Stan Fagerstrom
06-30-2004, 06:35 AM
The “Limp Stick”
It Ain’t Pretty But It Works!
By Stan Fagerstrom
Part 2
In my last column I talked about the effectiveness of a new plastic bait for bass called the Limp Stick.
Since that column appeared, I’ve had a couple of questions from bass anglers who wanted to know how this new bait was any different from some of the similar plastic baits that have been around for some time. I did some checking to find out. That wasn’t difficult because the Limp Stick is produced right here in my hometown of Florence.
Actually, the new Limp Stick came into being because the guys who run Outlaw Baits were successful in developing a new formula for the plastic ingredients used to make it.
“What we finally came up with,” says Jeff Staggs, president of Outlaw Baits, “was a formula that gave us a bait much softer than the plastic ordinarily used in tubes. That, of course, results in a lure with more action. Its added flexibility, plus the extra salt, are undoubtedly principle reasons why the lure has enjoyed a remarkable degree of success.”
Rigging one of these new baits is simple enough. You don’t have to do anything fancy. I’ve used it with 3/0, 4/0 and 5/0 Gamakatsu wide gap hooks. I’ve wound up using it most often with the 4/0 size. Just rig it Texas Style and fling it out there next to cover and let it fall.
Outlaw Baits is producing the new soft plastic bait in 10 colors. The 10 different shades include just about all that have become standard favorites of knowledgeable bass fishermen. “The best selling colors so far,” Staggs says, “have been pumpkinseed and the green pumpkin with copper flakes.”
If you’ve been to Tenmile Lake recently you may have discovered a place of business called Sporty J’s. The owner, Joseph Nelson, has a good selection of bass tackle. Joseph is a bass fisherman himself. He knows what those fish in Tenmile are taking because when he’s not on the lake himself, he’s likely talking to one or another of his customers who just came off of it.
I mention Joseph, because he had an experience recently with a Tenmile angler who had discovered just how important lure color can be at times. This angler came into Sporty J’s and bought every Limp Stick the store carried in green pumpkin finish. This is a Limp Stick in an olive green with a black flake.
Tony Tantalo, the vice president of Outlaw Baits, was a dedicated bassin’ man before he ever got into the bait producing business. His favorite shade in the Limp Stick is the green pumpkin with copper flakes. “I’ve caught fish on that color everywhere I’ve thrown it,” he says. I can believe that because I’ve been in the boat with him when he did.
I’ve caught fish on the green shaded Limp Sticks, but my best producer has been a black with blue flakes. As usual, the best thing with any bass bait is to carry an assortment and change colors until you find what they want. Don’t make up your mind in advance what that’s going to be. Keep changing colors until the fish tell you t they favor.
Finally, if the bass don’t hammer a Limp Stick fished in a traditional manner, don’t hesitate to try fishing it wacky style. “If you do take that route,” says Tantalo, “snip off the plastic at the head of the bait so you have an opening at both ends. You’ll find it has better action as it falls.”
Like I said in the beginning, the Limp Stick ain’t likely to win any plastic bait beauty contests. But if bass don’t care about appearances, it sure as shootin’ doesn’t bother me. I’ve also caught fish on these homely hunks of plastic wherever I’ve thrown them. Just toss ‘em out close to cover and let ‘em sink. Odds are you’ll wind up loving the little buggers as much as I do.
Again---because they’re brand new your favorite sporting goods dealer might not yet have Limp Sticks in stock. But he can order them for you. The Outlaw Baits phone number is (541) 997-7338.
http://www.ifish.net/sfweblimphook.jpg
A 4/0 Gamakatsu extra wide gap hook is my favorite for use with the Outlaw Baits Limp Stick. The hook provides sufficient weight to make this tubular lure sink slowly.
http://www.ifish.net/sfweblimpstick.jpg
Run your hook through the head end of the Limp Stick as pictured here. (See Next Picture)
http://www.ifish.net/sfweblimprigged.jpg
Reverse your hook and run it all the way through the body of the bait. Next pull the hook back and bury the point just under the skin at the top of the bait.
