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Pit Boss or Sweet Beaver? 2025


fishing user avatarHurricane reply : 

If you had to choose, which one?

fishing user avatarMatt Duprau reply : 

Tough choice. Depends what factors you want to look at. I personally use the pit boss on swim jigs, chatterbaits and a light weight texas rig. Incredible movement and action from the bait. On the other end, I use the sweet beaver on a lot of my punchin' jigs and heavy texas rigging. It's a nice beefy bait and cut down it works great on the back of a flippin pitchin jig. Easily punches through mats while still retaining some action in the tail. Price is a big factor - the average joe may look at the pit boss (4$) - and the sweet beaver (9$) as a drawing point as well. Overall, if I had to choose one I'd choose the Pit Boss. Mostly personal preference and I find I can be more versatile with the bait. To each his own!

Matt Duprau

fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 

Pit Boss, it's a more versatile bait IMO. 

fishing user avatarHurricane reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:06 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Pit Boss, it's a more versatile bait IMO. 

I really only would use three colors.. green pumpkin,  black/blue , and watermelon.. Living up north, thats all i really need.. Hopefully the smallies love them.. I like thr price also...

fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:13 AM, LastCastChris said:

I really only would use three colors.. green pumpkin,  black/blue , and watermelon.. Living up north, thats all i really need.. Hopefully the smallies love them.. I like thr price also...

Sapphire Blue and Lime Purple Passion are the 2 I use the most. Big Texan, Junebug, and black and blue get a lot of use too. 

fishing user avatarHurricane reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:16 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Sapphire Blue and Lime Purple Passion are the 2 I use the most. Big Texan, Junebug, and black and blue get a lot of use too. 

What size hook do you use to texas rig the 3 and the 4 inch?

fishing user avatarJrob78 reply : 

They are both great baits.  I'd probably take the Beaver though.

fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:21 AM, LastCastChris said:

What size hook do you use to texas rig the 3 and the 4 inch?

I use a 2/0 EWG short shank Owner Rigging hook for the 3" and a 4/0 EWG or 4/0 straight shank for the 4" depending on how I'm fishing it. 

fishing user avatarHurricane reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:24 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I use a 2/0 EWG short shank Owner Rigging hook for the 3" and a 4/0 EWG or 4/0 straight shank for the 4" depending on how I'm fishing it. 

Thanks for the help!

fishing user avatarlakeannaangler reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:06 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Pit Boss, it's a more versatile bait IMO. 

This^^

fishing user avatarww2farmer reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:06 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Pit Boss, it's a more versatile bait IMO. 

This 

I switched from RI beavers to Pit Boss's a few years ago and won't be going back.

The Pit Boss will do everything a RI Beaver will, plus more.

There are several reasons why I made the switch

#1 Cost..............Pit Boss's are $2.99 a bag vs. $4+ for RI.............when you go through 100's of this style of bait a year it adds up.

#2 I have stated this before.........I am no high and mighty morality preaching kind of guy, but when I have kids in the boat, and they like to play with my tackle, I really don't need or want to have to hear "Daddy what's a tramp stamp? What's a Dirty Sanchez?"  There's enough of that stuff floating around in the real world, I don't need a family fishing trip to turn into risque innuendo laden thing. Call me old fashioned, but that's the way I am. 

#3 They just work. I have noticed ZERO drop off in numbers or quality of fish since the change.

#4 If I run out or low (not likely LOL) but if I do...........the walmart 5 mins. down the road has them. 

fishing user avatarS. Sass reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:06 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Pit Boss, it's a more versatile bait IMO. 

^^^ agreed

As others are saying there are many reasons I use Pit Boss.

