Paddle Tails

[CTBassin860]

I really plan to fish the crap out of small plastic swimbaits (3-5")next season.My question is,do you guys prefer to throw your SI Fats and the like on say a 7' MHF or something shorter like a 6'6" M Mod on a weighed swim hook?

[Swamp Rat]

For me, it really depends...I know, not a great answer. I switch between throwing this presentation on 7' M spinning when using lighter weight and 7' MH casting when heavier weight is needed. 

[Oklahoma Mike]

I throw them a lot and on two different rigs, both spinning and casting.

Spinning: Loomis GL2 853S JWR with a Pflueger Supreme XT

Casting: St. Croix AXC68MXF with a Lews Team Lite 7.5:1

Both will throw a weightless paddle tail a country mile, and both can still handle them just fine with a 1/4oz jig head. No problem getting good hook sets with either rig, even with the heavy wire hooks I typically use. These are also my senko rods, and I use the same hook for throwing those weightless, so the versatility in that plays a big part in my rod selection here  

 

[MassYak85]

Generally I am fishing them on casting gear, either on the back of a swimjig or on a weighted swimbait hook. When I fish them weightless or on an open hook jighead like the dirty jigs matt allen swimbait heads I might use my MHF spinning rod. 

[tkunk]

IMO, the main things that matter are casting distance and not losing fish, so I use the longest rod I can find and avoid XF action rods. For weights less than 1/4 oz, I use a 7' ML/F spinning rod with 6 lb braid. I'd get a longer rod, but I've never found any long one-piece rod rated for light lures. For weights greater than 1/4 oz, I use an 8' MH/moderate casting rod.

Sensitivity matters, too.  In my experience, it's rare that a big fish hammers a bait.  Most of the time, while I'm retrieving the lure, something just feels different.

 

 

[CTBassin860]

3 minutes ago, Oklahoma Mike said:

I throw them a lot and on two different rigs, both spinning and casting.

Spinning: Loomis GL2 853S JWR with a Pflueger Supreme XT

Casting: St. Croix AXC68MXF with a Lews Team Lite 7.5:1

Both will throw a weightless paddle tail a country mile, and both can still handle them just fine with a 1/4oz jig head. No problem getting good hook sets with either rig, even with the heavy wire hooks I typically use. These are also my senko rods, and I use the same hook for throwing those weightless, so the versatility in that plays a big part in my rod selection here  

 

I guess throwing them on spinning gear didn't even cross my mind.I planned on using my spinning rod strictly for worms so I would take it out more.

3 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

Generally I am fishing them on casting gear, either on the back of a swimjig or on a weighted swimbait hook. When I fish them weightless or on an open hook jighead like the dirty jigs matt allen swimbait heads I might use my MHF spinning rod. 

Are you using a MHF in the 7' range? I was going to throw them on my 7'1" MHF jig and pig rod.7.1:1 baitcaster

[MassYak85]

If I am using casting gear it's a 7'2" MHF baitcaster. Once it get's too light I switch to spinning. I am also usually using the 4.3 or 3.8's a lot. Next season I might try the 2.8's on my MLXF spinning rod. 

[CTBassin860]

I picked up some 4.8s for weighted swimbait hooks and 3.5s for trailers

[MassYak85]

Lol now you got me thinking about catching smallies on my ML with those 2.8's. Now THAT would be a fun fight. 

[CTBassin860]

I was going to get the SI Fats but I didn't feel like driving 40 minutes to Cabelas when I live 10 minutes from BPS and had Reward Points to blow.

[UKCATSBASSER]

I love throwing the 3.3 on a 1/8 head with spinning gear. 

Use a 852S Loomis. 

[CTBassin860]

Haha that's what I have.ML Berkley Lightning.I leave it home most of the time.

[jr231]

3 minutes ago, MassBassin508 said:

I was going to get the SI Fats but I didn't feel like driving 40 minutes to Cabelas when I live 10 minutes from BPS and had Reward Points to blow.

So you got the speed shad and rage swimmer ?

