So I’m fishing 1/32oz jig heads and they are the perfect size but the 1-1/2” tube jigs are too big. What are your go to soft plastics for small panfish?
Thanks BigTat
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So I’m fishing 1/32oz jig heads and they are the perfect size but the 1-1/2” tube jigs are too big. What are your go to soft plastics for small panfish?
Thanks BigTat
How small do you want to go ?
I have good luck with the Mini Trout Magnet .
I’ve fished them with their 1/200th jigheads and with a size 12 sickle jig hook and tungsten beadhead .
I prefer the tungsten bead headed jig . I can cast them farther.
Also had some luck with ice fishing plastics .
Many soft plastics will get the job done. All I use is Trout Magnets, and I have caught thousands of fish with them. But if you’re not prepared to use a 2# test line I wouldn’t suggest them.
Regards
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
What’s already been said is spot on. I use jigs that are less than 1/32 and I have more plastics than three of us need. About anything 1” does pretty good. Southern pro mini tubes, Charlie Brewer 1” paddle tails but the gills take the tails off pretty regular. Bobby Garland also has some small offerings that keep me busy. But you can’t go wrong with the trout magnet stuff. There’s a good kit with lots of colors and some jigheads called the panfish magnet kit of something close to that.
I’m using Bobby Garland itty bitts on 1/64 unpainted heads with size 8 hooks and doing very well. I fish them under a clip on bobber with a tiny shot to get it down if I’m fishing deeper than three feet.
:popcorn
So I will give the trout magnets a try. My understanding is the trout magnet and the panfish magnet are the same plastics just packaged with different jig heads, is that correct?
So the reason I bring this up is one spot we fish has tons of small panfish and my son has a blast catching them however the only thing we can hook them with is a small hook with a worm. While he has been catching them I’ve been testing lures to see what will hook them. My goal is to find an artificial that will constantly hook them then give him that setup so we can build his confidence with artificial. On our next trip I have a handful of small hand tied jigs/flies to try and some smallish soft plastics. Just wondering if there’s anything I’m overlooking or if it’s just a matter of trial and error.
Mini or regular size trout magnets work great. TMs are my go to and always come thru in bison, Bulldog and a couple of others.
Bob
With the price of tungsten bead heads becoming affordable, I’ve gone to fishing hand tied jigs for most of my fishing.
Simple tie of rabbit hair for a tail with the jig shank wrapped with chenille.
Hard to beat solid black , although dark olive has been producing pretty good lately .
Just about replaced my plastics .
Case plastics micro jack worm, bobby garland itty-bitty swimmer, tactical fishing gear minnow, berkley sword tail and trout magnets all work for me.
These are good too. Lunker city hellgie 1.5
Attachment 473684
one inch " sliders " on 1/32 jig heads . trout magnet . go-go minnows in pearl white on a 1/32 road runner .
Black 1/32 oz roostertail
Prop Blade Rooster Tail(R): 1/32 oz. - Single - Yakima Bait
Bob's jigs has plenty of small baits. Also, Slabanator jigs has scent sticks, small plastics infused with scent/flavor that work well.
So many great baits to choose from and not enough time to fish them all. The micro stuff is getting popular because everything eats the tiny stuff, even big fish. I tip my tiny jigs with a piece of Berkley power wiggler that I cut up into tiny pieces. They add scent and color to the bait and fish hold onto it longer giving you more time to react and set the hook.
I like 1" Gulp Minnows or 1" Power Nymphs with a 1/32 jig head with a size 8 hook. I throw this on 2 or 3lb mono/flourocarbon. I get good distance with the 1/32 head. Trout magnets work great also. Lots of options you can use.
My go to are:
Trout Magnet (duh)
Trout Magnet bugs
Eurotackle EPF swim
Eurotackle EPF grub
Eurotackle EPF minnow
Beetle Spins. (Tried and true classic)
Jig heads in:
1/24, 1/32, 1/48, 1/64, 1/80
1lb to 4lb monofilament line.
What it comes down to for any fish - especially fish in cool water - just a few things should be remembered IMO:
1. slow gets it done. If curl tails get nipped but not hooked, it's because the lure must be moved at a steady speed for the tail to flap. Better to cut off the tail and use only the body than miss stikes. (examples below)
2. the many jig size suggestions are consistent with:lighter is better. A 1/8 oz. jig isn't going to cut it using small plastics that have to be worked slowly in one spot before moving another 20' and testing. Fish are our fish finders. Catch one and most likely more will follow but only as long as the lure is in place again and again.
