The Lure of Plastic

By William D. Anderson

Plastic worms and tube baits are some of the most popular baits around. There are many different types of plastic baits that come in many shapes and sizes. So how do you choose the right one? Some have salt impregnated tails, bio-scents, rattles, flash; and some claim to out fish live bait. All of them will catch fish at one time or another. So how do you know which one to throw on any given day?

There are two popular ways of rigging plastic worms and tubes. The most popular way to rig a plastic worm is the Texas style. A bullet style weight is threaded onto the line, which is tied directly to the hook. The hook is threaded through the tip of the worm, pulled down and re-inserted into the body of the worm so that the hook is weedless. In some cases a small bead is threaded onto the line between the weight and the hook to protect the knot. It is also done to add noise to the rig to help fish find the bait in murkier water.

Texas rigs are better for fishing heavier cover. The weight will stay closer to the worm and is less likely to get wedged between a branch or a rock. Using heavier line with a Texas rig will allow you to pull a fish out of cover before he has a chance to wrap your line around a branch or stump. Casts should be long enough so that you don’t spook the fish, but not too long so that you lose the sensitivity due to line stretch. Start out by moving the worm very slowly. You may feel a slight tap or notice the line moving off to one side. That’s your signal to set the hook.

The second most popular way to rig a plastic worm is the Carolina method. This consists of a heavy barrel or cone sinker threaded onto the line first. The next section consists of a couple of bearings, then a ball bearing swivel followed by up to three feet of leader material. Many anglers make their own Carolina rigs, while others prefer to purchase ready-made rigs. Whichever you choose, the leader material should be of less tensile strength than your line so that when you snag, all you lose is a hook rather than the entire rig.

A Carolina rig is a better choice for deeper water. You can make longer casts with it and drift across a large area while keeping in contact with the bottom. The feeling transmitted back through the line will tell you exactly what the bottom contents is. Pay attention to the
vibrations you feel just before a fish picks up your bait because that will tell you what type of content they are favoring.

Plastic tubes are just as versatile as plastic worms and come in as many shapes, colors and sizes. Tube baits can be fished so they imitate baitfish or crayfish. You can ad rattles to tube baits so they are easier to find in murky water. Just like worms, they will give you a good idea of what the bottom content is made up of if you are using the right line.

When using a tube to imitate a crayfish, it’s best to choose a bait that looks as close to the real thing as possible. Crayfish tend to change colors throughout the year and knowing what color the natural bait is will help you choose the right color. Bass can also be feeding on minnows, perch, gobies, shad or any other type of baitfish. If you are using a tube to imitate baitfish, knowing what bait they are feeding on will help you choose your presentation. Tube baits are great because they are almost 100 percent weedless and you can get them into heavy cover where baitfish tend to hide from predators.

Tubes are generally rigged with a hook that is made specifically for tubes. These hooks always point up and may or may not have a weight built into them. I will generally use what’s known as a vertical drop hook and rig them weedless. This allows them to drop vertically while keeping the weight concealed inside the tube. The tip of the hook is re-inserted into the top of the bait so that it doesn’t get hung up on anything else. I can also add a rattle just below the eye of the hook to give it more sound and weight.

Many anglers use fluorocarbon or braided lines for fishing plastics baits because they have less stretch and offer more sensitivity. Their ability to transmit vibrations gives the angler the ability to tell exactly what the bottom content is and what types of structure they are fishing. They also hold up better to the rough conditions found where one would normally fish plastic baits. Because your line will come in contact with rocks and branches, you should perform the “knot test” every few casts. Grab the bait in one hand and then grab the line just above the bait with two fingers and run your hand up, if you feel any abrasions, cut the line off above that point and re-tie. Another test you should perform is to grab the lure in one hand and grab the line a couple feet above the lure and give it a good tug. If it breaks, you know it was time to re-tie. Better to find out that way than by losing a good fish.

Fluorocarbon lines also sink faster than monofilament line and allow you to use lighter weights. In general you should use the lightest weight possible. This will help avoid snags and allow your baits to swim more naturally. Bass will often inhale a plastic worm rather than strike it aggressively so the bite might be undetectable. Using a lighter weight and more sensitive line will help an angler feel these “light” bites.

There are as many ways to fish plastics as there are types of plastics. Worms can be allowed to drop and free fall, they can be dragged along the bottom, or they can be hopped and twitched. You can swim a tube bait like a you would a crank bait or fish it like a plastic worm. If one presentation doesn’t work, keep trying different ones until you find the one that does.

Regardless of how you fish a plastic bait, you will want to use a fairly heavy-duty rod. The rod should have enough backbone to give you a good solid hook-set. With tubes, you can usually pull back sharply to set the hook. With Texas-rigged worms you will often have to reel down to a 3 o’clock position then pull up sharply to 12 o’clock. With a Carolina rig, the hook set is generally more of a sweeping motion to one side or the other. Bait-casting rigs are usually preferred for fishing plastic baits although many pros will use spinning gear to pitch tubes far back under docks.

One last word of caution about plastic baits: Never mix them up in your tackle box. The different types of plastic can react with each other leaving you with one big gooey mess and a ruined tackle box. Keep your plastic baits in their original containers and they will last a lot longer.

Plastic bait images by Trigger X.
Other photos by William D. Anderson.

Quaint Petoskey

By Jennifer McKay

Overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay on the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, you’ll find Petoskey, a quaint resort community with unmatched beauty and charm. This Great Lakes playground is a four-season destination, luring thousands of visitors to Little Traverse Bay every year.





















