Need Your Input On Swimbaits

[Trailer]

Hey guys. I need some suggestions on which swimbaits to buy and some advice such as rod, reel, line and locations to fish these baits.

 

I look forward to reading your suggestions and advice.

[flyfisher]

I am by no means a swimbait master like others on here but i do throw soft hollow bellied swimbaits pretty often.  My favorite is the yum money minnow in the 5" size rigged on a 6/0 weighted screw lock hook.

 

I throw them pretty much everywhere and they come through grass and lilly pads very well.  One of my favorite and most succesful techniques is to fish them above a grass bed and keep the speed up just enough so that you can feel them ticking the top of hte grass as you go.  I throw mine on a 7'MHF rod paired with a citica and 50lb braid.  I could see using a heavy action rod too which would probably be a little better.  I also slather mine up with the BioEdge scent wands which seem to help them in sliding through vegetation.

 

I would say throw them wherever you would throw a spinnerbait or a swim jig and go with it.

[Hanover_Yakker]

I have two types I use:

 

1. PowerTeam Lures Swingin' Hammer Shad rigged on a 4/0 weighted swimbait hook.

2. Mike Bucca's 6" Bull Shad

 

For gear,

 

1. I use a 6'8-7'0" MH/F casting rod paired with an Abu Garcia Revo Inshore spooled with 12lb. Yo-Zuri Hybrid

2. I use a 7'0" Hvy/Med Fast Shimano Compre Musky Rod paired to a Shimano Calcutta 200B spooled with 14-17lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Define the swimbait you want to throw as there is a big difference in tossing a hollow belly and a Hudd.

 

A range of weights you intend to throw can lead us to suggest baits, rods, line, etc.

[Trailer]

Define the swimbait you want to throw as there is a big difference in tossing a hollow belly and a Hudd.

 

A range of weights you intend to throw can lead us to suggest baits, rods, line, etc.

Something like a multi-jointed or jointed hard body with trebles. I don't know much about them. There's lipless and lipped. I saw someone throw a lipless multi-jointed swimbait and I was so impressed that I wanted to learn more about them and purchase a few to try.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

What is a price range you are comfortable with:

 

A. For a single bait

 

B. For a rod/reel combo

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Up to $20 for bait, hoping I already have enough equipment suited for swimbaits. I have braid and heavy action rods.

[Crestliner2008]

Easy one to answer, now that you've become more specific. BBZ-1 Jr. (6"). Will catch you a ton of bass, northern pike, stripers and most other game fish. Can be tossed on regular bass tackle and won't break the bank. The larger BBZ-1 (8") will required some heavy musky type tackle to toss comfortably all day.

 

You can expand your selection to some large, soft bodied baits, like the Hudds if so desire. Beyond that, they start getting pretty expensive!

[Trailer]

Easy one to answer, now that you've become more specific. BBZ-1 Jr. (6"). Will catch you a ton of bass, northern pike, stripers and most other game fish. Can be tossed on regular bass tackle and won't break the bank. The larger BBZ-1 (8") will required some heavy musky type tackle to toss comfortably all day.

 

You can expand your selection to some large, soft bodied baits, like the Hudds if so desire. Beyond that, they start getting pretty expensive!

No kidding! I looked at Tackle Warehouse and started second guessing myself. You lose one of those baits and you've had an expensive fishing trip.

[Maico1]

Since you are starting out I would suggest a rod that will handle up to 3oz. baits. A reel in the 250- 300 class with Trilene Big Game 25lb. test...Two lures to start with would be a Black Dog G2 6" Lunker Plunker and a G2 Shell Cracker.....As far as pricing for Swimbaits remember that you are now entering into the zone of realism in a bait to fool the big ones and that like anything else equates to more money...... 

[Bluebasser86]

Up to $20 for bait, hoping I already have enough equipment suited for swimbaits. I have braid and heavy action rods.

I agree with Maico1, look for a rod that handles baits up to 3oz. Personally I use a 7' 10" H/XF BPS Extreme that handles baits from 1/2-3 ounces. I don't fish the big baits some of these guys fish, our bass just don't get that big unfortunately and tend to eat lots of smaller baitfish so the big baits just don't get much love. For your price range I'd look at something like a 6" BBZ Spro, 6 or 8 inch Huddleston deluxes, ABT Banshees, Mattlures trout, U2 gill, tournament series, or baby bass, or a Decoy Hydratail. I prefer to stick with 20-30lb copolymer line for the shock absorbency (first time you cast a heavy bait and get a backlash that stops your bait you'll be glad you didn't have braid) and the abrasion resistance (for when a big fish pulls you back into the laydown or dock it came out of). For the reel you can stick with something cheaper like a round Abu like a 5600C4 or you can go something like a Revo Winch, Curade 300E, or Lew's Super Duty. Also I highly suggest switching out the hooks on the lower end hard baits with something a little more heavy duty like one of the heavier Owner Stinger trebles or VMC spark point trebles. You spend all that time and money tossing big baits, you don't want to lose a big fish when it finally bites because of cheap hooks. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Some good suggestions here.

 

If you are fishing from a boat, there is generally no excuse (except in extreme situations, cast offs or bite offs) for losing a bait. Buy yourself a good plug knocker and it will pay for itself in the first day. Guaranteed. If you are fishing the baits correctly, they are going to get stuck.

 

Honestly, I would save your money and buy ONE or TWO proven hardbaits and learn them. I personally prefer the Mattlures Hardgill or the High Power Herring. IMO, they are the best hardbaits that I have used as far as fish catching ability. If you focus solely on the price of these things, you will never fish them where they need to be fished.

 

You can thank me later. It's worth it, trust me.

[stkbassn]

If you are looking for a great swimbait stick and don't want to spend a ton, you can go with the Okuma Guide Series. I owned the 7'11 MH and found it to be good for baits with treble hooks, it had a moderate action I found. Very nice rod for the money, check Amazon. 

 

I now own the Fenwick Elite Tech Swimbait rod that's a 7'9H Extreme Speed Control...it's better suited for Hudds or baits with a single hook, soft swimbaits.

 

You can find one that does it all...TW has a Lamiglas 8' that I was looking and it's under 100 which is a steal IMHO. I think this rod might be a great compromise as well as having some length to chuck those baits out there...

 

You'll need a solid rod for these 6" Hudds and bigger baits. I have tried to throw them on lighter bass gear and it can be done but it's not ideal in my experience.. 

 

One bait you really should consider is the Skeet or Velvick Rago's in 5.5 inch....this bait is simply wonderful...they are around the 20 dollar mark but man, worth it and the profile isn't beastly but gets attention. Hudds and Rago's....can't go wrong! 

 

Good luck!