Keitech Swim Impact alternative

[Armtx77]

So, I LOVE Keitech Swim Impacts in the 2-3" variety on a 1/16oz jig. That action, catches me more fish than any other soft plastic I throw. I caught 3 18" LM on back to back to back casts sunday on a 2" pumpkin color as a a front was rolling into town.

 

BUT, they just dont hold up. 3-4 fish and they are dead. I know we are talking about a small lure and the choices are limited, but does anyone have a runner up to Keitech or something they feel is just better and holds up better?

[everythingthatswims]

You won't find a better quality swimbait than a keitech. And if you're talking stuff in the 2.8-3.3" range, other brands with tougher plastic wouldn't have hardly any action if they made a bait that small.

 

Bite the bullet, they catch fish!

[Armtx77]

10 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

You won't find a better quality swimbait than a keitech. And if you're talking stuff in the 2.8-3.3" range, other brands with tougher plastic wouldn't have hardly any action if they made a bait that small.

 

Bite the bullet, they catch fish!

Yeah, that is kind of what I thought. The saving grace of the small baits, is that you get a few more per package for the same cost.

 

Guess I better call in a resupply, to have on hand.

[georgeyew]

You can also try the Zman Slim SwimZ, it's 2.5" and has pretty good action in the water.

[Preytorien]

I agree with the above. I've tried multiple varying brands of swimbaits, and although I've settled on another brand I personally like better, the same holds true - just using these baits means you'll only get 3-4 fish out of them, tops. 

 

It's an unfortunate byproduct of their action and abilities. I've found that using Owner Twistlock hooks seems to help a bit, and also using Gambler Hollow Points helps and simultaneously helps it go through the weeds. 

 

But at the end of the day - I lose em' - and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it. I just try to find them on sale/clearance and stock up when the time comes. 

[Ratherbfishing]

A person with a tight budget certainly could feel the pinch with Keitechs as they aren't super cheap and don't last terribly long.  If cost is an issue, start with some of the other cheaper varieties and see if they work.  If they don't, amp up your game with the Keitechs.  I definitely found a difference, though, and if catching fish is more important that price, Keitechs are about as good as you can get.

 

 

[ohboyitsrobby]

The alternative is.... stock up if you find them on sale lol. They are pretty expensive but flat out catch fish. 

[Armtx77]

1 hour ago, Ratherbfishing said:

A person with a tight budget certainly could feel the pinch with Keitechs as they aren't super cheap and don't last terribly long.  If cost is an issue, start with some of the other cheaper varieties and see if they work.  If they don't, amp up your game with the Keitechs.  I definitely found a difference, though, and if catching fish is more important that price, Keitechs are about as good as you can get.

 

 

My budget is not tight per say, but $6 for 12 of them, gets a guy thinking about an alternative.

 

On a good day, I can go through a pack and I guess I should not complain about spending $6.00, to catch 25-30 fish. Including a couple of "dinner sized" fish to feed the family.

 

Perspective has been found. Many thanks to those who have responded and my order to for more has been placed.

 

They catch fish, is the bottom line.

[Junger]

A pack of Keitech's is cheaper than a 6 pack of IPA's that I could be drinking while sitting on the couch.  

 

Worth it.

[fishballer06]

Start fishing in areas with no fish in them. Your baits will last much longer.

[jr231]

Alot of those fish you're catching are active fish and can be taken on many other lures! Try a quality jerkbait or something like a shad rap. Even a spinner bait or a trap.

 

Losing soft plastics is what happens when you're catching fish. I'd rather have a torn up thumb than a 7 dollar bag of plastic at the end of the day ! 

 

Ya know.. 

[NYWayfarer]

Those new Biospawn Exoswims might be worth looking at. If they are made of the same material as the Exosticks they should last awhile.

 

I have seen someone use them on YouTube and the action of the tail is fantastic.

[Armtx77]

8 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

Alot of those fish you're catching are active fish and can be taken on many other lures! Try a quality jerkbait or something like a shad rap. Even a spinner bait or a trap.

 

Losing soft plastics is what happens when you're catching fish. I'd rather have a torn up thumb than a 7 dollar bag of plastic at the end of the day ! 

 

Ya know.. 

LOL...when I run out of Keitechs. I throw inline spinners and Rat L Traps, sometimes a weedless spoon, but nothing seems to beat that Swim Impact on a weedless jig.

 

 

[jr231]

Try a jerkbait . I catch on them year round. 

 

My time on the water is scarce and precious to me. I think about fishing 7 days a week and get to fish twice if I'm lucky. 

 

So when I'm out there I'm getting/using the best gear I can comfortably afford.! 

[everythingthatswims]

5 hours ago, Armtx77 said:

My budget is not tight per say, but $6 for 12 of them, gets a guy thinking about an alternative.

