Keitech Swing Impact 2 inch Finesse Paddle Tail Swimbait

[bassbandit2]

What hooks does everyone use? Are these trailers? Used for panfish? Just was interested as these seem really small. Thought about picking them up.

[ajschn06]

26 minutes ago, bassbandit2 said:

What hooks does everyone use? Are these trailers? Used for panfish? Just was interested as these seem really small. Thought about picking them up.

IMO anything under 3.3 is too small for targeting bass.  The 2.8" would be a good crappie grub though I think....

[Revival]

I use the 2.8” fat impact for bass all the time.  I use it on a round jig head and swim it or hop it.

[bassbandit2]

1 hour ago, Revival said:

I use the 2.8” fat impact for bass all the time.  I use it on a round jig head and swim it or hop it.

I take it something like this is what you use?

Tungsten Jig head

 

[Revival]

16 minutes ago, bassbandit2 said:

I take it something like this is what you use?

Tungsten Jig head

 

Exactly.  I use Gamakatsu in 1/8 to 1/4.  Another thing I like to use with smaller swimbaits are the Megabass Okashira Screwheads.

Also keep in mind that 2.8 fat impact is the smallest I have used.  I have not used the 2” that you were interested in.  I also rig up the 3” keitech Easy Shiner the same way and they are pretty tiny too.

 

[Vilas15]

5 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

IMO anything under 3.3 is too small for targeting bass.

 

3 hours ago, Revival said:

I also rig up the 3” keitech Easy Shiner the same way and they are pretty tiny too.

3" easy shiner on a regular old 1/4 oz ballhead jig

 

[Bluebasser86]

The 2.8" Fat Impact is really good for bass in clear water when they're feeding on small shad. I use one of the heads out of the Midwest Finesse Mold, usually 1/8-1/4 with a 1/0 hook.

[bassbandit2]

Awesome thanks for the info everyone! I'll look into the 2.8" and 3" with a ballhead jig!

4 hours ago, Vilas15 said:

 

3" easy shiner on a regular old 1/4 oz ballhead jig

 

Nice smallie!!

[ike8120]

I am using them on these minnow jig heads

Minnow Head with Collar 1/32nd oz with #6 Gold Sickle Hook Jigs

Minnow Head with Collar 1/16th oz with #4 Bronze Sickle Hook Jigs

These also come with red hooks

 

proanglertackle.com/crappie-jigs.html

 

[CountryboyinDC]

I was skeptical the first time I saw a small Keitech swimbait in the ashtray of my outfitter's van.  I mentioned it looked like a desperation measure.  The driver, who I know fishes the river 4 days a week or so before work smiled and replied and said wait until we stop.  When we did, he got out his phone and showed me 5 16 inch plus smallies he had caught on them.  I know people that are fishing Dale Hollow or Millie Lacs won't be impressed, but those are very nice fish on the South Fork Shenandoah. 

 

Honestly, the tiny Keitechs still represent a desperation measure of sorts for me.  I only use them on those low flow, July-hot, super clear days where it is hard to get a bite of any sort, and I just want to say I caught what I came for, species-wise.

 

I've never used the 2" Keitech.  Unlike the larger Keitechs I've used, the ones pictured (3" and 2.5") don't come in the nice packaging and run straight right out of the package always.  They're pictured by a size 4 offset Gamakatsu EWG which is how I rig the 3".  I try not to add weight; even a 1/16 bullet weight overwhelms this bait.  If I can't get the casting distance I need, I Mojo rig.  Well, that's the closest rig to what I do with it (I don't carry split shot and haven't seen a Mojo weight in stores for over a decade).

 

The 2.5" gets a small Owner CPS or Do-it Hitching Post rigged on a 2 drop shot hook.  I secure the coil hitch to the hook with a small piece of shrink wrap tubing pierced on either side of the hitch by the hook.  I can imagine this might be a place you would use a circle hook too, although I don't carry any of those, either.

 

[Luke Barnes]

I bet they would be great rigged on an A Rig. A school of small baitfish to make an easy meal for a hungry bass!!

[GetFishorDieTryin]

20 hours ago, bassbandit2 said:

What hooks does everyone use? Are these trailers? Used for panfish? Just was interested as these seem really small. Thought about picking them up.

In the winter a small Keitech on a jighead covers water far better then a DS or ned rig, so I use them kind of like a search bait. 

The 2 and 2.5 Easy Shiners and Swing Impacts arent just shorter they are considerably thinner, with the 2 and 2.5 swing Impact being about the diameter of #2 pencil or slightly less.  The 2" Easy Shiner is about the size the Lunker City fin S shad or Gene Larews split belly crappie baits.  The 2 and 2.5" Easy Shiners and Swing Impacts can be used as trailers on micro jigs but IMO they are best on a DS or jighead with a #2 or #4 hook. 

The 2 and 2.5"s work well for panfish and bass, but the 3" Easy Shiners and Swing Impacts have an advantages.  The 3" Keitechs obviously are a little longer but the profile is noticeably bigger so they have a bigger thump and presence in the water then the 2" and 2.5".  The 3" baits are heavier which allows you to cast them farther then the 2" and 2.5".  There are more colors available in the 3" then the 2"and 2.5".  Ive found that panfish especially crappie have no reservations about hitting the 3".  My favorite heads for the 3" is the 1/16 #1 Owner Darter Head, Keitech Tungsten Super Round #1 or 1/0, Fish Arrow Wheel Head, Hayabusa Brush Easy Heads #1 and for a weedless EWG, Owner Ultrahead Finesse Ball #1.   

[Nibbles]

The problem with 2" ones is the tails are super delicate and keep getting pecked off even by small shiners and sunfish

[fishballer06]

I use them on Fish Head Spins (underspins) during the summer on deeper fish that are finicky and don't necessarily want a big/bulky bait. 

 

Crappies/perch/bluegill love to eat the tails off them though.