Keitech substitute…

[Jig Man]

I have made my own swim baits for years but a few good butt waxings from a friend using Keitechs has swung me over.  They are definitely fish catchers.  My issue with them is the way they tear up with just about every fish and the time it takes to retie or rerig.  What are you guys using that is a good producer and holds up better.

[T-Billy]

I bought impact fat molds from a Ukranian mold maker. Now I have durable keitechs. My second favorite is the rage swimmer.

[looking45]

If you’re pouring your own, take a look at the Do-It Ripper and use a medium hard olastic

[Bass Rutten]

I find the strike king rage swimmer just as effective and a bit more durable than the keitechs.

[PhishLI]

Eco Pro Tungsten Swing Shad Swimbait - Tackle Warehouse

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Eco Pro Tungsten Swing Shad Swimbait - Tackle Warehouse

Those and Skinny Dippers are probably my most used paddletails.

[NorthernBasser]

10 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Eco Pro Tungsten Swing Shad Swimbait - Tackle Warehouse

Super cheap too, especially on sale. 

[rangerjockey]

The Rage swimmer isn't bad but as you saw, the Keitech is the best. 

I just go ahead and pay the fare. 

[Jig Man]

36 minutes ago, rangerjockey said:

The Rage swimmer isn't bad but as you saw, the Keitech is the best. 

I just go ahead and pay the fare. 

It’s the time and trouble that I would like to avoid if possible.

[Pogues2300]

45 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

It’s the time and trouble that I would like to avoid if possible.

I think people get a little paranoid about the tiniest subtlety like green pumpkin pepper flake over green pumpkin for example,  especially on a moving bait you aren’t going to see big differences in my experience anyways. I’ve literally fished rage swimmers as my friend fished keitech multiple times and we’ve traded who catches more and it’s never been obvious either way. 

[ike8120]

12 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I have made my own swim baits for years but a few good butt waxings from a friend using Keitechs has swung me over.  They are definitely fish catchers.  My issue with them is the way they tear up with just about every fish and the time it takes to retie or rerig.  What are you guys using that is a good producer and holds up better.

My first choice is the Keitechs I usually find them on sale, next the Rage Swimmer, then the Xzone Swammer

[TnRiver46]

My buddy lost $24 of keitech in an afternoon to skipjack herring. Anything holds up better 

 

I get various hand pour baits that hold up better and also have good success with sassy shad type baits. Have caught 50 + white bass with a single shad paddle tail from mister twister

 

heres A bait I found in a local store recently 

[softwateronly]

Certainly has a different kick, but that kick and roll are highly effective.  River2Sea d-walker is the longest lasting swimmer I have ever used.  I've lost way more (and the hook/jig) to pike then bass ever tearing them up.  Worth trying $15 worth, because it'll probably last you into next year.  I also caught my pb on it, so definitely biased.  Gambler EZ's also seem to last twice as long as keitechs and catch just as much for me.

 

scott

[T-Billy]

19 hours ago, looking45 said:

If you’re pouring your own, take a look at the Do-It Ripper and use a medium hard olastic

Absolutely. I dunno how I forgot to mention these. I have the 3" and 3.5" molds. The 3.5 is my go to chatterbait trailer. The ripper has a tighter harder thump than the Keitech. I use Do-It essential plastisol.

[Jig Man]

23 hours ago, looking45 said:

If you’re pouring your own, take a look at the Do-It Ripper and use a medium hard olastic

Why medium hard?  Won’t that make them stiff?

[Way north bass guy]

I’ve been using the Berkley Power Swimmer in several sizes for a couple years now for both bass and pike, and they hold up very well. I’ve caught a dozen like this on one bait before it got too ripped up to use. If these guys can’t wreck em, a bass isn’t gonna do any worse. 

[looking45]

2 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Why medium hard?  Won’t that make them stiff?

Medium hard plastic won’t be stiff. You’ll still get movement and it will be a little more durable than soft plastic. You should be able to catch several fish before it tears up. I pour my. Wits with medium plastic and haven’t had any problems with catching fish or baits tearing up after one fish

[pdxfisher]

I use bass pro speed shad and Zman minnowz. I can probably catch 30 bass on a single minnowz. I can usually catch at least 15 per speed shad. Both are super effective. 

[Jig Man]

8 hours ago, looking45 said:

Medium hard plastic won’t be stiff. You’ll still get movement and it will be a little more durable than soft plastic. You should be able to catch several fish before it tears up. I pour my. Wits with medium plastic and haven’t had any problems with catching fish or baits tearing up after one fish

I have Calhoun medium and a mold like the fat impact and easy shiner.  I’ve stopped using them because the Keitech is way more effective than they are.  

[Junk Fisherman]

I use Mend-it to repair torn up plastics.  It doesn't make them 100% but you can catch another fish or two on the bait before tossing it.  And store the Mend-it in the refrigerator after opening.  

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mend-It_Softbait_Glue/descpage-MIG.html

 

Are there any Elaztech swimbaits that would work for you?

 

[Jig Man]

Mendit works for some Keitech repairs.

[bowhunter63]

Rage Swimmers work good. Pretty tough to 

[pdxfisher]

8 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

Rage Swimmers work good. Pretty tough to 

 

I think the bass pro speed shad are the same lure just repackaged. Just a guess but they look and are packaged identically. 

[J.Vincent]

Never thrown an actual Keitech brand paddle tail swimmer ; but I throw the Yum Pulse Shad’s, Gambler EZ Vibes and one other generic. The smaller Yum Pulse Shad is subtle and finesse and the Gambler EZ vibe provides an aggressive thump with a meatier tail for more water movement. 

[A-Jay]

I use I think 4 different brands of swimbait.  For trailers I use a Zoom bait (forget the actual name) and RI Skinny Dipper. (not pictured) On a jig head, it's Keitech and SK Rage Swimmer.

For warmer deeper application with a heavier head and a fast fall rate Rage gets the nod. For cooler water, a light head and a slower fall rate (especially on a tight line) the Keitech is my choice.  The SK bait rarely performs for me unless it's moving at a pretty good clip.

Durability varies however the Keitech is clearly the softest of the bunch.

I do not get bummed out when baits are no longer fishable.  I'll feed them what they'll eat until I run out and then get more.  I know where they sell them.

A-Jay