Keitech FAT Swing Impact : 2.8" & 3.3"

[ChrisD46]

*I used to be I favored using the larger 4.3" and 4.8" Keitech FAT Swing Impacts , now I mainly use the smaller 2.8" and the 3.3" Fat Swing Impacts ... No special reason I started with the larger ones - it's just what I saw other people using and thought I should be too ? I think you get bit more on the smaller 2.8" and 3.3" sizes ... Kinda a Ned / snack mentality thing I guess where my confidence is up because I think I can coax any bass in to eating a snack , to a lesser degree it might be a match the hatch thing (not sure) but suffice to say those smaller 2.8" and 3,3" Keitech FAT Swing Impacts are deadly !

[Dorado]

We share the same thoughts here.  I agree with the snack notion and the “matching the hatch” theory; but another bonus of using 2.8” and 3.3” is the multi-species appeal.  I have a higher chance at catching walleyes, channel cats, and slab crappie with those smaller profiles while purposely targeting bass. 

[Armtx77]

3.8's are my JAMMMMM!

 

I throw the 2.8's a bunch too, but tire of the panfish, biting off tails. 

 

 

[ChrisD46]

8 hours ago, Armtx77 said:

3.8's are my JAMMMMM!

 

I throw the 2.8's a bunch too, but tire of the panfish, biting off tails. 

 

 

*Good point !

13 hours ago, Dorado said:

We share the same thoughts here.  I agree with the snack notion and the “matching the hatch” theory; but another bonus of using 2.8” and 3.3” is the multi-species appeal.  I have a higher chance at catching walleyes, channel cats, and slab crappie with those smaller profiles while purposely targeting bass. 

Agree - the multi species can offer a few nice surprises at times .

[Armtx77]

I will give you guys an amateurs tip on 3.8 FAT Impacts: buy some 1/32oz nail weights and put 1(one) nail into the pre drilled hole...talk about an action they cant resist.

People concentrate on what that paddle tail is doing, but when you add just a little bit of weight to one side? It gets a little shake or a wobble, too. It is deadly and my go to set up, when the Senko's are not working.

[Koz]

They make great spinnerbait trailers. Deadly here in the spring.

[BassThumb]

I use a lot of 3.8" glued onto 1/4 - 3/8oz jigheads. It's one of the best search lures around. When they get a little torn up, they become swim jig and bladed jig trailers.

 

The 2.8" are decent drop shot baits. A little flimsy and expensive for that application.

[Glaucus]

I use a lot of downsized baits more often than not too because any bass from under a pound to 5, 6, and my personal best 7 pounds will eat them. I like to fish, and part of fishing is catching fish, and I like to catch a lot of them. Once in a blue moon I'll go fishing with the mentality of "big fish only today" but I don't enjoy that grind nearly as much. I've got zero problems weeding through the smaller ones before getting the bigger ones. Personal best LMBs of 6 and 7 pounds were caught on a 3/16oz spinnerbait and a 4 inch Senko, and personal best 4lb SMB was caught on the Ned Rig. I'm ok with this.

[Largies4Life]

I like to throw the smaller sizes like the OP is saying, by themselves without an EWG hook. I like the larger sizes on my swim jigs, spinnerbaits, etc. Especially on 1/2 oz. baits and above.

[James Janousek]

Check out the Jackall Rhythm Wave 2.8 swimbait as well.  They have been working really well for me this year on a small guppy head.  More durable than the keitech, different tail action, and more of a wobble.  Slightly cheaper too.

[ChrisD46]

Appreciate the tips !

[snake95]

@ChrisD46 I followed the same path to using the smaller Kietechs.

 

Found some 2.8s on sale in our area a couple years ago and then got quite a few more after having good success with them.

 

Recently I fished a 2.8 in one of the silver/minnow patters on a size 2 or 4 VMC dropshot hook with a 1/16 oz tungsten cylinder drop shot weight with 8 lb fluro.  The bait was about 8" above the sinker and fished from the bank in a pond in stained water.  

 

Caught a few bass pretty quickly using this.

 

Have had great success using this same set up at night in the dark.  I have no idea how they find this bait in a stained pond let alone the dark!

[Dorado]

2 hours ago, snake95 said:

@ChrisD46 I followed the same path to using the smaller Kietechs.

 

 

Have had great success using this same set up at night in the dark.  I have no idea how they find this bait in a stained pond let alone the dark!

I ask myself the same question when I use ned rigs at night in my local ponds.  Nighttime doesn’t always have to be 10” ribbontails or Colorado bladed spinnerbaits. I’m actually more successful throwing grubs, smaller paddle tails, and Ned rigs at night at these highly pressured urban ponds 

[snake95]

1 hour ago, Dorado said:

I’m actually more successful throwing grubs, smaller paddle tails, and Ned rigs at night at these highly pressured urban ponds

That's very interesting. 

 

I took my son out to that kind of pond one night last week; we were fishing keitechs (including the ones without scent) on jigheads and just slow rolling them along the bottom and getting one bite after the next.

[ChrisD46]

To dissect further - I wonder if you use the same approach to the 2.8" as you would the 3.3" ? Not a great difference in the length per se but the 3.3" is a little broader hence a different action possibly ? I use both on a small Zman Shroomz jig head (1/16th & 1/10th oz.) but may start to play with the little 1/0 EWG Owner Flashy Swimmer  on the 3.3" (as long as it doesn't over power the 3.3") .