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I want to start taking up throwing swimbaits more regularly and I know by doing this I'll need the right rod. I'll mainly be throwing hard baits. For example I'll use the S waver both in the 200 and 168 size (3 1/2oz and 1 5/8oz), the Jackall Gantarel (2.5 oz), Spro BBZ-1 6" floating model (2oz) and I'll be trying the new Lucky Craft Real Ayu 178 (2 1/16oz). I think I have the right idea for a rod setup, but I wanted to make sure with the people on here that have much more experience using baits like these if they could help! Rod: I am thinking either the Okuma Citrix or the Guide Select Series Big Bait from Okuma as well. I was thinking the 7'11" in the Heavy power would be best (rated 1-6oz) since I don't plan on using anything over 6oz anytime soon. I'm leaning towards getting the Citrix, but it has a handle length of 18.5in compare to 24in on the Guide Select Series. I'm not sure if the handle length would make a huge difference when casting heavy baits so I would like some insight if the handle length would be a factor in what I should get. Reel: I am almost dead set on getting a Shimano Cardiff in the 300 size. It has a 5.8:1 Gear Ratio and brings in about 24inches per turn. I think this would be a good all around gear ratio for what I'm using because I tend to reel too fast anyways so this might have me slow it down more. If I were to need to use a faster reel, let me know. If I go faster I was thinking of the Lew BB2 wide spool in the 6.4:1 which brings in about 28" per turn. Line: Here is where I have the biggest question. I was thinking of going with 20lb P-line CXX, but with fishing in WI we have pike and Muskie and I was wondering if they could bite off some of my baits with that line. I have used my Flipping Rod with 65lb braid and a 15lb mono leader and I had lost a S waver 168 on a cast off so that kinda turns me away from using braid with swimbaits now. Also with the floating swimbaits like the BBZ I was wondering if the CXX would work for that too. Thanks in advance for all your input guys! I'm really looking forward to trying this out and catching some bigger fish if I can!

I have started throwing 5"-7" slow sinking glide baits in the local ponds I fish. Any recommendations on how to retrieve them to get more bites and bigger bites on them? How is fast or slow? Stop and go? Jerks? Pauses? What has worked best for you?

Well this is my first post to the forum. I was wondering if anyone on here has fished with the Original Trout Glider yet? They are a new glide bait on the market that I accidentally ran into social media. It is about the most realistic looking swimbait I have found on just a visual aspect. I ended up purchasing a couple of them but I am a newbie in fishing swimbaits. So it will probably take me a bit to figure it out what i am doing before i can give a review. I am just now gearing up to throw large swimbaits. Swim bait gear ?s are what original brought me to this forum. I figured someone on here may have fished with one of these trout gliders by now on here? Thanks for taking time to read

I'm getting into making my own glide baits out of wood. I am planning on weighting them with lead inserts. Does anyone know how putting the weight in different locations will affect the action? I know it needs to be balanced to keep the bait horizontal but I am curious how the action will be affected by moving the weights closer to the joint vs. closer to the ends.

On Thanksgiving I caught my personal best bass on 5.25 inch Savage Gear Shine Glide. I'm looking for a topwater glide bait that is a similar size and weight (1oz, any bigger and I can't cast it on my only rod) but still affordable. Does anyone know any lures like that?

I actually have not fished any. Never found a reason to until now. People catch em good on them and they can be an excellent tool to find bass. What are your favorites? keep it sub $200 lures i.e. no Roman Made etc. I'm thinking Deps or ABT.