Features of the vibrotail
The silicone bait, popular among anglers, got its name due to its flexible, vibrating tail that plays in the water. It is this part of the vibrotail’s body that attracts the attention of predatory fish looking for prey.
The photo of the vibrotail shows that the stationary component of the bait’s body imitates a fish or a worm. This part has a smooth or corrugated surface. Sometimes eyes are depicted on the body to make it look more like a fish, but in most cases they are absent.
In the tail part the figure narrows and widens towards the very end. The tail hangs down at an angle of 45° and has a flat or pointed shape. This detail is considered the most important, since the peculiarity of the game and vibrations of the bait depends on it.
Why a vibrotail is better than other baits
Spoons and wobblers have their advantages, but silicone baits also have them.
Advantages of vibrotail over other artificial baits:
- Cheap compared to the same wobblers or spinners. Although silicone “lives” much less than other baits, it costs a penny. You don’t mind losing it during a snag or throwing it away after being bitten by a predator.
- Ease of installation . The vibrotail, like any silicone, can be easily removed from the jig head and replaced with another one. This procedure will take a few seconds, and time sometimes plays a decisive role during the period of short biting.
- Variety of choice . No other bait can boast such a choice of colors and shades as vibrotails. You won’t find any kind of rubber “fish” in the arsenals of spinning anglers, most of which provide purely visual pleasure for the anglers themselves, rather than playing an important role in catching a predator.
Advantages and disadvantages
It is no coincidence that silicone vibrating tails are in demand among fishing enthusiasts.
These baits are attractive due to several important advantages:
- Maximum resemblance to live fish;
- Resistance to low temperatures;
- The ability to imitate taste and smell;
- Low cost.
The only downside of the product is its fragility. Soft silicone quickly becomes unusable from the sharp teeth of predatory fish.
Large XXL vibrating tails for catching trophy pikes
Due to their large size, they create vibrations in a large amount of water and immediately attract large specimens of predators.
Peculiarities:
- length 18-23 cm;
- weight up to 80 g;
- the body has several modifications: a flat belly without a tail blade or with twister tails, a standard imitation of a large fish.
Vibrating tail equipment:
- attach the jig head to the ripper to determine where the hook exits from the back of the bait;
- mark this place by piercing the hook tip;
- in this place, insert the hook from the front and bring it out from the back;
Counting on an easy catch, you can use a tee hook.
To equip a tee hook you need:
- attach the tee to a steel leash, onto which put a crimping tube;
- pass the tube through the eye of the hook;
- pass the steel leash through the crimp tube twice, resulting in the tee being in the loop;
- pinch the tube with forceps several times;
- insert the tee into the place of the movable bend of the tail;
- make a loop by pulling the wire from the tee to the head;
- put the crimping head on the leash and make a loop;
- melt the tip of the leash over an open flame;
- place a loop on the tip of the jig head
Main characteristics
There are many models of silicone vibrotails. The choice of the appropriate option is based on many nuances: the characteristics of the reservoir, the type of fish, the design of the gear.
In different situations you will need bait with certain features. To have an idea of how to choose the right vibrating tail, you need to get acquainted with its main characteristics.
Shape Features
All vibrotails are divided into two main groups according to their shape:
- Long (long). It is distinguished by a narrow, elongated structure, which significantly reduces air resistance and allows you to cast as far as possible. Installation of a vibrating tail of this type is quite simple, as it does not require complex equipment. This part is used in flowing bodies of water with rapid movement of water, that is, in small rivers. The long-shaped bait is not carried away by the current and holds well in the depths.
- Shad (wide). The product has a flat, extended body, which gives it the ability to confidently glide in the calm water of large bodies of water. A wide vibrotail is suitable for catching large predators in lakes, deep rivers and the sea.
The variety of shapes ensures different behavior of the baits and allows them to be used in almost any body of water to catch all types of fish.
Mounting the bait
The catchability of the bait can be significantly increased with proper installation. It is very important to avoid common mistakes that will affect the wiring. For example, if you use a jig head in fishing with a long hook shank or too large a sinker, the artificial fish will not be able to make an easy, enticing retrieve.
