Barracuda Baits Tournament Series 3" Inch NED Paddle Tail Soft Plastic Bait
Barracuda Baits
$7.99
(No reviews yet)
Write a Review
Barracuda Baits
Barracuda Baits Tournament Series 3" Inch NED Paddle Tail Soft Plastic Bait
How, where, and why it excels
Ned / Midwest Finesse (1/16–1/8 oz)
When & where: Clear–stained water; rock/gravel; pressured fish.
How: Cast, let settle, then slow drag‑shake with long pauses; occasional glide on semi‑slack.
Why this rig: Paddle tail adds a tight baitfish thump at Ned speeds—perfect when craw Neds get ignored.
Tuning: If fish short‑nip, trim 1/8–1/4" off the head for a shorter profile.
Hover / Strolling Head (1/16–1/8 oz)
When & where: Suspended bass/smalls over points, humps, and channel edges; forward‑facing sonar friendly.
How: Glide on semi‑slack with micro shakes; keep eye‑level with the mark; avoid big sweeps.
Why: Slim body + small paddle = ultra‑tight quiver that holds fish tracking on screen.
Ball / Round Jig Head (swim or drag, 1/16–3/16 oz)
When & where: Rip‑rap, edges of grass, and transitions; rivers and reservoirs.
How: Slow‑roll near bottom or drag with 6–12" pulls; pause on rock tops and contour lips.
Why: Compact shad profile that gets bites from bass and walleye when bigger swimmers are too much.
Drop Shot (nose‑hook)
When & where: Deep edges, rock spines, vertical targets, fish seen on electronics.
How: 8–16" leader; soft shakes in place; micro‑swim forward 1–2 ft, then hang.
Why: Tight tail kick sells a tiny baitfish—LM/SM, walleye, and trout all eat it when suspended.
Micro Underspin (1/16–1/8 oz) — situational
When & where: Wind, low light, or stain across flats and grass edges.
How: Steady retrieve with brief stalls after contact; keep it in the lane.
Why: Adds flash to the tight kick—great search presentation for smallmouth and walleye.
Trim & Mods (quick hits)
- Keep it straight: Any kink kills the hover and causes roll; re‑thread if needed.
- Tail control: If the kick is too strong in cold water, square off the paddle corners slightly.
- Line: 6–10 lb fluoro or braid‑to‑fluoro leader keeps the cadence honest.
Dial it in
- Clear (6–10+ ft): Natural shad/smoke, translucent hues; slower cadences.
- Stained (2–6 ft): Whites/opaque pearls, high‑contrast back; steady grind with brief stalls.
- Low light/Wind: Opaque lights or subtle glow heads; underspin for extra flash.
- Cold front: Lighten the head to keep it higher and slow the thump; longer hangs.
Specs & Build
- Length: 3" (76.2 mm)
- Profile: Ned‑style paddle‑tail minnow; tight kick
- Material: Plastisol soft plastic
- Species: Bass (LM/SM/Spots), Walleye, Trout
- Best Pairings: Ned (1/16–1/8), Hover/Strolling (1/16–1/8), Ball/Round Head (1/16–3/16), Drop Shot (nose‑hook), Micro Underspin (1/16–1/8)
- Availability: Ships in 1–3 days from San Antonio, TX. Some orders may ship from Cedar Falls, IA.
Care & Storage
Store flat in the original bag. Separate darks/lights to avoid dye bleed. Bagged (no clamshell).
Plastics Recycling
Don't toss torn baits, recycle or dispose of properly. Learn more here: Soft Plastics Recycling.
Proof & Community
On‑the‑Water Notes
- Electronics game: Hover/stroll on marks; many eats on the hang or slow glide away.
- Edges & transitions: Ball head slow‑roll along rip‑rap/grass lines; pause on rock tops.
- Pressured fish: Ned drag‑shake with long pauses; trim head to shorten when they nip.
Species Notes
- Bass: Ned, hover, drop shot, or micro underspin. Natural/translucent in clear; whites/pearls in stain.
- Walleye: Ball head or underspin along breaks and current seams; slow‑roll just off bottom.
- Trout: 1/16–1/8 oz heads in rivers; swing through tailouts and seams; hover over deep pools.
Related Products
- Barracuda 2.5" Ned Finesse — subtle stick‑style Ned for tight action in clear water.
- Barracuda 3.5" Ned Split Tail — finesse split tail when you want flash without thump.
- Snoopy’s 3" Medusa Ned (pre‑rigged) — convenient pre‑rig for quick deployment.
- Snoopy’s Medusa Replacement Reaper Tails (3") — fresh tails to refresh your pre‑rig.
Q&A
Q: Why pick the Ned Paddle Tail over a Ned craw or stick?
A: When fish are tracking baitfish, the tight paddle kick adds visual/tactile cues without the bulk of a full swimbait—and it still fishes perfectly on Ned, hover, or drop shot.
