I'm late to the Keitech party -- can someone catch me up?

[Chris at Tech]

Hey guys,

I'm a late arrival to the Keitech Swing Impact Fat party so I need some of your expertise so I can make up for lost time.

I've picked up a few packs of the 3.8s and the 4.8s over the last few weeks.  For those of you who fish them, what hooks or rigging styles are you using for those bait sizes?  Especially for the 3.8s, are you treating them as a light-line technique on spinning gear?

Thanks all!

[5fishlimit]

The 3.8 I would use on the a-rig.

The 4.8 I like to use a 4/0 owner weighted swimbait hook. 

Both of these setups are thrown on a BC. 

[5fishlimit]

Oh, and try their Easy Shiner. 

[looking4structure]

I've been using the 3.8 on the back of a swim jig and fish head spin with good success. 

I mix and match the 3.8 and 4.8 on the A-rig. I rig them with weighted swimbait hooks.

 

[deep]

4.8; quarter oz swim jigs.

[fishballer06]

They work well on chatterbaits and swim jigs. 

 

You can also rig them weed less on a weighted swimbait hook (4/0 - 5/0), or you can throw a worm weight and a screw lock ewg hook. Or for open water, rig them on a swimbait jig head with your desired weight. I'll throw them this way with everything from 1/8oz up to a 1/2oz. 

[jbrew73]

just rig them any way you would rig a fluke or any other soft plastic..  they are not magical.........just a good , versatile soft plastic. 

[thebillsman]

I'm absolutely love keitech, but I usually stick with the crazy flapper and tungsten football jigs.

[webertime]

4.8's on Eagle Claw Lazer swimbait hooks (ones on sale at tw).  The "drop" in the shank allows the head to hunt back and forth.   3.8's on 2/0 EWG with nail weights in the belly...

[BaitMonkey1984]

2 hours ago, 5fishlimit said:

Oh, and try their Easy Shiner. 

x2.

I never used the keithechs until this spring. I rigged the larger ez shiner, I believe they are the 4" version on a yum money minnow keel weighted swimsuit hook. The hook was almost too big reaching way back into the thing portion of the tail. Make sure you get the strong squid scent- it makes a difference. The action on these baits are great. And with that big yum money minnow hook, my hookup ratio was likely 95%+. It was fun. The only downside is the are about as durable as a senko. So one or two fish on average. I could care less, but know some people squad about the whole durability aspect. 

[hawgenvy]

I have the best luck with the 4.8" rigged with a 4-0 Gamakatsu 1/16 or 1/8 oz weighted spring lock swimbait hook. I use 20 lb fluoro on a baitcaster with a MH or H rod, or 50 lb braid if thicker cover. Reel it fast or slow, steady or pausing, along the bottom, on the surface, or just below the surface. Any of these ways may work best on any given day.

[Jon G]

3.8's get thrown as bladed jig trailers

4.8s get thrown on either a owner weighted 4/0 beast hook or a 1/4 oz buckeye j-will jig head

As for fishing the 4.8's I fish them as slow as I can. The beauty of the keitech is how you can fish it at such slow speeds and it will maintain that beautiful wide kick.

[kickerfish1]

I would also add they are a personal favorite on swim jigs.

Bullet/northers style finesse swim jigs I like the 4 inch swing impact.

Cali/Flip and Swim style jigs I prefer the 3.8 and 3.3 inch fat impact.

[Bluebasser86]

I fish the standard swing impacts on a 1/4oz darter head, catches everything that swims and eats little fish.

[Felix77]

VMC Half Moon Jig head for me.

[Chris at Tech]

Good stuff so far guys, thanks!

As far as depth and retrieve, are most of you guys keeping the baits close to the bottom or are you swimming them in the middle or upper depths of the water column?

[Will Wetline]

Here's a very good video:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uuuNVQNDfs

[BobP]

 I rig the larger Keitech on a 3/4 oz jighead, do a long cast, let it sink to the bottom, and retrieve it with a slow steady pace in deep water.  Excellent producer whenever the bass are deep - and there are almost always bass deep in the warm water periods.  In the winter I like the smaller 4" easy shad on a 1/2 oz jig head since it more closely matches the size of the threadfin shad at that time.  Bottom line, they catch bass anytime.  You just have to know where the bass are and rig accordingly. 

[Turkey sandwich]

I've had success with them as trailers on swim jigs and even spinnerbaits.  They're really versatile.  They're a lure you can be really creative with regarding rigging based on where you're fishing and conditions.  The tail and ribs provide a great action fished fast, and even better fished slow.  On lakes, they're great on a swimming/swimbait head fished above weed beds and allowed to drop in pockets.  On rivers/current, just get them down on the rocks and the current will provide action (you can dead stick them or flutter them like a dieing minnow).  If you need more profile, flash, or thump they make excellent spinnerbait trailers.  

[skeeter1980]

I thought he was talking about the Last Frontier TV sHOW.LOL,iSN'T THAT THEIR NAME?

[Hurricane]

What's the best color? 

[iabass8]

1 hour ago, LastCast721 said:

What's the best color? 

Hard to beat Bluegill flash, rainbow shad, and sungill.

[rippin-lips]

I use them as trailers on swim jigs and bladed baits. I'll also fish them on a jig head or a weighted ewg hook. The 4.8 fat is a heavy plastic. You could even use it weightless up in the shallows.