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  1. #1
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    Favorite Finesse Swimbaits/Heads

    I know that the Keitech fat swing impact is the gold standard and I’ve gotten a lot of bites on it. Mainly throw the 2.8 inch on a gamakatsu horizon head or an outkast tackle golden eye jig head both in the 3/16 oz 2/0 hook. What are some of your favorite swimbaits and terminal to go along with it? Went though a whole pack of keitechs during a tournament today and ran out halfway in. Guess that’s a good thing lol. Just looking for some alternatives that are also durable and just as productive as the keitech.

    Thanks!

  2. Member
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    Nov 2007
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    Republic, MO
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    #2
    My favorite head by far is the Dirty Jigs guppy head. I carry 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, and 3/8. In most colors. I’ve been using some Tackle Max Fugitive swim baits. They last a lot longer than the Keitechs.

  3. Member mflora98ss's Avatar
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    Mar 2022
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    Van Etten, NY
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    #3
    Strike King Squadron swimbait head paired with a Crush City mayor is a great combo.

    2010 Nitro Z7
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    Cayuta Creek Outdoors
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw3...UvSxaeLpzFyYHA

  4. Member
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    Dec 2009
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    Murfreesboro, TN
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    #4
    X-Zone Swammers are excellent in all sizes and more durable.

  5. Member
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    Apr 2016
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    Mohawk, New York
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    12,517
    #5
    For heads: Guppy heads, VMC neon moon eye jigs, and I also make my own ball head jigs.

    for swimbaits: Keitech 2.8 fats, Keitech 4” easy shiners (great profile, very finessey for a 4” swimbait, and Megabass 3” spark shads
    1995 Ranger 481v
    1995 Johnson Fast Strike 175hp

  6. Member
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    Aug 2014
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    Orange Park Florida
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    448
    #6
    6Th sense finesse heads and if you want smaller, the pecos is money. Me and my kids can catch a ton of anything in the water with a little pecos in pro minnow or pro shad. paint holds up to crabs and gar. I've been trying to spend less on bulk orders and shipping. These are readily available at Dick's, Academy and BPS.

  7. Member
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    Nov 2024
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    Des Plaines, IL
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    175
    #7
    What do you guys think about the angle of the line tie? I heard a straight 90 degree line tie keeps the bait stable and a 30 degree line tie make the bait want to roll side to side more. The submerged grass is starting to grow thicker here and thinking, should I just buy 90 degree line ties for colder water and use something like a swimjig that has a weedguard starting post spawn when the grass gets thicker?

  8. Member
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    Dec 2009
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    Murfreesboro, TN
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    #8
    For jighead hooks, I like Mustad 60 degree cross eye 32798, the paddletail swims great with this hook and has good body roll.

  9. Member eyra_kid's Avatar
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    Jan 2010
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    Topeka, Kansas
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    2,661
    #9
    Z-Man Swimmin Trout Trick has a killer action. I use Z-Man Trout Eye Finesse jigheads with 2/0 hook. Tactical Bassin recently talkeded about these jigheads in a video on A-rigs.

  10. Member dwtaylor's Avatar
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    Oct 2015
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    Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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    1,946
    #10
    I make my own from a roundhead jig mold with a screw lock keeper. I pour using Owner 5313 hooks. For the 2.8s, I rarely go bigger than 3/16 oz and a 1/0 hook. I use a 1/8 most of the time for that size of bait.

    With that said, castagaintackle sells basically the same thing.

    Bait wise, the keitechs are great and all, but I really like the big bite baits suicide shad. It is closer in action to the easy shiner, but way more durable.

  11. Member
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    Jan 2017
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    Waverly, Iowa
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    #11
    Megabass Okashira Screwhead jighead with a 3" Megabass Spark Shad.

  12. Member
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    Nov 2024
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    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by coreynov902 View Post
    Megabass Okashira Screwhead jighead with a 3" Megabass Spark Shad.
    I’d throw that more if they had a 3/16oz head

  13. Member
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    Apr 2012
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    Exeter ,New Hampshire
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    #13
    Okashira screwhead with hazedong shad or spark shad.
    Red Sox in 6!

  14. Member
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    Oct 2015
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    Rainy Lake, Mn
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    #14
    Northland smeltinator with 1/0 hook. 2.5 inch crush city mayors

  15. Member
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    Sep 2012
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    georgia/california
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    61
    #15
    Northland Smeltinator heads for me as well. 1/8 or 1/4 oz heads.
    1/0 hook size for 3.3” or smaller. 3/0 for 3.3” or larger.

    I mostly fish the fat impacts still. Tried a bunch of different ones but haven’t found any that best the keitechs on a consistent basis.
    I like the Rapala Mayors too, especially in cooler weather or when I want something more subtle.
    You can get them to kick a little wider if you warm em up.
    Last edited by spookybaits; 05-22-2025 at 10:44 PM.

  16. Member
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    Sep 2020
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    Ontario
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    #16
    For 3.3” or 3.8” Keitech style baits the Dirty Jigs Finess swimbait head is a good option.

  17. Member
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    Apr 2015
    Location
    East Tennessee
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    719
    #17
    The tva highland reservoirs that I fish only have vegetation when the lakes are at full summer pool. I have found that a football head, 1/8 oz fits the bill perfectly when I throw a finesse in warmer weather. I go up in weight and swimbait size when the offshore bite gets going. I only use a ball head or Okishira Screw head in colder water.

  18. Member
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    Sep 2004
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    MN
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    1,245
    #18
    The new Berkley hybrid heads have done real well this spring. The hook size and weight is printed on each jighead, which is a nice touch. I was using Outkasts Golden Eye, but the Hybrid head has taken over the #1 spot.

  19. Member
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    Apr 2016
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    Mohawk, New York
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    #19
    I forgot this in my original post but worthy mention..

    a 1/8oz Megabass Okashira screw heads are fantastic for smallmouth. The heads alone are nice too.

    the Shin Fukae green fish tackle shinspin is a great jig head too, the hook is larger and more suited for 4-5” baits
    1995 Ranger 481v
    1995 Johnson Fast Strike 175hp

  20. Member
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    Feb 2014
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    raymond, nh
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    #20

    I have found these to be the best for 2.8 keitechs.

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