Twisters: features of modern active lures

Spinning fishing with soft plastic lures has been popular for a long time. Even 15 years ago, active rubber reigned on the shelves of fishing shops – twisters and vibrotails. Today the situation has changed significantly, the passive type of silicone, which does not have its own game, has come to the fore. However, the catchability of twisters has not disappeared anywhere, they are still used for catching perch, zander and pike.

What does a twister look like and when is it used?

Over time, the appearance of soft bait has changed. Previously, there was only one model with an elongated body and a flat tail in the form of a hook. The wide tail part, under the resistance of the water flow, oscillates from side to side, attracting a predator. The design of the bait is made in such a way that the tail plays even with the slowest wiring.

Twisters are classified as active baits, since their animation does not require additional movements with a rod or reel. Twisters play great on uniform wiring, which is where almost all spinning players start.

At the moment, silicone manufacturers are trying to combine different types of lures with twisters. Thus, a model called Larva Lux from Fanatic saw the light of day. The bait is a classic dragonfly larva with a ribbed body, to which a flat tail has been added. This innovation completely changed the game of artificial bait, moving it into the category of active baits.

Most modern twisters are classified as edible silicone. This material is perceived by the fish more loyally, since it contains a huge number of components. Now soft baits have a delicate texture, taste and smell.

Many anglers believe that the edibility of rubber is due to the presence of table salt in the composition. This is far from the case, because salt is used for two reasons: giving positive buoyancy to the nozzle and its rapid decomposition in water in the event of a break.

Photo: sazanya-bukhta.ru

Many postings are made in the bottom layer, where the predator keeps in the cold season. The positive buoyancy of the twister makes it play more naturally in the water. When falling to the bottom, the bait becomes vertical. In this position, it is easier for a predator to pick it up, so the floating silicone provides a higher percentage of bites.

Today’s edible silicone manufacturers are concerned about preserving nature, so their products quickly decompose when broken. This is important, because the high pressure from the spinners clogs the water areas with dangling baits.

The composition of edible silicone includes:

• base based on silicone;
• small glitter;
• attractants;
• salt;
• storage oils.

In a pack, twisters are stored much longer, since there is an oil treatment there. Impregnation preserves the properties of silicone, prevents it from drying out and extends its shelf life. In the box, baits lose their smell and oil coat, becoming less attractive to fish.

Twisters are used mainly in summer and also in spring. Active baits perfectly seduce a hungry predator, take him out of an ambush, attract him from afar. In the spring, when the water is rather turbid, the vibrating tail makes a characteristic sound and movement, which is picked up by a walleye or perch with the help of a lateral line. At this time of the year, you can’t rely only on the color of the bait, the muddy water area makes you adjust to the fishing conditions, using the entire arsenal.

If pike is perfectly caught on twisters in spring, then perch is considered the main prey of active bait in summer. Pike perch takes an active nozzle both in summer and autumn, however, under the “fanged” you need to select the color and wiring.

How to choose a twister

Previously, soft plastic baits were considered consumables that had a low price. Now many leading manufacturers of artificial baits produce products at a fairly high price.

These baits justify their cost, but there are a number of inexpensive analogues from local craftsmen. Such products are not much inferior in quality, but they vary greatly in price.

For exploration of a new reservoir, a simple bait selection scheme is used. Both active and passive nozzles are taken with them. The former are used as a search for schools of fish, the latter for a detailed study of a promising place. They take several dark (natural) colors, ultraviolet (universal shade) and one bright color (lemon) with them. Some anglers use white colors which work great for pike.

Tellingly, American fishing colleagues consider white lures to be among the most catchy. They use white twisters for muskling and, of course, largemouth bass.

The choice of nozzle is influenced by fishing conditions:

• stable weather;
• Atmosphere pressure;
• probable precipitation;
• water transparency.
• wind power;
• season and time of day;
• predator size.

On a sunny day, dark colors of twisters are used, on cloudy days – light ones. With good visibility, silicone of natural shades with a dark glitter is taken out of the box. These models have a translucent texture resembling the body of a fish. With muddy water areas, matte bright colors with a light sheen are selected. The stronger the wind and current, the larger the bait is placed, and the weight of the intended prey also affects the size. For perch fishing, models 1,5-2,5′ are used, for zander and pike – 3-4′.

Photo: klevyj.com

Larger products in bright colors are used as a search artificial nozzle. They are clearly visible from afar, seduce active fish. When the predator is found, you can switch to other silicone twisters, varying the shape, color and size.

Equip a soft twister with several installations:

• articulated equipment;
• jig rig;
• diversion leash;
• carolina-rig;
• Texas rig.

In addition to hinged mounting, it is recommended to use spaced snap-ins. The active tail of the lure works great in the thickness of the free fall, so the twister is considered the best choice of bait for a retractable leader, Texas and Carolina equipment.

