Paddle tail swim baits

[riverbasser]

Need some reviews on your favorite paddle tales. Been using swim senko's and love the action but they are way to soft and tear very easy. Looking for 4 to 5 inchers.  

Whats your favorite?

[j bab]

I'll save you some scrolling:

Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech

Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech

Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech Keitech

 

mods you can lock the thread now

[atcoha]

^ What he said...

[riverbasser]

There are a few, which one you like best?

[flyfisher]

I just picked up some of the Zoom paddle tail swim baits and they are pretty nice.  I think there are a lot of good ones out there though 

[Senko lover]

I really like the Keitechs, they're amazing baits. For a slightly bigger one, I'm in love with the 5-inch Swimbait from Big Joshy Swimbaits, no affiliation just a friend of mine. They really, really are smoking the bass for me. They always seem to get better than average bites, and I'm developing a lot of confidence in them  

[j bab]

12 minutes ago, riverbasser said:

There are a few, which one you like best?

I was mostly making a joke. The swing impact fats are the most popular. I also think Zoom swimmin super flukes are good, so are the 6th sense & Basstrix hollow bodies

[lakeannaangler]

Keitech easy shiner or strike king swim n shiner 

[A-Jay]

Here's a short list of reasonable priced & more importantly - effective solid body swimbaits in the 5 inch range.

Berkley Havoc Bobby Lane's Grass Pig Swimbait

Lake Fork Boot Tail Live Magic Shad

Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper

Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Swim'n Caffeine Shad

Z Man Grass Kickerz

A-Jay

[addicted2fishing]

My favorites are the Big Hammer "original style" swimbaits when needing an swimbait that provides a lot of movement, "thumps," and retrieving at a moderate to fast speed.  For a slower retrieve, I like the Big Hammer Ring Hammer, Keitech Fat Swing Impact, and Basstrix. 

[primetime]

I have been looking for a swim Senko replacement or cheaper alternative as well, and I was hoping the Yum Swimming Dingers were going to be the answer at $3 a pack, but they just have not worked as well for me, but I would give them a shot since they are priced right and some people really like them..

The Big Bite Cane Thumper is another similar bait but it is also super soft, and if you can find them on sale they are the closest to the swim senko imo, but I think the shape of the GYB is just perfect and does something that creates extra strikes...Maybe its color, but I also have used the Z-Man Grass Kickerz and they are shaped very similar as far a profile but are different since they are elaztach but they are a really good swimbait I would buy since they excel over grass....

The Keitechs are awesome but if durability is an issue then I would not suggest switching since most soft textured swimbaits seem to work the best for me...However, I have had decent luck on the Charlie Brewer Slider 4"-5" Bass Grubs which are a ribbed senko style body with a smaller boot tail but they do have a nice wobble and can work well at times...I used to use them before the Swim Senko and every once in a while I will find a pack and rig one up and remember how well they work with the wide wobble...

Check out the Creme Reel Screamer, The Charlies Zipper Dipper has been on sale at Dicks for under $2 a bag and they come in a 5" version that is similar to the rest, Die Dapper is similar, Big Hammer are actually really good and I used to use them for saltwater but I now want to get some since they were soft and actually decent for durability...

Havoc Grass Pig pound for pound is tough to beat but is thicker than the Swim Senko, Dinger, or Cane Stick....My issue with the Yum baits are that they all seem to be crooked and the tails are not straight, and that just messes up my confidence..But Swim Senko's are expensive, and after this ramble, I will say...Go Grass Kicker from ZMan for $4 to last forever, or Cain Stick with swimming tail...If you find the slider grubs in larger sizes give them a try, they are close to a swim senko but have a wider wobble which can be good....

Hope that helps...I think it is impossible to replace the Swim Senko...Same as Keitechs, they just do the job and you know they will work anywhere anytime.

