Going Soft: Mirr-O-Lure Soft Plastic Baits
When anglers think of Mirr-O-Lure most of us picture hard plugs and swimbaits, but their new soft plastic line of lures is going to change that image. The line consists of four different body styles in three sizes. The Mullet style is five inches long and has a slender body with a single, slowly tapered tail. Mirr-O-Lure molds in a notch where the body thins out, which allows the tail to wiggle a little more vigorously then on some competing baits. The Minnow style is a split-tail plastic, in a four-inch version. The Shad is a standard paddle-tail style shad body, and it’s also four inches long. And the Sardine is another paddle-tail, but this one’s an inch shorter and it has molded in dorsal and anal fins.
There are a few things to like, right out of the box. Or, out of the pack, I should say, because all of these lures are packaged in zipper-lock plastic bags that are significantly smaller then the norm, saving tacklebox space and eliminating the feeling you’re getting ripped off, when you open on over-sized bag for the first time and it seems half empty. They’re crammed full, too, with eight lures in the five-inch versions and 10 in the three and four inch versions. And check out the pricing—these lures cost half as much as some top-end soft plastics. One minor beef with the packages: they’re not notched and they’re tough to rip, so you’ll need a blade to get ‘em open the first time.
In the water they perform just as you’d expect, and I found the schoolies stripers more then willing to smash ‘em. These baits aren’t scented, though, so you’ll need to generate a reaction strike and be quick on the hook-set. The up-side here is that the plastic is tough as nails, and A dozen stripers chewing on one has little to no effect. Plus, they aren’t oily or goopy so handling them doesn’t make your fingers slick and smelly.
Color patterns vary quite a bit, and it’s a safe bet you’ll find your favorite among them. I was stoked to discover that my number-one go-to patter, a pumpkinseed/chartreuse combo, was present and accounted for. So now Mirr-O-Lure’s got more then hard baits on the menu—proving that going soft isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Price: About $5/bag
The Highs: Good packaging, good pricing, and good action.
The Lows: I wish there was a slit in the package to make ripping it open easier.
Who Wants It: Light tackle casters who use soft plastics.
Contact: www.mirrolure.com.
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