Hard swimbaits like the Throwback Wake Walker LT produce multiple bites per outing and reward aggressive retrieves. Soft paddletail swimbaits like the CHR demand patience, the right lake, and serious commitment — but they catch giants. Here's what Tyler learned fishing both back-to-back in Scaled Up Episode 7.
Hard vs. Soft Swimbait Quick Reference
| Factor | Hard Swimbait (Wake Walker LT) | Soft Swimbait (CHR Paddletail) |
|---|---|---|
| Bite Frequency | High — multiple fish per outing Easy | Low — patience required Hard |
| Fish Size | Mixed bag (2–4 lb average) | Big-fish specialist (trophy potential) |
| Retrieve Versatility | Wake, crank, walk-the-dog, burn & pause | Slow crawl, stall, creep along cover |
| Hook Type | Treble hooks | Single oversized hook (Owner Beast 10/0) |
| Skill Floor | Approachable — standard topwater rules | Advanced — requires location commitment |
| Best Cover | Laydowns, current, trees, any structure | Cattails, grass edges, drains, deep points |
The Hard Swimbait: Throwback Wake Walker LT
The Throwback Wake Walker LT is a 5.5-inch, 2 oz ABS-injected hard swimbait designed by Kyle Buckold of Throwback Baits. It was born from the original resin Wake Walker — the very first bait Kyle created back in 2020 out of his garage. The LT version brings that same fish-catching DNA at a more affordable price point with ABS construction instead of resin.
What Makes It "Easy"
This bait is remarkably versatile. On a single cast, you can cycle through multiple retrieves and trigger different styles of fish. Keep your rod tip high and reel slow for a phenomenal wake across the surface. Drop the rod tip and burn it to make it dive one to two feet like a crankbait or chatterbait. Put your rod tip to the side and walk it like a walking bait, making the elastic tail jitter back and forth. That multi-retrieve flexibility is what separates this from typical hard swimbaits — you aren't locked into one presentation.
On the water with the bait's creator Kyle Buckold, both anglers caught multiple fish within hours. The bait produced on nearly every style of retrieve — waking, cranking, walking, and burning. Standard topwater rules apply: laydowns, trees, current seams, and bank cover all hold fish that will eat this bait.
Gear Setup for the Wake Walker LT
| Component | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rod | 0.5–2 oz rated, fast tip | Fast tip offers forgiveness on treble hook bites — less chance of ripping hooks |
| Reel | 6:1–7:1 gear ratio | Lets you vary between slow-waking and burning retrieves |
| Line (Cover) | Braided line | Needed for wrenching fish out of laydowns, roots, and timber |
| Line (Open) | Fluorocarbon or monofilament | Thinner diameter helps the bait dive on a crank retrieve |
Four Retrieves to Master
1. The Wake: Rod tip high, slow reel. The bait tracks just below the surface, pushing a V-wake that draws fish up from below. This was the most productive retrieve during the outing.
2. The Crank: Rod tip low, steady reel. The LT dives into that one-to-two-foot range and wobbles like a crankbait. Best with fluorocarbon or monofilament to help it dig.
3. The Walk: Rod tip to the side, rhythmic twitches. The head rolls and the tail flops, creating commotion in a tight space without covering much water. Deadly around isolated cover.
4. The Burn & Pause: Combine all three on a single cast. Walk on top, transition to a slow crank, then give sharp burns followed by pauses. This triggers multiple styles of fish per cast and keeps the bait in the strike zone longer.
Over little spots along the bank, cast tight to cover, give the bait a wiggle on top to hold it in place, then burn it out. You give the fish two opportunities to commit: a slow-wiggle bite or a reaction-chase bite on the burn.
The elastic tail can pull free from the body in cold water as the plastic shrinks slightly. A tiny dab of glue fixes it — just enough to hold, but breakable so you can replace the tail after a pike bite.
| Retrieve | Rod Position | Best For | Line Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake | Tip high, slow reel | V-wake across surface; highest bite rate | Braid or mono |
| Crank | Tip low, steady reel | 1–2 ft dive; mimics crankbait / chatterbait | Fluoro or mono |
| Walk | Tip to side, twitches | Tight commotion around isolated cover | Any |
| Burn & Pause | Varies per phase | Multi-trigger; covers all fish styles per cast | Braid for cover |
The Soft Swimbait: CHR Paddletail
The CHR is a large-profile soft paddletail swimbait that mimics a gizzard shad. It comes rigged on an Owner Beast 10/0 hook with an oversized screw lock to keep the bait secured during skipping and heavy cover presentations. The plastic is noticeably softer than most swimbaits in this size class, which gives the boot tail a beautiful, Huddleston-esque kick on a slow retrieve.
