Larger Paddle Tail Swim Bait Rigging ?

[ChrisD46]

For the larger 4.75” - 5.75” paddle tail swim baits from Gambler , Keitech , Strike King , etc. how do you like to rig them ? It appears the choices are either using a EWG 5/0 to 6/0 single hook or using a #2 treble hook with some sort of line through the head rig  and then insert one of the treble hook barbs back into the swim bait head … I’d like to try the larger swim bait  sizes mentioned above. What method of rigging the larger swim baits works best for you ? 

[waymont]

Owner Beast hook in the appropriate size. I also like the. Gamakatsu superline belly weighted ewg hooks.

or an Owner Flashy Swimmer

[softwateronly]

2 hours ago, waymont said:

Owner Beast hook in the appropriate size. I also like the. Gamakatsu superline belly weighted ewg hooks.

or an Owner Flashy Swimmer

^^X2^^. I also love throwing those size paddle tails on swim jigs.

 

scott

[96ecss]

They're great on swim jigs. I also throw them on Buckeye Lure's J-Will Swimbait Head if I'm fishing open water.

[ChrisD46]

An important rigging consideration I omitted is whether you are fishing open water or around cover ? 

[96ecss]

I forgot to mention the Owner Flashy Swimmer for extra flash and vibration on windy days or in stained water. 

[slowworm]

KVD has an interesting take I intend to try in 2024 when the hard water goes away:

 

 

 

[txchaser]

Flashy swimmer in 5/0 or 6/0. 10 seconds to take the blade off if you decide that's not the deal for the day. 

 

[PhishLI]

On 1/23/2024 at 12:55 AM, ChrisD46 said:

I’d like to try the larger swim bait  sizes mentioned above.

Whichever hook you choose, and there are plenty of good ones, always swap out the stock spring keeper for these in at least Large:

Owner CPS Centering Pin Spring | Tackle Warehouse

 

[Catt]

[Choporoz]

On 1/23/2024 at 11:35 AM, slowworm said:

KVD has an interesting take I intend to try in 2024 when the hard water goes away:

 

Could not get halfway through that video.  Two rivets, lead wire, 1 hook cut in half, a treble, multiple ties.... did he suggest that is something he actually rigs and uses on the water?  Jig head or swimbait hook are fine, IMO

[casts_by_fly]

Not sure how I missed this thread.  I throw Keitech's a bunch most of my box is 3.2-4.2 size but I go up and down also.  In the bigger vein (4.2 and up) I'm using them on a weighted hook texas rig or a jig head of some sort (weedless or not, underspin or not).  I'll put them on swim jigs where I just want to swim it through grass easy (as opposed to a more active retrieve) because they give so much action and roll at slow speeds.  if you want to go with big ones (4.8 and up), the swinging head style swim jigs are great (lower left, this is a strike king tour version) as they texas rig.  The big one on top is a 5.8 on a 3/4 big blade chatterbait for about an 8" profile.  I also have some 6.8's downstairs that I'll throw on a 3/8 weighted hook (owner, per Phish's CPS pin logic above) but that's hitting the top end of weight that I want to throw (about 2.25 oz total bait) and I'll usually only throw that if there's a chance of a musky in the lake too.  I have yet to texas rig them because a weighted hook does just as well for me I think.  I do want to try one on a tokyo rig though for a couple lakes that have slime on the bottom.

 

I should add that we mostly have grass from late April until Novemeber so weedless is important (yes, half of the pictured are not).  

 

[Reel]

I like to use the Mustad weighted Power Lock Plus hook because you can slide the weight along the hook shank to put it where you want.  I like it at the head when I use my favorite baits, the Jackall Rhythm Wave 4.8.  The spring keeper does tear up the bait as much as a texas style rigging.

[NorthernBasser]

-Gambler Big EZ.

-Belly-weighted EWG hook in 1/4 oz or less.  

-40-50# straight braid.

-7'3 H rod.

-Fishing through sparse pads, buzzing on the surface and periodically killing it and fishing it sub-surface.

- Wooo doggy, hold on to your hat!! One of my favorite things to do. 

[ChrisD46]

On 1/23/2024 at 3:48 AM, softwateronly said:

^^X2^^. I also love throwing those size paddle tails on swim jigs.

 

scott

I had not thought about using these larger size paddle tail swim baits on swim jigs before in that 4.75" to 5.75" range (or close to it depending on make) . *There is probably an art to selecting a longer paddle tail in this size range to achieve max side to side rolling action ?

[softwateronly]

On 1/25/2024 at 6:45 PM, ChrisD46 said:

I had not thought about using these larger size paddle tail swim baits on swim jigs before in that 4.75" to 5.75" range (or close to it depending on make) . *There is probably an art to selecting a longer paddle tail in this size range to achieve max side to side rolling action ?

Agreed.  The 120mm D Walker is exactly one of those baits.  The 5" gambler Big EZ is another.  I even started throwing a bit off 6.5" Big GZ on an 3/4oz Uoze and 1oz North Star Flip N Swim for deep outside weedline nighttime ops.  That thing moves water and gets their attention.

 

scott

 

[ChrisD46]

Great replies / information !