I upgraded a rod that I mostly threw wacky senkos on. So now it's mostly collecting dust.

 

I've been wanting to get into the soft plastic swimbaits and underspin fishing and now I figure this rod can do the job.

 

It's a spinning combo, medium power so I'm mostly looking to throw 3" or even smaller.

 

I figure that size can catch anything from bass to big crappies to walleye depending on the lake.

 

What's a good head size for something this size? I probably can't have anything huge if I'd like to catch crappie as well right?

 

Good swimbait?

 

Lastly, what's a good underspin to go with this size?

 

Thanks for any thoughts/input!!

1/8 oz is a good all around size for small swimbaits for me.  I will fish 3/16 and 1/4 oz too, but getting bigger than that it is hard to find a small hook that doesn't steal action from the swimbait.  

 

For baits, its hard to beat a keitech swing fat impact 2.8 or 3.3 or similar baits.  I also really like the big bite baits suicide shad in the smallest size for cold water fish.  

 

I don't fish underspins so I can't help you there.

Not sure how small you are looking for but I have had a great time fishing the small swimbaits from Mule Fishing and Moondog baits. Small companies that make baits for just this sort of application

My favorite combo is the 6th sense crappie jighead 1/16oz #2 hook and a 2.75" xzone swammer 

Raid Libero

2.8 Keitech 

Smeltinator for head on Keitech 

If I'm throwing or crappie also, then I carry 1/32, 1/16, and 1/8 jigheads.  Basic ball head, 50 for $5 type with a #2-1/0 hook or thereabouts.  I'm usually throwing them around a bunch of brush and I'll lose a couple on each tree trying to get into the deepest of it.  A lighter head helps to not bury into the heaviest tangles and also gives the fish an extra second to grab it.  With a 1/32 head and a 2" plastic you can usually let it fall to depth and just hold the rod tip high on a tight line to work it.  It will pendulum slowly back and fish will whack it.  So will bass.

 

if you're throwing down the bank and covering water, then 1/8-1/4 and a 3.5" paddle tail or twister will do it.  

I like the Ryugi tungsten G2 ball heads where I add the hook.  I can select the hook that best fits the bait. 

Dirty jigs guppy head 1/8 or 3/16

 

Keitech swing impact fat 2.8 or 3.3

Keitech fat swing impact 2.8 on a 1/8oz 1/0 Owner flashy swimmer works great for me in both bass and sac a lait (crappie). 

I've been throwing Keitechs and Mayors side by side the last couple weeks and the Rapala is absolutely 'Crushing' the Keitechs. 

  I fish in and around grass, so I usually prefer a weighted hook, rigged weedless.  1/8 is ok, but 3/16 gives me more depth control while maintaining decent speed.  Too slow, and the Mayor tends to lose its juice.

They get no love on here but don’t sleep on the Rage Swimmers. Only paddle tails I throw and they come in several sizes. 

20 hours ago, Peacedivision said:

My favorite combo is the 6th sense crappie jighead 1/16oz #2 hook and a 2.75" xzone swammer 

I bought some swammers years ago before I really got into small swimbaits so I never really used them. 
now I look at them and they inspire zero confidence. I might have to give them an honest go next time out

 

 

My go to’s right now are 

The crush city freeloader

and 3.75” Rage swimmers 

usually use a VMV moon eye jig or northlands smeltinator or dirty jigs guppy head anywhere from 1/8 to 1/4 depending on desired depth

All thrown on a Medium action rod. 

I find baits around 3.5-3.75” get more bites and bigger fish

the best tiny swimbait for me is the (megabass) spark shad or Hazadong shad.  both work surprisingly well as a finesse jig trailer.  

 

either on that spin head thing is fun..  I want to use them on elephant butte white bass.  it would be mayhem.  

7 minutes ago, C.Tucks said:

I bought some swammers years ago before I really got into small swimbaits so I never really used them. 
now I look at them and they inspire zero confidence. I might have to give them an honest go next time out

They get bit

Well I made an order.

 

I bought a pack of 2.5" Mayors, some 2.8" Keitechs, and some Dirty Jigs underspins and guppy heads.

 

After doing some more reading, it sounds like the Keitechs don't hold up the best.

 

One person said 1 bait per fish. I sure hope that's not the case.

18 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I bought a pack of 2.5" Mayors

3" mayor on the DJ/TB mini underspin is a really nice combo. Haven't tried the 2.5" on it yet but I assume it will work just as well. I'd also say they're just as fragile as a keitech  but I wouldn't say either is a 1 bait per fish thing unless they're really aggressive.

20 minutes ago, Peacedivision said:

3" mayor on the DJ/TB mini underspin is a really nice combo. Haven't tried the 2.5" on it yet but I assume it will work just as well. I'd also say they're just as fragile as a keitech  but I wouldn't say either is a 1 bait per fish thing unless they're really aggressive.

 

I'm not a fish, but I'm eating that thing. 

 

Especially after seeing a million spinnerbaits, crankbaits, etc.

On 6/9/2025 at 10:15 AM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I figure that size can catch anything from bass to big crappies to walleye depending on the lake.

 

What's a good head size for something this size? I probably can't have anything huge if I'd like to catch crappie as well right?

 

Good swimbait?

 

Lastly, what's a good underspin to go with this size?

 

Thanks for any thoughts/input!!

Check out Blakemore Road Runners for bass and panfish.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=20&searchtext=blakemore

Good Fishing

1 hour ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Well I made an order.

 

I bought a pack of 2.5" Mayors, some 2.8" Keitechs, and some Dirty Jigs underspins and guppy heads.

 

After doing some more reading, it sounds like the Keitechs don't hold up the best.

 

One person said 1 bait per fish. I sure hope that's not the case.

 

Glue them to the jighead and they will last a lot longer.  

I have some DOA's .Not saying they are better than others but have caught a lot of bass for me. One of my favorite retrieves is to cast out , let it settle to the bottom , then lift the rod tip high and allow the lure to pendulum back on a tight line. Has been productive on points and rip rap for me. I use 1/8 and 1/4 heads.

7 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Well I made an order.

 

I bought a pack of 2.5" Mayors, some 2.8" Keitechs, and some Dirty Jigs underspins and guppy heads.

 

After doing some more reading, it sounds like the Keitechs don't hold up the best.

 

One person said 1 bait per fish. I sure hope that's not the case.

Last outing couple days ago I managed 18 crappie 9"-11.5" with one 2.5" swing impact.👍

2.75in X-Zone Swammer or a Megabass Spark Shad with a  1/8oz 1/0 or #1 Keitech Mono Guard Jig head. I have caught too many crappie on this set up. It can be a problem when you are targeting bass but it's still fun. 

On 6/10/2025 at 11:17 AM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Well I made an order.

 

I bought a pack of 2.5" Mayors, some 2.8" Keitechs, and some Dirty Jigs underspins and guppy heads.

 

After doing some more reading, it sounds like the Keitechs don't hold up the best.

 

One person said 1 bait per fish. I sure hope that's not the case.

They’re definitely the Senko of the swimbait world. 

1/0 Owner Flashy Swimmer. Weighs 1/8oz. 

I like the xzone swimmer or crush city mayor on a 3/16 ewg underspin. Usually get the 3-3.5 inch swim baits from them. The xzone aren’t super durable but they catch fish great. The mayors are real

rugged