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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ollie007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Does soft baiting work???
    Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 8:48pm
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I've been fishing 3 days straight. All this time fishing i've decided to use soft bait for the first time.
Where we went there were lots of fish. My mate decided to anchor up like usual and use bait. The 3 days i got out fish terribly. My mate caught all the fish and i caught bugger all. I suppose i was doing everything right e.g using the leftys knot, fluro leader, scented soft baits, light reel and rod, the right worm hooks and jig heads. The only thing that i wasn't doing was drifting, but if the fish were there why wasn't the soft baiting working.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had much success with soft baits, 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ponty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 8:53pm
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Me being new to it, i never picked up any fish while anchored the key is to drift. My mate seems to always pick up fish when anchored. Best 3 fishing trips soft bait only trips in past 2 weeks and i have had my boat for a year
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Muppet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 8:59pm
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If you have to anchor do what I did one day, drop a curly tail or paddletail down on a 3/4 ounce jighead on top of the berley bomb and see what happens. Before the gulp craze I did that on a mates boat and picked up 2 nice John Dories and 2 x 2kg snappers easy as!LOL Only time I ever tried it though probably a fluke.
 
Otherwise tell your "mate" to up anchor and drift for a while. But I still believe if the fish were there you gotta make sure you try and get the fish on the drop and should still have a go at the softbait on the way down.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote mowerman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 8:59pm
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we gave up the smelly stuff 4 years ago..much more success with soft baits... 
Look for birds,drift with a drogue. 
Only missed out about twice a year when I suppose we should of had the smelly stuff !!!
We have caught some awesome fish..and no mess !  
Before we fished with baits and weren't doing well so decided to try soft baits one day as had them tucked away...Wammo....we were in and havnt changed since..practice, patience,observe.its a technique to to be learned
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ollie007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:02pm
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why is drifting so critical, if the fish are there, i've heard that the soft bait should work. And where do you drift anywhere or beside structures and workups.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote JK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:07pm
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Next time out, sneak the anchor off the boat when hes not looking!

I've always found softbaiting on anchor to be tough going and much better on the drift. The beauty of the drift is that you cover off a much bigger area.
LedgeNZ LBG
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ollie007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:09pm
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so if your forced to anchor up due to weather or something, you are saying that soft baits are kind of useless.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote skidoggg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:16pm
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when drifting your line tends to be out the back and more angle on it therefor the bait action tends to swim forward if your at anchor your soft bait will just be twitting up and down and doesn't really look too realistic . you mite still get a fish but it's not really the correct way to fish soft baits
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote mowerman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:18pm
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Ive found soft baiting at anchor useless..much better on the drift ,,saves the pain of pulling up the anchor as well..least we catch fish on the drift
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ollie007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:19pm
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Thanks for that, if i do soft baiting next i will definitely have to drift. Lets hope the weather is good.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Fishing Addiction Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:20pm
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the key with the drift Is 2 fold, cover the ground to find the fish, but most importantley it makes the presentation a lot more more natural. Less tension on the line means that it can flutter down. The exception is weighted paddle tails which can work at anchor with good current. Make sure you watch the line on way down as it should get smashed on the way down
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Muppet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:20pm
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So next time he anchors and berley use your strayline rod and if he drifts take the softbait gear and make a fair scrap for the fishLOL
 
I think everyone on here will 100% confirm softbaiting works but you have to use the right technique and drifting is a big part of doing it right.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ollie007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:20pm
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Any one had much success with soft baits, pictures would be great
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote mowerman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:21pm
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you dont drift with your soft baits out the stern... drift and flick them well forward.. as they hit the bottom, lift and lower ...
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote skidoggg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:25pm
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have a look at the soft bait hall of fame at the top of this forum if you want pics there's 40 pages of em !!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Fishing Addiction Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:26pm
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agree with muppet. For the last year and half only used bait on handful of time, softbait regularly gets the first nod. But on an achored boat I would stray line with bait and just be better at it. More important is to have fun and enjoy the fishing 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ollie007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:30pm
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I will do that then, and have check out the soft bait hall of fame, bloody big fish there.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote mowerman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:31pm
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One days fishing softbaits only
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ollie007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:37pm
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what soft bait were you using?, and great catch too. I've only caught about a third of that but all on bait.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote mowerman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Dec 2011 at 9:43pm
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