Just a few are 

  • At least 28 colors to chose from
  • Cost ($1.83 - $2.62 right now at http://www.berkley-fishing.com/  )
  • Availability from Walmart to just about any tackle supplier
  • As ww2farmer just said, "They just work"
  • Easily shortened to make great trailers out of
  • Can be T-rigged and fished as is
  • Awesome flip n pitch bait
  • The plastic itself is quite durable yet soft.
  • The appendages aren't so long they wrap up on stuff easily but give good action

One thing I have gotten away from the EWG style hooks. I have a much better hook up ratio with the 4/0 offset worm hooks like these. Or use a flippin style hook.

213692_54750?$Prod_Thumbnail$

I rig it pretty much like the old days T-style before they ever had a EWG hook. It just leaves a much wider area for that hook point to be unobstructed. There is plenty of plastic to hold the tip of that hook out of things that will snag ya but yet soft enough the hook easily comes through on a strike. 

 

fishing user avatarkickerfish1 reply : 

I use both. The Beaver is more of a dead action bait. It excels for me on unaggressive fish or to add bulk to a jig trailer without adding much action. The Pit boss is the exact opposite in that it is full of action and excels when fish are more aggressive. Another relatively small point is that the Beavers weigh more and are more aerodynamic leading to longer casts while the Pit boss weighs a bit less and has greater wind resistance resulting in slightly less casting distance. I like both and use them when I feel they would excel...

fishing user avatarHurricane reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 11:17 AM, S. Sass said:

^^^ agreed

As others are saying there are many reasons I use Pit Boss.

Just a few are 

  • At least 28 colors to chose from
  • Cost ($1.83 - $2.62 right now at http://www.berkley-fishing.com/  )
  • Availability from Walmart to just about any tackle supplier
  • As ww2farmer just said, "They just work"
  • Easily shortened to make great trailers out of
  • Can be T-rigged and fished as is
  • Awesome flip n pitch bait
  • The plastic itself is quite durable yet soft.
  • The appendages aren't so long they wrap up on stuff easily but give good action

One thing I have gotten away from the EWG style hooks. I have a much better hook up ratio with the 4/0 offset worm hooks like these. Or use a flippin style hook.

213692_54750?$Prod_Thumbnail$

I rig it pretty much like the old days T-style before they ever had a EWG hook. It just leaves a much wider area for that hook point to be unobstructed. There is plenty of plastic to hold the tip of that hook out of things that will snag ya but yet soft enough the hook easily comes through on a strike. 

 

Solid information. Thanks!

 

  On 6/2/2016 at 10:12 AM, ww2farmer said:

This 

I switched from RI beavers to Pit Boss's a few years ago and won't be going back.

The Pit Boss will do everything a RI Beaver will, plus more.

There are several reasons why I made the switch

#1 Cost..............Pit Boss's are $2.99 a bag vs. $4+ for RI.............when you go through 100's of this style of bait a year it adds up.

#2 I have stated this before.........I am no high and mighty morality preaching kind of guy, but when I have kids in the boat, and they like to play with my tackle, I really don't need or want to have to hear "Daddy what's a tramp stamp? What's a Dirty Sanchez?"  There's enough of that stuff floating around in the real world, I don't need a family fishing trip to turn into risque innuendo laden thing. Call me old fashioned, but that's the way I am. 

#3 They just work. I have noticed ZERO drop off in numbers or quality of fish since the change.

#4 If I run out or low (not likely LOL) but if I do...........the walmart 5 mins. down the road has them. 

Thanks Farmer! Living in wny, what colors work best for you?

fishing user avatardruben reply : 

I know this was not in the question, but try the missle baits d-bomb and get the best of both. 

fishing user avatarS. Sass reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 8:49 PM, druben said:

I know this was not in the question, but try the missle baits d-bomb and get the best of both. 

Pit Boss 28 vs D Bomb 21 Colors

Pit Boss 8 pack vs D Bomb 6 pack

Pit Boss avg price $3 pack vs D Bomb $4 pack

Winner 

Pit Boss - 7 more colors, 2 more per pack, and generally $1 a pack cheaper. And D Bomb not nearly as available. 

fishing user avatarMike L reply : 

When I'm punching I use the Beaver exclusively. It's compact enough and rigged with a skirt, it has the right amount of action for me.

