What is the best scented soft plastic fishing lure?
This article will discuss the best scented soft plastic fishing lure. Soft plastic baits are very productive fishing lures. Some are even scented to add to their effectiveness. There are many quality scented soft plastic fishing lures, but there is one bait that has proven to be the best one on the market.
The Gulp line of baits is the best scented soft plastic fishing lure. They are offered in both freshwater and saltwater versions. Gulp baits are available in sizes and shapes that mimic just about every forage for game fish. The lures are actually manufactured with the scent as opposed to the scent being added to it. This is what makes Gulp baits so effective.
Best scented soft plastic fishing lure
The scent adds several advantages for anglers. Gulp baits really combine the best of both lures and live bait. They have the action of a lure with the small and taste of the real thing. First, the scent will help attract game fish to the lure initially. Secondly, the scent will cause fish to hold onto the bait significantly longer. This aids greatly in hooking the fish. Capt Jim uses this on his Sarasota fishing charters, where he gets a lot of novice anglers.
Gulp baits for saltwater fishing
Gulp baits are available to saltwater anglers to imitate a variety of crustaceans and other forage that game fish feed on. These include shrimp, crabs, bait fish, sea worms, eels, and squid. They are all effective on a wide variety of saltwater game fish. The top Gulp baits will be highlighted below.
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Gulp shrimp
The Gulp Shrimp is the top producing scented soft plastic fishing lure in saltwater. It is a versatile bait that can be fished in a variety of ways. The 3” size is most popular, but 4” Gulp Shrimp work in some applications as well. The 2” version can be effective in cooler water when fish are selective.
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Most often, the Gulp Shrimp is fished on a weighted jig head. They can also be fished on a bare hook, just as an angler would with a live shrimp. Top colors will vary. White with a chartreuse tail is an excellent all round color. New Penny is also very popular. Root beer gold with a chartreuse tail is another very good color pattern.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp Shrimp
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Gulp Jerk Shad
The Gulp Jerk Shad is another very productive saltwater fishing lure. It is a long and slender lure that really does not directly resemble a particular forage. It is a “fluke” style lure with a forked tail. In the water, it has a very enticing action as it is jerked sharply and allowed to fall.
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The Gulp Saltwater Jerk Shad come in two sizes, 5” and 6” lengths. White is an excellent color, as is chartreuse. The lure is versatile and can be rigged several ways. Anglers can fish shallow grass by rigging it Texas style. Weighted swimbait hooks work as well. In deeper water, the bait can be fished on a jig head.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp Jerk Shad lures
Bait fish imitations
The Gulp line of saltwater baits include several lures that mimic bait fish. These include the Swimming Mullet, Ripple Mullet, Saltwater Nemesis, Pogy, and Paddleshad. All of these are effective lures for a variety of species. The Swimming Mullet is perhaps the most versatile and durable. Nuisance fish can be a problem at times as they rip off the tail of swimming baits.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp Swimming Mullet lures
More saltwater Gulp baits
Finally, anglers fishing in saltwater can choose to fish with baits that mimic crabs, eels, and even squid. These are excellent lures for striped bass and other species. These lures are mostly used in the north east portion on the country.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp baits
Freshwater fishing with Gulp baits
Anglers fishing in freshwater have a wide variety of Gulp baits to choose from as well. Game fish in freshwater feed on a wide variety of insects, crustaceans, bait fish, and more. Minnows, worms, maggots, crickets, leeches, and more are represented in the freshwater line of Gulp baits.
Gulp Alive Minnow
The Gulp Alive Minnow is a very effective and versatile lure. It is available in four sizes from 1” to 4” to match the needs of just about every freshwater species. They can be used for bluegill, crappie, and other panfish both in open water fishing and when ice fishing. Larger versions produce bass, walleye, and other species.
The Gulp Alive Minnow falls into the “finesse bait” category. It is a slender lure with subtle action. It is best fished slowly on relatively light line. Anglers can fish the bait on a light jig head. A drop shot rig is another effective method used to present the lure.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp Alive Minnow baits
Gulp worms
There are several choices when it comes to Gulp worms for freshwater fishing. These include the Nightcrawler, Pinched Crawler, Shaky Worm, Floating Trout Worm, Angle Worm, and Earth Worm. Most are best fished slowly on light tackle. Worms can be rigged on a hook with a split shot or two, a jig head, Texas rigged, Carolina rigged, or on a drop shot rig.
The Gulp Nightcrawler is perhaps the best and most versatile worm bait. It is large enough to interest bass and walleye. Other fish such as smallmouth bass and larger panfish will take them as well. One very easy and effective method is to fish them “wacky style”. This is just inserting the hook in the middle of the worm and letting it attract fish as it falls through the water column. They are effective trout lures when drifted in streams.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp Nightcrawlers
Leeches
Leeches are excellent baits for walleye and bass. They undulate enticingly in the water. Leeches are fairly large, easy to catch, and have a lot of protein. They are most often used in northern waters. Gulp offers several different sizes of leeches for anglers to choose from.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp Leeches
Gulp offers freshwater anglers more choices when it comes to bait fish and finesse bait options. These include the Minnow, Fry, Sinking Minnow, Shaky Head, Minnow Grub, Jerk Shad, Jigging Grub, and Floating Minnow. These baits can all be fished similarly to the other finesses lures, on a bare hook, jig head, Carolina or Texas rigged, and on a drop shot.
Gulp baits for trout
Gulp offers anglers who fish for trout several options as well. These are mostly in the form of corn and egg style baits. However, many of the lures listed above will certainly catch trout in streams and lakes. The corn and salmon egg baits are primarily designed specifically for trout anglers. They are very convenient, as opposed to dealing with live bait.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp corn and eggs
Gulp baits for panfish and ice fishing
Ice fishing is very popular among anglers who live in colder climates. Ice fishing requires a vertical presentation. Fish are lethargic in most cases and the scent really plays a big role in catching fish. The same baits that are effective for ice fishing are also excellent for bluegill and panfish as well. These include Ice Fish Fry, Waxies, Maggots, Crickets, and Ice Minnows.
Anglers can click this link to shop Amazon for Gulp baits
In conclusion, this article on the best scented soft plastic fishing lure will help anglers catch more fish in both freshwater and saltwater!
