Best Brands of Paddle Tails?

[UnkleRob2020]

I am new to paddle tails. The Zman seem to catch fish better than others that I have tried, but I really struggle getting them rigged properly. By this, I do not mean that they come loose after a couple strikes. I actually struggle getting them on the jig head the first time...the plastic is really tough for me to manipulate (perhaps because I have rheumatoid arthritis).

Does anyone have any paddle tails that they can recommend that are easy to find either locally or online?

Thank you :--)

[dsaavedra]

There are TONS of options for paddle tails, and I suspect everyone has their own brands and styles that they are partial to. Just about any of them should work though. My long-time favorite is the Zoom Swimmin Super Fluke, it comes in a 5" size and a 4" size, I usually use 5" and catch lots of bass, snakehead, pickerel, and rockfish on them. You can find these just about anywhere... Walmart, Bass Pro, Anglers, All Tackle, and at multiple online retailers of course.

In the last year I have really grown fond of a Cabelas's store brand called "Fisherman Series Go-To Swim Minnow". https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/cabe...to-swim-minnow You can also buy them at Bass Pro since the two companies merged. These come in a 5" and 3.5" size and they come 10 to a pack which is more than most paddle tail brands I've seen. They are pretty cheap, especially if you catch them on sale... I saw them on sale for 3 bucks and change a few months back and stocked up. I really like the 3.5" size for pickerel fishing in the Severn and again I've caught plenty of other fish on it as well, including my biggest snakehead. The 5" size works well too when fish want a slightly bigger meal.

Z-man is popular when toothy fish like bluefish or speckled trout are around as the stretchy plastic holds up better. Keitech is another really popular brand but I've never used them personally... they are a little pricey and cheaper alternatives work just fine for me.

[Mark]

UnkleRob,

I cannot address Zman because I've never purchased or used them to my knowledge.

I know some anglers add a touch of Superglue to their jigheads to keep their soft plastic baits in place. I've never tried that.

I pour my own jigs with Do-It molds. They create a sharp spike of lead on the jig's collar that helps to hold plastic baits in place. Usually by the time a soft plastic has worked loose it has caught a lot of fish for me. So I don't fret when one comes loose or if fish bite it in half.

When I fish paddletails weedless I use unweighted hooks in lieu of jigs. The hooks have screw connectors at the eye that hold the plastics firm. I've used many paddletails with the screw hooks but my favorites are Reaction Innovations 3.5 inch paddletails. I like them because they are made of denser/heavier plastic than many paddletails yet they remain soft with an excellent action. The have a groove in their bodies where I can embed the hook point which makes them ideal for fishing in heavy weeds. Their slightly heavier bodies allow me to cast them far.

For the plastics I use with jigs, I've cast many brands. 12 Fathoms' Fat Sam is a 3 inch paddletail from Florida that's sturdy and effective in catching many kinds of fish. (I believe the parent company has recently been sold, but they are still available online.)

Also, I agree with Dave that store brands by Bass Pro and Cabelas work well too. That goes for their Mr. Twister knockoffs. The store brands are often discounted. If I happen to run across them on sale, I'll buy a few packs.

As for threading them onto jigs or hooks, I hold the hook next to them before starting to get an idea were to pop the hook up through the body. Even then, I sometimes have to do it twice before I get it rigged the way I want. Also, a "bad" hook placement resulting in a crooked paddletail can add wobble to the bait. It may actually help you catch fish in certain scenarios.

[Big Mike]

I don’t think there is a “best” as Dave points out. I’m partial to Bass Assassins (pearl with chartreuse tail or limetruese) for salt water if I’m not using Zman Trout Tricks. Don’t overlook the humble twisty tail as an alternative. I’ve got some Kalin’s that are damn tough and blue fish rarely bite them off, they get hooked instead. Something about the twisty tail motion vice the paddle tail.

[kuljc]

i have a hard time getting zmans on the jig properly as well, and i don't have arthritis... doesn't matter which size they are either.

A buddy of mine got me on the zoom swiming fluke jr (4") size last year and it was good for rockfish in the tributaries with a 1/4 oz jighead.

[dsaavedra]

I tried putting Z-man on a weighted screw lock swimbait hook and I absolutely could not get it to go on. I literally spent 30 minutes trying before giving up. I can usually get them to go on jigs but I agree, sometimes it's tough. That stretchy plastic doesn't always like to go where you tell it to.

[ronaultmtd]

I used to swear by Bass Assassins..could not get ZMans rigged properly on the jigheads I used. Now I only use ZMans exclusively...the cure for me was the right jighead- Deathgrip jighead with a drop of gel Loctite Super Glue...they last and last and last...and they catch fish...i am using ZMan lures from last year that I caught dozens of fish...

[harryjulia54]

This is the best brand of paddle tails Gary Yamamoto Heart Tail.

[summersoff]

The best brand is the one thrown at the right place at the right time.

I use z-mans, egret wedge tails, assassins, and those Ketch for bigger jigs, they all work if thrown in the right place at the right time

[Mark]

...they all work if thrown in the right place at the right time

So true!

[ronaultmtd]

So true- Might add "if imparted with the right action"...the tolerance is how often the lure becomes "unusable" and you have to stop fishing to replace the body...i rig up four rods before I leave home with the "starter" set of colors, size, etc. I will fish...sometimes those four never get changed during my day on the water. Other times, the fishing is difficult even when you locate the fish and you throw everything trying to find the answer... it is amazing how ofter it is strictly color...one color lure is about all they will hit...I used to troll double swimbaits on each rod, but find that is a PIA for me when you come through a school of small fish. One thing we all are guilty of- our personal "go-to" lure...I have a large bag of ZMan plastic...lots of colors of swimbaits...just this week I received three colors I have wanted for a while but they were "out of stock." Yesterday one of the new colors produced fish that my "standby" did not...since I am fishing catch and release and not overly concerned about filling a stringer, I experiment a lot with new baits.....I give each new bait a good opportunity for success before replacing it on my lines...that is how I have found three or four "go to" favorites...color and action are more important than the name of the manufacturer on the bag...if you have faith in your lure it will catch fish for you.

[Mark]

...if you have faith in your lure it will catch fish for you.

That's worth another "So true"!

[kuljc]

I used to swear by Bass Assassins..could not get ZMans rigged properly on the jigheads I used. Now I only use ZMans exclusively...the cure for me was the right jighead- Deathgrip jighead with a drop of gel Loctite Super Glue...they last and last and last...and they catch fish...i am using ZMan lures from last year that I caught dozens of fish...

that's very interesting. I'll look into that. I really want to like the Zmans because they feel very strong and have good action. While I love the Zooms, they rip too easily.

[Rudy]

I use several types of paddle tails. Salt Water Assassins, z-man (Diesel and Trout Trick), Old Skool Baits Hammer. And jig heads I found Old Skool to be best so far with premium hooks and UV coating they hold all baits above well. While you can get a bite on all I find there is always a color or type preference. For example trolling Memorial Day using Old Skools on a tandem set up one rod and Z-Mann same set up second rod caught 12 stripers over 20”s all on Old Skool Hammers and on zman all we’re smaller except for one. So find what works for you and how you fish but experiment some days maybe today is a naked chicken day and not a nuclear chicken day. Good luck.


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[UnkleRob2020]

When I read that someone has a tandem paddletail setup, does that mean they are trolling two paddletails on the same rod?