Larger Swimbaits?

[backwater4]

I live in the northeast and was wondering if anyone has had success with a larger swimbait this time of year. I won some last season and thought it might work well, due to the fact that the lake I'll be fishing has the same size trout around the shoreline this time of year. This is an Optimum swimbait with the hook built in. Do you just cast these out and retrieve or do you have to add action? Thanks.

[Wild Bill [NY]]

Does it have a 'knob' type of tail ? [and a treble hook, or a single, top-hook?]

How long is it ?

Trout color-pattern ?

I live in south-western Nassau County, and I will fish trout-stocked ponds here [after they have been recently stocked with stocker Trout] that I know have good-sized LMs in them to hunt for BIG fish that way.

Yes, it does work, but it is certainly not a 'numbers' game, buuuuut, when you get one, it's usually a better one.

People walking by as I bank fish will get all excited, thinking I caught a fish, then thier eyes bug out when see it is MY LURE. Their facial expressions sley me.... ;D

I use 6 and 8 inch sizes often.

[Hammer 4]

Yep, cast it out, and I find the best retrieve is a SLOW one, with a few pauses, and a soft twitch on slack line depending on the bait..Also, don't be affraid to burn it, or use a med. retrieve..experiment.

Knowing what size baits you have would be good to know, as fishing them would be different in some cases, i.e. the smaller ones can go through light vegetation, where as the larger, 8" and up can't due the exposed hooks, and especially if it's a jointed bait.

Some of the larger baits weigh up to 6 ozs and more, so you need a rod that will handle it..having a good reel helps to.

[TheOriginalFishaholic]

I occassionally use large swimbaits in the Spring that are floaters, so that I've many options as to how I'm going to manipulate them in and about the water column.

[Big Bait Fishing]

the optimum top hook baits are used pretty much for "bottom bouncing" , meaning the will skim along the bottom where bass can pin them and eat them !!! a straight retrieve is all that they are good for , use a slow or even super slow retrieve , if you want you can also yo-yo them slightly off the bottom too mimicing a feeding bait fish. if it is a trout bait , i usually use Hudds , i bottom bounce it ... hope that helped 

[backwater4]

Thanks, this info helped a lot.

It has a knobbed tail, is a rainbow trout color w/ single top hook. The bait is approx. 6" long. I want to try this on Candlewood (lake has a lot of trout in early spring), as a option to jerkbait. I also have one with the treble on the bottom, if this is more of a mid to top range swimmer, I'll probably go with this one.

[Big Bait Fishing]

Thanks, this info helped a lot.

It has a knobbed tail, is a rainbow trout color w/ single top hook. The bait is approx. 6" long. I want to try this on Candlewood (lake has a lot of trout in early spring), as a option to jerkbait. I also have one with the treble on the bottom, if this is more of a mid to top range swimmer, I'll probably go with this one.

they both can be fished in varying depths , it's just that a top hook bait is usually meant as a bottom running bait , hence no hooks below to snag on bottom structure . they are pretty reasonably priced , you might pick both models . another similar bait that i recommend is the osprey tournament talon in both the inline version and the top hook version . they make plenty of colors and catch fish !!! 

btw  , the tail design on these baits are called "boot tails" or "paddle tails" ...

[Wild Bill [NY]]

Backwater,

If you ever see a dark green-metalic dual-consoled Ranger with gold trim on Candlewood or other waters in our area, stop me and say hello.

I have a "well-fed" physique, with a dark moustaiche and dark hair.

[Clark Stewart]

Don't be afraid of a big swim bait. Especially if you have trout stocked in that lake! As I'm told (I don't get the luxury of trout in 'Bama) they routinely get over 8 inches long at an early age, and the bass will destroy them!

Find a swimbait that most closely matches the trout and take off. Don't worry about losing numbers. I know that's an issue but you'll still be pretty satisfied by the number of fish you're catching so long as you're fishing the right area.

Don't be afraid of losing small fish either. While some would like a swimbait to weed out the little guys - I once won a tournament by 1/100th of an ounce. My smallest fish of the night barely measured and it came on a swimbait that was twice its size!

[soccplayer07]

"I have a "well-fed" physique"

haha. that is great.

[backwater4]

Thanks for the info. I'm definitely going to try them. I won a bunch in a tournament last year and never gave them a thought. It just dawned on me they might work in the same areas that I would use a jerkbait. I have both styles and also some that came with no hooks, these are smaller.

Bill,

I still have those jigs for the tournament for you. We have to hook up. ;D

Dom