It Ain’t Pretty But It Works!
By Stan Fagerstrom
Part 2
In my last column I talked about the effectiveness of a new plastic bait for bass called the Limp Stick.
Since that column appeared, I’ve had a couple of questions from bass anglers who wanted to know how this new bait was any different from some of the similar plastic baits that have been around for some time. I did some checking to find out. That wasn’t difficult because the Limp Stick is produced right here in my hometown of Florence.
Actually, the new Limp Stick came into being because the guys who run Outlaw Baits were successful in developing a new formula for the plastic ingredients used to make it.
“What we finally came up with,” says Jeff Staggs, president of Outlaw Baits, “was a formula that gave us a bait much softer than the plastic ordinarily used in tubes. That, of course, results in a lure with more action. Its added flexibility, plus the extra salt, are undoubtedly principle reasons why the lure has enjoyed a remarkable degree of success.”
Rigging one of these new baits is simple enough. You don’t have to do anything fancy. I’ve used it with 3/0, 4/0 and 5/0 Gamakatsu wide gap hooks. I’ve wound up using it most often with the 4/0 size. Just rig it Texas Style and fling it out there next to cover and let it fall.
Outlaw Baits is producing the new soft plastic bait in 10 colors. The 10 different shades include just about all that have become standard favorites of knowledgeable bass fishermen. “The best selling colors so far,” Staggs says, “have been pumpkinseed and the green pumpkin with copper flakes.”
If you’ve been to Tenmile Lake recently you may have discovered a place of business called Sporty J’s. The owner, Joseph Nelson, has a good selection of bass tackle. Joseph is a bass fisherman himself. He knows what those fish in Tenmile are taking because when he’s not on the lake himself, he’s likely talking to one or another of his customers who just came off of it.
I mention Joseph, because he had an experience recently with a Tenmile angler who had discovered just how important lure color can be at times. This angler came into Sporty J’s and bought every Limp Stick the store carried in green pumpkin finish. This is a Limp Stick in an olive green with a black flake.
Tony Tantalo, the vice president of Outlaw Baits, was a dedicated bassin’ man before he ever got into the bait producing business. His favorite shade in the Limp Stick is the green pumpkin with copper flakes. “I’ve caught fish on that color everywhere I’ve thrown it,” he says. I can believe that because I’ve been in the boat with him when he did.
I’ve caught fish on the green shaded Limp Sticks, but my best producer has been a black with blue flakes. As usual, the best thing with any bass bait is to carry an assortment and change colors until you find what they want. Don’t make up your mind in advance what that’s going to be. Keep changing colors until the fish tell you t they favor.
Finally, if the bass don’t hammer a Limp Stick fished in a traditional manner, don’t hesitate to try fishing it wacky style. “If you do take that route,” says Tantalo, “snip off the plastic at the head of the bait so you have an opening at both ends. You’ll find it has better action as it falls.”
Like I said in the beginning, the Limp Stick ain’t likely to win any plastic bait beauty contests. But if bass don’t care about appearances, it sure as shootin’ doesn’t bother me. I’ve also caught fish on these homely hunks of plastic wherever I’ve thrown them. Just toss ‘em out close to cover and let ‘em sink. Odds are you’ll wind up loving the little buggers as much as I do.
Again---because they’re brand new your favorite sporting goods dealer might not yet have Limp Sticks in stock. But he can order them for you. The Outlaw Baits phone number is (541) 997-7338.
http://www.ifish.net/sfweblimphook.jpg
A 4/0 Gamakatsu extra wide gap hook is my favorite for use with the Outlaw Baits Limp Stick. The hook provides sufficient weight to make this tubular lure sink slowly.
http://www.ifish.net/sfweblimpstick.jpg
Run your hook through the head end of the Limp Stick as pictured here. (See Next Picture)
http://www.ifish.net/sfweblimprigged.jpg
Reverse your hook and run it all the way through the body of the bait. Next pull the hook back and bury the point just under the skin at the top of the bait.