Protail Paddle: 3.5" 1oz

The Hogy Protail Paddle is our testament to designing lures to catch fish, not fishermen. The Protail is made in just a few fishy colors for easy system integration, using a custom blend of virgin BASF plastic tuned for action and strength—erring on best-in-class performance, not making the cheapest option.

Our bodies have been obsessed over, from tail dynamics to reinforced battle hook pockets on the larger models. We’ve done all the obsessing so all you need to do is tie one on. No rigging. No tuning. No “magical” colors or limited runs. Just bad-ass swimbaits that catch big fish, every day.

Pre-Rigged Performance: Greatly extended durability and peak high-power casting performance, straight out of the package. No rigging. No fussing. Just tie one on and fish.

Hogy System Compliant: Inshore Finesse – Offshore Strength
Strength scales by size. Lighter models excel for finesse inshore applications, while larger sizes are built to handle heavier current, deeper water, and offshore duty—all with the same proven swim and body design.

Battle Pocket Advantage (5.5" and Up): The Protail Paddle is regularly used for large tarpon and tuna, proving itself in real-world, high-stress fishing. Reinforced Battle Hook Pockets minimize damage from hard strikes and violent head shakes, earning their reputation on 200-lb-class tuna and other trophy fish, both inshore and offshore.

Best-in-Class Plastic: Constructed from a premium, saltwater-grade custom blend of virgin BASF plastic, the Protail Paddle is designed to withstand aggressive fish and prolonged fights without tearing or losing its shape.

Curiously Exceptional Hook-Up & Landing Ratios: Outfitted with VMC Barbarian hooks imported from France, known for their strength and penetration, the Protail Paddle delivers fast hook-sets and reliable holding power. The Battle Pocket design ensures clean penetration and keeps fish pinned through the entire fight.

Flat Face: Keeps the bait tracking straight in current and on the drop, prevents roll, and lets the tail engage immediately without a dead zone.

Tapered Body Profile: Maintains a natural baitfish silhouette while allowing the lure to scale across head weights and retrieve speeds without losing control. Reduces drag and blowout in fast water, helping the bait stay engaged and track clean in heavy current or depth.

Scale Pattern: Breaks up the outline of the body and adds subtle realism without relying on flash or cosmetic gimmicks.

Paddle Shape: Produces a consistent tail kick that activates immediately and continues swimming at slow, moderate, or fast retrieves.

Balanced Body Geometry: Allows the bait to swim naturally when cast, slow-rolled, jigged, or fished vertically without changing technique.

Hydrodynamic Body Shape (pronounced Taper): Exaggerated weight forward build. Casts efficiently and tracks cleanly, especially in heavier weights, without tumbling or spinning.

Oversized Eye: Provides a clear strike target for predatory fish in low visibility, depth, or moving water.

Custom Blend Virgin BASF Plastic: Tuned for action and strength, delivering long lure life without sacrificing swim or softness.

Battle Pocket (5.5” and Up): Reinforced hook channel minimizes damage from head shakes and hard strikes, extending durability during heavy-duty use.

Heavy-Duty Hook: Designed to withstand sustained pressure from large fish, including snook, tarpon, and tuna, without bending or failure.

Long-Life, Repair-Resistant Design: Fewer torn baits and replacements reduce plastic waste and lost gear over time.

Reel, Reel, Pause

Straight retrieve with a steady cadence

Short pauses mixed in as needed

Paddle engages immediately and keeps working through the pause

Effective for covering water and locating fish

Triggers strikes from following fish

Works inshore and offshore, including current and pressured conditions.

Slow & Steady

Controlled, low-speed retrieve

Paddle stays engaged without collapsing

Effective in cold water or when fish are neutral

Ideal around structure and depth changes

Kerplunk

Cast, let the bait sink naturally, then engage

Paddle works immediately on the fall and pickup

Effective when fish are holding deeper or below bait

Useful for both boat and shore presentations

Fish the Swing

Cast up-current and let the bait swing through

Paddle works continuously through the arc

Maintains action in heavy current

Common in inlets and canal-style fisheries

Pinpoint Slow Jigging

Short lifts with controlled drops

Flat face and paddle keep the bait oriented correctly

Effective for vertical or near-vertical presentations

Used for striped bass, cod, and other deep-holding fish.

Environmental Factors (E)

Moderate to strong current
Tidal flow around inlets, bridges, and structure
Variable depth where weight adjustment matters
Clear to moderately dirty water where profile matters more than flash

Why Protail: Swims clean across speeds and weights without tuning. Scales with current by changing head weight, not bait.

Observational Factors (O)

Fish feeding on mid-size baitfish
Followers that won’t commit to hard baits
Fish holding just off bottom or mid-column
Situations where durability matters (structure, pilings, repeated strikes)

Why Protail: Fishy profile, always-on paddle, and toughness let you keep fishing the same bait through missed strikes and pressure.

Structure + Approach (S + A)

Bridges, pilings, docks (snook, tarpon, striped bass)
Inlets, rips, and seams
Channel edges and depth breaks
Shoreline structure where current concentrates bait

Approach Logic: Position up-current and fish the Protail through the strike zone using weight to control depth. Same bait, same retrieve—adjust angle and sink time.

Techniques (T)

Reel, Reel, Pause: Effective for subsurface feeds and moving fish

Slow Roll / Steady Crank: Controlled, consistent retrieve that keeps the paddle engaged through the entire swim

Kerplunk (Cast & Sink): Used to reach deeper marks quickly

Fish the Swing: Maintains action on controlled drifts in current

Pinpoint Slow Jigging: Targets tuna and other deep-holding fish

Why Protail: The Protail Paddle supports a full-stack fishing system in one lure. Different retrieves—not different baits—cover these techniques, keeping the system simple while allowing you to adapt instantly as fish behavior changes.