Soft Plastic Swimbait Basics

[HunkerDown]

I've never fished with soft plastic swimbaits, but I wanted to start. This week I plan to pick up some Keitech Swing Impact Fat 4.8s or Zoom Swimmers. I had trouble finding some basic information about them, which brings me here.

1) What's going to be my best hook options, jigheads or weighted hooks? 

2) What size/weight hooks?

3) Any tips for how to work these baits? I figured the retrieve will be similar to that of a spinner bait. 

 

Thanks as always for any help!

[S. Sass]

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• The 4.8" Keitech FAT Swing Impact has 5 baits per blister pack. 
  The no sinker or Texas rigged 4.8" is extremely productive on the 3/0 Tungsten Super Round Jig head. Rig the Fat 4.8 on a 1/2oz. football head and fish deep structure using the "slow rolling" technique. Texas rigging is recommended for fishing weeds and wood. Fish the 4.8” on a Frog hook for explosive action in the slop.

source http://www.keitechusa.com/catalog/fat-swing-impact.html

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No Sinker Texas Rig – Use a Slow & Steady retrieve just under the surface. We recommend the #1 off-set worm hook with the 2.8”, #2/0 with 3.8”, #4/0 with 4.8” and the #6/0 with 5.8”.

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"Chikubi" Rig – Nails weights are inserted into the circles on the bottom of the bait. This allows the Fat Swing Impact to swim deeper we recommend the 1/32 nail sinker with the 3.8”, 1/16 with 4.8” and 1/16-3/32 with 5.8”.

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Texas rig – The Fat Swing Impacts are Super-effective Flipping baits we recommend: 1/4oz sinker with the 3.8”, 1/8-3/8oz with 4.8” & 5.8”.

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Jig Head Rig - The Fat Swing Impact fished on a Tungsten Super Round Jig head is our top money winning rig. We recommend the 1/0 Tungsten Super Round for the 2.8”, the 2/0 for the 3.8” and the 3/0 for the 4.8”. Adjust your depth with weight choices of 1/16 to 1/4oz.

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Jig Trailer - The 2.8” is recommended for the Tungsten Model II Football Jig. The 3.8” is recommended for the Tungsten Model I Casting jig. The Model III Swim Jig was designed specifically for the 4.8”.

Pretty good page on the keitechusa.com website.

[timsford]

I use 3/0-5/0 owner twistloc weighted beast hooks with a keeper spring for fishing around cover. In open water I use ballhead or darter head jigs in a variety of weights from 1/8 oz all the way to 3/4 oz depending on how deep I want to go. As far as technique it's pretty simple, just a steady retrieve from slow to medium. Sometimes I catch them stroking them off the bottom, but I usually do best on a steady retrieve

[IgotWood]

I believe I use the Owner twistloc in 4/0, 1/8oz. Awesome baits! Literally just cast and retrieve. Change your retrieve speed until you get bites. Every now and then, add a pause or a twitch. They are a little pricey. Don't be afraid to try the Basspro brand. They work just as well, except they are not scented.

[roadwarrior]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Buckeye-Lures-J-Will-Swimbait-Head/1364103.uts?productVariantId=3179271&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03466841&rid=20&gclid=CMyqno3bts4CFUI7gQod9VgALg&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[OK Bass Hunter]

5 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Buckeye-Lures-J-Will-Swimbait-Head/1364103.uts?productVariantId=3179271&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03466841&rid=20&gclid=CMyqno3bts4CFUI7gQod9VgALg&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

I use those exclusively for my Keitech Swing Impact Fat's. 

[Big Swimbait]

6 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Buckeye-Lures-J-Will-Swimbait-Head/1364103.uts?productVariantId=3179271&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03466841&rid=20&gclid=CMyqno3bts4CFUI7gQod9VgALg&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

They also make a weedless head that is awesome.

 

[Oklahoma Mike]

I normally fish them weightless T-rigged on a 4/0 Owner twistlock, and I catch the most fish rigging like this.

When I want to get them down a little farther/faster, I'll use the 4/0 weighted Beast twistlock. Occasionally I will also use the 3/0-1/4oz Owner ultrahead round jig head if I want to skip around on the bottom.

[HunkerDown]

Wonderful. Thanks everyone!