Sebile Creates Some New Magic With Its Soft Swimmer

Total Score: 8.25 - GREAT

Introduction: Back at ICAST 2009, we met for the first time, Patrick Sebile, owner and CEO of Sebile Baits. This man is as passionate as they come about his product and this passion was evident from the very moment we said hello. It was quite obvious that if we didn’t control the situation just a little bit, we’d be at his booth for the remainder of the show and we still had a couple of days left! So when Patrick asked what we’d like to know about, we asked him to highlight three or four baits.

Introducing the Sebile Soft Magic Swimmer!

As I recall, it ended up being five with each bait having its own unique story and intriguing action. Of course, the one that stood out the most to me was the new Soft Magic Swimmer pro because what Patrick had developed was not just another soft plastic, paddletail style bait, but a true weedless version of his already successful hard bodied Magic Swimmer. When the product finally became available, I didn’t wait for the customary sample packs to arrive at TT HQ, I immediately ordered two packs of every available color!

Impressions: The Soft Magic Swimmer looks very much like what it is – a soft bodied version of the original hard bait complete with joints and all. Just like the hard bodied version, this bait does not have a tail – unlike most softbodied baits of this type. So in short, it’s rather odd looking out of the package, definitely unique looking.

The Soft Magic Swimmer is patterned after its hardbait counterpart ...

Each 5" package comes with three baits while each 4" package comes with four baits, a complimentary hook conveniently pre-rigged in one of the baits, and spare tungsten impregnated plastic weights that slip over the hook point and onto the shaft to weight the bait as you want. Rare for a soft plastic bait of this type, the Soft Magic Swimmer is rigged and ready to go right out of the package – a very nice touch.

... with the big difference being this bait can be rigged weedless thanks to its slit belly.

Field Tests: We hit the California Delta for what we thought would be sure fire testing against the Fall run Striped Bass, but unfortunately by the time we made out there with product in hand, the striper bite got tough and all we were able to do was marvel at the action of this lure in the water.

Rigged and ready to go aboard a Temple Fork Outfitters SWC 664-1 bass rod.

Casting: Much like any soft plastic bait, the Soft Magic Swimmer is easy to place in any manner you choose be that pitching, casting, sidearm cast, etc.. Its sectioned body flies through the air with little wind resistance and the ribs that hold the bait together are solid enough to withstand accidental misfires into structure without tearing.

The "joints" of this bait are thin, but not too thin and can at least hold up to intentional and non-intentional casting abuse.

Action: Those who have fished the hard bodied version of this bait will recognize the erratic nature of the Soft Swimmer as it is retrieve in the water. It is anything but predictable.

This bait features a channel at the very top to help conceal the hook point.

On a steady retrieve it snakes back to you in the water, but pause that retrieve and it darts off to the side. Mix in some jerks and pauses as you retrieve and the bait will dart side to side, up and down, loop the loop, and just about anything you can imagine. It’s a really fun bait work in the water.

And of course, the slit in the belly for the body of the hook.