Dypsis Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 So I just purchased my first 'expensive' Swimbait a 5" bull shad. I know it's not a deps 250, but it's still pricey. I'm really excited to throw it - I know I will have to be patient and stay with it, but hopefully good things will come. Now I know if I want to succeed at fishing these baits I can't be scared of loosing it but do you guys that throw these baits regularly worry about it - even if it's only in the back of your mind. Matt Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted July 3, 2015 Super User Posted July 3, 2015 I'm in the same boat. I have never fished a hard body swimbait and I just purchased a LC real California 110 and a Megabass i-slide 135. I'm not sure if I should fish them in open water or in and around cover. Quote
2833-34497 Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 I was the same way in the beginning with pricey swimbaits I bought, so I got more affordable swimbaits and practiced around, over, between trees and anything else I knew held fish. Also get a good plug retreiver it paid for itself the 1st time my Bullshad got hung up on a deep branch as well as saving many other swimbaits since. Quote
gobig Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 You should invest in a bait knocker, the one with chains that hang off it. Its worth its weight in gold. You have to think of swimbaits as tools that are used for specific jobs. Some come through trees really well, some come through grass well etc...You have to select the right bait for the right job. And yes there is a good probability that you will get hung up from time to time even using the best possible bait for the situation. The reality is that you will probably even lose a few. However the right gear will greatly diminish the chances of losing a bait. Quote
Dypsis Posted July 3, 2015 Author Posted July 3, 2015 Thanks for the replies. I'll look into getting a lure retriever. Quote
Super User Senko lover Posted July 3, 2015 Super User Posted July 3, 2015 Also, you may want to work on your diving skills 1 Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 3, 2015 Super User Posted July 3, 2015 5" Bull Shad is only 1.25 oz, with 2 treble hooks, so you can fish it using a crankbait rod. The big difference between a crankbait and a swimbait is the speed you retrieve the lure...swim it! You can jiggle it out of a lot of snags when fishing it slower. Keep in touch with the lure, feel the line rubbing objects before it hits the snag. I fish nearly all my swimbaits using 25 lb Sunline Deifer Armilo Nylon line, 300 series round reels and swimbait rods rated for 1-5 oz and 3-10 oz, 7'11 and 8' rods. My advice; Invest in a swimbait rod and reel and a good lure retriever. Tom 1 Quote
Super User deep Posted July 3, 2015 Super User Posted July 3, 2015 12 inchers will eat that thing just fine, and you'll get plenty of bites to keep your confidence up. Quote
Dypsis Posted July 5, 2015 Author Posted July 5, 2015 12 inchers will eat that thing just fine, and you'll get plenty of bites to keep your confidence up. That's what I'm hoping! Quote
BASSPATROL247 Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 Thanks for the replies. I'll look into getting a lure retriever. They can be made easily.. Quote
Shanes7614 Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 5" Bull Shad is only 1.25 oz, with 2 treble hooks, so you can fish it using a crankbait rod. The big difference between a crankbait and a swimbait is the speed you retrieve the lure...swim it! You can jiggle it out of a lot of snags when fishing it slower. Keep in touch with the lure, feel the line rubbing objects before it hits the snag. I fish nearly all my swimbaits using 25 lb Sunline Deifer Armilo Nylon line, 300 series round reels and swimbait rods rated for 1-5 oz and 3-10 oz, 7'11 and 8' rods. My advice; Invest in a swimbait rod and reel and a good lure retriever. Tom I'm confused. You first state that the OP can use a crankbait rod with the current bait he has. You then go on to say you advise to buy a strictly swim bait rod.... So which is it? Seems as if he would have two rods and only ONE bait. Quote
hatrix Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 I'm confused. You first state that the OP can use a crankbait rod with the current bait he has. You then go on to say you advise to buy a strictly swim bait rod.... So which is it? Seems as if he would have two rods and only ONE bait. You can use a cranking stick but you would be better off actually buying a swimbait rod. If that is something you plan on getting into of course. 1 Quote
BasshunterJGH Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 5" Bull Shad is only 1.25 oz, with 2 treble hooks, so you can fish it using a crankbait rod. The big difference between a crankbait and a swimbait is the speed you retrieve the lure...swim it! You can jiggle it out of a lot of snags when fishing it slower. Keep in touch with the lure, feel the line rubbing objects before it hits the snag. I fish nearly all my swimbaits using 25 lb Sunline Deifer Armilo Nylon line, 300 series round reels and swimbait rods rated for 1-5 oz and 3-10 oz, 7'11 and 8' rods. My advice; Invest in a swimbait rod and reel and a good lure retriever. Tom I'm confused. You first state that the OP can use a crankbait rod with the current bait he has. You then go on to say you advise to buy a strictly swim bait rod.... So which is it? Seems as if he would have two rods and only ONE bait. Dude: this Shane guy is out to get you. Lol 2 Quote
Shanes7614 Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 Dude: this Shane guy is out to get you. Lol Not out to get anyone.... Just looking for an explanation as to why he would need a dedicated swim bait rod for ONE bait. I do agree with Hatrix and if it's something the OP is going to get into then the purchase would make sense. Otherwise I don't think buying a dedicated setup is needed as Tom stated a crankbait rod could be used in the OP's situation and current bait owned. Quote
gobig Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 I generally agree with Tom but I can't see fishing that bait on a standard crankbait rod. Maybe a rod built to throw a 10xd. Like a Dobyns 806cb or something along those lines. I feel a standard crank rod would be over powered by the bait. I am not saying that a rod has to be labeled as a swimbait rod to be a good swimbait rod, but certain things need to happen. Like it needs to load properly to get a good cast out of it. When you set the hook there needs to be enough power to drive larger hooks and get the fish moving at you, it needs the right parabolic bend etc... If the rod accomplishes the right things and it says a-rig on the side who cares. But swimbaits are a power game, you don't want to try and play a fish. The heavier the bait the more likely it will be thrown by the fish. One mistake that I think happens all to often is that we gear ourselves towards smaller fish and it costs us. You might be able to go out and throw that bait on a crank rod and even catch a few 2-3lbers but whats gonna happen when its the fish of a lifetime? You will probably have a good story for the "one that got away" thread. Quote
Dypsis Posted July 6, 2015 Author Posted July 6, 2015 I JUST purchased a MB XX Perfect Pitch, mostly it will be used for flipping/pitching as well as frogs. But I bought the bull shad, a 7" ms slammer as well as a 168 s-glide. But the bull shad is the only one that will be here this week. I know it's not a true swimbait rod but I am so new to swimbaits it will do for now. Looking forward to trying them out. Quote
blckshirt98 Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 As you build up your swimbait collection and have extras to spare, you might identify a couple of swimbaits in your arsenal you may be willing to risk in dodgy cover. Quote
einscodek Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 I'd generally keep my trebled swimbaits away from cover. Stuff like Huddgill and the weedless hudds are better around cover. Quote
Dogmatic Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 You bit the bullet, and purchased some "pricey" swimbaits, now realize that you can't be wary of throwing them where ever they need to be thrown to catch fish, trebles or not. Quote
Jaiden Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 You have to put baits where the fish are, cover or not. Lure retrievers are great investments. So far, I have a 100% success rate with mine (BPS brand) after hanging up lures from jigs to cranks to big swimmers. As you acquire more swimbaits, you can get a big bait rod to suit your needs. Tight lines Quote
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