Swimbait/wakebait Questions

[rippin-lips]

So thanks to this board I have purchased some popular swimbait/wakebaits that are recommended for beginners trying to get into this style of fishing. I have a few questions. Mainly when is the best time to throw these? Aside from dawn and dusk for things like the mini ms slammer. Do you prefer a slight chop for wakebaits or calm water? What line size would be suitable for them and are they fished on a slower ratio reel or faster? Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance BR. I'll include what I've purchased so if you have any tips for a certain lure I'd love to hear them.

S waver 168s

1-5/8 floating

S waver 120s

13/16 floating

Magic swimmer 125

3/4 slow sink

Jackall giron

3/4 slow sink

Spro bbz-1 4" shad

7/8 slow sink

Spro bbz-1 4" shad

3/4 floating

Ms mini slammer

1-1/4 floating

G2 shellcracker

1-1/2 floating

SK wake shad

7/8 floating

U2 gill

1oz sinking

[Bluebasser86]

I really have no preference with the Slammer. I don't have the mini but I fish mine anytime fish will hit normal topwater and some times that they won't. Flat water or choppy water they seem to work as long as it isn't too rough. I'll fish them all day long, even when it's hot and sunny out. The big profile makes them an inviting looking high reward target that makes it so they don't have to play by the normal rules of topwater fishing. My biggest Slammer fish to date was on a hot, sunny day around 1pm. 

[boostr]

Good Topic, I'm wondering the same thing.

[CTGalloway21]

I throw all my swimbaits on 25lb P-line CX.  I use a Revo Toro 50HS.  

 

To me the best time is clearer water and overcast with water temps over 55 degrees.  

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I only have one swimbait right now. And have caught 3 fish one was an 8 pounder last pre spawn. It was over cast , windy, and water temp was 49 degrees. I was fishing off a point back to the wind. I prefer wind or a chop because i,beilve i spook some fish with the entry of bait. But now i have a good swimbait set up where ill be able to cast longer distances to avoid that

[basshole8190]

I like water to be from glass calm to a good chop not quite choppy enough to make a mudline on the bank. i try to parralell a contour or cover feature on structure my favorite is weedlines or bluff walls . but they work well on points and other structure also. my most succesful retrieve is a slow erratic retrieve lots of twitches and rod sweeps. but mix it up and the fish will tell you. one piece of advice i would give is when you get one on don't try to fight the fish much. get its head turned and heading toward you and don't stop. the weight of the bigger baits will work in the fish's favor when it headshakes.

[rippin-lips]

Theres a ton of weedlines on my main lake so that won't be a problem.

[Raul]

The problem with that kind of questions --->

 

 Mainly when is the best time to throw these? Aside from dawn and dusk for things like the mini ms slammer. Do you prefer a slight chop for wakebaits or calm wáter?

 

Is that you´re looking for answer that has no "right" nor "wrong" answer

 

Let me put you an example:

 

Clear bluebird skies, mid day, air temps in the 90´s, the lake looking like glass, super clear water

 

Dude, if I tell you that those conditions are one of my favorite to throw any kind of topwater including wakebaits would you believe me ? Would you believe me if I tell you that I´ve caught not only numbers but good sized fish under those conditions ?

 

Why I like those "unfavorable" conditions ? beacuse many moons ago one day with those conditions I tried topwaters and it worked ! and later when I faced those conditions it worked again and so on, and there were days with those condition that it worked and days it didn´t .

 

Trying to cut corners doesn´t cut it, trying to make "rules" also doesn´t cut it, you have to try for a while and if it didn´t work it only means that for whatever reason in that particular place in that particular moment what you are doing is not working ..... but that don´t mean it won´t work later.

[rippin-lips]

I obviously realize there are exceptions to everything in fishing but asking for some advice to get started in the right direction is all I'm looking for. As we all know there are certain conditions where some things excel and sometimes they don't. Like throwing a spinnerbait in winter.

[WRB]

I don't use small swimmers, the S Waver is a glide bait more than a wake bait.

The key with wake and swimbaits is learning to slow down your presentation technique and staying with it.

Good water clarity is important and fishing areas known to have baitfish concentrations. Pre spawn major and secondary points are prime targets, post spawn the same areas.

Tom

[rippin-lips]

Thanks Tom. Great info there.

[mnbassman23]

20lb mono would work well for those swimbaits. Slower is usually better and clear water is a plus. Hardcore swimbait guys will tell you to throw them 24/7, it's a lifestyle for them. Pick out high percentage areas and take your time fishing them. I see you have all slow sink or floaters. Maybe add a faster sinking soft bait to get down to the bottom to slow roll/drag if your fishing deeper weedlines, points, etc. Just a thought.

[gulfcaptain]

I would have to agree with Tom, as well as a few others, but like throwing them in the dark as well. .  But the main thing is throwing the bait/baits and having faith in the bait your fishing that it's going to get bit and sticking with it.  YOU have to figure out what will work on your body of water.  I fish a handful of places and what may work on 2 may not even get looked at on another.  The baits you listed I wouldn't throw anything on more then 20lb as line heavier then that may kill the action as well as in clear water be seen.  I fish big swimbaits and use 25lb flouro in clear water and 25lb mono when it's a bit stained. Wakebait work great in the dark, over bluegill beds when they are keying in on them. Glide baits are a bit more of a suttle presentation and work well in clear water.  But nothing will beat time on the water fishing them and learning what works for you.

[rippin-lips]

Thanks for the tips.

[Talonman]

On the G2, I like what the dude says in the video.

 

Good at Post-spawn, the mother bass think the G2 is hunting fry and will attack it.

[rippin-lips]

What video is that?

[buzzed bait]

i'd agree that you don't need too big of line for those baits you listed.  i myself prefer a little bit of chop, not much, but enough to mask the bigger splash of the bigger bait… 

and i don't really throw them until the water temp is in mid/high 50's or above….  of the baits you listed, my favorites would be the s wavers and the ms slammer

[mnbassman23]

What video is that?

Here you go rippin-lips.

 

[WRB]

The original Black Dog Shell Cracker 5' swimmer is about 3 oz with hooks and a good swimbait, you will need a med-hvy to heavy swimbait rod for these. Not familiar with the smaller G2 model, other than watching the video.

Tom

[rippin-lips]

Yeah right now I don't have a dedicated swimbait setup. I'm using my 7'6 flippin stick that's only rated to 1.5oz.

[ClackerBuzz]

this vid covers bigger baits than you have listed but the core concepts apply to ur lures (and any bass fishing technique for that matter).

[rippin-lips]

Thanks for that video. Very informative and a great way to kill 40 minutes at work.

[WRB]

Invest in a swimbait rod, flipping rods are not designed to cast swimbaits.

Okuma guide special swimbait med/hvy rods are about $100, well worth the $$.

Tom

[rippin-lips]

Yeah I've been looking at those for a few months now. There's just other combos I need more then that at the moment. From what I've read,I can get by for now with the baits I have and my 7'6 XH.

Quick question though since we are on the topic of rods. My local shop has a daiwa musky rod that I can get a good price on. Would that be suitable to use?

[WRB]

Not familiar with Daiwa musky rods. Most musky rods would be too heavy and designed to cast lures 4 to 8 oz, plus the handles tend to be long to make figure circles near the boat. I would save $$ and wait for a sale on Okuma or equal med-hvy swimbait rod for the lures you plan to use.

I started using a musky rods for swim baits, because I had one and it was difficult to use.

Tom