I have been fishing keitech swimbaits for awhile and have been impressed with the amount of action it has in its tail. However, in my experience they are very fragile and are rendered almost useless after one or two catches or after getting snagged. Im looking for a similar style bait with a little more durability if anyone has suggestions. 

I have seen these recommended but I haven't tried them.

Rage Swimmer

Smash Tail

Smash-Tech Smash Tail Jr

 

I use the Reaction innovations Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and Skinny dipper baits when I put the Keitech down or run out of them. They have good tail movement and seem to be a little tougher.  

You are where i was last year.  I feel the bass assassin shad bait is a great replacement.  I just wrote my review on TW and it posted today. If the easy shiner is your favorite then that is the bait i would recommend.  I am trying out the other "fat" style baits and have not had enough bites on any of those i am trying to make a positive or negative comment.  So far i am testing the bass pro version and if those don't work out i will move on to the next type.  The larger 4.8 is fine in the keitech if you run the owner weighted beast hook.  I have over 4 fish on the larger baits, for some reason the bluegill leave the tails alone, and the hook does not tear them up as bad.

So far I'm loving the four inch Keitech.  But upon arriving home I have a bottle of "mend-it" that gets opened and used.  The bigger the pile of wounded baits the funner the trip was!!!

If you are not strict on keeping the ridges, I would take a look at the Gambler EZ/Big EZ.

Rhythm wave! By Jackall

 

It was my best producing lure all of last year. It has just as much action as a keitech, and it's a lot more durable. It comes in 2.8, 3.8, 4.8, 5.8 versions.

I can't wait for the 7.8...

I was going to try the bps knockoffs of keitech and just ordered some xzone slammer which look pretty good but haven't gotten them in the mail yet 

20 minutes ago, yosef said:

I was going to try the bps knockoffs of keitech and just ordered some xzone slammer which look pretty good but haven't gotten them in the mail yet 

i can confirm the x-zone are good i also like the lake yamamoto heart tail 

Can't recommend the eco pro swing shads enough... Much cheaper and more durable with great action...  I no longer buy keitechs anymore.

2 hours ago, 1201vilbig said:

I can't wait for the 7.8...

Uhhhh. That looks good. Which swimbait is that? Might have to get me some of that!

23 minutes ago, wdp said:

Uhhhh. That looks good. Which swimbait is that? Might have to get me some of that!

Keitech swing impact fat. they are coming out with a 6.8 and 7.8 version. Keitech told me they should be released end of June or so. Should be a good alternative to big swimbaits. curious to how much they will weigh tho

When Keitech finally releases those beasts.....bass.....LOOKOUT!

9 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

When Keitech finally releases those beasts.....bass.....LOOKOUT!

I agree. I have yet to use any of these baits. Im venturing out into big swimbaits this year and have a 4 pack of the 5.8 on order. To me it was a better value than $10 or so plus for a big swimbait. My concern, and even more so with the bigger ones, is first cast a fish grabbing the tail and ripping it off. But they should be BIG BASS catchers!

I have been using Sassy Shads for years.  They seem to hold up pretty well.

4 hours ago, ThePolkFolk said:

If you are not strict on keeping the ridges, I would take a look at the Gambler EZ/Big EZ.

 

 

X2

Bass asassain and caffine swimming shad.

 

 

Yum Pulse

Skinny Dipper for fast action

Big EZ for more thump

 

 

 

 

Mike 

Gambler Big EZ   = Size             

RI Skinny Dipper = numbers     

 

Roger

 

28 minutes ago, RoLo said:

Gambler Big EZ   = Size             

RI Skinny Dipper = numbers     

 

Roger

 

 

That too!! ?

 

 

 

 

Mike

zoom has a nice 5" bait with great action.  I also like the Stankxbaitco soft bodied swimmers as well.

 

Keitechs with screwlock hook and a bottle of mend-it.  Period

Storm came out with a new swimbait called the 360 degree searchbait. Comes in three diff sizes. I picked up the 3.5 today in Chartruese at Cabelas.

SmashTech  head smasher . Little creeper trash fish,