What Kind of Underspin Jighead (Match the Hatch)?

[TotalNoob]

Quick Summary: Looking for a smaller profile underspin jighead with a baitkeeper that will hold 3" to 3.8" keitechs without the jighead being too big for the size of the swimbait (appropriate profile presentation). 

 

 

Last week I measured a gizzard shad that my bass spit up after landing him. Same day, on the opposite side of the lake, I measured an untouched gizzard shad that floated up onto shore. They both came in almost identical at just a smidge under 2" (see pic below). So I figure I want to keep my swimbaits no larger than 3" or 3.3" to match the hatch as best possible. 

 

 

It's my current understanding that, when fishing areas where bass are known to be pushing shad, an underspin jighead for your swimbait can be helpful in distinguishing your presentation from the buffet of natural food all around them. 

 

I was able to put myself very near a few of these violent shad thrashings within the last couple weeks. I tried topwater first to no avail. On the next opportunity I put a 3" keitech on a BPS "Walleye Angler" underspin and got hit hard but missed that fish, though it wasn't but a split second later that another bass went in for the kill and I was fortunate enough to be able to land him. 

 

 

I've since missed a couple more fish on this little underspin combo. I really like the profile and size of the underspin jig head for the small 3" keitech but 1) the hook is far from stout and 2) has no bait holder of any kind thus I'm going through keitechs far quicker than I'd like (especially when a real aggressive smallmouth gets a hold of one .. tears it right up or the plastic flys off bringing the smallmouth in).

 

This is the little set up from above. 

 

 

I ordered 3/8oz VMC underspin jigheads online. The problem is the head is really big and awkward looking for the 3" keitech (and also for the 3.3" fat swing impacts I ordered with them). The blade itself also seems a little on the large side. The stout hook is nice though. Overall the profile of the presentation just doesn't seem quite right. This is 3/8oz VMC underspin with a 3.3" fat swing impact keitech. 

 

 

Can anyone recommend an appropriate sized underspin jighead for 3" to 3.8" keitechs that has a baitkeeper on it? 

 

I'm also looking for a good swimbait head (without the underspin) that would also meet the above criteria. 

[Junger]

Coolbaits Down Under: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Coolbaits_Lure_Co_The_Down_Under_Underspin/descpage-CLCTDU.html

 

I like the 3/8oz 2/0 hook for an open hook.

 

For a closed hook, I like the Owner Flashy Swimmer: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Flashy_Swimmer_with_CPS_2pk/descpage-OFSCP.html

3/0 will work with the 3.8", but the 1/0 works better for 3.3" and under.

 

 

[ChrisD46]

On 9/10/2018 at 11:18 AM, Junger said:

Coolbaits Down Under: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Coolbaits_Lure_Co_The_Down_Under_Underspin/descpage-CLCTDU.html

 

I like the 3/8oz 2/0 hook for an open hook.

 

For a closed hook, I like the Owner Flashy Swimmer: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Flashy_Swimmer_with_CPS_2pk/descpage-OFSCP.html

3/0 will work with the 3.8", but the 1/0 works better for 3.3" and under.

 

 

+1 This ^^ !!

[gilkeybr]

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-FISHHEAD.html?from=basres

I like these.  Small blade would match your 3" keitech well.  Comes in pretty light weights to match the smaller baits too.

[roadwarrior]

I fish the Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad

 

 

 

[Log Catcher]

I also fish the Sworming hornet underspin. I don't know what the LFT Live Magic Shad is that roadwarrior mentioned.

[roadwarrior]

http://www.lftlures.com/catalog/lft-live-magic-shad

[Junger]

A lot of these underspins look nice, but I wish they would disclose the hook size more often. I've been in the OP's situation where I've tried to match a jighead to a 2.8" Keitech or 3" Fat Albert grub, and a lot of the underspin jig heads turn out to be 3/0, which are too big for me for those sizes.

[Log Catcher]

12 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

http://www.lftlures.com/catalog/lft-live-magic-shad

Now I understand. I thought it was a model of the Sworming Hornet. I usually put a swimming fluke on mine.

[J Francho]

7 minutes ago, Junger said:

A lot of these underspins look nice, but I wish they would disclose the hook size more often. I've been in the OP's situation where I've tried to match a jighead to a 2.8" Keitech or 3" Fat Albert grub, and a lot of the underspin jig heads turn out to be 3/0, which are too big for me for those sizes.

Look for Cool Baits Down Under.  They go down to 1/0.

[Junger]

10 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Look for Cool Baits Down Under.  They go down to 1/0.

Yep, that's my go to underspin open hook jighead, I linked it in the second post.

[J Francho]

Missed that!