FAT Combos
Smith relies on a couple standard Swing impact FaT-jig-
head combos that would make good starting points for
anyone new to the swimbait.
He throws a 2.8 FaT on a 3/16- or 1/4-ounce ball-head
jig that he pours around a 3/0 Gamakatsu 604 hook. That
combo is fished with a 7-foot or 7-2, medium-heavy spin-
ning rod with enough backbone to launch a long cast. He
pairs 15-pound-test Seaguar braid with 6- or 8-pound-test
Seaguar fluorocarbon leader.
“i’ll use that same setup to fish a 1/2-ounce football
head when i’m dragging it on erie,” Smith adds.
The next step up is his favorite “all-around, all-year”
setup: a 3.8 FaT with a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce ball-head jig
poured on a 4/0 Gamakatsu 604 hook. He usually throws it
on a 6.3:1 baitcaster with a 7-3 or 7-6, medium-heavy rod
and 12-pound-test fluorocarbon.
“i’ll use 15 if needed, but i usually try to get down to 12
if structure and hangups will let me get away with it,”
Smith adds. “i have that 3.8 on all the time, but it’s general-
ly for a smallmouth lake. as soon as i get to a largemouth
lake, i’ll consider going to the 4.8 or 5.8. That’s bait
dependent. i’m not going to throw the 5.8 in a lake with a
bunch of little tiny minnows.”
SWING IMPACT 4”
EASY SHINER 4”
Finesse With
Footballs
Rigging a small Keitech
on a football head has big
potential. Smith’s primary
tactic is to slowly wind it
along bottom on deep
structure in winter when
smallmouths are grouped
together.
For that scenario, he likes
the Keitech Super Football
Head, which is a compact tungsten jig with a short hook
that matches up well with a 2.8-inch Swing impact FaT.
“i’ll even drop it straight down like on a damiki rig. it’s
the same thing,” he says. “That’s one of the best parts of
that 2.8 on a jighead is you can throw it out and wind it,
and if you see one straight down you can reel it in and
drop it straight down and fish it either on the bottom or
off bottom. it’s two baits in one.
“You can even use it where you’d use a hair jig or Ned
rig, where there are shallow, spooky fish,” Smith adds.
“You can cast it or even slow-hop it, almost drifting or
floating it along like you would a marabou jig.”
if you want to use a bigger hook on a heavier jighead,
you’ll need to step up the swimbait size, otherwise the
longer hook would hinder the bait’s action. in that case,
you’re migrating away from finesse and would need to
adjust tackle, too.
Sling It
62
There are many great swimbaits to choose from, and
some outshine the Keitech in specific situations. You
should definitely have a variety in the boat. Still, if you
want a versatile swimbait that will catch bass just about
anywhere, test out Smith’s advice and fill a couple Planos
with his favorite swimbaits.
THe OTHeR KeiTecHS
The Keitech family of swimbaits also includes
the regular Swing impact and the easy Shiner.
The Swing impact is similar to the Swing
impact FaT, with a ribbed body, but it has a nar-
rower, more worm-like profile. it has what Smith
calls a “full-body action,” meaning the tail wag
extends farther up the body than what’s exhibited
by the FaT model.
He likes the Swing impact on the outside wires
of an umbrella rig because the thin body doesn’t
cause as much drag. it’s also a great trailer.
“i’ve noticed a lot of guys using the Swing
impact FaT on chatterBaits and swim jigs, and to
me that bigger body impedes the action of the
bait,” he says. “whereas with the Swing impact,
the chatterBait gives the trailer action, and that’s
what you want.”
The easy Shiner’s action is mostly in the tail, so
it’s very subtle. Smith uses the 3- and 4-inch ver-
sions as finesse baits very early and late in the
year when the water temperature is 45 degrees
or less. it’s also a subtle trailer that Smith occa-
sionally uses in cold water. ■
FLWFISHING.COM I SPRING 2019