Once again, Berkley has outdone themselves. The paddletail has amazing swimming action at slow speeds. I bought a pack of the Strike Kings because the Berkleys were getting torn up. I can honestly say, the Shadalicious hardly swim at all. It's like tying on a hot dog and expecting it to swim. The paddletail doesn't move at all. Would be nice if Berkley started to offer replacements for a little less money. Just me....

Another pack of soft plastics relegated to the garage.... :

Is that the same as the Berkley Powerbait Hollow Belly Swimbait?  I've heard good things about them.  

I really like Berkley Baits.  Just about everything I've tried from them works well.  Recently I've been using Shaky Worms and I think they are the best I've tried yet.  

Yup, same thing I edited the title...

The real deal

http://www.***.com/descpageSWIMBERK-BPHB.html

The not so real deal http://www.***.com/descpageSWIMSTRIKE-SKSAL.html

Was hoping the Strike Kings would work as well...they are 6 per pack for less money....silly me. :-[

Does anyone make these stupid things in just plain watermelonseed??  Thats the brand that I want.  Or does someone make a mold for them?

Matt,

What size(s) have you tried?  Just curious how the action is on the smaller (4in) bait.....

FD

So far I'm just using the 5.5"

that's great, matt, glad to hear it's a good bait. gonna try some soon. most all plastic swimbaits fail bigtime.

looking at both of the pictures you posted of the baits it's easy to see one reason the berkley swims better - thinner body section going into the paddle tail. most bait makers fail to see the value in making that section thinner. YUM money minnows are bad about this also, which is the soft swimmer I had the most hope for since they look great and the yum attractant is good. more and more I'm finding myself with more berkley products and less of everything else.

more and more I'm finding myself with more berkley products and less of everything else.

After reading the book: "Knowing Bass" by that Berkley scientist I can't help but respect what they're doing.  The amount of research that is put into their lure development is staggering.

more and more I'm finding myself with more berkley products and less of everything else.

After reading the book: "Knowing Bass" by that Berkley scientist I can't help but respect what they're doing.  The amount of research that is put into their lure development is staggering.

I watched a VHS tape Berkley sent me in the late 80's of them testing the power worm (trying to get sponsored, but hey...I was very young   ;D).  They sent me several packs of each of the Power baits they had out at the time and a video.  I'm not sure If I would watch a video about a bait today...I'd guess it was just an infomercial.  Berkley's was different...all footage was in the Lab.  Berkley's lab is incomparable.  It was the first (and maybe only) lab dedicated to studying how bass strike lures.  It was one of the most interesting things I've ever seen.  They actually have ponds with thousands of bass they use, and after they see how a bass or (bass) react to a lure...they release them and introduce new fish.  I also watched them test the Berkley Frenzy crankbait when it was introduced.  They had a large oval with a current, and a Frenzy crank of a line, and they watched how many times the newly introduced bass would strike it until they got the desired results (adjusting lip angle, etc.).  You can't argue with what Berkley has done/is doing.  Back on topic; I've only tried the Yum Money Minnow and Berkley Hollow Belly, and the Berkley is the clear winner.  The Yum Minnow swims, but the Berkley not only swims with its paddle tail but also sashay's from side to side almost like a small roll.  Great bait, and worth the money.

I was fishing the berkley hollow bodies until I found the xcite baits swimbaits in 5". Great action, colors, and less $$$$$ than the Berkleys. They are also made in the USA.

JR

My vote goes to Mattlures, Minnows and Mattshad series:

http://www.mattlures.com/minnow-series.htm

http://www.mattlures.com/mattshad.htm

8-)