For me, there are better choices than either one of those for t-rigging. 

 

Mike 

fishing user avatarCgrinder reply : 

Yeah I'm with the farmer on this one. Blue is the lazy man's comedy. 

fishing user avatarww2farmer reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 5:20 PM, LastCastChris said:

 

 

Thanks Farmer! Living in wny, what colors work best for you?

Sit down, this is going to be ground breaking........................green pumpkin and black/blue.

fishing user avatarMr Swim Jig reply : 

This would be a tough choice, I use both and they are both great baits!

fishing user avatarHurricane reply : 
  On 6/3/2016 at 8:42 AM, ww2farmer said:

Sit down, this is going to be ground breaking........................green pumpkin and black/blue.

Lmao... i just wrote those as my 2 favorite colors in the plastics thread...  Then i checked this thread..

fishing user avatarHeavyTwenty reply : 

I wish my local stores had junebug pit bosses in stock... black/blue just doesn't seem to get me as many bites.

fishing user avatardruben reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:53 PM, S. Sass said:

Pit Boss 28 vs D Bomb 21 Colors

Pit Boss 8 pack vs D Bomb 6 pack

Pit Boss avg price $3 pack vs D Bomb $4 pack

Winner 

Pit Boss - 7 more colors, 2 more per pack, and generally $1 a pack cheaper. And D Bomb not nearly as available. 

You're the man

fishing user avatarCDMeyer reply : 

In my oppion I take the pit boss, they are very effective flipped as well as punched.  I just really like the simple design and profile that is slim.  When the water moves the legs around it really keys fish in on that action I believe. 

fishing user avatarOutdoor Zack reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:21 AM, LastCastChris said:

What size hook do you use to texas rig the 3 and the 4 inch?

I use 3/0 for 3"

fishing user avatarSenko lover reply : 

I mainly use three craw-style baits, and that would be the Missile Baits D Bomb for when the fish are a little more inactive, the Rage Craw for when they're more active and I'm looking for bigger fish, and the Berkley Chigger Craw for when I'm just looking for more bites. 

The rage craw and d bomb cover all my needs, I know they're more expensive but I like them better. I have nothing against the pit boss but it just isn't my thing. 

fishing user avatarGoRavens reply : 

I use both. But I use the Dbomb when I want to have the bubbles come off the ribs ie. Muddy or stained water. I like the action of  the pit boss as well. I have a pack of RI Beaver but no bites yet

fishing user avatarJtrout reply : 

Pit boss i always got a few packs on me!

fishing user avatarJaderose reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 9:16 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Sapphire Blue and Lime Purple Passion are the 2 I use the most. Big Texan, Junebug, and black and blue get a lot of use too. 

I use Big Texan when I go up to Northern Minnesota.  That little bit of Orange works well

 

fishing user avatarprimetime reply : 

Pit Boss....Price and colors... I feel I can buy beavers from any company that will work as well as RI and I hate paying $6 since I can buy Rodents instead....But they are all good...

 

The pit boss now has a 5" which I need to try...Havoc hit a homerun with the Pit Boss, great Jig Trailer, Topwater, punching bait.....Reaction Innovations makes a great bait however...They have a few colors that I really like, their version of sprayed grass is the only bag I carry from them at the moment.

Colors...The Norm but I like the watermelon Orange I think it is, Melon maybe? similar to the vampire color.

fishing user avatarDrew03cmc reply : 

I tend to rig the Pit Boss Jr on an 1/8oz Luck E Strike Perfect Finesse Worm hook. It slips in the shoreline weeds easily and the bass just annihilate it.

fishing user avatarlong island basser reply : 
  On 6/2/2016 at 8:25 AM, LastCastChris said:

If you had to choose, which one?

Pit boss for me.

Go to would be a 4" Big Texan on a 4/0 owner rig-n-hook.


8137

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