Berkley Gulp

Berkley Gulp! Saltwater baits are made from natural ingredients that release 400 times more scent than plastic baits. Formulated especially for ocean gamefish, Berkley Gulp! Saltwater is so potent it can actually OUTFISH live bait. Plus it’s 100 percent biodegradable for a cleaner environment. Stock up on a full selection of Gulp! Saltwater baits and you’ll experience more action than ever! They all look, smell, and move just like the real thing.

Berkley Gulp is one of the best tools to catch fish down at the Tekapo Twizel Canals
A selection of appropriate soft baits is a great place to start when trying this method. There are two major types of these, one is made of starch – like Berkley Gulp and the other is made of some sort of silicon rubber.

Starch based soft baits are generally scented and must be kept in fluid in order to remain supple and function effectively. They are more likely to be considered food by the fish as they have a nutritional value. Because of this they are more likely to be held onto when taken into the mouth giving a better chance of hook up.

Silicon rubbery baits can have different properties depending on the mix they are made from and require no special care other than a box to put them in. These typically have a great variety of suppleness, colours and shapes giving a huge choice to the angler when trying to get a response from the fish. Silicon baits often have a more attractive action leading to a committed bite or strike.

I like to use both sorts of soft baits depending on water speed, time of day, time of year and what is working.

What to look for in a soft bait

-       Size. Most soft bait for freshwater use are around 3 inches but vary generally from 2 to 5 inches in length.

-       Colour. There is an enormous variety of colour variation with often unnatural or unusual colour proving very effective. I often fish with white, pink, translucent, chartreuse, lime green, as well as the more natural colours. Be prepared to change colours when nothing is happening and you will catch more fish.

-       Shape. There are all sorts of shapes for our soft baits – short and fat, long and thin, segmented etc. But the most important thing about soft bait shape is the tail design. Paddle tails give a heap of movement to the bait, even in slow or still water. A very slow retrieve is ideal when using a paddle tail for good results. V tails, drop tails and grub tails all give a different action and can be really effective in different situations. My advice is to be armed with a variety of shapes, tail types and sizes.