G'Day Smash

Using the jighead/SP together gives it a far better action in the water and covers more water column which means more strikes from fish when compared to just sticking the SP onto your patternoster rig.

PE2 or 3 (20 or 30lb) near enough for demersal jigging and a 3000-5000 size spinning reel and a 6'6 to 7ft soft-tip rod the go for SP jigging.

As till stated below, using jig heads isnt like jigging for demersals etc. Its just called that because of the sharp jig motions you would work the jighead through the water column or over the ground.

Yeah you can use them as a dropper / teaser when bottom bouncing or casting for pelagics, in saying that I guess it would depend on the type of plastic, where you're fishing and what you're targeting. Whether you want to throw placcies, or if you wanna bottom bounce, if you wanna jig with really big ones, it can have benefits with alot of applications, but bare in mind that its mainly a visual attractant for the fish, so your action is important when retrieving, not so much for jigging as its just the same thing depending what you're chasing and how deep the water is. There are a number of different shapes that has its own swim actions that don't really require any sort of specific actions as well as alot that do.

What plastics are made of varies, if you see the solid colour ones like Slam, Gulp etc, remember this, they are not reusable or if you leave them dry or if you keep them for too long, they harden. They will go hard like plastic. Oh and dont spill the juices, some stain and stink. The see-through jelly ones are longer lasting storagewise and unlike the other ones, can be at times reused as they're more resilent in material and the holes you make sometimes close up a bit. The first ones I stated, just tear and stay there. I guess its like plastic vs rubber in a way.

With the PE ratings, again as till mentioned about, they pretty much always have at least the estimated poundage. Like if its PE1 it should be at least 10lb+ give or take depending on the braid itself. As you go higher in poundage and or quality you will find for example a PE6 that is rated to 70lb+ but again that's dependant on the braid. I have a PE8 here and its rated 88lb. But as far as I know, always at least that 1 - 10 rule.

Line wise probably estimate that along with what you plan to catch and what size heads you plan on using. line too thick in diameter will affect the movement that you'd be trying to make with your rod actions as the line wont be cutting through water as quickly. If you go on the lighter side of your line class estimate, it would benefit more as since the jigheads arent overly heavy, it will peel off the spool easier and faster on the drop or on a cast. Going heavier without much weight on the line, it may stop or you will have to guide the line off the reel yourself by hand. If I was just to guess, im guessing you dont plan to use soft plastics very deep, so just something light i think would suffice. PE1-3, if you need PE4 or more for where you are, I'm assuming you'd probably be jigging instead of using plastics anyway.

As for rod and reel choice, depends on the application. Typical soft plastic use would require casting so spin or baitcast would be the go. I'm yet to see a placcy using alvey fisho, though would be funny. And rod as stated below, something with a fast action meaning stiffer bottom end but with a thin top end and not sloppy as well is light would be the usual preferance. Something you can flick lures with less effort and a flick of the wrist instead of having to fling and flop it over your shoulder.

Shopping for plastics can be fun but also a headache as stores now have too many to choose from. When you determine the size hook you need and the ideal weight then you choose the plastic. Most on the market work, but some people swear by certain ones because that's what they use or other people use etc. I guess you can look at resembling a common bait colour they go for to start off. After that its all trial and error. You can most likely catch on totally oppisite colours you've heard people use too and it happens often. I guess I couldnt judge what you will eat tonight, so I wouldnt ONLY go by what someone else states. Glows can help if its deeper and theres less light or its dark out and theres also glows in many colours. Glitter/speckles help light reflect (i found works well with species that feed in higher water columns or in shallows where you can see that light reaches the depths). Looking at tail shape of plastics, the flat spade tail (paddle) is a natural swim, while fork or straight tailed requires more action and sink faster. The other tail (i forget what they're called), looks like a lil curl, seen usually on grubs, its just a visual affect. Also makes the plastic look as if it is bigger than it actually is. A grub with out a tail is tiny, with it looks alot more appealing in size, Helps hide the hook a bit too.

Buying them in quantity can be pricey too, if it is and you dont want to spend too much. Mainly the basic ones and not huge range

interesting article-gonna do another trip to the islands if we get a clear stretch before work and the ban interferes.

Probably as good a place as any to try it out!

Just in the process of fitting a below deck icebox into my boat, hopefully sorted before end of week.