If you use an offset hook and sinker (eared), the number of bites will increase significantly.
Main ripper mounting options:
- Using a hard type jig head with a hook cast in lead. The most important part of the process is matching the size category of the head and the silicone mold. As soon as the hook tip comes out near the dorsal fin, the bait should be made. This method has a significant drawback. If it is necessary to change the weight of the equipment, the bait is removed from the tip of the jig head and re-baited on a separate hook. During this task, it is possible to seriously damage the inside of the silicone fish.
- The second installation method is gaining increasing popularity among modern fishermen. The bait is flexiblely attached to an offset type hook with a turtle sinker. Having correctly selected the offset hook, you can easily replace the sinker thanks to the winding ring. A huge advantage is the ability to make the bait non-catching. To do this, you will need to bring out only a small part of the hook tip. This type of installation is actively used when fishing for pike in reservoirs with abundant vegetation and the presence of a large number of snags under water.
- The third option is to make movable type equipment. This variety makes it possible to experiment with hooks. When hunting in a clean area of the reservoir, you should attach a vibrating tail to the tee, which will significantly increase catchability. In the case when the length of the ripper is greater than the size of the hook, then you can connect the tee and the winding ring using an ordinary wire extension.
installation of a vibrating tail on an offset hook
Based on the tips and recommendations described above, we can conclude that the most effective baits are specimens with a large size and excellent performance of the tail section.
By purchasing this type of vibrotail, you can count on a high level of bites even with weak pike activity.
When choosing an installation method when fishing on a new body of water, it is recommended to use the mobile method as a basis; in well-known areas of the water area, the use of the second method will be ideal.
Features of the material
To make baits that imitate soft, moving fish, different materials are used.
The most famous include:
- Silicone;
- Soft rubber;
- Polymer plastic.
The best vibrating tails are made from high-quality modern silicone. Light, soft and elastic material looks alive in the water, moves well, depicting the behavior of a real fish. The only drawback is that it quickly wears out from mechanical stress and often requires replacement.
To improve the quality and the greatest effect when used, manufacturers of fishing materials add flavors and flavoring additives to the silicone mass. Such vibrotails are considered edible.
Dimensions
Almost all fishing stores offer a wide selection of silicone baits for fish of all sizes. The smallest vibrotail can be no more than 2.5 cm long, and the largest one, suitable for serious sea fishing, can be up to 15 cm.
In the size range of products, three main groups can be distinguished:
- Small (from 2.5 to 5 cm) - well suited for novice fishermen or lovers of small gear;
- Medium (from 5 to 7.5 cm) - used on small rivers, lakes and ponds;
- Large (from 7.5 cm or more) - intended for large trophies in sea fishing.
Very large freshwater inhabitants also respond well to large vibrotails. With this type of bait you can even catch a giant catfish.
Color spectrum
When choosing a vibrating tail suitable for specific purposes, you should carefully review the color options, since the color of the bait correlates with certain factors and conditions of the upcoming fishing.
Depth, time of year, water condition, bottom topography, time of day, weather conditions and the availability of feeding are of great importance.
Vibrating tails are available in the following colors:
- Yellow-red - for morning fishing;
- Light mother-of-pearl with a blue top - for low currents on a sunny day;
- Mother-of-pearl with black specks - in rainy weather;
- Reddish - good for attracting the attention of a passive predator;
- With yellow sparkles - convenient for fishing at sunset;
- White - can be taken on a dark cloudy day;
- Black - effective in bright sun.
Yellow and green vibrotails are considered universal, although it is better to make a choice based on the specific conditions of the upcoming fishing.
Rating of silicone vibrating tails for pike
There is a rich assortment of this type of bait on the Russian and foreign markets. Below is a rating of the best vibrating tails for pike, which can be purchased in Russian stores.
