What’s your setup for a 5-inch paddle tail swimbait, similar to a Basstrix? Specifically, what rod and line do you prefer?

What type of jig head and weight?

Hollow body paddle tails are light weight and I prefer the internal weight Basstrix had in 3/16 oz and used my MHF Jig & worm rod w/12# FC.

Tom

5/8oz 

I prefer a longer MH/MF rod, specifically an expride 7'6MH, with 30lb braid to 14lb sniper for lighter overall weights and a Loomis 904mbr for heavier weights.

 

scott

For me, 5/8oz. is a little heavy for a 5in.  I throw mine on a St.Croix 7' MH/Fast, 15lb. YoZuri SuperSoft and a 5.9:1 Daiwa Fuego.  That being said, I also slit the belly on both my hollow and solid paddletails for a weedless presentation and rarely fish them deeper than 12-15ft.  You may want to go to a heavier power for that weight, but keep your line in the 14lb. range to keep it from prohibiting the bait's action.

4.5/5" hollow bellies I use just a 7' MHF St Croix Premier with Daiwa Fuego 6.3 reel and 17lb Defier mono. Nothing fancy needed for these type swimbaits.

On 10/28/2024 at 10:12 PM, papajoe222 said:

For me, 5/8oz. is a little heavy for a 5in.  I throw mine on a St.Croix 7' MH/Fast, 15lb. YoZuri SuperSoft and a 5.9:1 Daiwa Fuego.  That being said, I also slit the belly on both my hollow and solid paddletails for a weedless presentation and rarely fish them deeper than 12-15ft.  You may want to go to a heavier power for that weight, but keep your line in the 14lb. range to keep it from prohibiting the bait's action.

What weight do you use when your fishing that 12-15foot depth?

5 hours ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

What weight do you use when your fishing that 12-15foot depth?

It depends on the size and if the bait is solid, or hollow and how fast I intend to present it. A 5/8oz on a 5in. or 6in. hollow body would be difficult to keep at that depth and retrieve it slow enough to get a good body roll and tail action.