Thoughts on swimbaits

[Luke Barnes]

I got to thinking about paddletails in particular. I have never had luck with paddletails other than as a trailer. Ive rigged them on an underspin, weedless underspin, belly weighted weedless and on a T Rig with very little success. I mean like maybe three fish in three years. When on a swim jig or chatterbait it seems like it acts more wounded and not just a little fishy swimming along minding its own business. So should I be imparting more action with my rod? I only have one bigger soft plastic swimbait and ive never thrown it. Its an Optimum Boom Boom line through. Would that need more of a jerky retrieve? Ive thrown small hard jointed swimbaits with decent success but I'm pretty sure I was swimming it right through beds and they were attacking it not feeding on it. 

 

Thoughts on paddletails and what I can do for more success would be greatly appreciated. 

 

[Bass Rutten]

Slow n steady is what works for me, the tail does the work, maybe a very occasional twitch or pause is about as much as you really need to add to it. Skip em, bang em off stuff, swim them along cover, weedlines, ambush points much like a spinnerbait. If you’re throwing bigger sizes like 5-6” or bigger you got to commit to it, number of bites go gown but quality goes up.

[A-Jay]

Place a 3.75 paddle tail on a 1/4 to 3/8 oz jighead. 

I like the Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait 3.8 in AYU

Retrieve it slowing UP a drop off, (sit shallow, throw deep).

Allow the bait to bounce & grind on the bottom and up the slope the entire way.

A cleaner sandy or hard bottom (not too many weeds) is helpful.

Bites can just feel 'heavy' or contact is lost with the bait, (fish is swimming at you).

Either way keep reeling until the rod loads.

But be careful, you might get your arm broke

https://youtu.be/sU2pQjx_s0c?t=110

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[bowhunter63]

I love the Rage Swimmer 3 inch for River Smallies. Work it close to the bottom bouncing of rocks or straight back along ledges . 

[Luke Barnes]

I guess one caveat is I don't wake up early so im not out at optimal feeding time. So I always figured they were actively feeding when I go and use them so I need more of a reaction strike but thats why I'm asking. I dont know. To me swimbaits are as close to what they actually feed on and if they arent hungry may pass it up. Does your recommendations work all day @A-Jay? 

 

Are big swimbaits most effective when they are feeding and chasing bait fish? 

 

Basically when is best to throw them?

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, Luke Barnes said:

Does your recommendations work all day @A-Jay? 

 

 I don't even know how to respond to this. 

Does it work all day ?

Yes - somewhere.

A-Jay

[Luke Barnes]

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 I don't even know how to respond to this. 

Does it work all day ?

Yes - somewhere.

A-Jay

Like some techniques are best at dawn, like topwater and such. Some work all day like a ned rig. 

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Like some techniques are best at dawn, like topwater and such. Some work all day like a ned rig. 

Interesting

My personal bass fishing style revolves around being at the right place, at the right time

and doing the right thing.

All of that can and does happen at various times throughout the day (and night) for me.

Rarely all day though.

A-Jay

 

[WRB]

The smaller swimmers like Keitech can be rigged like a jig & worm, drop shot, slip shot and T-rigged with bullet weight, used as a trailer etc, etc.

Medium size 6” hollow bodies can be fished on a jig or keel weight hook. Slow swimming stop and go is better then trying to work it like a jerk bait.

Larger size swimbaits slow with change of direction bumping structure is higher % retrieve.

Tom

[Hammer 4]

The biggest bass I've caught on 6" and larger swimbaits have been after 12 noon, bright sunny days. Get out there when you can.?

[huZZah]

1 hour ago, Hammer 4 said:

after 12 noon, bright sunny days.

Most of my swimbait success is full sun mid day. 
 

I prefer paddle tails for swimming. And I usually go as small as I can get away with, but not necessarily as light. I really like 1/4 oz swimbaits. But I also like 1/8 T rig paddle tail worms or flukes that I throw and swim back to me.