Using Plastic

[Marble Eyes]

I thought about giving Plastic a try instead of live bait when Jigging for walleye.

I have been using the Nothern Fireball type round head jigs with minnows.

So here are my questions, Do you use a different hook length/size on the Lead Headed Jig for the 3 and 4 inch plastic bait or are they the same as you use for Minnows?

And how do you hook the bait on the hook? Do you use the stinger rigs with them?

Thanks,
-Rod-

[Peanut]

It depends somewhat on what type of plastic you're using - twister (and what length of twister), leech, worm, those squid thingy's...

For twisters, if you're talking about using 3" or 4" kind, I would go with a jig head with a longer shank - the Fireballs are actually short-shank jigs, made for use with live bait. With a long twister body and short shank, often you find you have very little hook exposed, and the fish will only get a mouthfull of plastic, which it'll spit faster than live bait, and you'll never get a hook in its mouth.

If you want to stay with Fireballs - use a shorter plastic bait, or cut some of the twister body off to shorten what you've got. For plastic leeces and worms, the short shank is fine.

As for stingers - they don't work well with twisters, as they inhibit the tail's motion. I only use stingers with plastic if I'm also tipping the jig with a minnow or leech, and then sink it into the bait. For plastic worms and leeches it depends on the bite - just as it does with live bait - if you're getting short strikes, etc. The Fireballs come with a stinger eye, so you can fish 'em with or without.

Hope this helps,

derrek.

CANADIAN WALLEYE OPEN UP AND SAY "EH"!

[Great Plains]

We use plastics alot in Pool 4 on the Mississippi. Fireballs are great live bait jigs, but I use a longer hook for plastics. My favorite plasctic this time of the year is a 4" ringworm. Most of the time, short bites are not a problem with this bait. In fact, I usually need to use needle nose pliers to get the jig out of the back of their throat! Ringworms are great for flipping in riprap, on the flats, as well as vertically jigging. Started using the Powerbait 3" power shad last year. It has become one of my favorite vertical baits, as well as power tubes. There are times when plastics way out produce live bait. I sometimes add a 2" twister tail to my fireball and then tip it with a fathead. Thats the only time I use a stinger in conjunction with plastic.