Slender soft baits mimic a wide range of baitfish and stripers can’t leave them alone!
Skinny plastics are super effective lures when fishing for stripers. With these lures, you want the presentation to be as lifelike as possible. In order to achieve that goal, you need the whole package. That includes choosing the right lure, the right hook, proper rigging and most importantly, presentation.
I use a wide range of skinny plastics, but my big three are an Albie Snax, a Lunker City Fin-S Fish in a 5.75-inch size and a Slug-Go in 7.5 or 9 inches. I only use these in a white, albino or bone color which are all basically the same color. I rig all three with one unweighted swimbait hook up front, fishing them all weightless. Some swimbait hooks come with weighted shanks to aid in casting; I’m not a big fan. Realize that any weight will cut down on the natural movement and effectiveness of the lure.
When using these three skinny plastic lures, the hook I use for the most part is an unweighted BKK Titan Rider hook in a size 5/0. This hook has a screw lock up front that twists into the head of the lure. The barb is then inserted into the plastic body so that the hook rests in a horizontal position along the belly of the lure with no bends or twists. Correct hook placement should result in the plastic lure swimming straight and naturally. I will attach this to a fluorocarbon leader of 30-pound Varivas fluoro. I usually put a small snap at the terminal end of the leader and a small swivel at the other.
The presentation is most important aspect to fishing skinny plastics, and I work all three lures the same. After casting, reel in with a slow retrieve while subtly twitching the rod tip up and down. This should cause the lure to dart back and forth alluringly as it swims. I sometimes vary the intensity of those twitches. Every once in a while, I will pause, and that’s when I get a good number of hits. Be aware, too, that fussy stripers will often swirl at the lure, sometimes several times. When this happens, I will also pause the retrieve which usually seems to elicit a solid take. Stripers just love these lures when they are suspended on the pause and barely moving.
Which bait I choose is typically a situational choice and it can also depend on the prevalent bait. The best caster of the three is the Albie Snax. It can punch into a mild headwind easily, and will give you the longest cast under calm conditions using light tackle. So, when fishing a spot where I need a long cast, I will go with the Snax. The Albie Snax has also been hot for me when the bait is small and skinny profile and has proven to be a great choice when stripers are feeding on bay anchovies.
The Fin-S Fish has been a killer for me in the spring both from shore and kayak. The bait varies at this time of year, but we might have large silversides around, and alewives will be around in force. The Fin-S Fish does not cast as well as the Snax, and I will often use this lure when the productive zone is close to shore. It has also worked especially well for me from the kayak where a long cast is not needed.
The Slug-Go has been most productive at night. It might imitate squid, long skinny baitfish or even an eel. The Slug-Go is also a poor caster into the wind, but works well when the wind is at your back. I will use the 7.5-inch model in places where a long cast is not needed. The 9-incher is bigger and heavier and will “reach out” in spots where a longer cast might be more productive. It’s also better into the wind.
From the start of the season to the end, skinny plastics often deliver when hard plugs will not even get a sniff. They have more natural movement in the water and the single hook makes catch-and-release a snap. Realize, though, you need the whole package when fishing these baits. Carry the full lineup of lures, perfect your rigging and most importantly, pay close attention to your presentation, must all go together to make these baits live up to their full potential.
