Edible lures

To the category of “soft lures” we include silicone and foam rubber, much less often – something else. Today let’s talk about the “leaders of demand”, that is silicone and foam rubber. I will try to briefly answer a few questions, most often faced by those anglers who are at the initial stage of mastering this type of lures.

So what does catch better, foam rubber or “rubber”?

Many years ago, when silicone baits only just began to appear in our stores, and the foam rubber had already been fished for a long time, many people had to hear the following: vibrotails with twisters – it is expensive, and foam rubber – they cost almost nothing, we make them ourselves … At that time, accordingly, preferences were clearly in favor of foam rubber.

But time passed. The value of the “price factor” has smoothed out, because silicone in real terms has become more accessible, and foam rubber, as it turned out, has a real price, even if you make them with your own hands. Money costs a double, a sinker… plus the time you spend. And then ready-made foam pellets began to appear on the market. And it turned out that jig baits based on foam and silicone cost somewhere the same. So you can forget about the price disproportion.

At the moment we have a much greater relative popularity of silicone than it was before. Why is this so, and does it mean that foam rubber is finally defeated? In my opinion, the main reason is that the totality of silicone lures is a much greater variety than what can be performed with foam rubber. It is true that in my last article in Fishing Time magazine I touched on some atypical varieties of foam rubber based baits. But all of them should be defined as exceptions to the general rule. In general, however, the foam bait remains a conservative bait, and this is the main thing that goes to the disadvantage of its popularity. Especially since recently many spinning anglers have become actively interested in and successfully apply varieties of baits and rigging, which are easy to realize in the case of silicone (all sorts of “creatures”, crayfish, wacky…) and, to put it mildly, problematic – with foam rubber.

My personal statistics of jig fishing in recent seasons is approximately as follows: 70% – fishing on soft baits, 30% – foam rubber. The above figures are not evidence that “rubber” catches in the same proportion stronger. There are people who catch a quarter of a century ago on foam rubber in 100% of cases, and continue to do so. And they catch very effectively. And I myself in some cases (for example, in a dense driftwood of Cheboksarsky) prefer the foam rubber – because of its higher passability, if properly executed. And I advise you not to be too much tormented by this question. In the first approximation “rubber” and foam rubber catch the same. Catch on what you yourself are more confident in.

Tear off 10, catch one? This is not a method!

Jig fishing in our country, whether on foam rubber – in some “slumber” years, or on silicone – in the first half of the 90’s, began so that the loss of baits were simply catastrophic. Underwater snags were hung with them like a cherry tree with tasty berries. Well, we did not know then, in the beginning, the word “unhooked”. And therefore it was considered normal to catch one “tail”, but at the same time “give the Waterman” with a dozen baits. At that time, by the way, there were no normal sinkers on sale. I had to cast myself. Pour a lot, making up for losses. I remember my “metallurgical plant at home”, and now I feel nauseous. For it was far from harmless production.

Now my average loss per fishing trip is one or two jig baits. Not because I began to avoid snags. It’s just that now in 9 cases out of 10 I fish on unhooked lures. And I advise you to do the same. Therefore, if a foam bait – then a pressed double, if silicone – then either an offset or oblique mounting on a jig head. Accordingly, choosing a model of silicone bait, try to take into account its suitability for these options for equipment.

Try to find a “rubber”, on which it is written “inedible”

In 2003, in one of my articles I used the phrase “edible rubber”. It was not born out of nothing, but I could hardly have foreseen what followed. The term “edible rubber” was quickly picked up not only by users, but also by manufacturers of silicone baits. Five to seven years passed, and trade “inedible” silicone has become considered almost bad taste. The situation in this segment of the fishing market began to resemble a comparison of washing powder brand A*** with “ordinary washing powder”. In the sense that if you have “ordinary”, you are a loser … So it went with silicone. People and began to chase edible silicone lures, actively “rubbing” in forums, than one brand of “edible” better or worse than another …

I would, as the “godfather” of all this business, would urge you to moderate your enthusiasm in this direction. If we put the question very specifically: how high are our expectations that the use of baits from “edible” rubber will provide a result noticeably higher than if we catch the most ordinary “rubber”, which “stinks of some Chinese chemistry”, then in at least 3 real situations out of 4 the answer will be: not by how much. That is, we will catch the same, plus – minus. Therefore, do not get too fond of “edible”. Here you catch, for example, with a head in the ounce, casting in the far distance, take a “rubber” simpler – cheaper.

In what situation “edible rubber” is still justified? When it comes to a sluggish predator, slow wiring, and the bet is made on “chewing”. For example, it is perch on the Carolina rigging or pike on a wacky. Here already “tasty” silicone is a priority. Not always, but often.

Is there not the same, but … with pearlescent glitter?

