new toad from Berkley: the Powerbait Chigger Toad.  This bait is the newest addition to the popular Chigger lineup and adds some features to make it a topwater bait.  The bait comes in several great colors and is full of the PowerBait scent.  I don't believe scent is as big of a deal on a fast moving topwater bait like this, but it can't hurt.  

I fish soft plastic toad baits quite often here in Florida and have come to know what makes a good toad.  For me, the most important part of the bait is how well the tails kick at varying speeds.  I liked the Chigger Toad for fast retrieves, but at slower speeds it did have some problems.  It would kind of slide along the surface and wouldn't kick as much as I would have liked.  At a fast speed, the action was great.  

The bait measures in at 4" and is very compact.  I like the tail design and added features on the sides of the bait.  When I first saw this bait, I thought about using it as a pitching and flippin' bait as well.  I think it would do just as well below the surface as it does on top. I would rather use this bait for pitching or as a jig trailer than any other "toad" style bait. It just seems more like a creature bait than the others.  The body is fairly soft, which should allow for better hookups on topwater strikes.  I liked this bait, and will continue to use it along with my other favorite baits in this category.

Scoring for the Powerbait Chigger Toad

Price/Value: 3

The baits sell for $3.49 for a pack of 4.  That comes out to 87 cents each.  It's really not much more than a pack of Horny Toads or Stanley Ribbits (around 75 cents each)

Durability: 3

I didn't catch near enough fish on this bait to decide for sure, but after hooking and re-rigging several times, I am still using the first bait.  

Performance: 2

It kicks very well at a higher speed, at slower speeds: not so much.

Innovation: 2

It's a toad, it can't be too innovative.

Availability: 4

Online at TackleWarehouse, and also at the local Bass Pro Shops.

Total Score: 14  - Worth a Shot!

Soft Plastics Week: The Nervous Rex by Owner

A few days ago I reviewed a new soft plastic by Owner called the Wounded Minnow.  It scored a "Good Buy" on my rating system due to it's innovation.  This next bait, the Nervous Rex is just as versatile.  The bait itself is six inches and looks like a more detailed version of a fluke.  It can be fished Texas-rigged on a weighted or unweighted head.  I found another way to rig this bait that provided some awesome action and I'll explain that in a minute.

When looking at the bait the first thing I noticed was the tail, it is long and very thin.  This tail action is great and it quivers with the slightest movement and even on slack line.  The bait looks like they molded an actual baitfish as the gills, eyes and fins are all very lifelike.  It's obvious that the design was very detailed and it's no surprise that it was designed in Japan.

I fished the bait like I would any fluke type bait and appreciated the hook slits on the top and bottom of the bait for easy weedless rigging.  I fished the bait on a screw-lock hook and it worked great.  The way that I found to make this bait do something a little different was to rig the screw a little lower on the mouth, versus going directly into it from the end, if that makes sense.  This allowed me to fish it almost like a topwater and it popped on the surface as it darted side to side.  I appreciated the versatility of this bait and also liked the added "Tasty Scent" (which is also on the Wounded Minnow).

Scoring for the Owner Nervous Rex

Price/Value: 2

Just like the Wounded Minnow, these are a little pricey.  They are $4.99 for a pack of 4, making them $1.25 each.  Not too cheap.

Durability: 4

The bait has stood the test of hooking, re-rigging, fishing in grass and catching fish.

Performance: 4

It was a fun bait to fish!

Innovation: 3

It's basically a fluke but with some added features and much more detail.

Availability: 3

Online at TackleWarehouse, and no stores I have seen yet.

Total Score: 16  - Good Buy!

Soft Plastics Week - The Berkley Havoc Wide Load

The Wide Load was designed by Skeet Reese and it is kind of a cross between a brush hog and beaver style bait.  I don't know how else to describe it.  The body of the bait is pretty thin, but the tail is thick and can be split for added action.  I fished this bait on a Texas-rig with an EWG Hook and a 3/16oz Eco Pro Tungsten Weight.  It was a perfect setup for pitching into shallow wood and grass.  Besides fishing it on a Texas-rig, I could see this bait doing well on a Carolina-Rig. It is compact enough to flip in shallow cover, but has enough extra action for fishing deep ledges.  It really is a pretty versatile bait. While testing the bait, I caught three fish on the same bait before a fish ripped the paddle tail off of the body.

Out of the whole Havoc lineup, this is one of my favorites.  Like the rest of the Havoc baits, it has no scent and is priced very well.  The color selection isn't bad: 10 colors, and they are all ones I would use (besides maybe the lime-purple passion color).  

Scoring for the Havoc Wide Load

Price/Value: 5 

Like all Havoc baits, it is just $2.99 per pack.

