How To Retrieve A Small Texas Rigged Paddle Tail Swim Bait?

[smalljaws]

I noticed on BassZone they had photos of the swimbaits Steve Kennedy used to win at Clear Lake.

One of them is a small Basstrix paddletail that he rigged Texas Style on what looks like a lightly weighted hook.

I've never fished swimbaits (but am going to try now) so I was wondering how he likely retrieved the lure. It is rigged like you'd rig a fluke - but would you fish it like a fluke? Or would it be a more straight retrieve given the paddle tail.

Sure would appreictae any advice and help from folks who might have experience with this lure.

Thanks a bunch.

[StockOption]

The day I fished with Steve he fished it like a swimbait with a fairly straight retrieve, he would mix it up some times with pauses and jerks, but in general it was a straight retrieve. He of course made unreal skip casts under docks with it as well, that was the part that was key, the long skip casts under the docks....

[smalljaws]

Thanks StockOption.

Am I correct from looking at the Bass Fan photo of the Basstrisx that Steve was using a weighted Falcon type EWG hook. Looks like a very light amount of weight though. About 1/32 ounce?

[StockOption]

I did not ask him specifically about this, but yeah that's exactly what it looked like to me 1/32 or 1/16 size....

[lionkiller]

Thanks StockOption.

Am I correct from looking at the Bass Fan photo of the Basstrisx that Steve was using a weighted Falcon type EWG hook. Looks like a very light amount of weight though. About 1/32 ounce?

6/0 falcon 1/32 oz. only enough speed to make the tail work...pause occasionally. change up if you don't get bit.

[schreecher2]

We have been using this on these small Panic Minnow swimbaits for a year up here for smallmouth. Pretty productive. The weighted Falcon hook keeps them running real straight, and you can throw it and swim it thru some heavy cover. Need to be sure to glue the baits on though, because they are Very soft, and a little pricey....but so is fishing time on the water.

[Riplip]

Mustad Ultrapoint weighted...holds the Basstrix better and won't tear it up as much.

[L Dub]

there's an article about it in this months Bassin mag. I tihnk Icconelli wrote it.