Soft plastics aren’t just lures — they’re weapons. When you choose the right plastic, the right jighead, and the right retrieve, you turn every cast into a genuine chance at a fish. At Flicking The Plastics, we design our lures to do one thing: help you catch more fish, more often, with less mucking around.
Whether you’re flicking flats for flatties, working drains for jacks, or chasing bait schools on the reef edges, choosing the right soft plastic is the difference between “just another cast” and “that’s the one”.
Why Soft Plastics Dominate
Soft plastics are deadly because they look, move, and behave like the food fish actually hunt. They’re versatile, natural, and can be fished anywhere — from ankle‑deep flats to 10‑metre holes.
Key advantages:
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Natural action that triggers instinctive strikes
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Customisable with jighead weight, hook size, scent
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Perfect for edges, drains, flats, and structure
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Fish hold on longer, giving you more hook‑up time
If you want consistent results, soft plastics should be your go‑to.
Paddle Tails — Your All‑Round Weapon
Paddle tails are the workhorse of the soft plastic world. They swim with minimal effort and catch fish even when you’re half‑asleep on the rod.
Best for: flathead, mangrove jack, barra, snapper Best retrieves: slow roll, hop‑pause
Our top picks:
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Blaze Paddle Tail 85mm — perfect for flats, drains, and bait‑rich edges
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Striker Paddle Tail 100mm — bigger profile for bigger predators
If you only carry one style of plastic, make it a paddle tail.
Grubs & Curl Tails — Finesse Kings
Grubs shine when fish are timid, pressured, or feeding on small prey. Their tail flicks with the slightest movement, making them deadly on slow days.
Best for: bream, whiting, flathead Best retrieves: shake‑pause, slow roll
When the water’s clear or the fish are spooky, downsizing to a grub can turn a quiet session into a hot bite.
Minnows — Natural Profile, Maximum Realism
Minnow plastics imitate small baitfish perfectly. They’re ideal for clear water, high visibility, or when fish are feeding on tiny bait.
Our standout:
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Dominator Flattly 60mm — built for flats, drains, and finesse presentations
Minnows are your “match the hatch” option — subtle, natural, and extremely effective.
Soft Vibes — Deep Water Destroyers
Soft vibes are your go‑to when fish are holding deep or sitting in fast-moving water.
Best for: deeper holes, fast tides, vertical jigging Best retrieves: lift‑drop, shake‑pause
Try:
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FTP Vibes — designed for maximum vibration and strike response
If you’re fishing the Whitsundays’ deeper channels, vibes are a must.
Choosing the Right Jighead
Your jighead weight controls everything — sink rate, action, and how long your lure stays in the strike zone.
General rule:
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Shallow flats (0.5–1m): 3.5g
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Edges & drains (1–2m): 5g
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Deep holes (3–6m): 10g
Explore:
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FTP Jigheads
If you can’t feel bottom, go heavier. If you’re snagging, go lighter.
Colour Selection — The Secret Sauce
Colour matters more than most anglers realise.
Clear water: natural baitfish colours
Dirty water: bright or contrast colours
Low light: dark silhouettes
Bright sun: translucent colours
Choosing the right colour can double your strike rate.
Where Soft Plastics Work Best
Soft plastics dominate in ambush zones — anywhere predators wait for bait to pass.
Top locations:
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Sand flats
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Tidal drains
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Drop‑offs
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Weed edges
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Creek mouths
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Rock bars
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Snags
Timing Your Session
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Incoming tide: fish push onto flats
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Outgoing tide: fish stack in drains
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Morning & late arvo: low‑light ambush periods
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Summer: peak activity for flathead, whiting, jacks
Soft plastics shine when the water moves.
Ready to Fish Hard?
Here’s your Flicking The Plastics arsenal:
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Blaze Paddle Tails
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Striker Paddle Tails
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Dominator Flattly
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FTP Jigheads
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Strikerz Scent