Swimbait
Also called paddle tail, boot tail
A soft-plastic baitfish imitation with a paddle-shaped tail that kicks on a steady retrieve.
The paddle at the back catches water and rocks the whole body from side to side as you reel, so the bait swims with a rolling, baitfish-like motion. Rig it on a weighted swimbait hook or a jig head and wind it slowly. That is the entire technique, and it makes the swimbait one of the easiest lures to fish well.
Size it to what the fish are eating. Three to four inches covers most freshwater situations where bass are on shad or bluegill. Larger glide baits and jointed hard swimbaits are a separate specialty aimed at very big fish.
It is at its best when fish are chasing bait: fall shad pushes, points, and anywhere you can see activity on the surface.
Reel just fast enough to feel the tail thumping. Slower than that and it stops swimming, faster and it rolls over.
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