so whats the deal over these Paddle tail thingers

[Josh VanderMeer]

so y are these so good?

y is everybody scrambling to get them?

should i be worried if i dont have any lol?

[5bass]

y is everybody scrambling to get them??

Because this happens whenever a new bait is featured in a popular BASS magazine. Two other prime examples are the Sweet Beaver and the Rad Lures Chatterbait......BASSMASTER is where they exploded. Once the articles ran, you couldnt find either one anywhere for a good while. I feel sure that in a few months the prices will be back down and they'll be available pretty much anywhere without being backordered. We are currently in the initial "shock" phase, meaning that someone, somewhere caught a hefty limit of bass on something that hardly anybody had in their tackle box or had even heard of.....and the madness begins.

should i be worried if i dont have any lol?

Only if you dont have anything else that you can catch fish with.

[.ghoti.]

"Only if you dont have anything else that you can catch fish with."

GOOD ONE  ;D ;D

[Guest avid]

should i be worried if i dont have any lol?

Here's my story.

I couldn't sleep at all last night

Just a thinking bout these

Now everything's all right

cause I was tossin and turnin

turnin and tossin

tossin an turnin all night

I said doctor doctor give me the news

I got a bad case of paddle tail blues

No pill gonna cure my ill

Gotta bad case of paddle tail blues.

should i be worried if i dont have any lol?

Not if you have a life    

[David P]

Regardless what others say, they are very good baits, and there isn't another bait like it right now, period.

They're not worth over $12 a packt hough, that's for sure. Just wait until they're easier to get.

[5bass]

Regardless what others say, they are very good baits, and there isn't another bait like it right now, period.

I dont doubt one bit that these are great baits.....Matter of fact, if I walked in a tackle shop tomorrow and saw some I'd probably buy 'em. He was just wondering what the fuss was all about, so I explained it to him according to what has happened in the recent past.

[BassFishingMachine]

What paddle tail bait are you guys talking about? :-?

[dman]

The big deal is they are on the cover of the new Bassmaster issue.   The knockoffs will be here soon enough driving the price down

[5bass]

What paddle tail bait are you guys talking about? :-?

BassTrix

[grimlin]

My opinion it's all a big hype....I won't buy it till it becomes an reasonable price.If not i don't need it either way.

The only way i might buy one if i had a few that night....

[Guest avid]

They're not worth over $12 a packt hough, that's for sure. Just wait until they're easier to get.

This isn't some wire and metal like a chatterbait.

This is a poured plastic that is hollow, shaped and expertly finished.

the knockoffs have started and will surely grow, but I don't think some yahoo with a dip kit is going to be able to duplicate the action of these baits.

I agree it won't be too long before some of the premium companies start pouring their own versions, but untill then this is the only hollow body minnow bait of premium quality around.

Hype?  Well there is certainly alot of hyperventilating going on, but unlike the chatterbait which had only a few BIG wins, the basstrix paddletail is stomping the competition in tournaments all over the place.

I have some on the way and will post objectively on my findings.

I already start with a bias.  namely that while it seems to catch bigger than average bass it is not landing anything really big to my knowledge.

[David P]

They're not worth over $12 a packt hough, that's for sure. Just wait until they're easier to get.

This isn't some wire and metal like a chatterbait.

This is a poured plastic that is hollow, shaped and expertly finished.

the knockoffs have started and will surely grow, but I don't think some yahoo with a dip kit is going to be able to duplicate the action of these baits.

I agree it won't be too long before some of the premium companies start pouring their own versions, but untill then this is the only hollow body minnow bait of premium quality around.

Hype?  Well there is certainly alot of hyperventilating going on, but unlike the chatterbait which had only a few BIG wins, the basstrix paddletail is stomping the competition in tournaments all over the place.

I have some on the way and will post objectively on my findings.

I already start with a bias.  namely that while it seems to catch bigger than average bass it is not landing anything really big to my knowledge.

Avid nailed it.

It's not just a plastic fish with a paddle tail. The softness of these baits, the action, and especially the paint jobs done on these baits are phenomenal.  $12 is worth it, $15-$20 for a pack of 3 is a bit much.

The only thing I've had troubles with these baits, are setting the hook. I'd like to find a round jig head and expose the hook on the top, because T-Rigging this bait, even with the proper hook, I've been having some troubles getting a solid hook set.

[Guest btlva]

I think everyone here makes great points about this particular bait. It works very well and is definitely unique, but it's not worth $20/pack. When I run out of them I will be irked but it won't ruin my day. I think I have 4 baits left. Now accepting bids ;D lol

I've been using the Basstrix Fat Minnow Paddle Tail Tube specifically for smallmouth (they seem a little small for LM, even in the 6" size IMHO) for a few months now and I have only rigged them one way.

I slip a 3/16oz sinker inside the bait and push it up to the nose, then I run my line through the nose and out through the belly area. To prevent tearing I glue a short piece of surgical tubing into the belly to create a "port" and run the line out through it. I then tie on a #1 or #2 treble hook and I'm ready to go. The treble pulls right up to the bait during the cast and retrieve, and when a fish is hooked, the bait slides up the line without getting mangled and twisted like it will with a typical offset worm hook. I would think a frog-style hook would also work well rigged this way.

I have a 6" basstrix PTT tied on right now that has survived 5 smallmouth (4 of which were 3lbs or better), 2 largemouth, and a crappie and is still going strong. Bass under 12" WILL hit this bait regularly, as will panfish. On numerous occasions I've seen trout following it but I couldn't tell if they wanted to eat it or were trying to school with it lol. I think the way I rig the Basstrix prolongs their life, and since it looks like I won't be able to get more of these anytime soon, this is a good thing.

As I said I've been using this bait for SM so weeds have not been an issue, it has been a rocky bottom/open water lure for me. If I were fishing in grass or thick wood cover I would probably texas rig it with a weighted hook like most people.

So far the key for me has been to hesitate for just a second after a bite, and then setting the hook similar to the way I do with a crankbait, with just a strong sweep. Tight lines guys

[Buckeye1955]

Got my hands on some of the Fat Minnows and FIRST cast nailed a nice one! Two more before the day was out. Found the proper way to rig them tonight too. http://www.jpjigs.com/BassTwitchers.php     BassTwitchers.  You can go with either weighted or unweighted. I tried them the other day on a Gamo football head jig with the little spring screw that secures the plastic bait. Worked great that way too. Prices are coming down on E-Bay. I got a 5 pack the other night with 5 jig heads for $10.50.  I'll have me a gunny sack of the perch when I head for the St. Johns in Florida in the spring......

[Siebert Outdoors]

wish I could find me some of these.  I'd sell every single one on ebay.;D