Soft Plastic Swimbaits

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Today was my first time using soft plastic Swimbaits. I was using a 4.75" rage swimmer on a 5/0 ewg trokar, with a small split shot at the nose.

 

I was fishing around Lily pads and through coontail in tannic water. Beings it was my first time I kinda just used a slow reel with a pause technique. I had it rigged weedless but man I had some huge bites. Missed several nice bass. I really enjoyed fishing them and want to do it more.

 

My setup was a ***** reel with a MH/fast dobyns 6'6. I have a 7'3 H duckett I'm gonna use next time

 

2 questions, what's the best Swimbaits? The rage swimmers worked great, but is there better? And what hooks do most of y'all use? I usually fish around alot of wood/stumps/grass so weedless is probably a must. I'm interested to hear more about the swimbait game!

[Topwaterdude]

I like gambler big ez on 5/0/1/8 oz weighted swimbait hook.

[Mike L]

Skinny Dipper for vibration 

Big EZ for thump. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[BigSkyBasser]

Some people think you're paying for the name, but Keitech Swing Impact and Fat Swing Impact are absolutely fantastic swimbaits.

 

They are certainly a little less durable though.

 

If you're looking to save some money, I had pretty similar productivity using the BPS Speed Shad. They have very similar profile and action and are made out of a tougher plastic.

 

As far as for a trailer, I use the Bruiser Baits Super Swimmer Junior. The tails on those things thump violently and displace tons of water.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Everybody mentions keitechs, so I figure there's got to be something to them. The rage swimmers worked good seemed somewhat durable.

 

What size is most people's favorite, the 4.75" seemed like a good all round size to me?

[BigSkyBasser]

2 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Everybody mentions keitechs, so I figure there's got to be something to them. The rage swimmers worked good seemed somewhat durable.

 

What size is most people's favorite, the 4.75" seemed like a good all round size to me?

 

It certainly is, however that's a little large for a trailer and some more finesse applications.

 

I went with the 3.8"  for the Fat Swing Impact last time and was super happy with them. Very versatile baits.

 

Also bought their Easy Shiner for drop shotting. Absolutely slayed em'.

[Mike L]

Cut the head off the Keitech when useing the 4.75 if you want to use it as a trailer. 

It will save you from buying the 3's just for that purpose. 

 

Before I gave away the ones I had they worked well like that. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I have plenty of trailers, I'm just looking for Swimbaits. How weedless/stumpless are actual jig heads? 

 

In open water I'd like to use a jighead with exposed hook, but far as weedless I know my options are limited. Man I'm excited to get back on the water and get my swimbait game on! I was able to fish multiple depths, very versatile bait, skid across pads, drop into coontail and drag through stumps all in one cast! 

[ww2farmer]

I am partial to the Keitech's, R.I. Skinny Dippers. and GYCB swim senkos.

 

Fat impact, Skinny Dipper, and 5" Swim Senkos on belly weighted hooks, larger jig heads, or as swim jig trailers

 

Swing impacts, Little dippers, and 4" Swim Senkos on small jig heads, and finesse swim jigs.

 

With Keitech's have to be careful and not "overweight" them, it really hinders their full potential.

 

For example, on a 3/8's swim jig, 3/3.5/4" Swing impacts tail will kick, but you won't get the body "quiver and roll" as the weight of the jig head stymies it. But a 3.8 Fat Impact on that same weight jig is like magic. Now drop down to a 1/4 oz swim jig, and trim the skirt up to a "northern style" 1/2 cut finesse skirt, and the swing impacts shine.

 

Dippers and Swim Senkos are not as fussy, which is why I still use plenty of them.....but they also don't seem to produce like the Keitech's do when you get the combo dialed in just right.

[Troy85]

I use 5/0 EWG gamakatsu weighted swimbait hooks. They are just as weedless as as any offset worm hook. As far as the swimbait itself I use Zoom Super Swimming Flukes.

[Brad Reid]

Mentioned elsewhere, I cobble together my own: small swimbait hooks . . . preferring to use a 3/0 60 deg. bend jig hooks, a medium sized Owner CPS (centering pin), and a 4" Keitech Shad Impact. *You can buy 50 of the 3/0 jig hooks very cheaply, same with the Owner CPS pins.

 

My set-up needs that 60 degree bend and the flat hook eye so that the CPS swivels down and points in the correct direction without binding up. And, the Shad Impact is Keitech's soft jerk bait with the straight tail, not a paddle. I DO use the paddletails, too, but slightly prefer the straight tail.

 

So, anyway, the weight of the hook and the minor added weight of the CPS will pull the swimbait down, no issue there using braid and a fluoro leader. But, I most often throw it into lily pads and coontail, etc. and it pulls across pretty weedless very well if you nose screw the plastic then Texas Rig it but keep the point in the groove on the dorsal side of the plastic. Slightly skin hooking the point, just ever so little, works great.

 

One technique that works well is to drag it up and over pads, let it drop down off the edge for any bass hanging out in the shade. I also like to cast it down the edge of a pad field or vegetation and jerk it back, let it fall all the way to the bottom, etc.

 

Works well, too, casting in open water, let the bait drop and jerk it and change the retrieval up to make it look like a dying shad. 

 

Brad

 

 

[jbmaine]

My number one favorite is the KVD strike king swim'n caffeine shad in 4". Last two years I've caught more bass on that then anything else. I like KVD magic color.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Thanks everyone, there's some great suggestions here! I can already see the tackle warehouse bill getting longer!

[Westcoast]

12 hours ago, jbmaine said:

My number one favorite is the KVD strike king swim'n caffeine shad in 4". Last two years I've caught more bass on that then anything else. I like KVD magic color.

Me too. I do very well on the Houdini colour. Put them on a 1/8oz swimbait hook and chuck them anywhere a fish may be. A very versatile pond bait. 

[Bankbeater]

I’ve been fishing with Sassy Shads for the past several years.   I just let it sink to the bottom and then slow roll it back in. 

[bowhunter63]

I like the 3.25 Rage swimmer Texas rigged with 1/8 0unce tungsten bullet sinker.Gama 3/0 ewg hook.I fish it on a 7 ft Lews speed stik and 14 suffix copoly line.I will go up in sinker size if stronger current to keep it down.

[Joshua van Wyk]

On 11/8/2018 at 9:35 PM, jbmaine said:

My number one favorite is the KVD strike king swim'n caffeine shad in 4". Last two years I've caught more bass on that then anything else. I like KVD magic color.

It's my favorite too!

[TnRiver46]

On 11/8/2018 at 8:14 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

I have plenty of trailers, I'm just looking for Swimbaits. How weedless/stumpless are actual jig heads? 

 

In open water I'd like to use a jighead with exposed hook, but far as weedless I know my options are limited. Man I'm excited to get back on the water and get my swimbait game on! I was able to fish multiple depths, very versatile bait, skid across pads, drop into coontail and drag through stumps all in one cast! 

Jig heads are neither weedless nor stumpless. That being said my favorite is a 2.5 inch paddle tail on a 1/8oz jighead. Just bring plenty of jigs

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Do most of you guys use exposed hook/jig head or opt for a weedless keel weighted hook approach? 

 

Better Hook up ratio?

[NorthernBasser]

On 11/11/2018 at 8:15 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Do most of you guys use exposed hook/jig head or opt for a weedless keel weighted hook approach? 

 

Better Hook up ratio?

Mostly weedless for me, unless I'm fishing rocks for smallies.

 

And when you wanna add some flash, these are killer.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Flashy_Swimmer_with_CPS_2pk/descpage-OFSCP.html