Why the Pure Flats Slick Jr. Is One of My Most Trusted Gulf Coast Soft Plastics

Why the Pure Flats Slick Jr. Is One of My Most Trusted Gulf Coast Soft Plastics

When I’m headed to the marsh or fishing around bayous on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, there are a handful of lures that never leave my tackle box. One of those is the Pure Flats Slick Jr.

It isn’t the flashiest bait on the market, but it consistently catches fish. Whether I’m targeting flounder, speckled trout, or redfish, the Slick Jr. has earned a permanent spot in my rotation because it simply looks natural in the water and gives me the versatility to fish it in almost any condition.

Why I Trust the Slick Jr.

The Slick Jr. has a slim baitfish profile that imitates exactly what our inshore predators feed on every day which are small mullet, mud minnows, glass minnows, and juvenile baitfish.

Unlike some plastics that require a lot of rod action, the Slick Jr. has a subtle tail movement that looks alive even with a slow retrieve. That makes it deadly when fish are feeding but don’t want an aggressive presentation.

Another advantage is durability. It holds up well after multiple fish, allowing me to spend more time fishing and less time changing plastics.

My Favorite Way to Rig It

Most of the time I’m pairing the Slick Jr. with either a:

• T3 Tackle & Outdoors Jighead
• Locked Up Lures Jighead

Both have strong hooks and secure bait keepers that hold the plastic in place, even after several fish.

Choosing the Right Weight

1/8 oz

• Calm conditions
• Shallow marsh ponds
• Shorelines
• Water less than about 3 feet deep

This is my favorite size because it gives the bait a slow, natural fall.

1/4 oz

• Windy days
• Strong current
• Deeper bayous and channels
• Fishing faster moving water

The heavier jighead helps maintain bottom contact while still allowing the bait to swim naturally.

How I Fish It

One mistake I see anglers make is fishing every soft plastic too fast.

The Slick Jr. works best when you let it do the work.

My retrieve is usually simple:

1. Make a long cast.
2. Let the bait sink toward the bottom.
3. Lift the rod tip with one or two short twitches.
4. Reel just enough to remove slack.
5. Pause and let it fall again.

Most strikes happen on the fall.

If the line jumps, stops unexpectedly, or simply feels heavy, set the hook.

Fishing for Flounder

Flounder are my favorite species to target with the Slick Jr.

I’ll cast along marsh drains, creek mouths, oyster edges, and channel drop-offs where bait is being pulled by a falling tide.

I fish slowly, keeping the bait close to the bottom with short hops.

Flounder often inhale the bait without a hard strike but you will often feel a thump. Pay attention to anything that feels different.

Fishing for Speckled Trout

For trout, I usually speed the retrieve up just slightly.

Instead of dragging the bait across the bottom, I work it through the middle of the water column using:

• Twitch
• Twitch
• Pause

This mimics an injured baitfish and often triggers aggressive trout, especially around current, points, and grass edges.

Fishing for Redfish

Redfish love a Slick Jr. worked slowly around grass lines, marsh drains, oyster beds, and shoreline points.

I’ll cast ahead of cruising fish or fan-cast likely ambush areas.

The key is patience.

Redfish often track the bait several feet before committing, so don’t rush the retrieve.

My Confidence Colors

While I’ll always adjust to water clarity and conditions, I tend to reach for these colors first:

• Mad Mullet
• BCat
• Sand Lapper
• Croaker

The fish will ultimately tell you what they want, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Final Thoughts

One lesson I’ve learned over years of fishing the Mississippi Gulf Coast is that confidence catches fish.

The Pure Flats Slick Jr. isn’t always the newest lure on the shelf, but it continues to produce because it imitates what our fish naturally eat and gives me complete confidence every time I tie one on.

Rig it on a quality T3 Tackle & Outdoors or Locked Up Lures jighead, slow down your presentation, and let the bait work naturally.

You may be surprised how often that simple combination puts flounder, trout, and redfish in the net.

See you on the Coast,

Randall Cobb
Marshline Fishing Co.