There are a few reasons why soft plastic lure fishing is my favourite style of fishing. Besides not having to worry about acquiring and storing bait, I love the thrill of feeling a fish hunt down your lure. It’s an active and engaging way to fish that keeps you constantly moving—casting, retrieving, and thinking. You’re always asking yourself: Where are the fish? What might they be feeding on? How do the conditions affect their behaviour? It’s like cracking a code, and that’s what makes it addictive.
A flathead Chrissy has caught on a curl tail grub soft plastic
Soft plastic gear is often lightweight, sensitive, and portable, and it comes in a huge variety of styles and colours. That can be a barrier for some—tackle shops can be overwhelming and even a bit intimidating. With so many products on offer, it’s no wonder people walk away thinking fishing is some kind of mystery.
But I’m here to reassure you: it’s not. You really only need a few essentials to get started, and soon you’ll be catching bread-and-butter species like flathead, bream, perch, trevally, mullet, and salmon. The goal is simple—make your lure move and look like something a fish wants to eat.
Here’s what I recommend when putting together your first soft plastics set-up. Best of luck, and most importantly—happy fishing!
Getting set up
- Graphite spin rod with extra fast action (around 6’6” to 7’ in length)
- 1–4kg or 2–4kg rating
- 1000 to 2500 size reel spooled with approx. 8lb braid (bright colour helps with visibility)
- 1–2 rod lengths of 8lb fluorocarbon leader
Use a back-to-back uni knot to connect your braid to your leader—there are loads of helpful tutorials on YouTube. (Big shout out to Nikki from Purple Patch Fishing for the guidance!) Once you’re confident, you can try more technical knot types.
Chrissy’s range of fishing rods, some of which she uses for fishing soft plastics
Choosing the right hook
Tie your jig head to the fluorocarbon leader using a uni knot. A 1/8oz jig head is a good starting point, but your choice should depend on the depth, structure, and conditions you’re fishing in. The lighter, the better—so long as the lure gets to the bottom. With practice, you’ll get a feel for what weight works best and when.
A jighead hook commonly used for fishing soft plastics
Selecting your soft plastic
Now for the fun part! There are heaps of soft plastic lures in different shapes, sizes, and colours to explore. For beginners, I recommend a curl tail or paddle tail style—they offer natural action in the water and are irresistible to many species. Motor oil or UV-reactive colours work well in most conditions.
An example of a ‘paddle tail’ soft plastic
An example of a ‘curl tail’ grub soft plastic
Extra tips
- Use scent as an added attractant
- Make sure your plastic is rigged straight—test it in the water to see if it swims naturally
- Look for structure (natural or man-made) where fish are likely to congregate
- Slow it down! Vary your retrieve with hops, jiggles, and pauses
- Fan your casts to cover more ground and try different times and locations
- Don’t be afraid to ask for advice—there’s no such thing as a silly question
- You don’t need to spend a fortune—fish within your means
- Fishing can be frustrating, but it’s not just about the catch. Enjoy your surroundings, be patient, and keep at it!