I need to get into throwing soft swimbaits more, and was hoping you guys could help me pick a couple to try. I'm looking for the skinny profile ones, for when the bass are chasing emerald shiners. When they are on the shiners they are tough to catch, about the only thing they will hit is jerkbaits or slim swimbaits. I went on TW site and clicked on swimbaits... holy cow! Overwhelmed was the feeling. I need 3.5-4" size to "match the hatch" but would also like some 4.5" as well. Can anyone recommend a brand or model? I don't want hollow belly, I want solid baits in the slim profile for use on jig heads and keel weighted hooks. 

Thanks! 

Not familiar with your waters, or your shiners, so I'm not sure they'll match the profile you're looking for, but I'm very happy with Power Team Hammer Shad and Gene Larew Sweet Swimmers.  Those little Sweet Swimmers in threadfin shad or smoke silver on a 1/8oz weighted hook kill the smallies when they're on the minnows.

As you noted, there are a ton of possibilities out there and most everyone has at least two or three favorites.

The Keitech Swimbaits have quite a faithful following and with good reason, as they have accounted for many a bass here recently.

There's new brands & models popping up seems like almost daily.  One of the more recent additions to this line up and one that's garnering quite a bit of attention and a reputation a solid producer in clear & pressured water, is the MC Swimbaits MC Shad.

A-Jay

 

Keitech Swing Impact (not the Fat version) in Electric Blue & Chartreuse is probably your best bet.

Been useing Skinny Dippers and Big EZ's exclusively for years. Gonna try some Keitech's this weekend at a tournament on Okeechobee if they get here on time.

 

 

Mike

Those new Rage ones look sweet

Fat impacts as well as the easy shiners if you want more subtle. 

I live in CT where bass don't grow that big. My favorite bait last year (first year I knew it existed) was the keitech 3.8 swing impact fat. We don't have shad where I fish but a lot of baby perch. The male perch color is fantastic for pike and bass. I also like the bluegill flash and the sun gill color in 3.8 and 4.3 inch. I rig it on a 3/0 to 5/0 Gamakatzu  keel weighted spring lock hook. If you don't rig it on a Owner or  Berkeley 19 fusion or similar brand SPRING lock hook the lure will rip. Used this setup 75% of 2015.

I just got a savage gear Line Tru trout 6" in Baby Bass. This thing looks so legit and can't wait to try it out. It seems huge but then I see guys on this site using twice as big.

Also got the Zman grass swimmerz coming in the mail and looking forward to the strike king version.

Gambler little ez in big money, ghost shad or ice breaker.  Lots of good colors

I picked up some a pack of Keitech fats and a couple bags of Berkley Ripple Shad.  Now I'm just waiting on the weather to cooperate to try them out. 

I'm a big fan of the Berkley Havoc Grass Pig and Grass Pig Jr rigged with a weighted hook.  

8 hours ago, Mike L said:

Been useing Skinny Dippers and Big EZ's exclusively for years. Gonna try some Keitech's this weekend at a tournament on Okeechobee if they get here on time.

 

 

Mike

I've been throwing the Big EZ's as well and like them a lot.

Pre-order from Siebert Outdoors.

I know of this shiner bite you speak. Fish head spin with a 3in keitech swimming shiner. Tail /w chartreuse dye is key. Stands out from the pack.

Regular Keitech or Easy Shiner. 

Gambler EZ's. They have the little EZ, TZ, the regular size EZ and the big EZ just depending on bait fish size and matching it up. They come in a # of great colors and the garlic scent is killer. You can fish it all day and still smell it. Also the new Rage tail swimmers look pretty sick. Will def be trying them. But my permanent soft swimmer has to be the gambler. Have caught some studs on them

Keitech Fat Swing Impact and Megabass Spark Shad - both are packaged where the tails will be straight out of the package and not swim wonky.

Yum Money Minnows in the 3" size are very good baits and they have a great color selection too. 

check your dm

Those keitech impacts look identical to a ribbed grub from yesteryear.

dang but I can't remember the name , but they may have been bass assassin .

good bait and not nearly so much dinero

Keitech Swing Impact 4" in electric shad is my favorite for imitating shiners and small herring. I rig them on a 3/32 or 1/8oz jighead, and occasionally I will use them on a weightless ewg hook if I want to wake it. The swing impact fat is good when you want something that moves more water (but still not as much movement as most swimbaits).

On 4/6/2016 at 3:12 PM, Kevin22 said:

I need to get into throwing soft swimbaits more, and was hoping you guys could help me pick a couple to try. I'm looking for the skinny profile ones, for when the bass are chasing emerald shiners. When they are on the shiners they are tough to catch, about the only thing they will hit is jerkbaits or slim swimbaits. I went on TW site and clicked on swimbaits... holy cow! Overwhelmed was the feeling. I need 3.5-4" size to "match the hatch" but would also like some 4.5" as well. Can anyone recommend a brand or model? I don't want hollow belly, I want solid baits in the slim profile for use on jig heads and keel weighted hooks. 

Thanks! 

You should really check out the Huddleston shad and weedless shad. These are already pre-rigged swimbaits that allow you to tie on and fish. You can fish these on A-rigs, fish them like a jig, fish them straight retrieve. They are awesome baits and they're small, 4 inches. You'll dig em! Also check out the Mattlures baby bass series...these baits are money too. Small, cast like a bullet, and easy to fish. They produce!

20 minutes ago, stkbassn said:

You should really check out the Huddleston shad and weedless shad. These are already pre-rigged swimbaits that allow you to tie on and fish. You can fish these on A-rigs, fish them like a jig, fish them straight retrieve. They are awesome baits and they're small, 4 inches. You'll dig em! Also check out the Mattlures baby bass series...these baits are money too. Small, cast like a bullet, and easy to fish. They produce!

I bet those hudds would work well on the Alabama rig, but I would be afraid to use a sixty five dollar rig!