Small twisters on the mormyshka are used for catching white fish. A small bait with a tail seduces rudd, roach, chub and crucian carp. Sometimes a scavenger comes across on the hook.

What are twisters

Soft plastic baits have an undeniable advantage over wobblers, wobblers or turntables. When attacked by a predator, the angler gets extra time until the pike or zander realizes that something inedible is in the mouth. The soft structure plays into the hands of the spinner, however, often the “toothy” after the first bite beat off the tail or tear the body of the bait.

Lures are classified according to several criteria:

• the size;
• the form;
• Colour;
• transparency;
• the presence of glitter.

Size is the first thing an angler notices. It makes no sense to put a 2″ twister on pike or walleye, this lure is only suitable for perch. In spring, smaller tires are used, in autumn – large ones. Before freezing, the predator gains weight, so it prefers weighty prey. In winter, anglers return to small models, because cold water slows down the metabolic processes in the organisms of fresh water inhabitants.

Photo: dom-rybalki.ru

Also, baits are distinguished by shape, which is better is unknown. In addition to the classic models with an elongated body and a flat tail, you can find several types of twisters:

• crustaceans with active claws;
• dragonfly larvae with a flat tail;
• various leeches with a long ribbed body;
• nozzles in the form of a fish with fins and a long tail.

The main advantage of twisters is uninterrupted operation at any current strength or on the slowest wiring. The thin and flat tail does not break the rhythm, so the lure always looks natural. Even when dragging crayfish with twister claws, the tails slowly move along the bottom, tempting the predator. Many spinningists prefer active variations of different lures. If the fish stops biting at the bait with a moving tail, you can always tear it off, turning the bait into a passive type of rubber. You can also do it if the tail is severely cut or some part of it is torn off.

The color distinguishes provocative and natural shades. Each soft silicone company has 15-30 colors in its range. This choice allows non-stop experimenting on the pond.

There are basic working shades:

• machine oil;
• swamp;
• ultraviolet;
• green peach;
• Coke.

Primary colors are present in all spinning boxes, then anglers select rubber according to their taste and their own experience. For many hunters of predatory fish species, the black color with a sparkle remains unsolved. Some spinningists claim that this is the most working shade in the fall, others cannot even get a bite on a twister in this color.

Separately from the entire color range, there are baits that change shade with different lighting conditions. The most popular color is “loch”, which combines pink, gray and purple tones. Before choosing a bait, it is worth looking at what fishing colleagues are catching on this reservoir.

15 best twisters for perch, pike and walleye

Each experienced angler has his own list of catchy baits, however, it is impossible for one spinner to check the entire range presented on the market. This rating includes the best twisters according to the leading sports anglers. The baits have been tested in many fresh waters, the main predators of which are perch, pike and zander.

Bait Breath Micro Grub 2

A classic type of twister that emits a powerful vibration and a strong smell. On the body of the bait there are notches that resemble maggot. The size of a small silicone bait is suitable for catching perch, as well as white fish. The body is 50 mm long and weighs 0,7 g.

Twister works both on uniform animation and on more dynamic types of postings. Monotonous broach is used at a depth of up to 2 m, and jigging is used on edges, climbs and falls. Also, the twister perfectly catches on 8 overgrown areas of reservoirs.

Crazy Fish Angry Spin 2

A universal twister used in nanojigging, as well as when fishing with spaced rigs. The bait has a moving tail and a strong smell. The body is ribbed, made in the form of an insect larva. Despite the miniature size, the bait plays at the first turns of the reel, making oscillations with its tail, similar to the game of a spinner.

The artificial nozzle hit the top due to its high efficiency in cold water. In autumn and winter, the product is used on slow animations in the bottom layer when fishing for coastal edges.

MANN’S TWISTER 040

The classic lure with a long tail has a sweeping action and works with the slowest retrieve. This model has proven itself in the fall when catching pike at shallow depths. Twister shows excellent results with stepped animation, as well as with uniform drag.

The size is suitable for catching large perch, which is often caught in by-catch to toothy. Twister in the vast majority of cases is used in dark shades with glitter. The body of the bait is 120 mm, so trophy specimens often come across on the hook. Due to the different thickness of the body and tail, the twister combines dark and light transparent shades.

Pontoon 21 Homunculures Hightailer

A variety of colors of elongated bait available allows you to choose the perfect option for weather conditions and water clarity. The body of the twister from the Pontoon 21 company has an elongation with a narrowing closer to the tail. This nozzle is recommended for catching a passive predator.

Thanks to the elongated body, the hook is set in such a way that the bait does not lose plasticity in the water. For fishing in the warm season, greenish and reddish shades are used, for autumn – brown and black colors. The size of the silicone is 82,5 mm, so fish of different weight categories come across on the hook. The nozzle has a stable game both in stagnant and flowing waters, however, the delicate structure of silicone is quickly injured by pike teeth.

