Fish for Specks and Reds in Leeville, La. So maybe this will be at least decent advice on soft plastics. These work great down that way and in Lake Ponchartrain as well. Bass Assisisn 4" Sea Shad - Chicken on a Chain, Texas roach and Electric Chicken. Deadly Dudley Jr. Salt Water Worm - Blue Moon Chartruese Tail. H&H Cocahoe Minnow - Avacado/Red Glitter, Avacado/Red Glitter Chartruese Tail. Gulp Jerk Shad #12. Have also caught many Reds on Gulp's "Peeler Crab". Generally use Trilene Big Game 12# test on bait casting set up and 1/8 , 1/4 or 3/8 jig heads. Prefer using the 1/8 oz. because seems to allow for the bait to have a more natural action. Sometimes these do well suspended under a popping cork. I will go heavier on the jigh weight if the current is keeping me up too shallow.
My favorite of these is the Bass Assassin Chicken on a Chain, the Deadly Dudley Blue Moon Chartruese and the H&H Cocahoe in Avacado Red Glitter. I'd guess that I have caught 90% of the Speckled Trout that I have caught on soft plastics on these 3 lures.