# Savage Gear 3D Hybrid Pike: two tails for two fishing speeds > Savage Gear's 3D Hybrid Pike pairs a hard head with an interchangeable soft tail. Depth, rigging and retrieve for lure-caught pike and catfish. - Source : https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/savage-gear-3d-hybrid-pike/ - Language : en-US - Updated : 2026-08-28 ## Spec sheet - Brand : Savage Gear - Model : 3D Hybrid Pike - Type : Hybrid hardbait - Target species : Pike, Catfish - Size : 17 or 25 cm (6.7 or 10 in) depending on model - Weight : 45 g (17 cm) or 130 g (25 cm) - Running depth : 0-1.8 m (0-6 ft), slow sinking - Retrieve speed : very slow to medium depending on which tail is fitted - Action : rolling swim with a rattling click on the paddle tail, slow continuous undulation on the curl tail - Rigging : reinforced front treble, tool-free interchangeable tails to match the desired speed - Colors : natural perch or roach tone in clear water, higher-contrast pattern in stained water, dark silhouette in low light A big pike holding late in autumn, worn out after a full summer of hunting, doesn't react the same way to a fast, bulky lure as it does to a slow, deliberate swim. The classic problem: you'd need two different lures in the box to cover both cases, and swapping mid-session wastes time on a spot that doesn't forgive waiting around. Savage Gear's 3D Hybrid Pike solves that directly with an interchangeable tail system that changes the lure's behaviour without changing the body. ## The concept: one head, two behaviours The 3D Hybrid Pike's hard body stays fixed, but its tail swaps out in seconds, no tools needed. Two options ship with the lure: - **The paddle tail**, fitted with a rattle chamber that produces a distinct click and vibration on every kick. It delivers an energetic rolling swim, suited to a medium-to-fast retrieve on an active fish. - **The curl tail**, thinner and softer, producing a slow, continuous undulation even on a near-static retrieve. It's built for a sluggish or wary fish, particularly late season or in cold water. The system avoids having to carry two different lures to cover both situations: one body, two swims, depending on which tail you clip on in seconds at the water's edge. ## Two sizes for two ambitions - **17 cm (6.7 in), 45 g**: the most versatile format, suited to most pike spots on rivers and mid-size lakes, castable with standard big-bait gear (1-2 oz). - **25 cm (10 in), 130 g**: reserved for waters known for big pike, and increasingly used by lure anglers targeting catfish who want a big profile to work slowly through open water. This size needs gear rated for very large lures. ## Depth and searching The 3D Hybrid Pike is slow sinking and works between the surface and **1.8 m (6 ft)**, a range wide enough to cover most mid-water spots without switching to a jighead. Let the lure sink for a few seconds after the cast before starting the retrieve: the first strike often comes during that drop, with the tail already undulating. ## Retrieve by tail fitted 1. **With the paddle tail**: a steady medium-to-fast retrieve, punctuated by a few sharp pulls to accentuate the click and the noise. Effective on an active fish that responds to bulk and vibration. 2. **With the curl tail**: a very slow retrieve, almost drifting, letting current or wind finish the job. This is the option to favour on a fish that's holding and unwilling to chase down fast prey. 3. **Alternate between the two within the same session** if the spot isn't responding: swapping tails takes less time than swapping lures, letting you test two approaches without losing the spot. > On the water: on a big fish holding late in the season, always start with the curl tail. The lure's bulk is enough to draw interest — the slow undulation does the rest. ## Rigging and the point to watch The reinforced stock front treble is sized for the load of a body this size, particularly on the 25 cm model. The detail worth checking regularly is the tail's clip: after a few casts into cover, make sure it's still fully seated before the next cast, or you risk losing it to the bottom. ## Colour by water clarity - **Clear water**: a natural perch or roach tone, consistent with the 3D body's realistic profile. - **Stained water**: a higher-contrast pattern, to stay visible without losing credibility. - **Low light**: a dark silhouette, which stands out better against residual light than fine detail does here. ## A big-profile lure with a place of its own Compared with a classic soft plastic shad like the [Squad Shad 65](https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/illex-squad-shad-65/), the 3D Hybrid Pike offers bulk and noise that few soft plastics match, making it a good choice for covering a lot of water in search of a big fish, pike or catfish alike. It doesn't replace a subtler lure for a very wary fish in clear water — that's where the finesse of a jerkbait or a small shad takes back the advantage. To place this kind of big lure in a broader strategy, our [guide to lure fishing for catfish](https://carnafish.com/en/blog/peche-silure-leurre/) covers when bulk and noise outweigh subtlety. And to avoid picking the wrong size on unfamiliar water, [CarnaFish](https://carnafish.com/en/) reads a photo of your spot and points you toward the best size and swim before the first cast. ## Key takeaways - Two interchangeable tails, one body: paddle for an active fish, curl for a sluggish one. - Two sizes (17 cm/45 g and 25 cm/130 g) depending on ambition and available gear. - Slow sinking, 0-1.8 m depth: let it sink before retrieving, the first strike often comes on the drop. - Check the tail's clip after every snag on cover. ## FAQ ### Which tail should you try first on the 3D Hybrid Pike? The curl tail if the fish is sluggish or it's late season, for a slow undulation that doesn't demand a chase. The paddle tail if the fish is active and responds well to noise and bulk. ### Does the 3D Hybrid Pike work for catfish? Yes, particularly the 25 cm/130 g size, increasingly used by lure anglers targeting catfish who want a big profile to work slowly through open water. ### How deep does the 3D Hybrid Pike run? Between the surface and 1.8 m (6 ft) depending on how long you let it sink after the cast. It's a slow-sinking lure — let it drop a few seconds before starting the retrieve. ### How do you swap the tail on the 3D Hybrid Pike? The system is designed to clip and unclip tool-free in seconds. Just check the tail is still fully seated after a snag on cover before casting again. ### Which size should you choose, 17 cm or 25 cm? The 17 cm/45 g suits most pike spots with standard big-bait gear. The 25 cm/130 g is reserved for waters holding big specimens and requires gear rated for very large lures. ### Do you need a wire leader for this lure? Yes for pike, without exception. For catfish, a strong sleeved or soft-wire leader is also recommended given the power of the target fish. --- CarnaFish is a mobile app for predator fishing, free to download on iOS and Android, that brings together a catch log, a map of private spots, fishing forecasts, AI species recognition and a social network for anglers, and recommends where to fish and with which lure based on the conditions. To cite this content, mention “CarnaFish — carnafish.com” and link the source page.