Big Swimbaits In Northern Va?

[big poppa]

I was wondering if anyone has been having any luck throwing swimbaits. I caught about a 3lb bass with a 4 inch but was thinking about upgrading the size of the bait to get bigger fish. Has anyone tried this or am I gonna be the guinea pig? Any tips or suggestions? 

[BlackFlag703]

Just depends on the spots/areas you fish. I've caught fish off of 6in hard swimbaits, 7in soft swimbaits, my friend use to catch bass with his 8in swimbaits. So they work but when you are going up in size you are targeting bigger/more aggressive bass haven't caught a fish off a swimbait in a while but I only do shore fishing don't have a boat.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

you can catch some pigs using swimbaits... less bites a lot less.... but its worth it if you want to stick a pig

[Sam]

As you know, when you fish the big swimbaits or jigs you need patience.

 

Few bites but sometimes great rewards.

 

If you know for sure there are a number of large ladies in the waters you fish and you can get to where they are staging or swimming along the bank then go for it. If you don't catch anything and you drove to your spot you have at least six-hours to think about it on your way home in NOVA traffic.

 

Keep a written record of each day, including the details on the Free Fishing Log under "Tools" at the top of this page. By doing this you will have a history and you can find a pattern for using the larger swimbaits, or any other baits, etc.

 

All the best for great success and if you do land one of those fat ones please post a pic on this thread and let us know.

 

Now get up, get dressed, and get into traffic!!!!

[big poppa]

Been stocking up on Hudds and other big swimbaits all winter. Tryin to get out there this weekend

[flippin4it.]

A fishing buddy of mine throws LARGE swim baits in the local ponds and lakes, mostly surface or sub surface and he crushes them. Not only do the larger fish hit it, the 2-3 pound fish will hit too. His greatest success comes at night. I am amazed at the numbers he catches even in small ponds around here.

[Choporoz]

For about three weeks last summer (June/July, I think), along the banks/beaches/piers of Gunston Cove, the bass were slamming big swim baits when little else was working. 

[NHBA Charlie]

My partner has been making his own soft plastic swimbaits for the past two years and we have been having a ball with them. We started out using four inch baits, then moved up to six inch baits and he has been making and using some outlandishly large 7-9 inch baits. Although we have not caught any bass over the six pound mark on them, we are crushing 20-40 pound blue catfish on the larger ones. He has had many hits on the huge baits, but thus far, has not been able to hook one. Lots of fish in the 3-5 pound range are taking the four inchers in clear/blue back in the Potomac River Grass Beds.

[big poppa]

My partner has been making his own soft plastic swimbaits for the past two years and we have been having a ball with them. We started out using four inch baits, then moved up to six inch baits and he has been making and using some outlandishly large 7-9 inch baits. Although we have not caught any bass over the six pound mark on them, we are crushing 20-40 pound blue catfish on the larger ones. He has had many hits on the huge baits, but thus far, has not been able to hook one. Lots of fish in the 3-5 pound range are taking the four inchers in clear/blue back in the Potomac River Grass Beds.

Are you the Charlie from the fishing report? Ive read it every week for years!

[NHBA Charlie]

Yes. That would be me.

Hopefully, it has been of assistance to you.

[big poppa]

Theyve helped me more than youll ever know. Thank you! If your partner looking to sell any swimbaits please let me know!

[NHBA Charlie]

Actually, he doesn't have a lot of time.  He experiments with all kinds of materials, colors, additions, etc. and the two of us

use them in club tournaments to see how they catch fish.  We have been very successful with them, particularly with big

blue catfish. We catch a ton of these.  Bass are taking them in the Potomac River grass beds and lily pad fields.  They come

through vegetation very well and the fish just slam them.  I watched what I thought to be a 7-8# bass hit one of his B I G ones at Lake Anna, but didn't hook up.  I suspect that the hook was too small and got buried in the plastic. The fish don't have any problem hitting them.  We are using the Owner Flashy Swimmer swimbait hooks in them.

[livetofish28]

I have been looking into starting to throw them and i have a swimabait stick (st croix mojo bass) just no big big baits i think they will work im a swimabait junkie when it comes to 5 inches and less but want to get some bigger ones just watching the  flea market 

 

     tight lines 

 

          Andrew