 

On a good day, I can go through a pack and I guess I should not complain about spending $6.00, to catch 25-30 fish. Including a couple of "dinner sized" fish to feed the family.

 

Perspective has been found. Many thanks to those who have responded and my order to for more has been placed.

 

They catch fish, is the bottom line.

A little keitech will grab a better than average crappie with some regularity too, I have filled a cooler on more than one occasion with a keitech. Crappie, striper, walleye, you name it!

[Dan B.]

I've had a lot of luck with 3" Bass Pro Speed Shads. I was surprised when I looked up their prices right now that they're actually more expensive than Keitechs ($5.69 for 8 at BPS vs. $4.75 for 10 at TW) but they last a lot longer. I have to admit, I only used Keitechs briefly before switching to the Speed Shads, because I was often only getting one fish per Keitech. Maybe I'm missing out, but I can attest that the Speed Shads last a lot longer than 3-4 fish. I'd say typically they last 10-15 bass. Maybe I should try Keitechs again and see if I am missing out.... :-)

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

MEND-IT invest in a bottle

Except for tail bite offs mend-it will save those keitechs over and over 10+ fish per keitech easily done. Using the little ones once I catch 2-3 and notice some tearing off it comes set aside to treat it later to use again.

[Catt]

You can have fish in the livewell or lures in your tackle box!

 

You can't have both! ?

[Armtx77]

10 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

MEND-IT invest in a bottle

Except for tail bite offs mend-it will save those keitechs over and over 10+ fish per keitech easily done. Using the little ones once I catch 2-3 and notice some tearing off it comes set aside to treat it later to use again.

I ordered a bottle with my Keitech order.

 

If I can get a few more out of them with the use of Mend-It. Than it will be worth it.

[bunz559]

I hear ya on this. I use the Easy Shiners and they're terrible. 1 or 2 bites and they're done. But the bright side, they just simply catch and work. 

[WRB]

The original Mister Twister Sassy Shad 2" or 2 1/2" in pearl white are $5 for 25 each, work good on 1/8 oz jigs.

Tom

[gilkeybr]

I too was recently shopping for a cheaper alternative to Keitechs.  I picked up some Eco Pro Tungsten Swing Shads the last time I was at Cabelas, so i'm excited to try those.  The seem to be at least nearly as soft as the comparable Swing Impacts and Rage Swimmers that I have.  The big thing I expect to miss is that "strong squid scent"!

 

However, when comparing "like for like", there isn't really a significantly cheaper option out there.  If you're talking about the difference of $1.00 or $1.25 per bait, whats the difference?  I think that quarter is a good use of resources to have a bait that seems to be one of the best on the market and, more importantly, you have confidence in!

[Brad in Texas]

I have good luck using the Keitech 4" Shad Impacts and Easy Shiners on a 60 degree bend jig hook (3/0) and an Owner medium sized CPS, centering pin. I fish mine weightless.

 

For your set-up, you'd likely want or need a smaller jig hook (1/0 or 2/0) for the smaller lure length you like and use (2.8"), then a tiny bullet weight above the hook, pegged. This way, you can have the weight and the CPS, too.

 

I'm not certain why, but I often get a half dozen or more fish easily with my rigging before I have to give up on the plastic.

 

I've experienced a similar thing, though, with the tiny Yamamoto single tailed grubs. They are for me, by far, the best swimming plastics in this class . . . but a passing bluegill can swipe off its tail very easily. But, they swim soooooo good!

 

Brad

 

 

[Armtx77]

9 minutes ago, Brad in Texas said:

I have good luck using the Keitech 4" Shad Impacts and Easy Shiners on a 60 degree bend jig hook (3/0) and an Owner medium sized CPS, centering pin. I fish mine weightless.

 

For your set-up, you'd likely want or need a smaller jig hook (1/0 or 2/0) for the smaller lure length you like and use (2.8"), then a tiny bullet weight above the hook, pegged. This way, you can have the weight and the CPS, too.

 

I'm not certain why, but I often get a half dozen or more fish easily with my rigging before I have to give up on the plastic.

 

I've experienced a similar thing, though, with the tiny Yamamoto single tailed grubs. They are for me, by far, the best swimming plastics in this class . . . but a passing bluegill can swipe off its tail very easily. But, they swim soooooo good!

 

Brad

 

 

Yeah, I run a #1 hookT-rigged and 1/16oz bullet weight on the 2.8 from time to time and it catches fish. I get into a 1/8oz in some of the slow moving waters a little bit too. Just to get deeper quicker, but usually I run #2 jigs.

 

d**n bluegills and their tail nipping no doubt. This is going to be my first full year of bass fishing on ultralight/light sized lures. I dont plan on throwing anything over an 1/8oz. Just something I have wanted to do for a long time.

[WRB]

Sassy Shad = .20

Big Hammer = .32

Kietech = .60

all 3 work.

Tom