[CTBassin860]

Speed shad and grass pigs.I have a bad addiction to the Havoc line

Speed shad and grass pigs.I have a bad addictio to the Havoc line

[jr231]

1 minute ago, MassBassin508 said:

Speed shad and grass pigs.I have a bad addiction to the Havoc line

Berkley has a swing impact look-alike called the beat shad I believe. Haven't tried it yet. But 2.99 I think .. 

[CTBassin860]

I was looking at them.They are really thin. 2.99 for everything in that line-up

[webertime]

I fish the 4.8 a lot.  I've used a lot of rods, reels and lines over the years with these baits and have a pretty dialed system at this point. (For me... But I let guys use it sometimes and they love it)

Rods I've used: Phenix Recon 715, St Croix Avid 70MHF, Daiwa Tatula 7'2" HF before settling in on the Daiwa Tatula 7'2" MHR.  The Avid and Heavy Tatula work, but you pull the bait away on hook sets.  The Recon was nice, but broke twice.  The MHR Tatula is NOT a crankbait rod its actually fairly similar to a Dobyns rod.  Feels like a 734.5 (if they made one.)

Reels I've used: Citica E, Zillion HSLA, Fuego HL, and TD-Z.  All work...  I currently use a TD-Z with the 5.7 ratio as I slow roll the bait a lot and use Owner Flashy Swimmers as well.  The slower retrieve helps negate the lift they cause.

Line: either Sunline Sniper 16lb or 30lb Braid with a Flouro leader.

 

Keitech footballs with tiny fats=  Smallie Crack...  Use a fast rod.

 

 

[jr231]

1 minute ago, MassBassin508 said:

I was looking at them.They are really thin. 2.99 for everything in that line-up

I wish they would make that beat shad in the gulp variation. The havoc line has got to be one of the best value brands there is.. got to love that made in the USA too. 

11 minutes ago, UKCATSBASSER said:

I love throwing the 3.3 on a 1/8 head with spinning gear. 

Use a 852S Loomis. 

Yea 1/8oz jighead is my favorite way to fish them as well. 

[webertime]

6 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

Berkley has a swing impact look-alike called the beat shad I believe. Haven't tried it yet. But 2.99 I think .. 

Stiff and not that great.

[jr231]

3 minutes ago, webertime said:

Stiff and not that great.

Lol hmm. I wonder how they are thin and stiff ? Thanks for the heads up though. 

Where were you when I bought a clackin crayfish lol 

[CTBassin860]

I almost ordered an Owner flashy swimmer today.Then I remembered I have a fish head spin I don't use much already.@webertime

9 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

Lol hmm. I wonder how they are thin and stiff ? Thanks for the heads up though. 

Where were you when I bought a clackin crayfish lol 

Is the clicking crayfish that bad?

[jr231]

Umm yea basically for 13 dollars it's total garbage. It wouldn't land right side up no matter what line or knot I used. I had to use suspend dots to get it to land properly. Maybe I got a defective one but the action was crap too. I'm sure you could catch a fish on it.. but I felt like a fool for even trying it. Ya live and learn. 

I could have got a pack of hooks, lead sinkers, and almost any craw on the market for what I paid for that stupid thing. 

[MassYak85]

30 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

Berkley has a swing impact look-alike called the beat shad I believe. Haven't tried it yet. But 2.99 I think .. 

I've used those before, not bad. They are a little too thin for my liking and pickerel chew off the ends too much.

And LOL, I got that clackin crayfish too haha. It looks awesome in the water until you try and move it. The action is garbage and you are right it rarely lands correctly. 

[CTBassin860]

You would think for 13 bucks it would work correctly.

[jr231]

Just now, MassBassin508 said:

You would think for 13 bucks it would work correctly.

It was actually the first and only river 2 sea product Ive ever bought. I know they have some big winners. People on these forums are nuts about some of their products, like the whopper plopper for example. .. but that one product left me pretty sour. And I don't need their products to catch bass. Not with the seemingly unlimited choices I have at my disposal.