Soft, Regular or Hard

[steveks]

I am thinking about making my own plastics for crappie fishing and I was wondering the difference ? I already pour lead and tie my own flies and jigs this looks like it is the next step for me. Thanks for any help.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Welcome, Steve!  You're definitely in the right place!

"Hard"...I use it for any bait that I want tough/stiff...it's more-so a Saltwater plastic.  There are Softeners that can be added that will soften it, and Scents and Colorants will also soften plastic.

"Regular"...I just ordered some Regular, and don't have any prior experience with it and how soft it is, before or after Colorants/Scents, so I'm not sure how much softer it is than Hard, but Regular seems to be the Staple/Standard with most baits.

"Soft"...I don't have any experience with it either, but I've had some "Super Soft" store-bought baits in the past, and they were QUITE soft.  If I was trying to get tons of action into a bait, and toughness was NOT a factor, I'd give it a shot.

There will be a few of the Pro's chime in, that have the experience...I just wanted to throw my $0.02 in.  More Knowledge/Experience is on it's way, Steve!!!

[basshunter5]

I personally like med or regular for all may bass plastics but I would think you would want the soft compound for crappie baits. It will give you more action being that the baits are so small. But I'm not an experienced crappie bait maker lol I'm sure a few of the crappie guys will chime in

[pjmcla]

Mr Steve ( I presume )  -  Welcome to the forum.
I have several CCM crappie molds and have fished Crappie plastics for many years.  I inject almost all my crappie baits using regular, and add a touch of CCM softener only rarely. I live in North Alabama.  Northern climates may require a softer plastic; but I have no experience with ultra cold water fishing.  The tail action of all the Small fries, grub body based baits and 2.5" & up carrots is excellent with just regular plastic.  The only small ( crappie ) baits here soft might make a difference are the 1.75" or 2.25" carrots ( My opinion ).  What you might consider would be to purchase the regular plastic and a bottle of softener & maybe even a bottle of hardener.  Or; purchase a pint of regular and a pint of soft as a one time test to see which you prefer.  You can blend the two as well.  A pint of plastic will make a lot of the smaller Crappie / panfish baits.  Once you get hooked you will buy the 2.5 or 5 gallon size anyway  .  If you enjoy tying panfish jigs; you will enjoy injecting your own baits for sure.
  

[andrewlamberson]

I'm trying to put together a video using my MarCum underwater camera,  of the small CCM crappie baits in cold water. The baits are at about 15' under about 12" of ice so the water temperature is about 38 degrees F (water is most dense at 38 and therefore sinks to the bottom).

Using the 1.75 Small Fry in CCM Medium, you darn near cannot hold the ice rod steady enough NOT to have the tail quiver! The slightest movement (and I mean slightest) causes it to really move up and down.

So...from watching the baits with my MarCum underwater camera...I can recommend CCM plastic (medium) in cold water...without reservations.

If I can figure out how to get a high enough resolution video...I'll post it. I'm taking my laptop out on the ice tomorrow and going through a RCA to USB converter...and given the low temperatures (single digits to low teens)...we'll see IF it works!

[steveks]

Thanks guys. Andrew I would love to see the video, I fish heated docks in Kansas just no ice this year but lots of deep cold water.

[RockyWatsonKS]

Steve! another KS guy here into Crappie fishing   send me a private message where your from and all

rocky watson

[Jason]

I grew up in KC, Shawnee. Each winter my Dad would take us to the Ozarks and we would fish the heated docks. I don't remember a fish being a caught in all the years we went, but he kept taking us.

Good memories.

Jason

[ctom]

The soft plastic products from here are outstanding both in feel and in being tough enough for panfish. A friend has been using a few of my Small Fry 1.75" baits done using the soft plastic for winter trout in Iowa and says they are holding up very well to their teeth.

I'd like to start with a walleye bait or two. Should that happen I will start with the soft since all of my fishing for walleye with plastic is done during very late fall, winter, and very early spring and Minnesota water temps at these times is like Andrew suggested, not real warm, and the secret to walleye plastics lie in how they act in really cold water.

[andrewlamberson]

-15 F  this am...I think that video will be delayed another week! I don't think it's a good idea to expose a pc screen to that temp.

I have to go "to the big city" with my wife tomorrow and I'll check out Gander Mountain for the Video adapter from AquaView..it's $200...but designed for the weather (I hope!).

[Jason]

Keep in mind that my answer to everything plastic related is almost always, Regular (so take it with a grain of salt).  With that said, I think it's really personal preference.  I can tell you when we design and test baits it is with Crystal Clear Regular plastic.  What that means is the mold is modified to get the desired action based on how it performs with Regular.  With that said, ultimately you and the fish need to work out how much and what kind of action they want.

When testing remember CCC floats.  So holding it in the air and shaking it is not an accurate depiction of how it will act in the water.  You should test your baits in water so you can see the difference.  As a general rule, a harder bait will flex less, but snap back faster.  A soft bait will be more fluid, but have less snap.  This is why we test the bait with regular and adjust the appendage thickness to achieve the desired action.  It's also why we offer ways to make them harder or softer - so you can ultimately decide.

I know this doesn't answer your question, but hopefully a little background into the thought process behind the bait design is helpful.

Tight lines!

Jason

[BareKnuckleJigs]

THAT, Jason, is one of the first major aspects that got my attention when searching sites to get started.  Your thought process(es)...everything taken into consideration...no stone left unturned.  Glory to GOD!

Carry On, Fella's!!!