Help A Swim Bait Rookie!

[BassinNCstyle]

Hello all, I am wanting to try swim baits but don't know much about them. I kayak fish in water made up of two ponds with shallow water area that connects the two. Water can be clear or muddy depending on where  at. Any tips appreciated on which brand to try. Thanks!

[drodriguez]

I'd go out and buy some Sebile Magic Swimmers. The soft plastic ones. Great action, but id recommend buying extra hooks for them, as they only come with one.

[Bluebasser86]

What kind of structure/cover are you fishing? 

[BassinNCstyle]

Thanks for the replies. I will be fishing around a lot of trees and stumps out of water in shallow swamp area. Pond area has open water but some areas with sunken taken trees.

[Mattlures]

If your talking about "real" swimbaits that cost a little more then regular baits then don't buy junk. You are far better off buying 2-3 good proven baits for the same amount of money as 5-10 cheap baits. When it comes to swimbaits American or Japanese made baits are superior. Cheap made in China  baits are almost all junk. There are always exceptions but follow this general advice and you will be started in the right direction. If your talking about paddle tail tubes like Basstrix or swimming worms like the skinny dipper then I cant really help you other then copies are rarely even almost as good as the originals.

[Bluebasser86]

Thanks for the replies. I will be fishing around a lot of trees and stumps out of water in shallow swamp area. Pond area has open water but some areas with sunken taken trees.

Sounds like a great place for a weedless Huddleston, Slammer, or Hardgill. Fish the huddleston through the heavy stuff, the Slammer around and over it, and the hardgill around edges. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Sounds like a great place for a weedless Huddleston, Slammer, or Hardgill. Fish the huddleston through the heavy stuff, the Slammer around and over it, and the hardgill around edges. 

 

Don't limit the Hardgill solely to edges.

 

The SS bait is very slow falling and easily worked over brush piles, emergent weeds, laydowns, etc. I typically use a fast-creep-rip over visible cover. End of the cast, I'll crank fast to get it going up to the cover, slow down and creep over the top of the cover and then when approaching the outside edge give it a rip and kill it. If it doesn't get crushed at that point, I'll start the creep again paying attention to any followers that may have started tracking the bait.

 

Followers are a whole other story. You're on your own there. LOL

[WRB]

A few questions.

Do you plan on buying new rod to cast the heavier model swimbait? Most worthwhile hard swimmers weigh over 1 1/2oz to 5 oz, heavy lures that need special tackle.

Do you know if the ponds you fish have a population of big bass? I assume from your site name you are in NC and the area does produce some big bass. If your goal is to catch more bass swimbaits may not be the right lure for you.

Select a swimbait that closely represents the prey the big bass in your ponds target. Bluegill and baby bass are everywhere.

Tom