Swimbaits

[Dat_Bass]

I live in Florida and some of y'all may know that bass here love swimbaits. I really love throwing them on top over mats and grassy areas. I catch a lot of fish and this is the only time you'll see me say that's a problem. I've had no luck finding a swimbait that is durable AND has good action. I've tried the big brands like Gambler and RI and caught fish but most swimbaits only last a fish or two if you're lucky. Another thing is hooks, I've been using Gammy EWG worm hooks and they're bending like crazy. Any recommendations for heavier duty hooks preferably other a screw lock would be great.

[crypt]

been using Gamblers for years and have no problem catching more than 6-8 fish before changing out. also using owner twist locks they are great for swimbaits. use heavier gauge wire model. if screw locks won't work try using Gamblers swim bait hooks or Owner's rigid hooks. they are a little shorter but are really stout. 

 

[DINK WHISPERER]

I second what crypt said above. The Gambler Big EZ is my go to. I usually get at least 7 fish out of each. Sometimes if i have the patience i will even use mend it on them and get a couple more or use them as jig trailers. I've also recently started using the luck E strike hollow bodies with good results. The zoom swimmin fluke is also very durable but a little too small for my liking. For hooks i only use one, the Owner beast both in weighted and unweighted versions. 

[NorcalBassin]

Owner Beast with the new larger Keitechs would be my recommendation. You may also want to pick up a bottle of Mend-It to get a little more longevity out of them.

[Raul]

There's four things I never leave home without them:

 

1 Jacket

2 Roll of toilet paper

3 Lure retriever

4 Mend it glue repair

[primetime]

Gambler EZ series is probably the most durable paddle tail I have fished with especially around grass since they rarely get twisted or torn up easy.

 

I would make sure that you put the screw lock in the center and don't screw it all the way to the top, I like to leave a twist and then make sure I get the point right in the middle, I screw up swimbaits if I try to use certain hooks. Mustad has that pin which tears up everything with only a few fish, any keeper you have to push seems to never stay locked, or fixed pins on hooks like zman trigger hooks etc.

 

The 2 best swimbait hooks I have found for EZ's,Charlies Dippers, Grass Pigs, any paddle tail is the Owner twist lock beast hooks, also VMC has a good swimbait hook, You may not be going big enough on the hook, too small can be a problem. I never go smaller than 5/0 even on the smaller EZ or 4" Keitech style etc. One option is adding a pinch weight to the DOA Long shank Hooks, you can completely change the action by adding or moving weights. I usually put a tiny weight on the nose to make it more weedless then pinch of a few pieces of lead for the shank.

 

Hard to find a better swimbait than the Gambler series, or if you find the Charlies version or Bitters it is essentially a RI dipper in different packaging. If durability is a concern, Keitechs are soft and so are most ringed swimbaits with exception of the Kalin's Sizmic shad which are kind of hard plastic for some reason, work the same as all others like BPS speed shad etc..But tails get bit off easy for some reason. Keitech USA and most soft swimbaits are from same molds, just different scents and bags, colors, texture...Thinking about it, I don't think brand matters for swimbaits since they are all clones these days, EZ swimmers are different, so is the Culprit Version which has become a new favorite & comes with hook and Jig head, never bent, and they last really good.

 

Hope that helps, I think when fishing grass, try to find a video of the swimbait you are using and see what the company suggests as hook size, Havoc Grass Pigs catch fish for me as good as any & $3.00 hard to beat. 

 

To save money, plus you are in FLorida, spend $50 At Bitters baits online or in orlando and free shipping, 2 bags for 5 bucks, all his baits are made in same factory and molds as other brands, they have a skinny dipper, also a few kind of original baits but he has florida colors and just crazy good deals where $50 can get you 20 packs of baits to last all year. Florida shiner a killer color in stained water.

[crypt]

1 hour ago, primetime said:

Gambler EZ series is probably the most durable paddle tail I have fished with especially around grass since they rarely get twisted or torn up easy.

 

I would make sure that you put the screw lock in the center and don't screw it all the way to the top, I like to leave a twist and then make sure I get the point right in the middle, I screw up swimbaits if I try to use certain hooks. Mustad has that pin which tears up everything with only a few fish, any keeper you have to push seems to never stay locked, or fixed pins on hooks like zman trigger hooks etc.

 

The 2 best swimbait hooks I have found for EZ's,Charlies Dippers, Grass Pigs, any paddle tail is the Owner twist lock beast hooks, also VMC has a good swimbait hook, You may not be going big enough on the hook, too small can be a problem. I never go smaller than 5/0 even on the smaller EZ or 4" Keitech style etc. One option is adding a pinch weight to the DOA Long shank Hooks, you can completely change the action by adding or moving weights. I usually put a tiny weight on the nose to make it more weedless then pinch of a few pieces of lead for the shank.

