We’ve reviewed more than our share of paddle tail swimbaits because, this style of bait tends to be versatile and catch fish year round.
(Please forgive the first photo, we just got to using and enjoying them so much that we failed to take a pic with a full pack. There are six baits in a package)
Yes, for the most part, every soft plastic manufacturer has their own version of a swimbait. There are hollow body, solid body, different tails and body contours, etc. Most are very similar to each other with small, sometimes indistinguishable differences.
However, at ICAST 2018 we ran across one that we hadn’t used before that does have some enticing features. After speaking with the folks from BioSpawn about their ExoSwim swimbait, I really wanted to give these a go around our local waters.
The ExoSwim is only offered in a 4” version as of this moment. It is neatly arranged in a clamshell plastic package that holds six of the baits securely and properly so that the baits are kept straight and in good shape.
Currently, the ExoSwim is produced in seven colors that imitate a wide range of baitfish. These colors are effective but we would like to see more added to the palette for the sake of choice.
Features
One of the stand out differences in the BioSpawn product are the ridges which are referred to as a jointed ExoSkeleton. These ridges are designed to give the bait a more life-like swimming action as well as displace a healthy amount of water to appeal to a fishes lateral line in stained to muddy water. They also resemble the uneven quality of a dorsal fin. Whether this was intentional or not I don’t know but it seems to add to the appeal of the bait.
It has a large paddle tail that kicks at any speed while contributing to a slight wobble throughout the length of the bait. The bait is infused with the company’s BioScent for additional attraction without making this bait to slimy or oily to handle.
BioSpawn utilizes a small channel on top of the bait to hide your hook point as well as a belly slot that when taken together reduce the amount of plastic a hook has to travel through to ensure a good hook up ratio. While this may seem common place, this two channels are both just the right depth so that they do the job they were intended to do without eliminating a rigging option.
Some manufacturers make their channels so deep that they can’t be used effectively on a spinnerbait, bladed jig, standard jigs or anything other than a belly weighted hook.
The depth that BioSpawn uses is ideal so that this swimbait can be fished alone or as a trailer on any other lure that you might want to put it on.
The body of the swimbait is more of a tapering oval than anything else. It doesn’t have unnecessary bulk that could dampen its swimming action nor does it have any extraneous features that don’t contribute anything but window dressing to the bait. It is simple and simply effective.
Rig It Any Way You Want
We have fished the ExoSwim as a trailer on jigs, bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, swimjigs and buzzbaits. All of which got bit. But, without a doubt, our two favorite ways to fish this bait are on a ZMan Weedles Eye Jig and an Owner Flashy Swimmer.
Yes, this is keeping it simple — plain even. But the fact is that we have gotten more fish with these two methods than any others. It could be that the ExoSwim just looks natural in the water rigged like this or that between the action, scent and profile, it truly mimics wounded prey.
Frankly, whether it’s one or some combination of these scenarios, it just doesn’t matter. These baits catch fish!
The ExoSwim is excellent for fishing in grass as well as skipping it under docks and overhanging branches. It comes through without snagging or getting hung up very well especially on the weedless eye jig. Bumping around cover of any form allows the bait to be used similarly to a squarebill crank without the drawbacks of getting hung up due to the treble hooks.
Standing Up To Punishment
The BioSpawn has proven to be much better than average when it comes to durability. Even having truly exceptional days for both numbers and weight, we have averaged about twelve fish per bait.
One of the more interesting side notes in testing this bait has been paying attention to the hook up ratio, which is down right fantastic when compared to similar baits. We’ve fished the ExoSwim head to head, with the exact same tackle, against several other swimbaits.
The BioSpawn gets much fewer short strikes than those that we’ve tested it against.
The BioSpawn ExoSwim Swimbait is one of those baits that is exceptionally well designed and implemented for the purpose of catching fish.
| BioSpawn ExoSwim Swimsuit | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |   |
| An extremely well designed and executed swimsuit | |
See ya’ on the water …
