Swim Bait Setup?

[gabassguy91]

Want a big swimbait rod and reel, one to throw big Huds any suggestions? 

[bmlum415]

Price range? If none I recommend a dobyns champion 806-807 with a shimano Calcutta D 300-400

[gr8outdoorz]

For Hudds I have a 7'6" H Okuma Guide Select which was paired with a Revo Winch. I just acquired a Cardiff 301A that was sent to DVT for servicing/cleaning that will go on it when it gets back. I had no problems with the 68's, but I could spool the Revo with  8" Hudds. Line capacity is key with big baits because you will want to use 20lb line minimum. I use 25lb CXX.

[AK-Jax86]

I haven't fully branched into big swim bait fishing and haven't mastered the baitcast yet. But that's one of my goals for this year. I have a Abu Garcia Revo STX would that be able to handle the big swim baits?

Right now I have it on a BPS rod, but I wasn't planning on using that I know I need to upgrade my rod to something much longer and more stout. I plan on doing that when I get the hang of the baitcast... I mean right now I am strictly spinning with an Abu Garcia Orra, Quantum Smoke, and a Pflueger Patriarch

[MarkH024]

I haven't fully branched into big swim bait fishing and haven't mastered the baitcast yet. But that's one of my goals for this year. I have a Abu Garcia Revo STX would that be able to handle the big swim baits?

 

STX would not be ideal, at least not for me. You could easily spool out a traditional bait caster using big heavy baits with thick diameter line. I use a Curado 300 DSV. It has a big wide spool with a lot of line capacity.  I prefer low profile over round and that is just preference.  A nice cheap round reel to get started would be Cardiff 300-400. You can even find them on Ebay used for ~$60-$75.  The Lexa 300's are another popular low-profile if you prefer to go that route.  I think Speed uses one or two if I'm not mistaken.

 

The Bassin' swimbait guys (most) are anti braid. I've been throwing large baits for musky with braid for years and have never had issues. The reason braid is frowned on is because of the 0 shock absorbency and the possibility of snapping your line at the lure.  Part of it has to do with people trying to launch a huge bait across the entire lake with everything they've got.  Like I said, it's never happened to me. I also fish with heavy fluoro leaders or steel/titanium depending on the lure and water. There are a few of the cheaper swimbaits I tie direct and take my chances within the pike waters I fish.  There is absoultely nothing wrong with using a heavy mono or copoly but I just prefer braid because I'm used to throwing it.  I can also get more line on with braid.  My .02

[livetofish28]

I have a St Croix mojo bass swimbait stick rated to 1-4 ounces with a Lew's super duty with 20# xzorline

[A-Jay]

For Hudds I fish a Shimano Calcutta 300D mounted on a 7'6" H Okuma Guide Select.

 

I throw it on 20 -25 lb mono.

 

A-Jay

[Craiger12]

For Hudds I fish a Shimano Calcutta 300D mounted on a 7'6" H Okuma Guide Select.

 

I throw it on 20 -25 lb mono.

 

A-Jay

 

8" or 6" Hudds?

[A-Jay]

8" or 6" Hudds?

 

 

Both.

 

A-Jay

[Jrob78]

For Hudds I fish a Shimano Calcutta 300D mounted on a 7'6" H Okuma Guide Select.

 

I throw it on 20 -25 lb mono.

 

A-Jay

I use a Revo Toro Winch 50 mounted on the same Okuma rod with 20-25 lb mono.  It's a really good all purpose swimbait rod for not a lot of money.  The build quality is really good and the rod can handle 6" and 8" Hudds.

[WRB]

Use a Okuma heavy 7'11" guide select swimbait rod for the 8" Huds, the Cadiff 300 works good if $$ is an issue. 20-25 lb mono works good with 8" Huds.

Tom

[bmlum415]

I'm using a dobyns champion 807mag with a daiwa lexa 300

[mikeeasttn]

Fishing the big swim baits is an entirely different game from what most of us would call normal bass fishing.  It can get very expensive really fast and I would not invest a lot of money until I was sure this is what I wanted.  It takes a different type of fisherman to fish the big baits regularly and if like most  the swimbait fishing can be addictive in that you will want to fish swimbaits most of the time.

Some very good equipment can be purchased at a lower price and if it turns out you do not like it you will not have a huge amount invested.

I would start with a ABU Ambassedeur 5600 C4 or a 6600 C4 reels.  They are good reels and will last.  I would also start with an Okuma Swimbait Rod.  I have not fished those but have friends that do and they are very good rods.  Most of the people on the site have reccomended them also.

Use P-Line CXX as it is reasonably priced and is the choice of many big bait fishermen.  Use the 30# green for your large baits.

Good luck and I hope you come to love fishing the big baits as much as I do.

[Hooligan]

I fish Hudds and the like on a 7-11 Shimano Crucial with a Calcutta 300D.  I've got the same rod with a Curado 300 and a Lexa 300 as well.  I've had great luck with all three combos.  I prefer the Calcutta.  Line- when I can get it, I use Silverthread AN40 in 20lb.  Otherwise, I use Izorline 20lb.

[MacP]

I asked the same question a while ago and picked up a 7'6' Okuma Guide Select rod.  I've got a tuned Abu 6501 C3 on it.  It's perfect.  Very nice rod.  If it weren't 11 degrees here, I'd be on the rivers looking for rock fish.

[gabassguy91]

Heres the video that turned me on to this kind of fishing.

 

[bmlum415]

Heres the video that turned me on to this kind of fishing.

Look up kevin mattson bass king/ deps video. IMO there's no better swimbait video.he's who turned me on to using deps slide swimmers after talking to him.

[gabassguy91]

Look up kevin mattson bass king/ deps video. IMO there's no better swimbait video.he's who turned me on to using deps slide swimmers after talking to him.

 Very realistic but boy they are proud of those 250's real pricy. 

[hatrix]

For a rod you can check out Low Down Custom Rods. They are maybe cheaper then you think and specialize in those types of rods. A reel is personal preference IMO and you should stick with ones you know generally or a company you might be partial to.

You can also check out swimbaitunderground.c0m

It is all swimbaits all the time.

Good Luck

[gripnrip]

I haven't fully branched into big swim bait fishing and haven't mastered the baitcast yet. But that's one of my goals for this year. I have a Abu Garcia Revo STX would that be able to handle the big swim baits?

Right now I have it on a BPS rod, but I wasn't planning on using that I know I need to upgrade my rod to something much longer and more stout. I plan on doing that when I get the hang of the baitcast... I mean right now I am strictly spinning with an Abu Garcia Orra, Quantum Smoke, and a Pflueger Patriarch

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-Extreme-Trigger-Rods/product/11092205011616/

 

I'm thinking on picking the 7'10" model.  I am going to start throwing swimbaits.  It could be doubled as a Bama rig rod as well.  I doubt I will ever be throwing anything over 8" to start off.