BigBassCatcher

Yeah when I use the leader I usually put a snap on it so I can change lures easily without retying. On some lures I can't do that because the snap messes with the action, so for those lures I just use another rod.

I know most people that use 10 ft+ of a leader, but I only use a 2 foot fluorocarbon leader on my braid. I have a 20 lb leader tied on to 40 lb braid. Is using only a 2 foot leader pointless? Will bass still be line shy or will the 2 feet offer enough of a buffer that the bass won't be able to comprehend that the braid is actually indirectly connected to the lure? Also, is 20lb leader overkill? Since your line is only as strong as the weakest link, I didn't want to use too light of a leader so I can avoid breaking off. I also use 2 foot leader because my rod has microguides and knots don't make it through very well, so I tend to make my leaders short so that I don't have to bring the knot into the guides. Is this a silly strategy?

Honestly, listening to your guys' opinion has really changed my mind on these swimbaits! At first I couldn't even fathom the idea of spending even 60 dollars on a lure, but now I can actually see the purpose in owning one, and also why it might actually be worth it. I might even purchase one in the future, probably not a 500 dollar high end one, but maybe a $60-100 very high quality one. Personally I've never fished with swimbaits much, but it would be fun to try out. I'll definitely invest in a lure retriever or something of the sorts as well.

That's a very good point! These lures are pretty durable, so as long as you don't lose it it should actually be more cost effective than senkos.

Yeah I see the reasoning behind why these swimbaits are exclusive. I would definitely pay $400 for the amount of work the guy who made it put into the lure, but would me paying $400 for that lure give me a significantly better chance of catching a trophy bass than if I paid $5 for a 10 inch senko? I definitely agree with fishing with what you want. I started this discussion because I personally didn't see the advantage of buying a higher priced swimbait over a lower priced one, but I was hoping to learn some reasons behind why a higher priced one might actually be beneficial to my fishing experience, so that I could possibly convince myself to buy one myself in the future. I know my first post kinda made it seem like I was bashing someone who would buy an expensive swimbait, but rather I was trying to find out the reasoning behind buying any expensive lures so I can possibly look into it in the future. Really, the only thing that has me hesitant of such a purchase is the prospects of losing it. With an expensive rod or reel, you won't lose it. It could break, but if you take good care of it then it shouldn't break. Whereas with a lure, it could get snagged and such and you lose it and it's out of your control. How would I get rid of that fear?

Well I was generalizing. Most kids less than 18 don't have the money to go out and buy a $400 dollar lure. There are definitely exceptions though. I'm sorry if it sounded like I was judging. I just meant to ask you guys why you would buy such a bait, not that buying such a lure is a bad thing. Yeah by average angler I meant a person who just fishes for fun and isn't some multi-millionaire CEO. Just your regular fisherman you might meen at the local bass pro shops.

Yeah I understand why they are expensive, but is using them really practical? And it's not even the ones that are $400+, those are usually only fished by pro fishermen who are chasing world records and such, but I've seen some instances where a regular angler like you and me are using $100+ swimbaits and I just wonder what the thought process is behind that.

Personally, I've never fished with a lure worth more than 20 bucks. I wouldn't even think of buying a lure if it crosses the $30 mark. I have combos that are cheaper than some swimbaits out there. Is there even any point to buying such an expensive lure? I mean, bass don't really care if your lure is worth 10 dollars or 200 dollars. How much better will an action get on a 200 dollar swimbait than a regular 20 dollar swimbait? Not to mention, just the fear of losing that lure will drive me nuts, to the point of me never even using it when I'm out on the water. It's like buying a supercar just to park it in your garage.

If they are invasive species, then I see why a biologist might say to kill it. And the correct solution is definitely to kill those fish, as unfortunate as that may seem. And by kill I mean kill and take it home to eat, or if you don't eat fish then give it to someone who does. It would be a waste to just kill it and let it decompose. You can feed some hungry people and help out the lakes ecosystem! If the biologists are saying to kill those fish because they are "dirty" fish but don't harm the ecosystem, then that would be wrong in my opinion. But then again, I doubt a biologist would ever say something like that, the only people that hate kill fish are people a little messed up in the noggin.

Maybe try casting into the pond before you walk up to it. Cast from far away.