3. Sonar complements lures at finding fish as well as the area types they're found - IOW, patterns. (i.e. shallow, off points, near docks or pads, etc.) Regardless of where fish are found and caught, the first and second reminders above don't change. One good lure design can and will catch fish all day or all week long but only if worked where semi-active fish are. (BTW, lures make fish turn active by provoking them to strike via their amazing senses.)
When it comes to subtle lure actions when fish are less than active, many shapes come to mind.
Believe it or not, but a grub body with the curl tail removed does great when rigged on a 1/32 or 1/64 oz. jig:
https://i.imgur.com/mzYfUBP.jpg https://i.imgur.com/eUaZamr.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JqrRYXb.jpg https://i.imgur.com/QIhwY5n.jpg
I even cut off the flat tail of a lure I pour and used the bulb shape to catch many fish of all species. The waddle is the key action for no-tail grub bodies.
https://i.imgur.com/BTsnd2R.jpg
(Of course, flat tail grubs catch just as many fish as other good grub tail shapes.)
Spike-tail shapes produce good subtle quivers such those of Bass Assassin Tiny Shad and 2" Pro Tiny Shad.
A wonderful surprise was catching a bunch on Mann's Shadow Minnow rigged on a 1/32 oz jig:
https://i.imgur.com/T4XQtX8.jpg
The action is the closest to a minnow I've ever seen (though most likely not the reason fish attack it).
There are 15 other lure shapes that catch all kinds of fish in many sizes, but you get the idea. Key is slow unsteady retrieves with pauses.
The hooks for the panfish magnets are longer than the ones for the trout magnets.
Anyone ever rig a panfish magnet using a float, split shot and regular hook (non jig head)? I actually had good success with that setup today very small fish but they liked it.
I’ve fished it bout every way possible. That method is productive for sure. I prefer to twitch it on a 1.5 gram jig head. Check out my channel to see all the specie of fish it does catch.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigtattoo79
TroutMagnetMan - YouTube
Regards
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Been planning to, but never get around to it. It's just too easy catching fish on a light jig in a local lake that has been lowered 6' for dam repair.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigtattoo79
Will definitely check out the channel. I was very impressed by how well the panfish magnet stayed in place on a smooth shank hook.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alphahawk
I've seen somebody on YouTube do that, but they use the mini trout magnets, they caught a lot, and probably work even better if you tipped it with a crappie nibble.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigtattoo79
Just ordered some mini trout magnets to try, they look like what I’ve been looking for.Quote:
Originally Posted by Techno2000
Small lures catch everything that swims. Last Wed. I caught a large bass and pickerel on 1.5" soft plastics. All size fish and fish species will strike soft plastics as well a overhead spinners with soft plastics (the ol' Beetle Spin).
https://i.imgur.com/N0KfLw1.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/80jtQMi.png
YUM Ribbontail Grubs and Berkley PowerBait Ribbontail Grubs have the best curl tail shapes IMO. I rig them on 1/16 oz and 1/24 oz jigs.
Even the body with the curl tail cut off can catch just as many fish.
Lots of good choices for sure and im not sure if its been mentioned....Keystone MinnowAttachment 474439
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I keep telling myself, you gotta hang small soft plastics under a float, but never do it. It will happen (but not this year).:ThumbsUp
Don't be surprised if you catch some rather large fish using small soft plastics like this white sucker caught on a Crappie Magnet:
https://i.imgur.com/tWQZgQc.jpg https://i.imgur.com/s6vDA3T.jpg?1
.... as well as large catfish:
https://i.imgur.com/PpBmOZX.jpg
Kut Tail worms on light jigs catches crappie galore!:
https://i.imgur.com/xl2NRqu.jpg?1
...as well as perch on this Softie Worm
https://i.imgur.com/7YPVYR1.jpg
I have a mold for some 1" power nymphs and gills love them.
You just want "action" on small Gills & such .... you might consider these : 1/4'"' LONG AND COMES IN SMALL JAR TO KEEP IN FRESHNESS
I'll assume your "regular hook" is either a #4 or #6 ... if so, you could thread them on like you would a wax worm.
(Note: Shipping is $5.69 so you might want to purchase several containers of different scents)
They can also be used like a "nibble" on your jig, to add color & scent.
These are not a commercial product, they're made by a member (& a fishing buddy of mine) by the screen name "slabeye". You might also check the Member Sponsor Classified Ads forum, under Slabanator Jigs, as he does do sales on occasion.