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.

[MediumMouthBass]

#1. Strike King Rage Swimmer, i buy the 42 piece kit from DSG when they run their buy 3 get 3 free sale, like they are running now. Its $20 each, so for $60 i get 252 swimbaits that are white, green pumpkin, and electric shad. Each color comes with a 3 1/4" and 3 3/4" size. Thats 0.23 cents per swimbait, versus Keitechs or the clam shell Rage Swimmers that are $.70-over a dollar each.

I refuse to buy any more Keitech fats, too expensive and they dont last more than a bass or 2, the Rage Swimmer is softer, more durable, has a great scent, and still catches bass. #2. Berkley Grass Pigs 3"-5" because i love them for skipping or putting on a swim jig when i want a lesser action. #3. 3" Minnowz, 4"-5"-7" Diezel Minnowz. #4. Strike King Swim N Caffeine Shad or the #5. Keitech Easy Shiner for non ribbed swimbaits. #6. Netbait Spanky. #7. Missile Baits Shockwave. #8. Berkley Powerbait Ripple Shad. #9. Gambler EZ/Big EZ.

 

I like having a wide variety of brands, sizes, colors, shapes, etc... Because i fish very small pressured lakes, and more than likely everyones throwing a Keitech or a knockoff that looks just like it, which is where a few of the odd ones i mentioned really shine.

[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...

[bp_fowler]

I’m a huge fan of the Crush City Mayor rigged weedless on a weighted belly hook.  It’s tough, easily to skip and catches fish.  
 

However the good ol’ SK Rage Swimmer has also caught a ton of fish for me. The smaller 3.25” on 1/8 oz swimbait heads or ball jigs. The larger 3.75” works great as a trailer for chatter baits and swim jigs.  When combined with an Owner Flashy swimmer it is my preferred option for underspins.

[RRocket]

8 hours ago, Hogs_n_Logs said:

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Came here to say exactly this.

 

As pointed out, the Dolive Shad has a keeled belly and when you kill it, it continues to glide along nicely...while still wagging and rocking. Whereas something like a Keitech noses down and the tail more or less collapses.

 

[Munkin]

Some of you must be spending a fortune in shipping on some of these JDM baits. I see some of the baits on FeeBay $9 plus $14 shipping.

 

Allen

[king fisher]

17 hours ago, rboat said:

the bait monkey looking for my wallet!

better he looks for yours than mine

[webertime]

9 hours ago, Munkin said:

Some of you must be spending a fortune in shipping on some of these JDM baits. I see some of the baits on FeeBay $9 plus $14 shipping.

 

Allen

You can get them domestically or from Japanese shop for way less and free shipping.  I believe that applies to all mentioned in the thread.

[Reel]

18 hours ago, Hogs_n_Logs said:

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

 

 

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

I like those and use mostly the Jackall Rhythm Wave.  To get more of that horizontal position I use a Mustad Power Lock Plus hook (5/0) that has a movable weight.  You can slide that weight back to get a more horizontal swimming action from every bait.

[Mr. Aquarium]

Take a look at real prey swimbaits, he makes soft rigged swimbaits from 3.5 inches to 10 inches. He matches a variety of bait fish, shape color and action. His hairs get chewed 

[Hogs_n_Logs]

1 hour ago, Reel said:

I like those and use mostly the Jackall Rhythm Wave.  To get more of that horizontal position I use a Mustad Power Lock Plus hook (5/0) that has a movable weight.  You can slide that weight back to get a more horizontal swimming action from every bait.

 

I also find myself using the Rhythm wave more and more. I used to use the Keithech for everything and its still my go to for t-rig/jig trailer, but for situations were im using a screw lock swimbait hook the hull bellied lures I find myself choosing the hull shaded baits. 

 

The Do-live shad is fantastic too but jackall products are typically much cheaper in the states than other jdm brands, I believe because their distribution is handled by shimano. 

[FishTank]

There are a ton of good ones.

 

OSP HP Fish 

6th Sense Whale 

Xzone Swammer 

Crush City Mayor

Bottom Up Volup Swimmer 

OSP Dolive Shad

Megabass Hazedong Shad

 

[OkobojiEagle]

Lot of finesse swim baits in the market... 4" Lunker City Swimmin' Ribster and Charlie Brewer's 3" boot tail grub are the only two I've ever fished.  I haven't felt deprived.

 

oe

[GetFishorDieTryin]

6 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Charlie Brewer's 3" boot tail grub

Thats what I use on my spinnerbaits.  Its got just enough action but the bait stays down.  I miss the old ones that were scented.

[Pumpkin Lizard]

I had a great fall with "The Mayor" from Crush City.