What action would you recommend for paddle tails and flukes?

[DocNsanE]

Hi,

 I am thinking of picking up a rod that I would dedicate to small swimbaits like a caffeine shad or a keitech swing impact fat. If it makes sense, I might also use the same rod for flukes.

Since this is a moving bait, but it isn't a treble hook, I am currently thinking a moderate fast action would provide some give while still transitioning into the backbone fast enough to get a decent hookset.

I typically fish these baits on an open hook swimbait jig head, a weighted swimbait hook, or a regular t-rig with a 2/0 or 3/0 EWG lightwire.

Any thoughts on this configuration? I might also use this for spinner baits eventually, but that's not a bait I have every developed any confidence in.

 

[Steveo-1969]

I fish these baits on a M power Fast action baitcasting rod with the same rigging you do - open hook swimbait jig head, weighted swimbait hook, and t-rigged with a pegged bullet weight.  I'm not fishing around any heavy cover and for me the M power is plenty to get a good hook set and fight the fish.

[skno]

Everyone will have manufactured a technique that works for them, that being said while fishing a fluke I prefer MH, or M Fast or Xfast because I like to twitch them and let them meander aimlessly on a slack line as if they were suddenly threatened by another predator.

my .02

[DocNsanE]

Thanks guys. I currently fish them on a MXF Fenwick Elite Tech SM Spinning rod and it does a good enough job. I was just wondering if it made sense moving down to a moderate fast seeing as it's a moving bait.

I want to dedicate a rod to this bait since it's one of my preferred search baits and I use the Fenwick for some top water and wacky rigging also.

[iabass8]

fast will work fine. 

[WIGuide]

18 hours ago, iabass8 said:

fast will work fine. 

x2 plus then you're left with a more versatile rod if you want to use it for something else. 

[RB 77]

MH/ F or MH/ XF for me. Heavy also gets the call for some of the bigger swimbaits.

[kikstand454]

I use a m/f currently for these presentations, but its mostly because I'm using a rod that is heavier than its rating. 

A mh/f worked well for me for years.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I fish the swimbaits on a typical fast action jig rod and flukes on a jerkbait Rod that is XF but with a soft tip. 

[DocNsanE]

Thanks a lot guys for the responses. What would you use a moderate fast action rod for then? I always thought this would be a good action for moving presentations with single hooks. I'm guessing shallow squarebills? Anything else?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Shallow cranks anywhere and ripping lipless in grass

[DocNsanE]

Thanks!

[Fishinthefish]

Medium, extra fast rod for me when it comes to anything soft plastic and finnessee-ish