Uses for paddletail swimbaits without the tail

[snake95]

Wondering if anyone is using Keitech swing impacts or impact fats, or other swimbaits, if the tail is ripped or torn off?

 

I see Hog Farmer's Spunk Shad looks just like a tailless Keitech, and listened to Tactical Bassin guys saying they prefer not to use paddletails on bladed jigs.

 

Anyone using them as trailers, for drop shot, etc?

[Mobasser]

I imagine some guys might be using them on a mushroom head, as a Ned rig.

[Bankc]

Not really.  Though I don't see why it wouldn't work if you wanted to try.  Though, especially with Keitech's, the plastic is so soft, that usually the rest of the bait gets destroyed before the tail does.  And if you want to fish a paddle tail without a paddle, then why not use a fluke?  Keitech's aren't cheap, so I wouldn't go about destroying them on purpose.  

 

However, I've been known to reuse damaged plastics as long as they'll stay on my hook and catch fish.  I've caught a lot of fish off craws without any claws.  And I've caught a lot of fish off of the back half of worms and lizards.  So if you fished it right, I don't see why it wouldn't work.  

[Gera]

I have cut the tail off keitech to use them as chatterbait trailer when nothing else available... I feel the tail's action works against the chatterbait's intended motion. by cutting the tail I felt like at least I gave it a larger profile.

 

[Jar11591]

52 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I imagine some guys might be using them on a mushroom head, as a Ned rig.

My first thought was “they’d probably work as a ned rig”. 

[snake95]

3 hours ago, Bankc said:

And if you want to fish a paddle tail without a paddle, then why not use a fluke?  Keitech's aren't cheap, so I wouldn't go about destroying them on purpose

Fair point; to clarify I meant to use ones that are damaged.

[WRB]

You could use a safety razor and split the tail about 1”, works good using straight worms.

Tom

 

[T-Billy]

I re-melt them and make them into paddletails with a tail again.

[JackstrawIII]

Spinnerbait trailer. 

[scaleface]

15 hours ago, T-Billy said:

I re-melt them and make them into paddletails with a tail again.

did you buy a mold or create one ?

[T-Billy]

7 minutes ago, scaleface said:

did you buy a mold or create one ?

Bought. I have the Do-It 3" and 3.5" ripper, and a 3.8" Impact Fat mold.

[FishTank]

I don't cut the tails off of Keitechs. I just buy the Spunk Shads. They are pretty inexpensive. 

[Junk Fisherman]

I use them on a dropshot and they work very well.  

[NorthernBasser]

 

[dv616]

If you have stop injection fat impact type mold, just pour the plastisol in from a cup and you will get a swimbait that is lacking the paddle tail. 

[Big Hands]

Check out the Sexy Impact. It's a pintail finesse bait that works. Not sure I think it works as well as the Swing Impact, but they work. I think there are days when the paddle tail without the tail will work well enough, other days not so much. That Keitech paddle tail has pretty awesome action even with relatively little input.

 

I am well aware that it's against 'the rules' in some areas and downright blasphemous in others, but I use the 4" Swing Impact, with the tail, LOL, (#2 Rebarb hook with a 36" to 48" leader, whittled toothpick through the eye to keep the bait in place a little better) for my Carolina rig fishing. I'd buy those in bulk if I could because I go through them in bulk. 

[roadwarrior]

Landfill...