Best Swimbaits

[Topwater98]

I was thinking about trying out swimbaits sometime. What are some of the best swimbaits? I have looked at the Savage Gear 3D Real Trout, BPS Z9r and Z9 perch. I don't want to spend a whole lot of money but would like to get 1-2 swimbaits. Most of the lakes that I fish have pike in them so whatever I get has to be able to stand up to pike. Also the lake I usually fish has lots of weeds so I might not be able to fish real deep. I have never caught a largemouth over 4 lbs and thought the maybe a swimbait would help me catch bigger fish. Thanks for any help!

[Raul]

Mattlures Hardgill, and no, a swimbait will not make you catch bigger fish, catching bigger fish means you fish for big fish, swimbaits aren´t the magic bullet that´s going to make you catch a bigun.

[kayakkrack]

Huddleston

[gulfcaptain]

Rual's correct, it is another tool to use.  Hudds are good but if you have pike, $30 a pop will likely not be wise but are great lures.  I would suggest the Savage Gear 3D line thru trout series.  At half the price and a top hook design you can fish these over weeds without any issues or breaking the bank.  And they have good action. Hard baits are going to be a bit more expensive when you get into the larger models, but my advice start with the line thrus and move up.  Swimbait fishing can be addicting and the bait monkey will be in full effect once you catch a few on it as well as see the followers that tease you without biting.  

[Raul]

Some good "cheap" swimbaits: Spro BBZ series, MS Slammer, Jackall Mikey.

 

If you got pike I don´t think soft swimbaits are a good option moneywise, not nice having a pike slicing in half your brand new Huddleston Deluxe. 

[rippin-lips]

I've just gotten into throwing swim baits myself. Some of the onees that have been recommended to me are 3:16 Rising sun 8", savage gear line thru trout 8", Mattlures ultimate bluegill, 9" ms slammer, Shellcracker G2,S waver 200

[gulfcaptain]

I would second the MS Slammer and BBZ's. But they are still going to run you $29-50 each depending on size. Triple Trout's are good as well but start a bit higher.

[2833-34497]

Try the 8" Savage Line Thru Trout and it's in the summer clearance section for $9.99, so you can't beat that price to try it out! On orders over $50.00 you get free shipping also!

 

http://www.*.com/Savage-Gear-3D-Line-Thru-Trout-p/savagegear-3dlttrout.htm

[SPEEDBEAD.]

If you have toothy fish in your water, I'd also recommend picking up some Mend It or 316 glue to repair tears in your soft baits.

 

The baits recommended above would be what I'd point you toward as well.

[Ginosocalbass]

did you say pike?   get a BBZ1 jr. in perch color... they catch the small and bigger fish too. 

 

if you have pike, forget the savage gear line thru baits, unless u plan to be glueing them together and potentially cutting you off completely. and a snapping turtle peel the soft plastic off the kevlar core. 

 

I had a massive pickeral bite through 25lb mono and sever my 8" savage gear line through... a pickeral... just some food for thought. 

[hatrix]

I would go with a hard bait over a soft if you have toothy critters. Since you are trying to get some cheaper baits I would also look at the S-Wavers and Glide Swimmers. The are basically sub surface glides that stay around 1-3 feet unless you really let them sink a while. For top water check out a Shell Cracker and Lunker Punkers. These are all really good baits that can be had for $20 or less. These are like literally the cheapest of notable baits and work great. 

[Topwater98]

did you say pike?   get a BBZ1 jr. in perch color... they catch the small and bigger fish too. 

 

if you have pike, forget the savage gear line thru baits, unless u plan to be glueing them together and potentially cutting you off completely. and a snapping turtle peel the soft plastic off the kevlar core. 

 

I had a massive pickeral bite through 25lb mono and sever my 8" savage gear line through... a pickeral... just some food for thought. 

I am planning on getting the spro BBZ1 in perch color. I think I will get a slow sinking bait. How well will these work with wire leaders? Will they still catch bass? I don't want to get cut off by pike. Dose it help to have a black wire leader? Thanks!

[Ginosocalbass]

I am planning on getting the spro BBZ1 in perch color. I think I will get a slow sinking bait. How well will these work with wire leaders? Will they still catch bass? I don't want to get cut off by pike. Dose it help to have a black wire leader? Thanks!

i use braid with a 3 foot 25lb mono.  I dont have issues with the hardbaits being chewed off.  It happend once this season, and from a monster pickeral (we dont have pike down here) But for the most part, its not an issue, I fish 4 days a week, and losing 1 swimbait this summer isnt a tragedy. 

 

You can use staright braid line with better results, but i think it spooks the fish when fishing during the day time. 

 

I do fish a few soft plastic swimbaits, and the pickeral due tear them up, They even bite the creme worm tails off my topwater rat swimbaits. So youll find pickeral and pike to be a annoying at times. But they add to the fun of swimbait fishing becuase they are vicious. 

[Bluebasser86]

If you want to fish a soft swimbait in waters with toothy critters then check out the Real Prey swimbaits. They move like a regular softbait but are much more durable. 

 

Personally, if I was going to buy another BBZ it would be a floater. I had a slow sink and was not impressed with the bait. The MS Slammer is well worth the investment and will catch all sizes of fish. 

[Diggy]

Try the 8" Savage Line Thru Trout and it's in the summer clearance section for $9.99, so you can't beat that price to try it out! On orders over $50.00 you get free shipping also!

 

http://www.*.com/Savage-Gear-3D-Line-Thru-Trout-p/savagegear-3dlttrout.htm

I picked up a bunch of clearance lures myself. Might as well start without overspending.

[2833-34497]

I picked up a bunch of clearance lures myself. Might as well start without overspending.

For that price you can't go wrong IMO!

[Diggy]

For that price you can't go wrong IMO!

I ordered so many items that I don't even know what I ordered, lol. Everything should be here tomorrow, then...I'll pick up a lexa 300 and an okuma or daiwa dx rod.

[2833-34497]

I ordered so many items that I don't even know what I ordered, lol. Everything should be here tomorrow, then...I'll pick up a lexa 300 and an okuma or daiwa dx rod.

LOL, good luck and hope you catch a bunch!!

[Diggy]

LOL, good luck and hope you catch a bunch!!

Thanks. I'll report back once I start throwing the big baits.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

did you say pike?   get a BBZ1 jr. in perch color... they catch the small and bigger fish too. 

 

if you have pike, forget the savage gear line thru baits, unless u plan to be glueing them together and potentially cutting you off completely. and a snapping turtle peel the soft plastic off the kevlar core. 

 

I had a massive pickeral bite through 25lb mono and sever my 8" savage gear line through... a pickeral... just some food for thought. 

 

The Savage Line Thru baits can handle a heavy fluoro leader. If you look at the origin of the bait, they are designed and marketed in Europe as big pike baits. I mean BIG PIKE. I'd say if they can handle them, it's not too much of a concern if you rig them appropriately.

 

Baits get torn up. It happens. It's the nature of a soft bait. Glueing baits back together is part of the game.