Hard swimbaits have segmented bodies with joints that mimic the side-to-side paddle of a small-to-medium-sized fish. Hard swimbaits are best suited for long-distance casts and large fish.
On the other hand, soft swimbaits have rubber or soft plastic bodies that mimic the start-and-stop pattern of small fish when “jerked” from the rod. The bait literally collapses in the fish’s mouth like natural prey to add realism. Soft swimbaits are ideal for river and lake fishing, where the water is calm.