My Changed Perspective on Soft Bait Fishing
Fishing with soft baits has always garnered significant attention from sport anglers targeting predatory fish such as pike, perch, and zander. However, over the years, I have drastically changed my approach and perspective on this technique. Whereas I previously followed the generally accepted rule of fishing as light as possible for an optimal fall moment, I have now abandoned this approach. Nowadays, I prefer fishing too heavy rather than too light to minimize the risk of missing fish.
The Fall Moment: No Longer Important
The famous fall moment, where the soft bait hovers in the water before hitting the bottom, adds nothing to the success of fishing in my opinion. Whether I'm fishing at a depth of 2 meters or 12 meters, the principle remains the same: try to get the soft bait to the bottom as quickly as possible. Then, I lift it myself and keep the soft bait about 'two fingers' (3 to 5 centimeters) from the bottom. My experience shows that the longer you can keep the soft bait at this height, the greater the chance of catching a zander, perch, or pike.
The Speed of the Soft Bait and Fish Reaction
Another aspect where my approach differs from traditional methods is the movement of the soft bait. Instead of trying to keep the soft bait as still as possible in front of the fish's nose, I believe that the soft bait can be pulled past the fish at a high speed. As long as the soft bait is presented right in front of its nose (3-5 cm above the bottom), the fish will grab it, regardless of whether it's summer or winter.
Soft Bait Color: Unimportant
The color of the soft bait, a much-discussed topic among anglers, no longer plays a significant role for me. I fish more than 200 days a year, and on no single fishing day, never, has color been a determining factor for catching fish. Any color catches fish, as long as the soft bait is properly presented, that is, as long as possible 2 fingers above the ground.
Variation in Weight, Shape, and Size
To get the soft bait to the bottom as quickly as possible and keep it there, I vary the weight, shape, and size of the soft bait depending on the depth, current, wind, and other factors. In strong currents, I often use a slender V-tail because a paddle tail can struggle to reach the bottom due to upward pressure. Without current, a paddle tail is easier to present the soft bait just above the ground.
My Setup
In practice, I usually fish with a soft bait of about 10 cm on a 15-gram or 20-gram jig head with a 3/0 hook. From the boat, I use St. Croix rods from the Legend Tournament Bass or Legend X series. My favorite setup is a Medium Powered Extra Fast Action rod with a casting weight of 3/16 to 5/8 oz. (up to about 18 grams) and a length of 2.03 meters. I combine this rod with a Shimano Vanford 1000 reel and 0.10 mm Shimano Kairiki line (color Mantis Green for optimal visibility) and a 0.35 mm fluorocarbon leader.
Conclusion
My approach to fishing with soft baits has evolved into a method focused on precision and speed. By getting the soft bait to the bottom quickly and keeping it just above, I significantly increase my chances of catching predatory fish. Regardless of color or fall moment, it’s all about how you present the soft bait and adapt to the conditions.
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