It’s no secret that most beginners spinning, choosing a lure, first of all, consciously or subconsciously, react to its color. Fish, let me tell you a secret, reacts to a much lesser extent. At the heart of the color variety of lures – the same silicone – is all the same commerce. Everything is very simple. We have, for example, some model of vibro-tail in five variants of color. We do not change anything, only add five more. And only from this sales increase. No, not twice, of course, but by 15 percent. It doesn’t seem like much, but chicken by chicken, the sum is so decent.

Now we are a little closer not to trade, but to practice. Is color important or not? If we look at it from the position that we are most concerned about (does it directly affect the number of nibbles?), then sometimes – yes. Emphasis, please note, on the word “sometimes”. I have already noted more than once that in urban fishing on the Moskva River some advantage is given by silicone of dirty gray-brown tones. This is not just because someone thought so. It has statistical validity. In the vast majority of cases, the color of the “rubber” on the pecking does not affect in any way ….

However, in some situations it can have a purely utilitarian, if so appropriate to say, value. We catch, for example, on a small river or from a boat, throwing under the shore. And on the shore there are bushes and trees. In this case, it will be better if we choose a bait not in greenish-brown colors, and brighter. So it will be easier to control the flight and not to hang it on a branch.

Liveability as one of the most important qualities

Are you familiar with Gary Yamamoto rubber? I appreciate it very much not only in bass fishing, for which it is primarily oriented, but also, for example, in pike fishing with wacky jigs. Pike thick worm Senko confidently so chews. But this “rubber” has a huge disadvantage: it is very quickly “broken” – even, sometimes without bites, but just from a large number of throws.

Gary Yamamoto silicone is probably the most fragile of all that I have tried. A kind of “anti-champion”. The champions in terms of strength/liveliness are lures made of so-called “elastomer”, such as ZMan, Ribeks and similar. The material is incredibly stretchy and minimally damaged by pike and pikeperch teeth. Lures made of elastomer – if they die, then not from “injuries”, but on hooks….

Why then, you may ask, elastomer has not replaced the still familiar silicone? Firstly, it is chemically aggressive, this is a significant disadvantage. Secondly, it combines worse with various additives and additives that make ordinary soft plastic “edible”.

In short, there are two extremes, each of which has its own arguments for and against. Well, and optimization of choice disposes us to search for options somewhere in the middle, i.e. approximately “halfway” from salt-saturated Gary Yamamoto to Z-Man stretching like gum. There are many options in this segment. For example, the rubber Big Bite Baits – the property of “edibility” is hardly inferior to Gary Yamamoto. But lives many times longer.

If you have a hard time without favorites – choose them!

Another traditional question for beginner jiggers concerns the most “catchable” geometry of silicone baits. That is, roughly speaking, anglers tend to be interested in what model can bring them more fish than others?

I haven’t really thought about it, but I’ve noticed this: in different periods the priorities of the majority have changed very noticeably. Remember, about 15-17 years ago, lures like the Gene Larew Long John and Lunker City Fin-S were the favorites. Later Yum “Donkey Ears” (not without my participation, by the way) and Ecogear Para Max came to the peak of fashion. In recent years, Bait Breath Bugsy and Keitech Easy Shiner have noticeably increased in popularity, despite their not the most budget price tag. You do not necessarily have to follow in the “mainstream” of general fashion here. Just because a model shows itself very well at someone else, it is not a guarantee that it will show itself just as well at you. Take into account the “public rating” is worth it, but it is better still to pick up something of your own.

TOP catching baits

1. Bait Breath Bugsy;

2. Lucky John Tioga;

3. Reins G-Tail;

4. Keitech Easy Shiner;

5. Pontoon 21 Awaruna;

6. Sawamura OneUp Shad;

7. Select Relax.

Conclusion

Let’s highlight the main tips for choosing silicone baits, which the author offers in the article:

1. Silicone has more species than “conservative” in shape foam rubber.
2. When fishing in snags and other snagged places with any bait, use unhooked baits. Take into account the suitability of silicone for such equipment.
3. The use of “edible” rubber is justified on a sluggish predator. In other cases, the quality of impregnation plays a role. Cheap Chinese attractants can only scare off fish. Therefore, in this case catchable will be ordinary, “inedible” rubber.
4. Color does not always affect the number of nibbles. However, bright colors are more convenient for the fisherman, when it is important to follow the bait.
5. Soft silicone absorbs attractants well, but easily torn. “Champions of survivability” – lures made of elastomer (ZMan, Ribeks). But this material is chemically aggressive and worse combined with additives. It is rational to look for something between durability and softness. For example, Big Bite Baits.
6. The title of “catching” baits is transient. Recently, the favorites: Bait Breath Bugsy and Keitech Easy Shiner. However, everyone in practice picks up their own variant.