Something else to consider in all of this is how the jig is presented….is it a horizontal presentation or vertical? Very often the fishs’ mood dictates how you offer the bait, especially plastics. Watch your locator and if you see fish come to your bait but won’t hit it or if they only bump it, reel it in and see if the bait and jig hangs with the hook down or with the hook parallel to the water surface. Change the jig and plastic to hang in the opposite presentation and try it. The ratso’s mentioned hang horizontally with the tail piece straight out and are great for active fish to neutral fish. The shrimpo is a vertical bait with tails pointing straight down and seem to do better for me on neutral to negative fish. The Ratso’s tail will do a wild hula dance when the jig is jigged, but when you need to slow things up and tease, the shrimpo with its tail down will sit and quiver when the rod handle is tapped with a finger. Fish facing that finger-tap on a vertical jig and plastic are destined for a plate while the same fish will swim away from the more active show.
Someone mentioned a blood red plastic as a must…good advice. The glow in color products are another way to spice up plastics and todays glow plastics are unreal. Glow red, glow green and glow purple are three basic colors that will serve you very well. One of the most un-sung colors in winter plastic is an amber or motoroil, both appearing very, very natural.
And like the disposition of the jig…vertical or horizontal, plastic color and profile will play a big part in your success but you have to be willing to change up often to reap your reward. Don’t go on the ice with three or four random plastics and expect miracles.
A good confidence builder is to fish with someone who is good with plastic. On hand experience shortens the learning curve immensely and first hand experience will also give you some dynamic direction in your own plastics shopping. As a good rule, the plastics you see on both the shrimpos and ratsos can be purchased as plastic only and are a good starting point. The Micro Nuggie and standard Nuggie are both something to have in several colors. Not really a plastic, the 1″ Gulp minnows you should carry in a couple colors….I’d suggest the Chartreuse shad and the Smelt or Watermelon shad. Be sure to shop around…check in on a few bait shops and ask which plastics are the best sellers. Custom plastics are always available and some of those are super good baits. No matter what you learn or figure out on your own, you have to have a wide-open mind with plastics. I have fished them for 30 years and when I started I took a box of jigs and a pile of plastics. Period. I forced myself to lear to fish the plastic and back them the internet wasn’t around with volumns of excellent information. Still, taking only jigs and plastics can be a great tool for learning. Think about it.
Well stated!
