plactic vs live bait

[nh3fitter]

Anyone using only plactic this year I was sold on it last year?

[trapper2000]

put  a  spike  on and  catch  more  fish

[BobbyJ]

There's a time and a place for each 

[Fisher4Life]

I'm just hoping the plastics i picked up work out... Got some Maki plastics and some gulp alive bait, yet to hit the hard water with either...  Never minded trying new stuff, especially if they pay off!!! 

[Reel Addiction 2]

I second the put a spike on it.

[gettinjiggy]

     I was dead against plastics for a long time, my fishing buddy used them alot with success. I didn't give them a honest try until I realized the success I have open water was with soft plastics. Then I left all my live bait home a couple times and figured them out, I still have spikes in my bait puck but don't pull them out often. Maki's are great and don't be afraid to take a razor blade to them and reshape them, some small changes make a big diffence to some of them. Others work fantastic just the way they are...

[octanehi5]

The plastics taste the same no matter how long you cook the

[metalslayer]

What Maki r people using for gills and crappie?

[5watchman5]

Depends on the species.  My buddy does awesome with plastics.  I use spikes for jigging panfish.  I hear great things about Makki plastics.  Tubes also work great for Lakers.  I guess it's a matter of preference.  I've never experimented with plastics.  I thought plastics might be cheaper (no need to buy bait every outing).  However, by the look of things, plastics can be expensive if bought in bulk. 

[Murph20]

I use both live and plastics. keep switchin it up to find what works

[outside]

I use both live and plastics. keep switchin it up to find what works

This. Different days call for different presentations... 

[jmny004]

It all depends on what you want to get out of the experience. Fishing is no different than hunting in this aspect. You choose whether to hunt food plots(deer) or bait sites (bear- suspended meat and 55 gallons drums of stale doughnuts with a syrup coating-honey,etc). I equate  live bait fishing to this type of hunting
It just doesn't require much action on your part. At times this might be the way to go,(weather conditions,extremely slow bite.)
Now you can choose to hunt trails that lead from bedding area to feeding areas. This would take more time, to research the land  for bedding areas, finding the feeding area(especially if it natural feeding source and not one you planted.) Then discover a used path from one to the other. The hunter needs to be more involved in the task of hunting. Same for the use of plastics. You basically have to put the action into the plastics. Live bait swims ,wiggles itself along with the having the attractive smell of a worm ,minnow,maggot etc.).
From a personal level i prefer to use artificial baits(lures,plastics etc.) But when ice fishing, I always have a rod with a "do nothing" minnow down one hole.  Sinker with a hook attached to line 3 to 12 inches above sinker. Letting the minnow do the work,(dead sticking)

recommendation:

cost not a determining  factor: MAKI PLASTICS 40 -60 cents per bait

cost restrictions: google the WHIP, great action that sells for 10-12 cents per bait.

[FingerLaker607]

i usually have at least 3 poles rigged with different baits...have found that plastics produce bigger fish when the bite is hot, but smaller jigs with meat will produce fish better when the bite is slow. its always good to switch up baits/presentations cuz the fish will get tired of the same bait.

[gomaco1]

i out fish my buddy 10 to 1 i use berkley waxies natural color he uses live bait minnows spikes etc.....

[vtfisher49]

spikes, waxies and minnie