Durability: 4

Like I mentioned earlier, I caught three fish from one bait.  That's above average for soft plastics.

Performance: 4

A great compact bait for pitching, but can also be used in other ways.

Innovation:3

The market is flooded with "creature baits", but I think the big paddle tail makes it different than most on the market.

Availability: 3

So far just online, but I have a feeling Havoc will be everywhere soon.

Total Score: 19 - Good Buy!

Soft Plastics Week: Trigger X Big Moe

The whole Trigger X lineup of baits has really caught my attention in the last few months. The colors and styles are fairly conventional, but the added bonus of the aggression phermones give them that extra edge.  All of the baits swim very well with natural motion. The Flappin' Craw has been one of my best producers on the back of a swimjig this year and has given me the confidence in the rest of the baits.  I think the Trigger X phermones help when fish are not in a feeding mood.  They have some other great bait designs on the market and one of the newest is the Big Moe.

The Trigger X Big Moe is an interesting bait.  It's basically a lizard with some of the features of a craw or creature bait mixed in.  Like the name says; this is really a big bait, perfect for that kicker fish.  The bait is six inches long, but the tail is big and provides plenty of action.  I fished the bait on a Texas-rig and you could feel the tail as you retrieved the bait.  I believe this will be a killer bait for fishing a big Carolina-rig this year.

I was impressed with how well the bait swam through the water.  The action was very fluid and natural looking.  Overall, I like this bait and will try to get some more experience with how to fish it this season.

Scoring for the Trigger X Big Moe

Price/Value: 2

At $4.99 for a pack of 6, it's 83 cents per bait.  I think that's a little high, but the addition of the Trigger X formula isn't free.

Durability: 4

All of the Trigger X baits are pretty durable despite their softness.

Performance: 4

I can see myself using this bait this season.  The big tail was a nice addition to the common lizard.

Innovation: 3

It's really hard to try to "reinvent the lizard", but the tail size and subtleties of the bait were a nice attempt.

Availability: 2

The bait is not available on TackleWarehouse, which is one of it's downfalls.  However, I did find it on Cabela's and Landbigfish.com, but no tackle stores I have seen yet.

Total Score: 15  - Good Buy!

Soft Plastics Week Continues: The Berkley Powerbait HeavyWeight Thump Worm

Berkley has always been known for making some great plastics that are full of that famous PowerBait Scent.  The Berkley Powerbait HeavyWeight Thump Worm definitely has that aroma, and I think that is the best quality of this bait.  

When I first saw this bait I was pretty excited as I have had some success on the HeavyWeight lineup.  They are very heavy (like the name implies..of course), and much denser feeling that your average soft plastic.  I was also pretty excited about the slit tail that can be easily cut to turn it into a buzzing type worm (like my faithful Ultravibe Speedworm).  This dual purpose for this bait made it a great choice for a review.

When fishing the worm, one of the biggest benefits was the density; this thing casts a mile.  I think this could also be a drawback as it doesn't seem to feel as natural and not to mention it is not as soft as plastics you may be used to.  The overall appearance was good and the color selection covers the most popular choices.  The bait is 7" but feels more like a finesse worm to me, I don't know what it is about it.  The when I decided to cut the tail, it did buzz on top, but not as easily as other worms.  I caught a few small fish on it, but nothing to brag about. Overall, the bait did as intended but didn't excite me much before I did this review.

Scoring for the Berkley Powerbait HeavyWeight Thump Worm

Price/Value: 1

The baits sell for $5.49 for a pack of 6.  Do the math, that's almost $1 per bait.

Durability: 1

I used them for a few hours and caught two fish on them and somehow only have 2 left.  I know both fished ripped them off the hook and the fish weren't that big.

Performance: 2

They worked as intended and the extra casting distance was a bonus. The bait did not buzz on top as well as I would have liked.

Innovation: 2

It's basically just a paddle tail worm with a perforated slit.

Availability: 3

Can be purchased on Tacklewarehouse.com

Total Score: 9 - Save your money!

The Owner Wounded Minnow

Owner is best known for top quality hooks that are top quality.  They have also proven they can make some great hardbaits with the Cultiva series.  In the last few years they have began to start making unique soft plastics to complement their great hooks.  I had the chance to review two of their newest models; the Nervous Rex and the Wounded Minnow.  The first review I am going to do is of the wounded minnow.