Lucky John Ballist 63

The best models for catching zander include a ribbed worm with a tail in the form of a flat hook. A dense, but long and narrow worm seduces the “fanged one” with plastic play in the bottom layer. The active tail adds naturalness, imitating the fin of a fish.

The size of the worm is ideal for the mouth of a zander, it is 63 mm. All baits are impregnated with a shrimp attractant, which acts on the predator to arouse his interest. 16 colors in the line provide a good choice for catching “fanged”. This model can be described as the best offer on the fishing market at an affordable price.

Sawamura One’Up Curly 5

The bait is a fish, the dense body of which flows into a flat tail. The high mobility of the tail section is able to lure even well-fed fish. Sawamura has a longer tail than its counterparts. The Japanese quality of the silicone makes it soft yet resistant to predator teeth.

Artificial silicone is used for catching pike and zander at great depths. A wide range of colors, including dual colors, gives great help for experimentation. In the upper part there is a seal to the center for the use of an offset hook.

Select Freek 3,3

Inexpensive bait has a short body with notches and membranes, flowing into a long tail. The tail section is much longer than the body, which gives the bait a unique play.

Dual colors are perfectly combined in one nozzle, also small glitter is included in the composition. Twister works on pike, zander and large perch, being a universal search bait. The best results were achieved with uniform wiring and slow dragging near the bottom with pauses.

Bait Breath Bugsy 3.5

In this size centipede with an active tail is used by a wide range of spinners for angling pike perch and large perch. In smaller items, lovers of catching the striped robber found themselves.

The bait completely repeats the body of a centipede with a small addition of an active detail. If the predator beats off the tail, you can continue to catch on the same nozzle by slightly changing the playing technique. The soft texture easily withstands predator attacks. A dense body allows you to catch up to 7 fish per product.

Reins Rockvibe Grub 4

Another model, the prototype for which was a passive lure. This time, the tanta, to which the twister tail was attached, succumbed to improvement. One of the most catchy models for perch and zander showed unsurpassed results in the form of an active bait.

The ribbed body traps air bubbles that start to escape as the animation progresses. Silicone is able to seduce a predator both in spring and summer. The smallest products are taken for angling perch, chub and white fish. Large – for catching pike perch, less often – pike.

Spray Kinbo

The 110 mm bait is suitable for hunting large zander. The dense elongated body passes into the tail. In the middle there is a thickening that shifts the center of gravity of the lure and adds new elements to its animation. There is also a thickening at the end of the tail, which makes the twister play more distinct and creates a powerful vibration.

The bait perfectly survives the sharp fangs of pike perch, as well as the razor jaws of pike. A dense body has the use of a double or an offset hook.

Lure Max Cheeky Worm

Several sizes of long tailed worm make a good choice. The body of the bait has many ribs that are responsible for the mobility of the product. At the back there is a twister tail that works on the slowest wires.

This model is recommended for use in cold water. The twister is used for angling medium-sized zander and pike at depths of 3 m. The dense part of the head makes it possible to use an offset hook.

Relax Viper

The bait, which has been on the market for decades, has a very complex and unusual body shape. A narrow body with the outlines of the head passes into a long tail, while the tail part is a continuation of the fin of the body of the fish. This design provides a smooth game that entices both pike and passive zander.

The bait is used on hinged mounting, rarely using other types of rigs. The best wiring is a monotonous pull-up with rod swings, alternating pauses.

Berkley Gulp SW Pulse Worm

One of the best twisters for catching pike and zander has a thin body with wide ribs to keep air bubbles in when retrieving. The bait is very mobile, works with the slowest animation. The shape of the product resembles a leech with a flat tail.

Silicone nozzle is used from spring to autumn in different colors. The company provides a wide range of shades to choose from spinning.

Keitech Mad Wag

A popular silicone with a ponytail that is twice as long as the body. Twister is used for fishing coastal areas, areas with grassy irrigation, the border of walls of cattail or reeds. In spring, the bait is used in light colors, in autumn – in dark shades.

Mad Wag has a high-frequency tail play, as it has an elongated, pointed shape. The bait is suitable for hunting zander, pike, large perch. Sometimes a chub is caught on a hook, and catfish are also often caught.

Jackall Vobbring

Long bait for catching zander and perch has a webbed body that resembles a leech or worm. The tip of the nozzle smoothly turns into a twister tail. The product has a soft texture and high plasticity, can be used for hinge mounting and offset hook.

The company presents a wide range of colors to choose from for fishing in muddy and clear water, in sunny and cloudy weather.

Catching a predator on twisters is still popular today, since soft plastic bait is able to lure a well-fed and passive fish to attack. The box should contain models of different colors and sizes in order to adapt to the conditions of fishing as successfully as possible.