A Financial Decision

[Weld's Largemouth]

the time has come to get into some serious swimbaits for me.

 

Im looking at the spro bbz-1 swimbait. Heard lots about it and the action looks amazing.

What size do you recommend? 6" or 8"? Im leaning towards 6".

 

Also, i have read some reviews that recommend changing out the hooks.. is it a good idea to do so? (what size hooks fit on the bait? m not sure what size hooks come originally with it)

 

Thanks, Welds

[*Hank]

Depends on if you have a rod rated heavy enough to throw the 8 in. If you do I would get the 8in. But if not you could throw the 6in. On your jig and worm rod. Either one is good though, but if I were you I would get a huddelston it's a much better swimbait.

[Mattlures]

Depends on if you have a rod rated heavy enough to throw the 8 in. If you do I would get the 8in. But if not you could throw the 6in. On your jig and worm rod. Either one is good though, but if I were you I would get a huddelston it's a much better swimbait.

Beat me to it. A great starter bait is a Hudd 68

[Mr_Scrogg]

Your price range will dictate plenty. If you are going all out. Reel, Swimbait Rod, Lures, then I'll suggest finding a quality set up first. I use a old school Crucial Swimbait rod (full cork handle) and a Lexa 300. 20lb Pline CXX.

Next is baits. Mattlures are great. Any of the big names are great to start with. MS Slammer, Huddleston, R2S Swaver, Mattlures, 316, 22 Century, Black Dog. Its all about finding and keeping confidence in what you are throwing.

If you wanna try before shelling out coin on set ups. Mini Slammer will fit the bill. Can be thrown on a heavy jig rod and gets bit. ALOT.

[Mr_Scrogg]

If the SPRO is your bait, and you want better hooks. Owner ST-36 is what I replace the ones on my Slammers with. Hyperwire Split Rings as well.

[Catch and Grease]

Beat me to it. A great starter bait is a Hudd 68

 

How good do these soft body swimbaits like the Hudd's hold up? How much use do you get out of them before they are toast and need to be replaced? How easily can they get ripped apart by toothy critters?

[MIbassin]

How good do these soft body swimbaits like the Hudd's hold up? How much use do you get out of them before they are toast and need to be replaced? How easily can they get ripped apart by toothy critters?

With mend it, they can hold up quite awhile with bass. However, if I toothy critter decides to strike, it's usually game over for the bait. This is especially true with pickerel as opposed to pike. Pike engulf the whole thing but pickerel nip at it and usually rip off the tail.

[Catch and Grease]

With mend it, they can hold up quite awhile with bass. However, if I toothy critter decides to strike, it's usually game over for the bait. This is especially true with pickerel as opposed to pike. Pike engulf the whole thing but pickerel nip at it and usually rip off the tail.

 

WELP, looks like I wont be buying any 25$ hudd's then...  lots of Pickerel where I fish.

[hatrix]

I have never been a fan of the BBZ. It seems to be the bait everyone wants to get for there first one for some reason though.

[J Francho]

I like the BBZ-1 Jr.  Even smallies hit that thing, lol.

 

Hudds, Mattlures G2 Gills, and Trashfish, MS Mini Slammers should be on everyone's starter bait list.  I still throw them all.

[CWB]

Although not a big bait, if there are bluegills where you fish, take a look at Jackall's Giron. Not too pricey and they work great.

Slow steady retrieve gives great action. Stop it and it actually turns around like it is looking to see if anything is following it.

Let it sink and it stays vertical, doesn't lay over on its side. Swim it up to a bed and kill it. Should be deadly. I don't bedfish so I don't know.

[Comfortably Numb]

Deep just gave me a Savage Gear 8" line through. Quality looks good and swims well. Line through should help it from getting torn up.

 

Hudd 68 is great choice too.

[gulfcaptain]

Hudd 68 is a good bait warmer waters above 55 it seems, the regular ones excel in cooler waters below 60 (cool for S. Cal where I fish) and the Savage Gear Line Thru I have found works good in both, but I choose the floater.  Any hard swimbait I have all float. But mainly throw the 8" hudds, line thru's, and this year the MattLures 10" dead twitch and a couple triple trouts(8-10" all floaters)

[hatrix]

I never really like any of the soft baits from Matt I have a few and only the tournament perch I think it is has really produced for me. Slammers are always a great buy though. The giron is ok but I don't really consider a glide bait to much likes its labeled. I caught some good fishing on it and the first fish I ever got with it went close to 5 although that really means nothing. I throw a S-Song tons now as that just kills fish for me consistently and can be bombed way out while the giron is a crappy caster. I haven't fished my bullshooter jr enough to have a solid opinion on it but I already know its super good anyways.

As for the 68 or Hudds in general I don't agree with needing warmer water. Those are staples to throw when temps really drop. They can be fished insanely slow to accomadate the near freezing temps.

Not to say anything is a bad bait it's just personal experience for me on what I like. A lot has to do with what you have confidence in or has produced well before.

[Bluebasser86]

WELP, looks like I wont be buying any 25$ hudd's then...  lots of Pickerel where I fish.

The Savage Gear 3D line thru is designed to stand up to pike and work great for bass too. 6, 8, and 12 inch sizes all out there now.

[Senko lover]

Not a swimbait person, but Spro hooks should hold up. Unless, that is, you want hooks sharp enough to do open-heart surgery with.

[Choporoz]

Original Shammi Line Through....(didn't know I couldn't post TW link) --  five and seven inch line through paddle tail....on sale for $3.88 (from $17)

 

Any experience at all with this one?

 

I grabbed the 5" one from TW simply because of the price, but I haven't had it out yet and don't think it'll get a fair shake before spring.  Just wondering if I should pick up a few more before they're gone.  Looks good dry....hopefully I'll be able to put it to a test this weekend. 

 

Note - if you're thinking about grabbing one, they don't come with the treble (like the Optimum BLT's I've bought before.)     I need to stop and pick some larger hooks.....never a good thing....stopping at tackle shop or sporting goods store needing just $1 worth of stuff...

[Ginosocalbass]

i use the 6" here in jersey.   catches lots of fish.  I use stock hooks, with no problems

[basshole8190]

_{i suggest you get a 7 or 9' ms slammer, a hudd 68 rof5, and  a river 2 sea swaver (168 or 200 size) and those 3 three baits will give you so much insight into swimbaits and fish behavior. and maybe add a gill bait of some type. i have over 40 swimbaits but these are the ones i throw 80% of the time they just flat out catch fish for me. then if you like fishing big swimbaits and have the money you can progress to more specific situation baits that are a lil more expensive.}

[basshole8190]

If the SPRO is your bait, and you want better hooks. Owner ST-36 is what I replace the ones on my Slammers with. Hyperwire Split Rings as well.

nailed it

[hatrix]

Spro uses gamakatsu hooks.

[Bluebasser86]

Spro uses gamakatsu hooks.

This. Never had an issue with Gamakatsu hooks not being sharp enough. I have had them bend out though.