Looking at the bait up close, you can see the design and detail is second to none.  Not only is this a minnow imitation, but more of a tactical finesse bait.  It can be rigged several ways and each way provides a different unique action.  The bait can be rigged in traditional ways like Texas-rigged or with a jighead rigged through the head of the bait.  However, the most unique way to fish this bait is with their specially designed wacky jighead.  It features a weedguard which is light enough not to interfere with the hookset, but heavy enough to keep grass or debris off the hook. The bait itself is pretty small at 3.5 inches, but can be the perfect size to match the size of small baitfish. 

When fishing it wacky style you will notice something amazing.  Owner claims that "by nature, all baits swim towards the angler when twitched… but not the Wounded Minnow!  When rigged on the side and twitched, the bait swims 90 degrees (sideways) from the angler.  The Wounded Minnow can be stealthily swam into areas that were previously only reached upon casts."  

That was something I had to see to believe and I can say that now I am a believer.  With some practice and playing with the bait, I was able to twitch it wherever I wanted it to go.  I don't know if it's just the bait, the jighead, or a combination of the two that allowed me to do it, but I was impressed with that feature.  Overall, the bait was much more unique than I thought it would be and I can see myself keeping this one as an extra trick up my sleeve for when tough fishing situations present themselves.

Scoring for the Owner Wounded Minnow

Price/Value: 2

This is probably the biggest downfall of the bait.  At $4.99 for a pack of 6, it's 83 cents per bait.  I think that's a little high for a bait that is less than four inches.

Durability: 2

The bait itself is durable, but when fishing it on a wacky rig it can rip off easily.

Performance: 4

It worked as intended and was impressive.  It was like having a little pet bait doing tricks for you.

Innovation: 4

I don't know how they did it, but the bait can move side to side at will.

Availability: 3

Online at TackleWarehouse, and no stores I have seen yet.

Total Score: 15  - Good Buy!

 

Berkley Havoc Lane's Grass Pig

The Berkley Havoc line of baits is pretty cool as all of the baits are designed by a Bassmaster Elite Series Pro.  The Grass Pig was designed by Florida pro Bobby Lane. Living in Florida, I have seen the Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper and the Gambler Big EZ take these grassy waters by storm. Everyone is throwing them and it's because they work. When the Skinny Dipper first came out, I knew it was only a matter of time before everyone had their own version. I have been using the Havoc model for the last few trips and have enough info to give it a review.

One of the first things I noticed about the Havoc bait was the texture, it was really soft. For this type of bait, I am torn on deciding whether or not the softness is a good or bad thing.  For one, you want a soft bait that the fish will hold on to and allow the hook to penetrate. On the other hand you want durability, especially when fishing it in heavy grass, pads and reeds that seem to tear up baits quickly.  The second thing I noticed was that the body was much thinner than the other baits in it's class. All of the baits in this category are the same size at five inches.

It also features a slit in the belly for easy rigging. The Grass Pig comes in ten colors, which is much less than the competition which has up to 30 different color choices.  

While fishing this bait, I rigged it on both a weighted Moaner Stroker and unweighted Stroker.  When fishing these baits, in my opinion, it is usually best to have that screw-in hook to keep the bait in place during the retrieve.  The cool thing about these style of baits is that you can fish them several different ways.  You can buzz them at top and vary your retrieve speeds, or you can fish them under the surface. I do both and let the fish tell me what they want.  

While I like this bait, it's hard for me to pick a reason why this would be better than any of the others on the market.  If you are in an area where the other versions aren't sold and can only use this one, it's worth it.  I think in general, the fish that hit these are pretty aggressive and will eat whatever is buzzing by.

Scoring for the Havoc Grass Pig

Price/Value: 5 

Again, like all Havoc baits, it is only $2.99 for a pack.  At around 50 cents per bait it is much less than the others (roughly 68 and 77 cents each)

Durability: 3

I didn't catch many fish on the bait so it was hard to determine, but based on hooking and re-rigging, it was average durability.

Performance: 3

It swam well at fast and slow retrieves.

Innovation: 1

Nothing special about this swimbait.

Availability: 3

Online at TackleWarehouse, and no stores I have seen yet.

Total Score: 15  - Good Buy!

TBrinks Fishing Soft Plastics Week Contest

Starting today, I will be reviewing a new soft plastic bait each day until Sunday.  At the end of the week I will pick a winner and they will receive a prize pack featuring some of the new baits I review and a few extras.  This contest is going to be a little different and won't be just a drawing.  I am going to pick the person who is most active in giving me feedback on these new baits (good or bad).  This can be done by commenting on this site, on Facebook, or on Twitter.  Each relevant comment will be worth one point.  The person who is most involved will win the prize and it will definitely be worth it!

The contest starts as soon as the first review is posted and ends Sunday, April 3rd at midnight (Eastern time)

Contest is open to all entrants in the U.S. and Canada only