Boiling Swimbait Tails

[basshole8190]

Do you guys do this? I've done it to a few hudds i have that felt kinda stiff and it also improves the action 100% on havoc sick fish. is there a certain technique to this? Have you had any benefit from doing it or was it a waste of time?

[Bluebasser86]

It does make the plastic softer. Youtube is your friend on this one. I could explain how to do it but there's some great videos of guys demonstrating the hows and whys of boiling them. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Seems to loosen up the plastic a bit. Some guys hang them by the tail for drying and have said that it lengthens the bait a bit. I don't have firsthand experience with that though.

 

I boil most of my baits, right out of the box. Things can get funny when they sit in a bag or clamshell. It boosts my confidence if I know a bait will run true.

 

One bit of advice: Only boil the back half of the bait, at most. I made the mistake of dipping a whole bluegill once. Eyes came right off the bait.

[GoneFishi'n]

Also when done boiling I would wait a while before setting in your box. I only waited about and hour and it got bent in my box that night. It does make it a lot softer and run better.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Also when done boiling I would wait a while before setting in your box. I only waited about and hour and it got bent in my box that night. It does make it a lot softer and run better.

 

Dropping it in cool water after boiling can help with the wait time.

 

Your bait shouldn't still be that hot after an hour though. Letting it sit on it's side in the box, especially if it is warm outside, will just kink your tail again. Make a box that allows the baits to hang down and you won't have to worry about it.

 

Just about the only bait I have seen that doesn't get kinked is the RealPrey stuff made from silicon.

[GoneFishi'n]

Dropping it in cool water after boiling can help with the wait time.

Your bait shouldn't still be that hot after an hour though. Letting it sit on it's side in the box, especially if it is warm outside, will just kink your tail again. Make a box that allows the baits to hang down and you won't have to worry about it.

Just about the only bait I have seen that doesn't get kinked is the RealPrey stuff made from silicon.

No it wasn't still hot after an hour just still really soft I guess you could say. Like it was consistently boiled. I need to he me one of those hanging boxes. Easy to make too. I only have a couple baits that would need that though. How do you like the real prey stuff? I saw the gill they're coming out with which looks really good.

[Bluebasser86]

No it wasn't still hot after an hour just still really soft I guess you could say. Like it was consistently boiled. I need to he me one of those hanging boxes. Easy to make too. I only have a couple baits that would need that though. How do you like the real prey stuff? I saw the gill they're coming out with which looks really good.

I have one for my soft baits, they're pretty awesome and keep my baits from getting bent. I bought mine instead of making it, they're worth the money to keep from messing up an expensive soft bait. 

 

Also curious about the Real Prey baits. They look good and a soft bait that can really take some punishment would be awesome even if they do cost a little more. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

They are good baits.

 

Pretty popular in the upper Midwest and Northeast. Very durable, which is nice since we have toothy fish. The tail kick is kinda subtle. I agree that his new bluegill bait does look promising.