best 4" swimbait 2025

king fisher reply :

I'm planning on trying swim baits In eastern WA state the last week of May. Both small and large mouth in the river system. Water temps should be in the mid to high 60's, rocky shoreline, with some weeds in bays. primary forage is crayfish, but there is a large bluegill, and carp population, would assume the bass eat them also. I have received good advice from readers concerning crank baits and soft craws. Would like to hear what readers favorite swimbaits are. Would appreciate color and rigging suggestions.

lakeannaangler reply :

I like the strike king swim n shiner or the Berkley havoc grass pig on a 1/8 or 1/4 oz swimbait head

Hogsticker reply :

Well if you're talking soft body paddle tail, Keitech reins supreme.

king fisher reply :

Yes. I do mean the soft paddle tail type. Have heard good reports on Keitech. What about Strike king? How do you like to rig them, (weighted hook, ball jig head, T rig)?

roadwarrior reply :

On 4/25/2016 at 12:16 AM, Hogsticker said:

Well if you're talking soft body paddle tail, Keitech reins supreme.

I agree, but when we are able to buy the new Rage Tail I think we will be crowning a new King!

lakeannaangler reply :

I like these for the strike king swim n shiner

BassThumb reply :

Keitech Swing Impact FAT are the best swimbait I've ever used in that size. On the other hand, they're not cheap and are arguably the least durable plastic bait I've used.

You'll catch fish, but you're looking a only getting 1-2 fish per bait, regardless of size. Maybe you can get 2-3 fish if you use Mend-It, but often, the tail gets torn off, and it won't fix that.

Gundog reply :

On 4/25/2016 at 1:39 AM, lakeannaangler said:

I like these for the strike king swim n shiner

Agree. They are more expensive than just a ballhead jig but I like the heavier hook. It won't bend on you.

camman reply :

+1 for the Keitech Swimbaits...I only use the Keitech Fat Swing Impact baits...on the smaller sizes 3.8 and 4.3, I will put them on a jighead. For the larger sizes 4.8 and 5.8 I fish them on a weighted swimbait hook

Senko lover reply :

On 4/25/2016 at 1:39 AM, lakeannaangler said:

I like these for the strike king swim n shiner

just curious, what kind of phone is that?

lakeannaangler reply :

Samsung galaxy s3

Mike L reply :

Don't forget about the Skinny Dipper and the Big EZ!

Just saying

Mike

Senko lover reply :

On 4/25/2016 at 7:53 AM, lakeannaangler said:

Samsung galaxy s3

Cool, thanks

ErikmonBillsfon reply :

Keitech with twist lock 4/0 hook works great for me. Bluegill flash, sun gill and male perch are my favorite colors. Will be trying strike king too in a couple months when they are availible. I can get 5-7 fish with a twist lock hook even pike. Keitech are frail but they have motion when retrieved super super super slow. I also like the sebile soft swimbait but that's not a paddle tail. Good luck and make a pattern you like.

RyneB reply :

Gambler Little EZ

crypt reply :

gambler Little EZ, also charlie brewers 4" slider grub,great little bait.

OkobojiEagle reply :

Lunker City Swimming Ribster works pretty well for me at a fair price.

BassObsessed reply :

I use River 2 Sea 4'' rig walker swimbaits all the time. Have caught bass from half pound to 10 pounds on them. Pre-rigged and ready to go in 4 or 5 colors. They even make a 4.75''

NJSalt reply :

Keitechs for me.

MAJOR bonus points for me to a bait that comes in a clamshell package. It gets so old pulling a bag of Skinny Dippers out where 3/4 of the baits have kinked tails...

roadwarrior reply :

I agree, clamshells are HUGE, but it strikes me as odd the GYCB soft plastics don't seem to have the same issues as other "bulk packaged" products.

fishwizzard reply :

I like the Z-man minnows as they are as durable as all of their other stuff and still have plenty of action when retrieved slowly. However, I have never found a really good way to rig them weedlessly, a VMC Rugby head jig works OK, as does the larger Owner Finesse jig, but both are either a bit too long or too short, depending on what size/weight you go with. But, if you can fish them with an exposed hook then there are a ton of jigheads that will work and they will catch fish until you snag and loose them.

