Swimbaits

[angler1]

I am just starting to use some swimbaits and wanted to know from an experienced "swimbaiter" if there are ideal times and conditions that they excell, or can you throw 1 in any condition @ any time with marginal success? I know that any lure @ any given time can catch fish so for all u post happy peeps trying to reach your next "posting level", u need not respond. Not trying to be rude, just tired of simple responses. I know there are tons of really smart anglers on here so if anyone can help me that would be great. Thanks in advance.

[NateFollmer]

Swimbaits are something you just have to 'play' with... I can give you some guidelines that I have learned to give you a decent starting place though:

- During Spawn and Post-Spawn run swimbaits shallow, sometimes even burn them across the surface like a topwater bait. Toss them around beds, docks, weeds, and any other cover.

- If you find a cloud of baitfish, toss the swimbait into them and let it sink to the bottom. Sometimes bass will pick it up, if they don't, slow roll it back, just slow enough to get the tail kicking.

You really have to experiment with them though. Sometimes I use them to get followers, just so I know fish are there. Then you can toss out something else and they usually take it.

Here is a link to some articles that are in the article section of this site too:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/swimbaits.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/swimbaits_2.html

The biggest producers for me have been Money Minnows, but you really need to 'match the hatch' with swimbaits. Figure out what some of the baitfish are in your fishing area and get some swims that match.