soft swimbaits

[rboat]

I normally use the Kietech fat impact. Now it seems everyone has some type of soft swimbait in many sizes and colors. What brand have you used and how were using it successfully? What others would you recommend that catch bass? Thanks.

[Mike L]

RI Skinny Dipper and the Gambler Big EZ. 

I’ve only used those 2 for years because of the differences in action and size which covers everything I want/need in a paddle tail. 
 

I tried others including the Kietech which gets a lot of run on here, but overall it never gave me a reason to change 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Alex from GA]

DOA has a selection of paddle tail baits that you can get in Walmarts near salt water.  

[Peacedivision]

Xzone swammer particularly the 2.75 and 4.75. I fish the little ones on a finesse jighead and big ones on a 5/0 flashy swimmer or as a swimjig trailer. They have a different kick and a lot more body roll compared to a Keitech.

[webertime]

I focus on 4"-7" baits.

Keitech SIF 4.8: the standard.  Try the regular ewg hook with nail weights in the body rigging for some serious wiggle (can get expensive if bait tears off).

 

Megabass Magdraft Freestyle: 6/0 beast hook, weightless to 3/8oz.  Try weightless hook and throwing where would throw a frog (not cheese though)

 

Duo Realis Versa Shad Fat 5" & 7": Sort of a hybrid of a Keitech and Magdraft but better price per bait than both.

 

OSP Do-live shad 4.5": More wiggle and durable than a Keitech.

 

Bottom Up Volup Swimmer 4.2":  fish this slowwwwwwly and let fall.  Great on a Free rig and Carolina Rig.

 

River2Sea 120 DWalker on a light buzzbait.  Heavy overall weight but the shape helps keep it up.

 

 

Smaller swimbaits are (in my head) 1-2" of plastic with a little wiggle tail and the differences in catch rate between brands are negligible.  I do like Raid and Keitech though.

 

The bigger ones regardless of weeds/depth I use a screwlock 90% of the time. To me the ability of the head to sort of wiggle/pivot around the line tie is a bonus and seems to help with durability.

[Jar11591]

I use Rage Tail swimmers. On a weighted hook, and as a spinnerbait and swim jig trailer they work great. 

[softwateronly]

I'm with @Mike L on the gambler EZ series, hits all the key points for me, good kick, head roll, size options, price, colors, and decent durability.  I throw mostly Big EZ on the back of a swim jig, but the ez, big gz, and the tz make appearances and all catch.  I also like the River2sea d-walker, largo shad, beast coast miyagi, and the x-zone swammer.

 

scott

[king fisher]

Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper

Storm Largo Shad.

Rapala Crush City The Mayor

[Pat Brown]

I could tell you...but then I'd have to get GPS waypoints to all your honey holes first 😎😎😂😂😂

 

Just kidding!

 

I like the Storm Largo Shad, Rapala Mayor, YUM Scottsboro Minnow, Gambler EZ swimmer and the X Zone Swammer!

 

Caught giant fish swimming jigs with each one of these baits but the Scottsboro Minnow 4.5" in Tennessee Shad on a Bluegill Flash 1/4 oz @Siebert Outdoors swim jig caught my largest bass ever swimming a jig at 9.1 lbs.

[Hogs_n_Logs]

Theres different general types of swimbaits, some better than others at different things. 

 

Fat impact and its copies have round body with ridges to increase drag on the body portion of the lure. Most versatile, killer rigged any which way or as a trailer on nearly anything. Prone to pinwheeling or nosediving at times, which is sometimes preferred sometimes not. 

 

Skinny dipper/ez shad/ easy shiner are smoother bodied and more hydrodynamic. Arguably better and more versatile in terms of action when using a more or less steady retrieve since less drag on the body gets the tail going quicker. 

 

Jackall rhythm wave/OSP do-live shad etc etc have "hull shape" body which makes the bait have a horizontal position fall and great balance. My fave for when im pinpoint casting specific small target areas, usually weightless. The relative thickness/stiffness of the main body portion means these have a bit less tail kick in my experience. 

 

OSP HP fish is an innovative new one that came out recently, sure to be copied by the usual suspects soon. Has an odd tail, almost like a huddleston. Semi hull shaped body, insane action moving or paused, when rigged weightless it will almost pauses like a jerkbait if you kill it off a fast retrieve.  A good one to try out if you're looking for something new. 

 

 

[rboat]

Wow so many with great recommendations, I can already see the bait monkey looking for my wallet!

 

[webertime]

1 hour ago, Hogs_n_Logs said:

Theres different general types of swimbaits, some better than others at different things. 

 

Fat impact and its copies have round body with ridges to increase drag on the body portion of the lure. Most versatile, killer rigged any which way or as a trailer on nearly anything. Prone to pinwheeling or nosediving at times, which is sometimes preferred sometimes not. 

 

Skinny dipper/ez shad/ easy shiner are smoother bodied and more hydrodynamic. Arguably better and more versatile in terms of action when using a more or less steady retrieve since less drag on the body gets the tail going quicker. 

 

Jackall rhythm wave/OSP do-live shad etc etc have "hull shape" body which makes the bait have a horizontal position fall and great balance. My fave for when im pinpoint casting specific small target areas, usually weightless. The relative thickness/stiffness of the main body portion means these have a bit less tail kick in my experience. 

 

OSP HP fish is an innovative new one that came out recently, sure to be copied by the usual suspects soon. Has an odd tail, almost like a huddleston. Semi hull shaped body, insane action moving or paused, when rigged weightless it will almost pauses like a jerkbait if you kill it off a fast retrieve.  A good one to try out if you're looking for something new. 

 

 

Ixnay on the HP fishnay...