Soft Plastic Fishing Lures

Soft plastic lures, known as shads in English-speaking regions, are soft baits made of soft rubber that imitate a baitfish in shape and whose action is created by the tail. They are among the most fished lure types for predator fishing and cover a range of applications from fine drop-shot fishing for perch to targeted vertical fishing for pike. In the range, you will find soft plastic lures in different tail types and lengths, made with an environmentally friendly material blend without harmful plasticizers and thoughtful aromas that additionally attract predators through taste perception.

What tail types are there

The tail of a soft plastic lure determines the action in the water and thus the application area. These are the classic tail types in the range:

• Paddle Tail: classic paddle tail with high-frequency tail vibration when reeling in. Produces a clear, clean action and looks very fish-like. A universal all-rounder for pike, zander, and perch.
• V-Tail / Split Tail: split tail with two fluttering halves. Delivers a more subtle, low-action movement. Ideal for clear water and cautious predators that would reject a more active lure.
• Curly Tail / Twister: rotating sickle tail that starts spinning with minimal water resistance. High-frequency vibrations even at the slowest retrieve. Top choice for finesse applications and cold water periods.
• Sickle Tail: curved sickle tail with constant tail action even at slow lure retrieval. The ideal trailer on chatterbaits and spinnerbaits and a standalone all-rounder.
• Pintail: narrow, thin tail with a small thickening at the end. No action during retrieve, subtle vibrations occur only during the sinking phase. A classic for drop-shot fishing in clear water.

Which soft plastic lure for which use

The choice of the right soft plastic lure depends on the target fish, water type, water clarity, and application.

• Pike on jighead vertical: paddle tail in 6.5 to 9.5 inches. Active tail action, distinct pressure waves.
• Pike on shallow rig in shallow areas: large paddle tail or sickle tail twister. Volume and constant action stay long in the predator’s field of view.
• Zander on jighead at current edges: paddle tail in 4.3 to 6.5 inches or V-tail in 5 to 6 inches. Active to subtle action, controlled bottom contact.
• Zander in clear water: V-tail or pintail. Subtle action appeals to cautious standing zander.
• Perch in open water: small paddle tail or curly tail in 2.7 to 4 inches. High-frequency action, long casting distance.
• Perch on drop-shot: pintail or small paddle tail in 3 to 4 inches. Stationary presentation, subtle tail action from current.
• Bass and large perch at cover: curly tail worm in 4 to 5 inches on Texas rig or wacky rig. Active vibration even at the slowest retrieve.
• Trout and grayling in flowing water: curly tail or small paddle tail in 2 to 3 inches on ultra-light spinning rods.
• Trailer on chatterbait or spinnerbait: sickle tail or curly tail. Complements the blade vibration with tail action.

Aroma and taste stimulus

Modern soft plastic lures are often infused with an aroma that additionally attracts predators through taste perception. When the fish bites, it holds the lure longer in its mouth due to the taste stimulus, increasing the chance of a hook set. Two aromas dominate the premium segment:

• Shrimp aroma: the most common aroma in predator fishing, the standard choice of most manufacturers.
• Garlic aroma: alternative taste stimulus, helpful at spots where predators are already accustomed to or overfished on shrimp aroma.

Some soft plastic lures also contain salt, which simultaneously increases casting weight and provides an additional taste stimulus. Salt-containing soft plastics cast more precisely and sink in a controlled manner because the material becomes denser.

Material and construction

High-quality soft plastic lures are made from an environmentally friendly material blend without harmful plasticizers, i.e., without phthalates. This is important both for environmental protection reasons (soft baits are often lost in the water) and legal reasons, as some phthalates are regulated under EU REACH. Premium manufacturers explicitly indicate phthalate-free status. Additional construction features of modern soft plastic lures:

• Ribs on the sides: create additional pressure waves underwater that stimulate the predator’s lateral line organ.
• Hook slots: pre-formed indentations on the belly and back for clean offset hook presentation on Texas rig or Carolina rig.
• Devil Eyes or Pro Tackle Eyes: visual attraction point on the head, directing the strike to the hook point.
• Embedded salt: increases density, casting weight, and taste stimulus.

Rigs and application techniques

Soft plastic lures are offered in numerous rigs:

• Jighead: classic spinning angler presentation. Lead head on the hook, soft plastic lure is threaded on. Universal for perch, zander, pike.
• Drop-shot: lure above the sinker, presented stationary. Ideal for cautious perch and zander in clear water.
• Texas rig: weedless bullet sinker plus offset hook, perfect for cover and weed beds.
• Carolina rig: longer leader line between sinker and lure, free movement over sand and hard bottom.
• Free rig: sinker moves freely on the main line, lure falls independently. Precise spot presentation.
• Wacky rig: worm or slim body hooked in the middle, both ends flutter during the fall. Classic for cautious bass.
• Soft jerk: soft plastic lure without tail action is jerked with rod movements, producing lateral side-breaking movements.
• Trailer on chatterbait or spinnerbait: complements the blade vibration with tail action.

Related categories

If you are looking for lures with crayfish profiles, beetle imitations, or other bait shapes, you will find them in the Creature Baits category. For large pike soft baits from 20 cm, visit Big Baits. For the overarching soft bait collection, see the Softbaits category.