When not to use salt/ softener?

[Senkosam]

Recently I cast a Bass Assassin rat tail type soft jerkbait (ie Zoom Super Fluke except with a non-forked tail) and caught quite a few shallow bass in a few hours. The plastic had less softener and was more like salt water plastic than regular soft, but still had a decent jerk/dart action. The only thing missing was the fall rate and softness which I prefer to be like the usual salted sticks we pattern after the Senko. At least the hardener improved the drop rate some, but the bait still jerked to the surface sometimes.

When do you prefer less salt and softner?

[Basseducer]

Senkosam,

I don't usually use salt unless it is requested or the bait is going to be used weigthless like soft jerkbaits. Worms, jig trailer and creatures are usually used with some sort of weight so unless you want taste you don't need it.

TJ

[IGOTWORMS]

I dont use salt unless i am pouring a stick bait and that includes my fluke type baits, i personaly let tke hook be my weight. as for softner though i love it i poure baits for my self that you could cast off the hook if your not used to fishing them. the action you get from softer baits cant be beat.

[Senkosam]

the action you get from softer baits cant be beat

I agree.

And there are plastic designs that are useless with salt. Yamamoto grubs are a prime example considering the fact that too much salt make the tail flimsy and stiffer. Zoom's frog is another and the first year the frog came out, the tail action was non-existent unless you buzzed the bait fast. Definitely can not see myself using salt in finesse drop shot worms.

I think the only designs that benefits from salt and extra softener are soft jerkbaits (sticks, rat tails and flukes). That combo sinks the jerk faster on the horizontal drop producing more tip roll and the softness increases the jerk action on the horizontal plane parallel to the bottom. Casting distance is phenomenal, even into a 20 mph wind!

Edited June 3, 2008 by Senkosam