Little-Known Paddletail Lure Rigging Secrets (That Increase Strikes)
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on April 9, 2020
When most people rig a paddletail on a jig head or weighted swimbait hook, they just rig it the same as everyone else…
But what if there’s a better way to rig them?
What if you rig them upside down?
Or what if you manipulate the lure to better resemble the baitfish your target species is going after?
Could that help you catch more fish?
In this video, I’ll show you a few unique ways to rig or change your paddletail to get more strikes.
Enjoy!
Paddletail Rigging Secrets [VIDEO]
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Now, let’s get into some of the little-know ways you can rig or manipulate your paddletails for more strikes.
Tip #1: Cut off the tip of the paddletail to help the jig head stay better
Some paddletails (like the Slam Shady 2.0) have a narrow nose.
If you cut the nose off so that where the jig head now goes is thicker, it will help the jig head stay better.
Note: don’t do this if you’re using a weighted swimbait hook because it will make it less hydrodynamic, plus it’s not necessary.
Tip #2: Cut up to an inch off of the paddletail if the baitfish are small
You want to match the hatch, and if the gamefish are feeding on two-inch baitfish, but you have a three-inch paddletail, then cut the first inch off of the paddletail to make it smaller and match the baitfish.
However, make sure to not cut too much off of the front because then the hook could end up coming out too close to the tail and give it less action.
Tip #3: Cut the tail off of the paddletail if the baitfish are small and the gamefish are deep
This is something that Luke has been doing often and it’s been working very well for him.
The tail slows the lure down in the water, and if the fish are deeper than three or four feet, then cutting the tail can help the lure quickly get down deep to where the predators are.
In this case, you’d work the lure just like a jerk bait.
Also, if a pufferfish bites the tail off of your lure, you can work it like a jerk bait instead of throwing it away.
Tip #4: Rig the paddletail upside down
Rigging a paddletail upside down doesn’t seem to have too much of an effect on the action of the lure… if anything, it might even give it more action (see how they compare in the video).
Just like rigging it right-side-up, you can clip the front off of it if you’re using a jig head, but the main difference here is that you want to insert the hook a little lower so that it doesn’t come right out of the slot on the bottom (now top) of the lure.
And the advantage of rigging a paddletail upside down is that the slot allows more clearance for the hook to get into the fish’s mouth.
Tip #5: If you put the hook of the jig head too far back in the lure, pull it back to fix it
If you place the hook too far back in the body of the lure and the lure is scrunched up and crooked, you can pull the tail of the lure back, which rips the lure, but allows it to sit straight on the jig head
This is better than taking the lure off because that will rip the front of it and will keep it from securely staying on the hook.
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If you want 20% off of these hooks, lures, and jig heads, plus most other fishing gear (including expensive stuff, like rods, reels, and sunglasses), click here to join us in the Insider Club.
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Conclusion
Hope you enjoyed these out-of-the-box rigging tips!
Which one are you going to try?
Let me know in the comments below!
And if you know someone who would love to try some of these rigging tips, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Thanks for this video, Tony….as a new member and user of plastics, I found it quite helpful! One question, if I may. Of all the fishing you do, what would you say is the percentage of time that you rig a plastic upside down? Is it as much as 50% of the time or rarely, as in 10% of the time? Thanks!
You’re welcome Mark! I don’t personally rig them upside down. This was more of a response to a question of can they be rigged upside down. Sometimes we get in a rush to rig up and happen to rig them upside down, but there can be advantages to it and it still works!
Oh, ok! I completely misunderstood, thanks for clarifying!
Do you think rigging a paddle tail upside down could make them run a little deeper?
Hey Rod! Not sure if it would affect the depth.
Thanks for the great tips Tony. I will be rigging some of these for future use before heading out. Great video
You’re welcome Terry!
Good stuff, Tony! Thanks
You’re welcome!
Thank You Tony excellent video.
You’re welcome Ron!
Thanks for those great tips Tony I actually experienced the situation where there were small bait fish around and I didn’t even think about cutting the bait down to size that’s an awesome tip also I’ve had my jig heads pull through or slip off the lure because the material was so thin at the top so trimming that nose off or tip off here’s another great tip thank you so much. I’ve been doing it wrong
You’re welcome John! Glad the tips can help you out!
What an AWESOME video with some priceless tips! Those who aren’t Insiders better get on board quick! I’ve always fished primarily with live shrimp, but that can get very expensive with a boatful of people. I am trying to be a more patient angler and use artificial! These tips are so very helpful!
Tony, i definitely agree with another comment on your great level of teachability! You make info easy to grasp and don’t just spout out knowledge, but have rationale that brings it all together!
That’s interesting that you started out with an interest in law enforcement! Being married to a cop, I’ve seen and heard how a large portion of what he does involves teaching, and he would be the first to say that “patience” is a learned trait!
Thanks for what you do!
My pleasure!
Thank you for the awesome feedback and kind words Marcy!
Good video, but you wus LOL. We have been blighting the head off for years. I actually developed an affinity for garlic baits.
Thanks! Haha yeah i’ll pass on that. Nothing to prove here. But maybe if they were garlic…..
Who’s your new guy out of Jacksonville Florida
Hey Barbara! That would be one of our fishing coaches Austin Moon.
I ordered some but I never got in Mali
Hey Juan! When did you order? Please send an email to fish@saltstrong.com so we can help get you squared away!