swimbaits. brands not to touch.

[fourbizz]

So what's the big knock on Reaction Strike ?, because I grabbed a couple of packs on clearance and besides them smelling like the Jersey Turnpike in July along refinery row, what's the deal ?

I havent fished their hollow body style baits, because those kind of swimbaits are gay, but their bass harasser is only out-garbaged by their hard baits.

reaction strike is to swimbaits what Daewoo is to performance automobiles.

What the &%@* is a gay swimbait ? How do I tell ? Will I constantly find it stuck to another swimbait inside the pack ? Will it run away to California ? Will it redecorate my tackle bag ?

They will look somewhat like this:

Or they will say "Tin" or "Burley" on the package.

;D

[Primus]

So what's the big knock on Reaction Strike ?, because I grabbed a couple of packs on clearance and besides them smelling like the Jersey Turnpike in July along refinery row, what's the deal ?

I share a different opinion than Fourbizz regarding soft paddletail swimbaits, these are at times a very productive category of baits and though it's not my favorite style of bait it does have it's merits. That said I have tried several brands that make these type of lures and Reaction Strike was the worst by far, they looked very unantural and stiff in the water. If you are going to try this type of bait try the Pro Swimbaits brand which are very soft, easy to start and catch a lot of fish.

So anyway it sometimes takes me a while to learn a lesson so I followed that up with their Revolution Bluegill which is small hard jointed swimbait and again this turned out to be one of the least impressive baits that I bought, very poorly balanced. They do have other baits in their line-up, but it's unlikely I'm going to try anymore of their products.

[Micro]

Reaction Strike swimbaits are excellent.  I'm using mine as a decorative addition to a driftwood lamp I have.  Looks great!

[bilgerat]

Interesting. My only other soft swimbait purchase was Strike King's Shadalicious, which swam through the water with all the action of a rubber turd. So I guess I'm 0 - 2 on these stupid things

Maybe I'll build me one of those driftwood lamps......

[moby bass]

C'mon guys.  Don't sugar coat it. tell us what you really think about Reaction Strike.   

[Hammer 4]

Lets just say..if the hooks were bigger, I'd use it for a coat hanger.. ;D

[KYntucky Warmouth]

What's wrong with reaction strike?  To be nice, the hardbaits are poorly constructed, the hooks suck, and the ones I have swim on they're side, even at a slow retrieve.  The soft paddle tail baits seen good, I have a few packs.

[NeedAnewScreenName-587943]

very informative thread here...

I've moved from Storm shads to Tsunami and have caught more fish.  The Storm shad tails are too thin and don't swim nearly as well. 

[Captain Obvious]

I've moved from Storm shads to Tsunami and have caught more fish.  The Storm shad tails are too thin and don't swim nearly as well.  

X2

Though I like the storm wild eye shad Tsunami version of the bait is better quality

[Mark J]

Castaic

Mattlures (soft ones) the hard ones are fine.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Castaic

Mattlures (soft ones) the hard ones are fine.

You are absolutely, positively THE FIRST person I have seen recommending to stay away from anything Matt offers.

Did you contact him with your issue?  His customer service is second to none...

[soccplayer07]

You are absolutely, positively THE FIRST person I have seen recommending to stay away from anything Matt offers.

Did you contact him with your issue? His customer service is second to none...

x2. WOW. His baits are amazing.

[Captain Obvious]

I can't believe it someone doesn't like mattlures

Whats next Roadwarrior posting a hate thread on GYBC or St.Croix Avid series rods :-/

[roadwarrior]

I have had good luck with both the Mattlures

Baby Bass and Shad.

8-)

[jeosbo01]

I have had good luck with both the Mattlures

Baby Bass and Shad.

8-)

If by bad luck you mean having numerous big bass hit them and literally tear the bait apart because they want it dead, then yeah I've had "bad" luck with the baby bass too 

[grimlin]

I brought 2 packs of mattlure minnows and those tails are deformed badly!I've never seen this on mattlure product.I got them off ***.I brought them this winter so i have no idea if the action will be affected or not by this.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I have had good luck with both the Mattlures

Baby Bass and Shad.

8-)

If by bad luck you mean having numerous big bass hit them and literally tear the bait apart because they want it dead, then yeah I've had "bad" luck with the baby bass too

QUE?   I dont see "bad luck" anywhere in there... :-?

[Dan:]

FWIW, I had a trout series Matt Lures bait that I didn't care for at all.

[Mattlures]

yeah the minnow packaging was wrong. Those baits were outsourced and when they showed up I was not happy. They are very easy to fix. Boil some water, throw them in the boiling water for a minute then take them out and lay them flat to cool down. They will be nice and straight. Also I dont like the cork screw hooks with them. I recomend a 1/4 oz 4/0 hook.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

FWIW, I had a trout series Matt Lures bait that I didn't care for at all.

Fair enough.  You will now be known simply as #2.   ;D

[Dan:]

FWIW, I had a trout series Matt Lures bait that I didn't care for at all.

Fair enough. You will now be known simply as #2. ;D

dangit. why'd i have to say anything?

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

gay lures will look somewhat like this:

You see those are the type of swimbaits that catch the fish down my way since it mimics the bream, and that is the main diet of the bass in this area, shad are non-existent in most of the ponds and lakes around here except one.

and if anyone has crooked running swimbaits in the darker green/baby bass style they don't want, send them my way, the bass down here love the weak/dying fish appearance of crooked running swimbaits

I just twitch them instead of run them like a normal swimbait, or use them 6-10 ft under a bobber on a choppy surface

[Dan:]

Sounds like a hard swimbait might do well for you as well. Just get one painted like a bluegill

[J Francho]

Wait a minute....

This

Looks more like this

Than this?

And, it looks less like this?

OK, I understand now.

[jeosbo01]

I have had good luck with both the Mattlures

Baby Bass and Shad.

8-)

If by bad luck you mean having numerous big bass hit them and literally tear the bait apart because they want it dead, then yeah I've had "bad" luck with the baby bass too

QUE? I dont see "bad luck" anywhere in there... :-?

WOW...I completely mis-read that!

Gotta start waiting till at least noon to start drinkin' :-[