Keitech (FAT) vs Xzone Swammer vs biospawn ExoSwim

[Matt Eisen]

What is everyone's opinion on their favorite paddle tail swimbaits? Personally, I'm looking to up my swimbait game and branch out towards different companies, sizes, and tactics. I fish Keitech 4.8s and 4.3s on weighted belly hooks and underspins, but I'm curious as to what I'm potentially missing out on. I know people swear by keitech but I've also seen people swear by the swammer. Does one provide different action than the other? If yes, how so? Also which swimbait do you guys like to use as a swim jig trailer? Or bladed jig trailer? And how about the best trailer size? Thanks and let me know

[MN Fisher]

3/8oz or 1/2oz Chatterbaits/Spinnerbaits/Swim Jigs or 5/0 weighted or weightless swimbait hooks

4.8" Eco Pro Swing Shad

or

5" R.I Skinny Dipper

They have different profiles so I'll switch between them to see what the bass want.

 

1/4oz Chatterbaits/Spinnerbaits/Swim Jigs or 3/0 weighted or weightless swimbait hooks

3.5" R.I. Little Dipper

When something smaller seems to be wanted.

[throttleplate]

49 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

3/8oz or 1/2oz Chatterbaits/Spinnerbaits/Swim Jigs or 5/0 weighted or weightless swimbait hooks

4.8" Eco Pro Swing Shad

or

5" R.I Skinny Dipper

They have different profiles so I'll switch between them to see what the bass want.

 

1/4oz Chatterbaits/Spinnerbaits/Swim Jigs or 3/0 weighted or weightless swimbait hooks

3.5" R.I. Little Dipper

When something smaller seems to be wanted.

do you put your paddletails on upside down?

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

do you put your paddletails on upside down?

Depends on how I want them to run. Slow roll, tail up which helps keep them up. Burning them, tail down so they don't rise too far.

[PotatoLake]

I’ve replaced my all my fat impacts with XZone. Fish catching has gone up. More thump, wag and roll in my opinion. Looks fishier in the water, and has scent infused. (And I’m not pushing them because they’re a sponsor, they really did seem to catch more for me).

 

I only use them on jigs and underspin applications. Not sure of their ability on other ways to use them.

[Matt Eisen]

4 hours ago, PotatoLake said:

I only use them on jigs and underspin applications.

 

What sizes do you like for each?

[Finessegenics]

I am a huge fan of the Swammers. I wouldn’t say they’re necessarily better than any other swimbait but they have a truly unique action. I have Fat Impacts too but they get less and less use. 
 

As already mentioned, the swammers have an awesome action. The whole body rolls and the tail thumps really hard. When you look at a fat impact, it’s more of a tail wobble while the rest of the body is still. 
 

I use both as stand alone baits but only the Swammer as a jig trailer. I use the fat impact when I want to creep a swimbait slowly along bottom. The fat impact gets moving really easily. I don’t need to retrieve fast to impart action on it. Since then swammer is more aggressive, I’ll use that when searching for active fish or just when I feel like really chucking and winding. 
 

The Swammer makes such a good jig trailer. The “roll” is so aggressive that it gets the whole jig shaking. The skirt pulses on the retrieve, and there’s no need for pumping your rod. 
 

[PotatoLake]

21 minutes ago, Matt Eisen said:

 

What sizes do you like for each?

I’ve only used the standard size for both. If you wanted a smaller profile with a lighter head you could move down a size.

[Matt Eisen]

2 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

I am a huge fan of the Swammers. I wouldn’t say they’re necessarily better than any other swimbait but they have a truly unique action. I have Fat Impacts too but they get less and less use. 
 

As already mentioned, the swammers have an awesome action. The whole body rolls and the tail thumps really hard. When you look at a fat impact, it’s more of a tail wobble while the rest of the body is still. 
 

I use both as stand alone baits but only the Swammer as a jig trailer. I use the fat impact when I want to creep a swimbait slowly along bottom. The fat impact gets moving really easily. I don’t need to retrieve fast to impart action on it. Since then swammer is more aggressive, I’ll use that when searching for active fish or just when I feel like really chucking and winding. 
 

I suggest you watch one of the more recent TacticalBassin videos on swim jigs. They show why the Swammer makes such a good jig trailer. The “roll” is so aggressive that it gets the whole jig shaking. The skirt pulses on the retrieve, and there’s no need for pumping your rod. 
 

 

I appreciate your insight, I did not know that about the Swammers! I want to try them even more now

 

Although Matt & Tim from Tactical Bassin are very knowledgeable, and I religiously watch all of their videos, sometimes I don't know whether to trust the exact baits they push because of sponsorships and all that. For instance, if they were in this chat right now they would be swearing up and down about Keitechs, River2Sea D Walker, and recently the Gambler EZ swimmer. And after that, they would reccommend something else from River2Sea lol. See my point? I listen to all their techniques, all the knowledge they have about fishing certain baits, and whatnot. However, I think they recommend specific baits/rods/reels/hooks because of sponsors. But hey, that's just me... that's why I'm asking you guys

[Shimano_1]

Admittedly I have no experience with the X-zone. I have no reason to try anything else at the moment as I have tons of confidence in the keitech/ rage swimmer. Pretty obvious the X-zone swimbaits are gaining traction tho. May have to break down and try em when my stash of these runs low

[Luke Barnes]

Berkley Power Swimmers are tough, have good action and have the Powerbait stank to them. My other go to is SK Rage Swimmers. Good colors, good action, good durability. 

[Matt Eisen]

4 hours ago, Shimano_1 said:

 May have to break down and try em when my stash of these runs low

 

I'm thinking the same thing. I also need to experiment with different sizes too. I go pond fishing and although I caught a good amount of fish last year, I think I could get way more bites if I downsized to something smaller than 4.8 or a 4.3 to mimic minnows or shiners