When Should I Switch from Using Jigs to Soft Plastic Baits When Targeting Speckled Trout?
Although jig is the go-to bait, soft plastic bait is better in some circumstances.
When targeting speckled trout, soft plastic baits present a more subtle, natural movement, especially in calmer water conditions. Additionally, unlike traditional jigs, soft plastic baits imitate the unusual movements of specific prey like shrimp or small baitfish. Soft plastic baits are ideal for speckled trout in shallow, clear water, especially if anglers want to use erratic, slow, and fluttering actions to attract these fish.
At Angler 360, we take the guesswork out of high-level or competitive fishing. Instead of spending time deciding what bait to use or relying on trial and error, you spend more time doing what you like to do. Additionally, our customers work directly with our professional team members as they shop. That’s an additional, necessary dimension that you can only find at a place like Angler 360.
When to Stick with Jigs
Tournament anglers often refer to jig bait as “big money bait,” and for good reason. This versatile bait is the go-to bait when fishing for speckled trout or almost any other fish.
Versatility is the watchword. Jigs are used to mimic a wide array of prey, including anything from a leech for pike or a crawfish for bass to a small minnow for crappie and perch. This spectrum is as wide or wider than the spectrum of fish that are susceptible to a jig.
The key to choosing the right jig for the fishing you are doing is making sure that you are using the appropriate size and color jig, given the fish you are and the prey they are relating to. The next step is to make sure you are fishing it correctly.
Most jigs are bottom baits, and the rest are used to target fish that are suspended up off the bottom. The verb “jig,” as it relates to fishing, generally means to bounce a bait up and down. But sometimes, fishing a jig looks more like dragging one slowly across the bottom. Other times, you can fish a jig high in the water column, just beneath the surface. The truth is, there is a jig that can be fished at every depth in between.
Again, it boils down to the fish you are after, which in this case is speckled trout, and what prey you’re trying to imitate, which in this case is small fish and shrimp.
- Deep Water: Many jig heads are much heavier than soft plastic bait, making a heavy jig the bait of choice in deepwater conditions, such as Lake Silver or Lake Talquin.
- Strong Current: Similarly, heavy jig baits hold their positions better in areas with strong currents, leaving the bait in the strike zone for a longer period.
- Structure Fishing: Must you negotiate around obstacles, like trees, boulders, or large debris. Use jig bait. It is better for bouncing off the bottom and triggering strikes.
Jig bait is also easily customizable. Basic paddle-tails to shrimp imitations can be tied with feathers, hair, or other materials and range widely in color, size, and weight.
Switching to Soft Plastic Bait
We mentioned the environmental conditions that make soft plastic bait a better choice than jig bait, at least in some cases. Some additional considerations may apply as well.
Always choose soft plastics that match the size and color of the natural prey in the area. The weight should be appropriate as well to accurately mimic the prey in that particular area. Perhaps most importantly, experiment with different retrieve styles (slow, fast, erratic) to find what works best for the current conditions.
Reach out to Angler 360 to hear more tips for successful speckled trout fishing.