Swimming Fluke

[the reel ess]

I've been having some success lately with the Zoom Super Swimming Fluke in Houdini color. The reason I bought this bait was actually the color. Gold works well around here. Well, fish love them, and better than average size fish. But they don't last long. I went through two bags quickly, not even catching a fish per bait sometimes. I even bit off the first 1/4" of bait to reiuse after they got What are some comparable soft plastic swimbaits that might be more durable? What are your favorites? I've been rigging them with an EWG hook and a 1/16-1/8 oz bullet weight.

[MickD]

Try one of the Z-Man products, very tough/soft products.  I think you'll be amazed at how durable and effective they are.  When you buy, get some Ned rigs, too.  I expect they will amaze you, too.  Read the forum entries on how to fish them.

[Fishes in trees]

My advice would be to just deal with it.  If my problem was that a certain color was getting bit a lot and the baits were getting ruined after a strike or two, I'd just make sure that I had enough bags.  I wouldn't start complaining until all the stores in my area were out of that color and I had to order off the internet.  Every so often you/me/everyone has a problem that can be solved by throwing money at it.   Those are among the easiest life/fishing  problems to solve.

[the reel ess]

7 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

My advice would be to just deal with it.  If my problem was that a certain color was getting bit a lot and the baits were getting ruined after a strike or two, I'd just make sure that I had enough bags.  I wouldn't start complaining until all the stores in my area were out of that color and I had to order off the internet.  Every so often you/me/everyone has a problem that can be solved by throwing money at it.   Those are among the easiest life/fishing  problems to solve.

I'm always looking to improve techniques or make fishing more economical. And I usually order off the interwebs.

[Angry John]

Sounds like you need a bottle of mendit or two.  I tear up flukes all the time but almost never loose them.  Mend them back up and go at it again.  I cut the head in half long ways most of the time before application.  This makes a great repair and they normally last longer than original after this repair....

[fishballer06]

Unfortunately, soft plastic swimbaits aren't the most durable baits, but their very soft characteristics is what gives them that great action that draws so many bites. Below are a few other similar baits worth checking out. As far as rigging, I recommend using a keel weighted swimbait hook with a screwlock. Gamakatsu and Owner both make great options in these. 

 

Reaction Innovations Big/Little/Skinny Dipper

Keitech Swing Impact Fat (probably least durable bait in this category)

Strike King Rage Tail Swimmer

Berkley Havoc Grass Pig

Yum Pulse Minnow

[Damn Yankee]

Zoom now has a boot tail fluke maybe they are sturdier. 

I agree with @fishballer06 on the rigging,should last longer that way.

[fishballer06]

Here's an example of the hook I mentioned.

 

[Angry John]

That looks like an owner beast.  I find they give a lot more life to the larger 4.8 in baits.

[lo n slo]

i gotta get me some of that mend-it

[SteelwaterOutdoors]

Mend It works great for fixing plastics. Some crazy glue in the head of a Keitech after they start tearing can help too. Just make sure to keep a lighter on you to burn off the dried glue after you're done with the bait. 

[the reel ess]

1 hour ago, d**n Yankee said:

Zoom now has a boot tail fluke maybe they are sturdier. 

I agree with @fishballer06 on the rigging,should last longer that way.

I'm using that one. But, yeah, the screw in hooks should help, and I have some!

[wdp]

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

I'm using that one. But, yeah, the screw in hooks should help, and I have some!

Def use the screw in hooks. Gammy also makes a good screw-in type, keel weighted swimbait hook. They have some nice lighter weighted options on 3/0 & 4/0 hooks as well. Work great when swimming the baits in shallow grass. 

 

That houdini is a great color. I have multiple packs of the regular super flukes & swimming super flukes in that color. 

[XpressJeff]

Does the Mendit work better than super glue?

 

I always have a bottle of isocyanate (SP) handy.

[Angry John]

32 minutes ago, XpressJeff said:

Does the Mendit work better than super glue?

 

I always have a bottle of isocyanate (SP) handy.

Not the same at all.  Mend-it melts it back together with no hard spot just like new.  Superglue is not good and leaves nasty hard spots.  Works on Huds also.

[XpressJeff]

Thank you John, will feed the monkey!

[Bluebasser86]

Zman makes a bait in a color they call Houdini as well. I use it in the Diesel MinnowZ and Razor ShadZ. The Diesel MinnowZ is a solid stand alone bait on a jighead and a single bait can easily last all day. The Scented PaddlerZ is a pretty similar profile bait to the swimming fluke and is available with several baits with gold hues or flake in them. 

[clh121787]

11 hours ago, d**n Yankee said:

Zoom now has a boot tail fluke maybe they are sturdier. 

I agree with @fishballer06 on the rigging,should last longer that way.

Is that the same as the swimming fluke?

[Bluebasser86]

40 minutes ago, clh121787 said:

Is that the same as the swimming fluke?

No it kind of looks like a Keitech Easy Shiner.

[WIGuide]

The mend-it and screw lock hooks are great suggestions. I would also suggest taking a look at the Eco Pro Tungsten Swing Shads. They have an Ayu Shad color and a gold flash minnow color that have those golden hues to them. They look more like a Keitech, and have a great action like they do, but is more durable. I've even skipped them on a jig head with no modifications and they held up just fine, far better than expected. 

[clh121787]

18 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

No it kind of looks like a Keitech Easy Shiner.

Gotcha. Is it a solid bait like the keitech? Or ha e a hook slot