How to rig a swimbait [Top 3 swimbait rigging techniques]

One of the most lifelike baits you can use to capture bass is the swimbait, and there are many different ways to rig them. I’ve listed my three favorite swimbait rigging techniques along with what makes each rig special in this article. Leave a comment below with your preferred swimbait rigging technique!

Top 3 techniques to rig a swimbait

1. Rig a paddle tail swimbait with a texas rig

So the first approach I like to rig a paddle tail swimbait is with a Texas rig. Now, I don’t see many individuals doing this in my neighborhood. I’m interested, leave a comment if you people rig it up this way, but I don’t see it very often, and most of the bodies of water where I’m from are largely covered in weeds or have a lot of general covers.

So I prefer to fish it in this manner because it keeps me weed-free. However, it also gives it a new action. When most people aren’t fishing it this way, I may give the fish an alternative presentation.

Now here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take a paddle tail swimbait. The hook size and method you use will be decided by the paddle tail swimbait you’re using. A 4.7-inch paddle tail swimbait is what I’m using. This is the ExoSwim BioSpawn. This is my preferred swimbait.

I have a 5/0 EWG hook. Because this is important, make sure you utilize an EWG hook.

If any of you are new to this, then what we’re going to do is take this bait and just thread the hook’s tip through the top of our swimbait. From there, we’ll take it down, drag it all the way to the cut in that hook, and then reverse the direction of our hook.

The only thing left to do is to tuck the hook’s point into the paddle tail of the swimbait. Simply place the hook flush with the top of the ExoSwim. This particular swimbait, the ExoSwim, is amazing because it actually has a channel in there, so the hook conceals perfectly in there.

This will make it possible for your bait to be weed-free, and the reason we chose a large EWG hook was to give the fish greater hook exposure when it bites. That is the reason I’m utilizing an EWG. You guys won’t be able to obtain a really nice hook set if you only use a straight shank since it won’t expose the hook enough.

So I’ll use a Texas rig like this and then just pair it with a bullet weight. That’s what I’m doing here. Those two together form a killer combo for me, keeping that bait weedless. Because it’s weighted, you can get that bait to move faster and fish it deeper.

When you reach deeper in the water column, you may get a really good belly roll out of a texas rigged swimbait.

2. Screwlock Underspin

A screwlock swimbait hook is another method I use when rigging a paddle tail swim bait. So this hook is extremely nice. It’s a mix between an EWG as well as an underspin, and like a shaky head.

So, to rig this, take the screw and put it into the top of your swimbait. Now that we’ve attached the bait to the screw lock, we’re ready to insert that hook through the bottom.

We’re going to do it exactly like the Texas rig, tucking the hook through the belly of the bait and coming out into that channel on top.

So there you have it, we’re set up and ready to go. It’s really similar to rigging up a shaky head, and you’ve got the weight down here in the hook to allow that bait to sit properly.

But what I like about this setup is that you’ve got the flesh at the bottom of the bait with that underspin, and it’s really simply going to fire up the bite when you’re fishing in clearer water and deeper water with a lot of weeds and grass.

3. Swimbait Jighead to rig a paddle tail swimbait

The final method I prefer to rig a paddle tail swimbait is quite traditional. You simply go to the store, grab one of your favorite swimbait hooks, and thread it through the bait, and you’re ready to go.

So to do this take your swimbait head. Take your paddle tail swimbait and thread it in the top. These have hook keepers so you can keep the bait securely fastened to the hook. Push it up, and boom, it works.

This is perhaps the simplest method. If you look closely, it appears like a little bait fish, which is really cool. I try to fish this in deeper water or more open water areas. Simply because you have that hook exposed in this presentation, but it also works well.

So, there you have it. A paddle tail swimbait can be rigged in three different ways. It’s usually a good idea to have a couple of options with you in the boat or at the pond. The best thing I can say is that having options is amazing. So perhaps you can put these to proper use. I sincerely hope it improves your bass fishing skills.

Also, read How to clean & maintain baitcasting fishing reels [Detailed Guide].

FAQs on how to rig a swimbait

What hooks to use for swimbaits?

A weighted swimbait hook is ideal for skipping a swimbait in shallow areas, such as while dock fishing. You can use a jighead to fish a swimbait, but a belly-weighted hook placed within the bait skips so much better. In fact, a swimbait is one of the best baits to learn how to skip with a bait caster.

Do paddle tails work for bass?

Paddle tail swimbaits are effective all year long in all water conditions. Simply told, they are the best at imitating the appearance and feel of baitfish.

What’s the difference between the Carolina rig and the Texas rig?

The main difference is that the Carolina rigging works best with live bait. The Texas rig, on the other hand, works better with a plastic lure.

Can you Texas rig a crawfish?

For largemouth bass, soft plastic crayfish, often known as crawfish, are particularly effective. These baits are frequently used as trailers on bass jigs, but you can also fish them using a number of different rigs, including the Texas rig, Florida rig, Drop shot rig, swimbait hook, and many others.

What size hook is best for the Texas rig?

Texas rigging is best done with the 3/0 EWG hook size.

What kind of worm do you use for shaky head?

Most anglers prefer a finesse worm when fishing with a shaky head, but a variety of soft plastics also work well with a shaky jighead. Other possibilities for shaky head fishing include stickworms, soft plastic jerkbaits, plastic lizards, and creature baits.