 

Hard to find a better swimbait than the Gambler series, or if you find the Charlies version or Bitters it is essentially a RI dipper in different packaging. If durability is a concern, Keitechs are soft and so are most ringed swimbaits with exception of the Kalin's Sizmic shad which are kind of hard plastic for some reason, work the same as all others like BPS speed shad etc..But tails get bit off easy for some reason. Keitech USA and most soft swimbaits are from same molds, just different scents and bags, colors, texture...Thinking about it, I don't think brand matters for swimbaits since they are all clones these days, EZ swimmers are different, so is the Culprit Version which has become a new favorite & comes with hook and Jig head, never bent, and they last really good.

 

Hope that helps, I think when fishing grass, try to find a video of the swimbait you are using and see what the company suggests as hook size, Havoc Grass Pigs catch fish for me as good as any & $3.00 hard to beat. 

 

nTo save money, plus you are in FLorida, spend $50 At Bitters baits online or in orlando and free shipping, 2 bags for 5 bucks, all his baits are made in same factory ad molds as other brands, they have a skinny dipper, also a few kind of original baits but he has florida colors and just crazy good deals where $50 can get you 20 packs of baits to last all year. Florida shiner a killer color in stained water.

primetime said it best when he says go to Bitters. you can spend hours just in the plastic section, I go there 4-5 times a year.

[WRB]

3:16 Mission Fish has a unique line through design that allows the swimbait to go through aquatic plants with ease and has great swimming action available from "4 to 8" sizes.

Tom

[BassB8Caster]

I am using more swimbaits this year than last. I have some of the keitech 5.8 (cant wait to try the 6.8 and 7.8). Im fairly limited as i only have a mh rod. So im not into the bigger swimbaits yet. One that im super impressed with is the yum pulse. Only 4.5" but great side to side wobble and tail kick. And they are very affordable. I have done well putting them on a jig head and fishing deeper. They are my go to throwing it on a twistlock hook weightless and bringing it through and over vegetation. Great action with slow retrieve. 

[J Francho]

On 10/1/2017 at 2:42 PM, Dat_Bass said:

Another thing is hooks, I've been using Gammy EWG worm hooks and they're bending like crazy. Any recommendations for heavier duty hooks preferably other a screw lock would be great.

Owner Beasts.

[Tweek1106]

Missle Baits Shockwave.

 

Great action and I caught 14 bass on a single one this spring.

 

Full disclosure.....it was looking pretty scruffy after the 14th but still had a tail so I took it home, used mend it and caught a couple more the next day with the same swimbait.

 

Not bad IMO

[David P]

The Miyagi swimmer with the flashy swimmer owner hook has quickly become my favorite. I was catching between 10-15 fish per bait, and the action is killer for such a durable bait. 

 

 

  Tough to beat the Owner Beast hooks and their flashy swimmer swimbait hooks. Haven't bent one out yet. 

[Primus]

Cool looking bait David P

[fishwizzard]

Has anyone thrown the new Keitech 6.8 and 7.8 baits on a scale yet?  Would love to know what they weigh.  

[Angry John]

I also run the owner beast hook but if you have the keeper ripping out i have all three sizes of the twist lock which can be bought separate and i match them to the bait size.  I use the largest i can get away with and it keeps the bait lasting a lot longer.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_CPS_Centering_Pin_Spring/descpage-OCPSS.html

[Brett's_daddy]

On 10/5/2017 at 1:34 PM, fishwizzard said:

Has anyone thrown the new Keitech 6.8 and 7.8 baits on a scale yet?  Would love to know what they weigh.  

I just watched a YouTube unboxing video of the new BIG Keitech's and according to the video the 6.8" weighs in at 3oz. and the 7.8" weighs in at almost 5oz. Too big for any of my setups...lol.

[CroakHunter]

@Brett's_daddy

1.29 for the 6.8 inch

1.91 for the 7.8 inch

I seen that same unboxing and he corrected it in the comments. Still really heavy

[Brett's_daddy]

31 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

@Brett's_daddy

1.29 for the 6.8 inch

1.91 for the 7.8 inch

I seen that same unboxing and he corrected it in the comments. Still really heavy

Yeah, I stopped watching after he first said what the weights were...figured that left me out...lol. Those weights you listed aren't too bad...I could handle the 6.8" if it weighs 1.29oz. but the 7.8" at 1.92oz. is a little out of my comfort zone!

[fishwizzard]

Yea, the lower weights seem more reasonable.  I have a rod that will throw the 6.8 on a weighted hook, I might give them a try.  Thanks for the info!