I am considering a few Keitech Impact 3.5 swimbaits and was wondering what your preferred tackle and retrieve method is.

On the A Rig LOL

You can use a weighted screw lock swimbait hook with the hook point skin hooked for weedless or you can use a jig head running the hook from the nose out the back for an exposed hook.  

Swing Impact or Shad Impact?

 

Have you watched any of Keitech's videos?  I learned a lot about how to fish them by having a better idea of what its doing below the surface.

All I see any more on here is talk about the Keitechs. They are all the rage now I guess. I use screw lock swimbait hooks or as trailers on swimjigs and chatterbaits.

You can use a weighted screw lock swimbait hook with the hook point skin hooked for weedless or you can use a jig head running the hook from the nose out the back for an exposed hook.

X2

they're awesome as a swim jig trailer.  I fished them with a small 1/16 oz jig head not too long ago and really liked the action, but caught none that way so far.

jig trailer, chatterbait trailer....great little baits. They are really soft, not as durable as others, but who cares? They work, buy more!

I use the owner twist lock wieghted hooks.  Reel them steady and slow.  Just got a 3 pounder on a black one the other day.

 

 

They make a great dropshot bait as well.  

1/4oz bullet jighead is a killer way to catch anything that eats other fish. 

Can't beat the action of chikubi rigging it (nail weights in the belly holes). The higher center of gravity let's the bait wobble a lot more significantly laterally.

How do I fish them?

Screw lock hook, drop shot, Carolina Rig, and neko rig.

I always throw them on a keel weighted twist lock hook because I like to throw them into cover. 1/8 oz weighted hooks + bait throw well on a medium. 3/16 oz throw well on a medium heavy which is what I usually throw them on.

I fish the Swing Impact Fat quite a bit and love it.

I've had my best luck (bank fishing) with using screw lock hook weightless.  

Swims very natural and swims downward when it sinks.  

Every effective bait.

Bass around here love the Bluegill Flash color.

I am just your average "Chuck and wind" guy so I would not know what makes a Keitech so special compared to the (knock offs)which are more expensive.

 

Hopefully somebody will give me the secret since chucking and winding is usually how we fish lures or else how do you get them back to the boat???

 

The Keitechs are great, now Dick's sells them for $5 a pack, but at the end of the day, they are an expensive paddle tail grub with a ringed body, I use em, but I like the Strike King KVD Swimbaits better, ZMAN Elaztach, and the BPS speed shad is my favorite for the texture and taper, and Sizmic Shad for a larger bait to push more water...

 

Screw lock hooks seem to help them hold better and last longer, but fish em like you would any grub/swimbait with a boot tail.

A-Rid, chatterbait/spinnerbait trailer, and on a 1/8oz shakey head.

......., but at the end of the day, they are an expensive paddle tail grub with a ringed body, I use em, but I like the Strike King KVD Swimbaits better, ZMAN Elaztach, and the BPS speed shad is my favorite for the texture and taper, and Sizmic Shad for a larger bait to push more water...

 

There was a time not long ago when I might have said the same thing.   I'm a convert because the Keitech SI is NOT the same as those others at super slow speeds.  These things have tremendous action on the slowest drags or falls.  If you're 'chucking and winding', then I agree - there are plenty of paddle tails that are going to wag just fine.  But if you are using light weights, slow hopping, dragging...well then you'll see why a KVD swimbait isn't going to get bit like these.

What model, size and color do you guys especially like? I keep reading people who favor these, I am going to have to try some. I prefer catching numbers of fish rather than seeking big mama, if that matters. (I am going to experiment some with using smaller baits... finesse fishing.)

VMC Finesse Half Moon slowly, very slowly ...

 

Usually on a 3/16 or 1/4oz football head. 2.8s or 3.3s.  drag em through the rocks and sand for brown fish

Here's my toothpick rigging.

Here's my toothpick rigging.

 

I do the same thing except I use a paper clip wire. Also, is that a Buckeye J-will head I see? Excellent choice, sir.

Yep. They work for me and are easy to get.

Guys, thank you, lots of food for thought.