What Makes It "Hard"
Everything about this category demands more from the angler. The big profile requires a bigger-caliber fish to commit. You need the right lake with adequate forage, the right time of year, and the willingness to go hours — sometimes days — without a bite. After three separate outings across multiple states (Minnesota, Texas, and the Oklahoma border), the soft swimbait produced just one bite, while the hard swimbait produced fish on nearly every outing.
That's not a knock on the bait itself. Every swimbait expert echoes the same thing: big soft baits are the best at catching giants, but they are definitively the hardest category to get consistent bites on.
If you want a swimbait you can burn across the surface, this is not the bait. It tends to roll over at high speeds. But if you want to slow-crawl a realistic profile along grass, cattails, and structure in trophy-caliber water, the CHR is built for exactly that. The stall retrieve — letting the bait hang motionless — is especially effective.
Gear Setup for the CHR Soft Swimbait
| Component | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rod | 7'11" heavy power | Needed to cast the heavy bait far and drive the Beast hook from range |
| Hook | Owner Beast 10/0 + oversized screw lock | Bait is large and beefy — a standard hook won't hold or penetrate |
| Retrieve | Slow crawl along bottom or mid-column | Paddle tail kicks best at slow speeds; burns cause roll-over |
| Best Structure | Cattails, grass edges, drains, points | West Coast–style creeping presentations along vertical cover |
The stall — where you dead-stop the swimbait and let it hang — works on both soft paddletails and slow-rolled hard baits. John John from swimbaits.com credits the stall as his most productive swimbait technique across glide baits, soft plastics, and boot-tails alike.
When to Throw Each Style
Reach for a Hard Swimbait When…
You need bites on camera or in a tournament. The fish are relating to laydowns, timber, or current. You're fishing new water and need to cover ground. Conditions are typical topwater weather — overcast, low light, morning or evening windows. You want versatility and the ability to change retrieves on every cast without retying.
Reach for a Soft Swimbait When…
You have a specific lake with big fish and big forage. You're willing to commit multiple outings to the presentation. Cattails, heavy grass, or deep structure are the primary cover. You're targeting fish in the six-pound-plus class and willing to accept the grind. Fall and pre-spawn windows with gizzard shad activity are ideal timing.
| Scenario | Hard Swimbait | Soft Swimbait |
|---|---|---|
| Tournament / Content Day | ✓ Best choice — volume of bites | High risk — could blank |
| Trophy Hunting | Good (3–4 lb average) | ✓ Best choice — giant potential |
| New / Unfamiliar Water | ✓ Best choice — covers water fast | Requires known structure |
| Heavy Cover (Cattails / Grass) | Limited — trebles snag | ✓ Best choice — single hook, skippable |
| Current / Laydowns / Timber | ✓ Best choice — versatile retrieves | Usable but less productive |
| Time Commitment | Produces in hours | May require multiple days |
The Bottom Line: Match Your Swimbait to Your Goals
If you're looking to add a swimbait to your arsenal that will produce bites immediately and reward a variety of retrieves, start with a hard swimbait like the Wake Walker LT. It's the "easy" side of the swimbait world — approachable, versatile, and genuinely fun to fish around any kind of cover.
But if you're chasing a personal-best largemouth and you have the patience, the right water, and the willingness to grind through fishless outings, keep a big soft paddletail in your box for when the conditions line up. The bites are rare, but the fish that eat them are the reason we all chase this sport.
Is the CHR a bad bait? Absolutely not. It's staying in the arsenal for the right lake, the right situation. But the Wake Walker LT is going in the box right away — and after this episode, Tyler's eyeing the original resin Wake Walker too.
Want to go deeper on swimbait fishing? Check out the rest of the Scaled Up series for Tyler's complete journey into the world of big swimbaits — both hard and soft.
Source: Based on video content from TylersReelFishing — "Fishing EASY vs. HARD Swimbaits For Bass! (Scaled Up Ep. 7)" · youtube.com/@tylersreelfishing
Q&A Flashcards: Easy vs. Hard Swimbaits
Tap any card to reveal the answer. Great for reviewing before your next trip.
(2) The Crank — rod tip low, dives 1–2 feet like a crankbait.
(3) The Walk — rod to the side, tight head-roll with tail flop.
(4) Burn & Pause — combine all three on a single cast for multi-trigger presentations.