Vibro fat from the domestic company TM Crazy Fish. The shape and color of these vibrotails are developed taking into account the authoritative opinions of Russian and Ukrainian fishermen in order to adapt the baits to the conditions of our reservoirs. Vibro fat is aimed at the most common predators - pike, pike perch, perch or catfish. To allow rigging using an offset hook, there are special cutouts on the body, which makes this ripper ideal for use in hard-to-reach places. There are also holes for weights of various weights, which expands the possibilities of using the bait. The large area of the tail ensures stable play with any type of fishing, and a wide range of colors will allow you to adapt to any body of water. With a length of 7.1 cm, the ripper weighs 3 grams. One package comes with five baits, the price for it varies within 215 rubles.
Vibro worm 3.4 inches is also a representative of domestic rippers from Crazy Fish; the largest bait in the series, it weighs 4 grams and is 8.5 cm long. Thanks to the softness of the material from which the bait is made, it begins to play immediately. Moreover, this silicone is edible and additionally contains squid and garlic flavors. The package contains five pieces of rippers and has a price of around 200 rubles.
Fox Rage Fork Tail is a foreign vibrotail with V-shaped tail. Made of hard silicone with the addition of natural fish oil, this ripper easily misleads predators, dispelling their doubts that this is an artificial bait. The cut of the tail is made in such a way that at the slightest change in position in the water it begins to vibrate within a few seconds, which makes it extremely catchy when fishing vertically and when using a drop-shot rig. Of course, it is also suitable for mounting on a jig head or offset tackle, since the notch on the body of the bait ensures stable play during any retrieve on reservoirs with or without current. The line includes three universal lure lengths designed specifically for pike: 100 mm, 135 mm and 180 mm. A pack of 5 rippers will cost about 250 rubles.
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Lucky John Pro Series Mr Greedy is a high-quality foreign pike vibrating tail. Also made of edible rubber, it has many color options, as well as two large sizes of 7.6 cm and 9.9 cm. It has a flattened body with a wide tail that provides a powerful amplitude of play, as well as a special cutout for an offset hook. Any equipment can be used, Texas, Carolina, offset with a “Cheburashka” and even without a sinker at all. With all this, the ripper has excellent performance in its ability to bypass underwater obstacles without getting caught in them. However, when equipped with a classic jig head, this quality is lost. Accordingly, the number of baits in the package differs depending on the size and is 7 pieces for 7.6 cm and 5 pieces for 9.9 cm, and the price varies between 300 rubles and 400 rubles, respectively.
Spirit Manns is a budget vibrating tail that belongs to the classic shad and is made in the shape of a fish, which is made of soft silicone, which makes it very mobile and does not interfere with the bites of a predator. Moreover, due to its design, the bait plays with its entire body, and not just the tail fin, which allows the pike to notice it from a long distance. The equipment is made both for a traditional jig head and for a movable connection with a “Cheburashka”. There are rippers on the market with a wide range of colors offered and pike sizes of 9cm and 12cm, and come in packs of 3, 6, 10 and 20 pieces. The price, accordingly, varies from 50 rubles to 400 rubles.
Improved or homemade vibrotails
Despite the fact that silicone baits are inexpensive and are always on sale in a wide range, many anglers are often interested in how to make a vibrotail with their own hands or at least improve it.
To finalize the product, baits are usually repainted to suit their needs, the tail is modified with special cuts or its shape is changed, and foam parts are added for better buoyancy.
You can make a vibrating tail yourself according to your preferences using a simple casting method. You can buy casting mass and dyes at any craft supply store.
Silicone for pike perch
Pike perch is not very good at understanding colors, since it spends most of its life at depth, near the bottom, but it sees very well in the dark. When choosing a color scheme, you should opt for contrasting color combinations (light green and orange, light green and purple, orange and purple). Many walleye hunters use bait. This company produces somewhat harsh rubber, but it works very well in the current and is simply irreplaceable.
The collected vibrotail can be valued at $1. Very often, a pike bites off the tail of a silicone fish and you have to change the bait directly while fishing, although many novice fishermen do not know how to do this correctly.
