Unheard of soft plastics hacks unlock epic crappie and panfish action
Ladson, SC (February 19, 2025) – You can’t do that with other soft plastics is more or less the point.
When’s the last time, for example, you caught oodles of crappies all day on a single softbait without reaching for a replacement? How about a bait that soaks up and retains fish attractant like maple syrup on pancakes? What if you could suddenly shoot docks like a pro and do it without potentially sticking a hook in your finger? How cool would it be to tie on a self-activated softbait that enticed fish to bite with its own built-in action?
In recent seasons, the rise of superplastics—those extra soft, long-lasting, buoyant and energetic baits made from ElaZtech®—have allured anglers and panfish alike with their crazy, almost mind-bending collection of talents. For crappie and panfish specialists seeking an edge, these next generation softbaits yield amazing advantages via sneaky bait hacks that aren’t supposed to be possible.
#1 – Dock Shooting Done Right
Everyone knows the biggest crappies live way up under the darkest, gnarliest nooks of the boat dock. They’re tricky critters to reach with a lure, but often well worth the effort of learning the dock shooting technique. Essentially, the angler pinches the jighead between a thumb and index finger, using the power of a flexed rod to propel the bait beneath the dock on a low, water-skipping trajectory.
But there’s a catch. Dock shooting exposes your fingers to the hookpoint as the jig fires forward. Hooks in fingers hurt and cut into valuable fishing time.
Try this sneaky solution instead: First, create a permanent dock-shooting missile by adding a dab of Loctite Gel Control glue to the base of a Micro Finesse ShroomZ™ or Micro Shad HeadZ™ jighead before snugging the bait tight to the collar. (We suggest trying it with a Tiny TicklerZ™, Micro GOAT™ or Baby BallerZ™.)
Give the glue a minute to dry and then, fire away! Pinch the tail of the stretchy yet resilient Micro Finesse bait—rather than the hook or jighead— to guarantee a safe under-dock shot, propelling the bait forward like an arrow.
The stretch-but-don’t-break nature of ElaZtech acts like a sling, adding extra casting distance while keeping your digits well out of harm’s way.
#2 – The Amazing ‘Over-the-Eye’ Trick
The exceptional tear-resistant qualities of ElaZtech baits have inspired anglers to devise unique rigging tricks. This little hack keeps the bait pinned tight to a jighead, using only the ElaZtech material itself.
First, thread the bait onto the jighook right up to the collar. Using a second, larger barbless hook, impale the bait’s head, pulling and stretching a bit of the soft material and forming a small hole. While gripping the larger hook, continue stretching the plastic until the small hole slides over and snaps into place on the jig’s eyelet. Tie your favorite knot and benefit from a padlock-tight bait-to-jighead connection.
#3 – Natural Hovering Action
This one’s not so much a hack as it is a cheat code and reward for using naturally buoyant ElaZtech. Whether rigged on a jighead, dropshot rig or beneath a bobber, buoyant baits like the StingerZ™, Micro WormZ and LarvaZ™ can enliven many presentations with automatic tail action and effortless motion— even at the slowest retrieve speeds or at rest.
Unlike traditional soft plastics that sink to the bottom, sag tail-down and die, buoyant Micro Finesse baits spring naturally to life on every cast.
Drop a jig and Tiny TicklerZ onto the lake floor and watch as its tail ascends, little tentacles waving and quivering enticingly. Rig a LarvaZ on a slip bobber and allow it to hover horizontally, floating tail and appendages breathing like a live invertebrate. Even when fish go negative, these subtle, self-activated bait motions continue tempting panfish to bite.
Another overlooked advantage of buoyancy is the bait’s reduced rate of fall. This means you can often select a slightly heavier jighead (1/8- vs 1/16-oz) for longer casts and better bite detection, while still benefitting from a slower sink speed.
#4 – DIY Fuzzy Dice
Who says those new “fuzzy” soft plastics don’t catch crappie and other panfish, too?
Endowed with hyperactive up-close vision and eyes that respond to the micro movements of freshwater invertebrates, panfish inhale “hairy” lures like crazy.
You can quickly and easily craft your own creepy, crawly, fuzzy creations— and all that’s required is a handful of silicone skirt material, your preferred ElaZtech bait and a $2 fly-tier’s bobbin threader.
Begin the bait surgery by piercing the its body with the bobbin, running the tool’s dual wire arm out the other side. Slide a single strand of silicone skirt material into the bobbin and pull the tool back out, threading the strand and leaving a set of fine, quivering legs in the bait. For crappies, select the finest cut silicone (aka frog hair) strands available, which maximize movement and natural breathing action.
Possessing impressive tear-resistant properties, Z-Man Micro Finesse baits like the Micro TRD™ and Tiny TicklerZ can be implanted with these spidery-like legs and transformed into something buggy and alive—no glue required. And don’t worry if you screw up and start over. ElaZtech baits can be punctured almost infinitely without tearing.
#5 – Panfish Power Packs
Everyone knows panfish respond heartily to natural scent and flavor, yet most soft plastics lack the ability to physically absorb and retain liquid attractants for more than a few casts. Conversely, you can greatly extend the potency and fish-attracting powers of scent with a simple switch to ElaZtech baits—a little like marinating a banana versus a ribeye steak. One blocks the flavor from penetrating the meat, while the other’s porous nature invites all the juicy goodness to soak in and make for a mouth-watering meal.
To benefit from these ElaZtech “power packs,” simply select your favorite oil-based scent, such as Pro-Cure Crappie/Panfish Magic Super Gel or BANG Shad Formula. Squeeze a small spoonful of the solution into any bag of Z-Man Micro Finesse plastics. Spread the scent around in the bag by pinching each bait and smearing it with a thin layer of attractant. For maximum scent retention, allow baits to marinate overnight or longer, letting the solution penetrate deep into the bait’s body and yielding an hour or more of fish-catching action. (After several days, baits will soften and swell slightly in size as they continue absorbing the attractant, virtually bursting at the seams with flavor.)
Try baits like the Micro TRD, LarvaZ and Micro WormZ—any ElaZtech morsel intended to be fished slow or under a bobber is an ideal candidate for a little marinated magic. Just imagine your buddies’ reactions when you break out these killer crappie cheat codes . . .
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