Not much to report - but aint sure about these soft 4 play lures yet.

[Baz T]

Decided to try some lure fishing at Exeter canal today. Weather report said it would be misty and cloudy till mid morning, then clear sunny skies.
I got there at about 0700, and decided to try Soft 4 Play lures, with a Lip Scull (13cm version). I had tried them out on Tiverton canal for the first time last week, and loved the action the lure produces, and I got quite a few follows, a couple of takes, but no hook ups on Tiv canal.
I wasnt sure about just having the single treble on the lip scull, so tried rigging up a small stinger treble to go on the top of the soft play, just before the joints, but it ruined the action, so took it off after a couple of casts and just left the lip scull treble on there.
I tried about 10 different swims during the first hour or so, between 0715 and 0900 and got follows at about 6 or 7 of the swims - in fact at one swim I had two different pike follow my lure on consecutive casts. Some of the pike looked about 10lb or so, and despite the water being coloured, and the low light level they were actually quite easy to see as they followed the lure to the margins.This is encouraging I thought, as a couple of the pike had a go at the lure before turning and disappearing into the depths.
However, despite repeated casts at the swims where I had the follows, I didnt hook any, but a couple of the pike did re-appear on subsequent casts to have another look. I tried retrieving a lot faster, slower, using the soft 4 play like a jig in the margins when I was running out of water and the pike were still following, but despite a couple of takes - no hook ups.
The sun then decided to come out, and I fished until about 1230 with no more follows or takes. I even went back past the swims where I had the follows earlier in the morning, on the way back to the car, ......but nothing.

Just out of curiosity before packing my kit away I put a 15g jighead on the soft 4 play, with a stinger to see how that fished.The action was crap, with the tail section hardly moving so I took off the stinger. The action was still crap, compared to the same lure with a lip scull. Perhaps the 15g jighead is too large/heavy? but I couldnt be bothered changing to a lighter jighead, but will experiment further another day.

So far with the soft 4 plays, I have had lots of follows, but no hook ups. The lure is obviously getting the pike interested due to the amount of follows, but its exasparating when they either dont take, or if they do, they dont get hooked. I have never had so many follows with so few attempts at taking the lure, and normally if a pike follows and then takes the lure in the margin you usually get a hook up. Not sure if its the lure, or me, or the pike being finnicky. I will give the lure another go next time and hopefully the cloud will stay a bit longer as the blazing sun from mid morning onwards today didnt help much.

[Devon Born & Dorset Bred]

Nice report, shame that you didn't have any luck with the soft 4 plays...

I fished the last day of the season and did catch with them.
I didn't use the lip scull, using the Zander lure.

I did find that I lost 2 fish, both hooked up for a short time, but lost. Could have done with a stinger, but was worried about the action.

I must admit to loving their action.

http://www.savage-gear.com/PLayYouTu...IeNWC6ZcsM.asp

Here's one of my fish:

[barbelblanker]

You went out and you posted a report. Heck , I'm doing that a lot , so sharing sessions where things don't go to plan is as valuable as when they do. You know what it's like, a couple of days either side and you may have bagged up. You'll never do that though if you are sat indoors . A good report, even if the result is not what you wanted, nice one!

[pingu]

good work baz, and unlucky but sure you enjoyed it anyway

dave

[Baz T]

Thanks for the replies lads. I see you can get the "ready to fish" soft 4 plays, which already have a treble attached. The treble on those is a bit further back down the body compared to the lip scull attachment, so I may get a couple of the "ready to fish" lures too and give them a go.

[PikeHunter]

Originally Posted by Devon Born & Dorset Bred

http://www.savage-gear.com/PLayYouTu...IeNWC6ZcsM.asp

Holy shit they look amazing! I might buy one for the summer!

[Mark78]

they do look the business,
never mind baz there's always next time,mate.

[Devon Born & Dorset Bred]

Two for around £5.99, including Hooks.

[PikeHunter]

I got a pair of these as a present, got the zander ones. I am unsure how to put the hook in though? Is there anywhere that shows you how to do it?

[Baz T]

Check out some youtube vids -this link is a good one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8AIy7nztmQ
If you got just the softplay zander body (with no hooks in it ) then get some "lip sculls" - they are shown on the video (clear plastic fittings with treble attached which fits over the head of the softplay) - they come in the same sizes as the softplay lures = small, med, large. I find the lip sculls give them much better action than the other way of rigging them (i.e. putting the hook through the body). I did buy some softlpays which had the hooks etc attached, however I took the hooks out and replaced them with lip sculls.
Let us know how you get on with them..