I have been using Keitechs lately due to how easy they rig, but as a bank/kayak guy, the clamshells are a huge pain to deal with. I think when my current stash runs out I will give the new SK ones a try and see if they survive living in a plano box better then the Keitechs.

avidone1 reply :

I've been fishing for so many years that I tend not to get excited about the newest lure to end all lures.

But that doesn't mean I don't pay attention when something seems to have 'legs'.

Keitech baits seem to have reputation.

Please tell me what makes them so special as opposed to Yamamoto plastics, or zooms to name a few of my favorites.

Sorry, tried to delete the post because I decided to start a new topic. but I can't see how to delete it.

Mod help.............thanks

etrout72 reply :

I've done well with a 4 inch Zman paddlerz on a 1/16 oz weighted hook. They also make a 5 inch version and like all Zman stuff, they last forever.

CarolinaBoy4Life reply :

Gambler EZ series swimbaits. Have caught some studs on em with a weighted twistlock hook and the garlic scent its on them all day during use. Even went back to use one a week later and still smelled strong like garlic

king fisher reply :

Thanks to readers for the help. Looks like I will buy a few packs of Keitech. by far the favorite. Everyone seems to have a different way to rig them. I'm already buying 1/8 and 1/4 oz ball head jigs for hula grubs, and tubes. Was wondering if I really needed to buy different swim bait jig heads or weighted hooks? Also, a friend recommends Strike King Caffeine shad but not one recommendation for them on this post. Anyone have any luck with them?

imagine29028 reply :

1 vote for Power Team Lures Swinging Hammer, these guys are just badass

bowhunter63 reply :

SK Caffeine shad and waiting on the new Rage Swimmer.Cant came out soon enough.

BassThumb reply :

On 4/25/2016 at 1:26 AM, roadwarrior said:

I agree, but when we are able to buy the new Rage Tail I think we will be crowning a new King!

Any idea on what the prices will be?

fishballer06 reply :

Keitech swing impact fat and Lake Fork live magic shad.

BassObsessed reply :

They will eat all kinds of swimbaits. This 10lb girl liked the River 2 Sea 4''

mojojojo reply :

yes Keitechs are great and they were my #1 unill I tried the Culprit Incredi Swim. Im sure a lot of guys will think Im crazy for saying that. But they have more action/wobble when swimming, are easier to rig (the keitech isn't hard to rig by any means just the culprit is easier because of the flat top and bottom) and are more durable.

No it doesnt have the tail movement at the super slow speeds that the keitech does, but it still has good action at slow speeds.

I use them both for swim jig trailers.

chadmack282 reply :

On 4/25/2016 at 1:26 AM, roadwarrior said:

I agree, but when we are able to buy the new Rage Tail I think we will be crowning a new King!

When r the new rage tail swimbaits available?

jerzeeD reply :

I'll be the only guy here that votes for Huddleston swimbaits I suppose. They are not cheap... but yes, they work

GetBent reply :

On 5/2/2016 at 10:20 AM, jerzeeD said:

I'll be the only guy here that votes for Huddleston swimbaits I suppose. They are not cheap... but yes, they work

Do they make a 4in Swimbait?

Bluebasser86 reply :

On 5/2/2016 at 10:23 AM, GetBent said:

Do they make a 4in Swimbait?

The Weedless Grass Minnow isn't quite 4" and there's a 4" Weedless Shad.

I like the shad better of the two but they both work if you don't mind a spendy soft bait that isn't very durable.

Big bass hunter reply :

I like wildeye series for the price point and really like strike kings shadalicous four inch just like the thump it gives out. Havent tried berkly hollowbodys but all i hear is people like them better than strike kings nothing but good things

Scarborough817 reply :

On 5/1/2016 at 9:05 AM, chadmack282 said:

When r the new rage tail swimbaits available?

said to be released at ICast

Maxximus Redneckus reply :

I use storms,zoom swimming flukes and manns swimbaits .they hold up well even for saltwater .firetiger and tenn shad seems to work best 2"up to 6"

roadwarrior reply :

On 5/1/2016 at 9:05 AM, chadmack282 said:

When r the new rage tail swimbaits available?

After they are introduced at ICAST in July.

WIGuide reply :

I haven't tried the 4" model, but if they're anything like the 5" the Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper is a great swimbait. I rig them on a weighted hook, use them as swim jig trailers, and have fished them on a jig head and they all catch fish.

7001

best 4" swimbait 2025

related Fishing Tackle topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Tackle topic