It is where “light shines through the clouds” in the language of its original inhabitants, the Odawa. Living between Harbor Springs and Cross Village, they once represented the largest concentration of natives in Michigan. The region’s splendor attracted settlers and resorters, including the United Methodist Church, who in 1875 founded Bay View. As many as seven generations of original members maintain these Victorian-era cottages at the colony, and the Bay View Association has earned a designation as a National Historic Landmark. The family of American literary icon Ernest Hemingway was also among early vacationers. Hemingway spent his youthful summers exploring woods and waters and later used those experiences in his Nick Adams stories.

Among the attractions are the historic Gaslight District in downtown Petoskey, home to art galleries, restaurants, cafes, taverns and shops. Petoskey offers one-of-a-kind shops with handmade jewelry, natural foods, rustic furnishings, a wide array of apparel, antiques, locally-produced art, literature, some of the finest confections and jams, restaurants and coffee shops.

A short walk away is Bayfront Park, where a historic train station has been converted into the Little Traverse Historical Society Museum. Bayfront Park is also the setting for the Festival on the Bay, the biggest event of the year, held every August. Among the multitude of activities, music lovers can enjoy an extensive slate of live performances, children can play at the Children’s Area, and everyone can watch the street performances during the Sunset on the Bay.

At the heart of Bayfront Park is the City’s 100-slip marina offering all the amenities a boater could want. Other marinas found along Little Traverse Bay include Bay Harbor Lake Marina at Bay Harbor; Walstrom Marine, Irish Boat Shop and the Harbor Springs Municipal Marina in Harbor Springs. Of special note, all of these marinas in Little Traverse Bay are designated as Clean Marinas. Having all of the marinas on the Bay receive the designation shows that these marinas understand that good stewardship of our water resources directly impacts not only the economic vitality of these Northern Michigan communities, but the future of recreational boating as well.

There are also plenty of marinas on the numerous inland lakes in Northern Michigan. On special interest is the Inland Waterway. The 38-mile waterway has been called “one of the most beautiful small boat trips in the country.” It begins in Crooked Lake, connects via Crooked River with Burt Lake to Indian River, then to Mullet Lake. Finally, it connects to the Cheboygan River out to Lake Huron. Whether you prefer the serene inland waters, the sparkling bay or the open waters of the Great Lakes, the Petoskey area offers boating at its best. And for those who can’t bring their own boat, rental options are always available.

Recreation and natural resources go hand-in-hand in the Little Traverse Bay area. The “Up North” outdoors provides some of the finest recreational opportunities known. In addition to boating, summers are full of golfing, picnicking, Frisbee golf, waterskiing, camping, fishing and more. The Little Traverse Wheelway, a 26-mile paved multi-purpose trail, provides a scenic and safe route for walking, inline skating and biking. From the northern expanse of Wilderness State Park and Petoskey State Park to smaller gathering places such as Magnus Park and Bear River Park, wide open beaches and fishing spots are easy to find and enjoy. Or you could just spend time at the shore and enjoy the summer breezes that skim across the bay. You may come across a Petoskey stone; this unique, 350-million-year-old fossilized coral and the state stone of Michigan can be found scattered along beaches throughout the area. Whenever you visit, don’t miss the Petoskey sunset. Coined the “million dollar sunset,” it is guaranteed to be one of the most breathtaking, magnificent sunsets on earth.

After a day of fun on the water, there is still plenty of entertainment when the sun goes down. Whether you are looking for an old-fashioned pub atmosphere, lacing up your dancing shoes to local bands, a casual night out with great fare or gaming at a world class casino with nearly 1,500 slots, dozens of table games and a poker room—from trendy to traditional, the entertainment options are endless.

Directly across the bay from Petoskey lies another distinct and picturesque community, Harbor Springs. Harbor Springs was founded about a century ago with clear water and a harbor for boating fun; the same still holds true today. The natural harbor of Harbor Springs and the fantastic waters of Little Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan combine for spectacular sailing. On the waterfront of Harbor Springs is the Little Traverse Yacht Club that hosts its annual regatta each July, affectionately known as Ugotta Regatta, which also included in the Rolex U.S. IRC National Championships in 2008.

Just west of Petoskey is Bay Harbor. Situated on five miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, Bay Harbor encompasses a world-class hotel, conference center, equestrian facility, golf course and marina. The deep water harbor accommodates yachts from small runabouts to vessels up to 200 feet in length with luxurious amenities and a private yacht club. Bay Harbor offers a nautical lifestyle with a variety of annual events including an In-Water Boat Show and Vintage Car and Boat Festival.

A little farther south is Charlevoix. Its setting in the midst of Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix and Round Lake provides a magical appeal that has attracted guests for more than 100 years. A working drawbridge raises and lowers to let the boats through to a great harbor and a lot of yachts make use of it. Charlevoix is also the departure point for the ferry that runs to Beaver Island, 35 miles northwest in Lake Michigan.

Approximately 60 miles from Petoskey is the famous Mackinac Island. Limited to transportation of horse and buggy, bicycle or foot, it has escaped the vast changes of time. Whether you make a day trip or dock for a few nights, you can step back in time and explore the historic Fort Mackinac, enjoy the hustle and bustle of the downtown, try the different varieties of homemade fudge or relax at the Grand Hotel, famous for the movie “Somewhere in Time.”

Just as each snowflake is unique in design, the character of Little Traverse Bay in Northern Michigan is unparalleled. People come to the area to soak in the rich views, breathe the clean air, eat at world-class restaurants and shop in the specialty shops and boutiques of the historic downtowns. Each hometown features the gorgeous beaches, the many warm-weather festivals, the fine food and local wine, the spectacular golf courses and, best of all, the unsurpassed freshwater boating and fishing. It is definitely worth it to make the trip “Up North.” It is so special, Ernest Hemingway referred to it as a “priceless place.”