soft plastics for river smallies...

[MIBow]

Question....
Do you guys use soft plastic worms and stuff for river smallies? How do you rig them.

I am trying to figure out how to rig them properly to sort of drift fish them since I dont have a boat and wade. i have been messing around with some hooks that I have in my box and really dont think I have the rigging right. I have never really had any luck with these in the river and am pretty sure it is a presentation/rigging thing.

Any rigging info would be helpful!

Thanks

[jaid]

I cant say as I have ever fished for smallies, and very rarely fish rivers. But I would think that a standard ball head jig would work fine with 4" or 5" grubs, and you could probably get away with a texas rig with a 3/0 worm hook.

[TONGA]

I like a 4" tube on a plain hook with a 1/4 to 3/8 oz bullet sinker pegged about 3 feet in front of it,,then I like to retrive it with a shrp jerking retrive,,it gives it a pretty crazzy darting action..
I also like a plastic craw texas rigged and with a jerky pull pull pull pull then pause on the bottom for 10 to 20 seconds,,they always seem to take it during the pause

[Dstocking]

A 3 to 4 inch tube with a tube jig( i dont know how much wieght). If there isnt any snags just dragging it works really well, but what i really like to do is take a 12ft med action rod with 6-8pound maxima and go along the back dropping the tube every couple feet near holes or structure.

[fishing addict]

I,ve been having great luck this year,with electric blue,tequila sunrise,and blue/purple flake,6-7inch plastic worms.I,ve been carolina rigging,with no weight. 6-8lb mainline,small barrel swivel,and 12-16inches of seaguar 12lb florocarbon leader.Size 1 Gamakatsu offset shank worm hook(extra wide gap)or similar semi-circle type worm hook.Have caught large & small mouth bass on this set up.I,let the fish tell me the speed,everything from a slow crawl,to a rip and jerk fast retrieve.This is the first year,Ive had much luck,with this setup.You have to let them run a little before setting the hook,or they will only grab the tail.Had a smally,jump a log to nail it,a couple days ago.He came from 10feet on the other side of the log,jumped the log,and pounced on it,ten feet on the other side,where the bait was coming to shore.I,guess he really wanted that worm. Hope this helps.

[Gardenfly]

I use a round ball jig with size 3/0 hook for grubs and tubes. I primarly fish the grand wading or from a small flat bottom boat. I have started using tubes and grubs texas rigged with a bullet sinker. I have found out i get alot less snags than with the round ball jig.

[drag44]

I've been slaying them with 6" zoom lizards texas rigged with very small weights for a drift and larger weights for fishing specific structure. I also have been doing well with crawfish imitations. I use 3/0 ewg worm hooks. If I'm trying to cover a lot of water with no visible structure I cast up and across, let it sink, then retrieve slow to moderate with my index finger in the path of the line to impart a pulsing action. Works for me!! GOOD LUCK!

[Lunker]

Ever try a white Senko? Or a white/chart fluke stuck on a small spinner bait or buzzbait?