[riverbasser]

@primetime interested in the zman but don't have any experience with the elaztec material, I've tried the BBB cane thumpers but had similar issues you had with the yums. Tails are always crooked. I believe I will try a few you listed but I imagine I'll always have a bag or two of swim senko's with me. If anything just for confidence. Also think I'll check out strike kings line of swimmers. Something about the color KVD magic catches my eye every time. Thanks guys

[Heron]

KEITECH

But, I find Kicker Fish Tail Slappers to be a great Keitech knock off

[riverbasser]

@Senko lover I like picture evidence you gave. Hard to argue with that haha

[primetime]

33 minutes ago, riverbasser said:

@Senko lover I like picture evidence you gave. Hard to argue with that haha

If you have never used the Z-Man or Strike King Zero Elaztach baits then I think you will really like them...They make a line of baits that is really good and you can fish one bait all day long....You can't mix them with other plastics, or leave them in the sun, but if you soak them in scent they will not dry out, or add some lunker lotion to a bag since one bag of worms can last you a full season if you don't have any toothy predators, but they make a bait called the Razor Shad that is designed for a chatterbait trailer and it actually floats and is like the Pop Shadz so it is supposed to have an action like a floating Jerkbait..The Diezel minnowz are 4" and very popular as a trailer for swim jigs since they slow the descent and help float the jig...The grass kickers are nice as well, they will float a weighted hook, but you need glue to hold them on the hook...They have a ton of info on their site and are really making a push to take over a chunk of the soft bait market and they are doing a good job...People seem to always be talking about Z-man since the Ned Rig and Chatterbait, and now the Saltwater guys are all over their baits and Strike King sells the Diezel Minnows under the name Redfish Magic in the saltwater section, same material and bait from same place....

The Keitechs are really good, and to be honest, I buy what is on sale, I like to try new baits, and I buy baits based on color and size more than I do brand....I have heard you can straighten tails in boiling water but I have never tried it...I guess for $3 maybe spending some time with the dingers is worth a try to fix the tail but GYB knocked it out of the park with the Swim Senko and it is a bait that is well under the radar and seems to not get fished by as many people as you would think...People will ask what I am using and I say "Swim Senko" and they say..."OH, Swimming a senko, thats a good idea..". They are only in catalogs and hard to find in stores, plus many fisherman skip over the GYB section due to price...Overstock bait and tackle has had Z-Man and GYB soft baits on sale evey Friday for really good prices and a good selection. I had to buy enough tackle to cover free shipping....Can't spend 5 for shipping when $100 I can save it...But Kinami bags for $2 is worth stocking up on...

[Kyhokie]

Keitech fat swing impact shad color.

[Smallieseeker]

4 hours ago, Senko lover said:

I really like the Keitechs, they're amazing baits. For a slightly bigger one, I'm in love with the 5-inch Swimbait from Big Joshy Swimbaits, no affiliation just a friend of mine. They really, really are smoking the bass for me. They always seem to get better than average bites, and I'm developing a lot of confidence in them  

x2 for big joshy I love his swimbaits. Been using the smaller ones for years but I just received some of the j5s to try out for the first time. 

[ChrisD46]

5 hours ago, riverbasser said:

@primetime interested in the zman but don't have any experience with the elaztec material, I've tried the BBB cane thumpers but had similar issues you had with the yums. Tails are always crooked. I believe I will try a few you listed but I imagine I'll always have a bag or two of swim senko's with me. If anything just for confidence. Also think I'll check out strike kings line of swimmers. Something about the color KVD magic catches my eye every time. Thanks guys

For any soft plastic fluke , swim bait , etc. that are crooked simply heat up a pot of water on the stove to a high simmer and hold the tails vertical in the hot water for 20 seconds or so then lay flat and straight on a paper towell to dry - problem usually solved .

[WIGuide]

I really like the Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper. Great action, affordable price, makes the Berkley Grass Pig look like a dead pig haha. I like it better than the swimin' super flukes as well. I usually have one rigged up on a rod about 95% of the time I'm fishing.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, WIGuide said:

I really like the Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper. Great action, affordable price, makes the Berkley Grass Pig look like a dead pig haha. I like it better than the swimin' super flukes as well. I usually have one rigged up on a rod about 95% of the time I'm fishing.

Haven't tried that one - I'm going to have to check it out

Thx

A-Jay

[d-camarena]

Yum money minnows, zoom swimming fluke, strike king shadilicious, basstrix and keitech swing impact fat all have proven themselves in my tackle box

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

Gambler EZ, Big Bites baits BB Kicker, Ragetail swimmer

[Mike L]

I must be the only one here who uses the Skinny Dipper or Big EZ. Gonna try some of the others eventually.

 

 

Mike 

[Crestliner2008]

Another vote for the Keitechs. I only use the 4.8" size, their largest. I fish them on heavy jig heads, slow rolling along the bottom for smallmouth bass and lake trout. They just flat out work.

[wytstang]

I really like Gamblers Big EZ and EZ Swimmer going threw grass.