My first swimbaits

[zach t]

:Disclaimer: I know these are overly simplistic....and I am not overly proud of them. I consider it a work in progress. However....I need feedback...and I can take it..LOL!

This spring I began throwing a lot of swimbaits. I started using them after I picked up a set of Strike King shadalicous on sale. These are normally about 7 dollars for a pack of 5. It took me forever to actually use them. But when I did...I started picking up fish. Lots of them. The strike was UNBELIEVABLE! I would actually get "slack in the line" when they would hit. The hookup rate was nearly 100%. Sometimes I would catch 10 inch fish who would fit the entire 5 inch bait in their mouths. However, after one fish, these baits were toast. Also, the 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 inch versions all swam well at different speeds, which was very aggravating.

As it normally goes, I found that the more expensive baits worked just a little better. Enter the Yum Money Minnow. It is more beefy, checking in at 6 inches. Unlike the Strike King bait, the Yum swam well at any speed. The yum would normally survive several fish attacks as well, sometimes as many as 20. But, at 9 dollars for 4, a day of swim baiting became costly....sometimes as much as 30-40 dollars a trip (not counting swim bait hooks, which are about $4.29 for 5).

So, I started pondering....if I can make rods...why can't I make baits? A quick search led me to Lure Craft. I quickly ordered enough supplies to make 5.25'' swimbaits.

Just like my first 3 rods, the lessons came very quick. No, Testors paint doesn't work on plastic. Hot plastic and skin don't go well together. Super glue doesn't hold eyes on......Etc etc.

But, after 15-20 bunk swimbaits...I finally started casting some "decent" swimbaits. I made a total of 12...6 "clear" and 6 "garlic" swimbaits. The difference being, of course, the garlic have garlic cast into the mold. Of course, I had used all my new plastic..... Now, keep in mind that these are overly simple....permanet marker gills, etc etc. I now have real paint to use on them. I will also make more detailed ones.

Saturday, I took them out. I knew from the get-go that my new swimbaits wouldn't do as well, since I only had a 4/0 spring lock hook...which is fine for most swimbaits. But mine are thicker and do not have a hook slot. I tied on a garlic one, since I thought...if they hit this smelly thing, they would deff hit the unscented clear.

On the first cast, I had a solid hit...but I missed him. For the next 3 consecutive casts, I had hits. Sometimes I would haul the fish halfway to the boat before they miraculously swam away. Why? Well, I was getting hits from the smaller fish, but the bait was so thick that they couldn't compress the plastic enough to get hooked. The good news was that they were holding onto the bait far longer than any I had on store bought brands.

I also noticed that these baits swam FANTASTIC at any speed. Even at a dead crawl, the tail action was unbelievable. The only downside was, at faster speeds, the bait acted as a "wake bait"...skimming just below the surface, creating a wake. This isn't a bad thing. Wake baits are awesome, but have their place. So...I need a little more wait. Not a problem, as 4/0 weighted hooks..like the one I was using, have a 3/16 weight. The bigger ones, like you would use, have 1/4 to 5/16 weights.

Eventually I did catch fish on my own bait, which was a terrific feeling. However, this morning I decided to cure this. I ordered several packs of 6/0 and 7/0 hooks, and another mold for 4.5'' baits with a hook slot. I also ordered an 8'' lizard mold. Whoot!

I am looking for names for these two....so post ideas!

[Captain Obvious]

You could call the garlic one smelly shad ;D

good looking baits man

[zach t]

I was thinking something like:

Shaditaliano

stinky sardine

italian stallion

Mussolini shad

[ToledoEF]

Looks good, if you were to paint those how do you do that?

[the crab]

You should make a pink one with garlic just so you can name it "stinky pinky".

[zach t]

You should make a pink one with garlic just so you can name it "stinky pinky".

Score!

[zach t]

Dang.

So, no one wants a few baits shipped to them to try out?

[roch1]

Nice looking baits.

Question for you, what did you use to attach the eyes?

[zach t]

That, my friend, I will keep close to the vest. I'm not normally a mook about stuff...but it took me forever to learn how to do it right.

I will tell ya, go look at the mass produced baits and do what they do....if ya can.

[the crab]

Dang.

So, no one wants a few baits shipped to them to try out?

Sure! I'm always accepting donations.

[buzzcatcher]

Dang.

So, no one wants a few baits shipped to them to try out?

ME ME ME!!!

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I'd give em a try

[Big Bass Man]

Dang.

So, no one wants a few baits shipped to them to try out?

They look great, I will give them a try. Here is my biggest swimbait bass to date .  10 lb 5 oz

[monster]

I'm always up for somethin new.

[Captain Obvious]

If its free sure

[zach t]

Send me an address.

[Captain Obvious]

pm sent

[SmallieNH]

What are the numbers of the lurecraft swimbait molds?

[BriBass]

Nice looking baits.

Question for you, what did you use to attach the eyes?

Clear coat 

[zach t]

Nice looking baits.

Question for you, what did you use to attach the eyes?

Clear coat

Negative, ghostrides.

Any sort of coating, including adhesives, cloud up and peel off.

[roch1]

That, my friend, I will keep close to the vest. I'm not normally a mook about stuff...but it took me forever to learn how to do it right.

I will tell ya, go look at the mass produced baits and do what they do....if ya can.

No worries as I e-mailed lurecraft directly and they gave me a few different methods for properly getting them on.

Not sure why you had a problem with sharing information with someone just looking to get into it and make a few for personal use but thats your choice.

[zach t]

It ain't that deep. It was mostly a joke. I am doing a couple of different methods that are working extremely well, which are differen than anything I have read about. If you wanted to know, it would

have been easier to pm.

That, my friend, I will keep close to the vest. I'm not normally a mook about stuff...but it took me forever to learn how to do it right.

I will tell ya, go look at the mass produced baits and do what they do....if ya can.

No worries as I e-mailed lurecraft directly and they gave me a few different methods for properly getting them on.

Not sure why you had a problem with sharing information with someone just looking to get into it and make a few for personal use but thats your choice.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Got my baits in the mail yesterday, went out this morning to give them a try. Three casts in this little girl hit like a ton of bricks. 3.1lbs by my Berkley scale. Rigged it on a long shank jig head.

this one is so you can see the bait.

[Steven Ladner]

Nice fish Big Rick, looks like the bait held up well.

[zach t]

AWESOME!

We went out this weekend as well...I didn't catch anything that big, but then again, there isn't much that big to begin with. I took all these pics before my two buddies showed up. They also threw my baits and we landed numerous nice fish. Amazingly, I looked in the recycle bin...only 3 needed to be remelted. I would say that each averages around 5 fish.

Here are some....