Hooked on swimbaits now

[j bab]

I got a bull shad in the mail a few days ago but I hadn't had the chance to throw it yet. Today I hit up my usual pond for 15 minutes so I could try it out before work. I was just trying to get used to throwing it and testing out retrieve speeds. Before long I got a bump and soon I saw a small follower. Nothing came of it so I kept casting around at different spots. Suddenly, bam... A 4.5 pounder crushed it. I was super surprised to get a bite so soon, especially being my first time throwing the bait. The fish fought hard and jumped a couple times but I cranked it in because I've heard that they throw those big baits easily. I had to leave for work immediately after releasing it... It's safe to say I've been itching to go back out and see what else is interested in the bull shad.

Beginners luck... I'll take it

[everythingthatswims]

Seems like if you're a beginner, you buy a swimbait, and go test it out, you'll catch a big one. It happened to me too two years ago when I bought my first swimbait.

Definitely have to winch them in and keep their head down, swimbait fishing is high risk, high reward.

Keep up the good work, bull shad swimbaits get picked on a lot but I like mine and have caught PLENTY of nice fish with it!

[j bab]

39 minutes ago, everythingthatswims said:

Seems like if you're a beginner, you buy a swimbait, and go test it out, you'll catch a big one. It happened to me too two years ago when I bought my first swimbait.

Definitely have to winch them in and keep their head down, swimbait fishing is high risk, high reward.

Keep up the good work, bull shad swimbaits get picked on a lot but I like mine and have caught PLENTY of nice fish with it!

Why do they get picked on? I assume because of the less than pristine, hand made look that it has (which I actually like). I sure like it so far! I haven't caught a fish that size out of that pond in a long time. I didn't even add any smelly jelly to it yet since I was just testing it out, but that fish sure didn't care. Any recommendations for modifications to maximize bites on the bull shad?

[everythingthatswims]

12 hours ago, j bab said:

Why do they get picked on? I assume because of the less than pristine, hand made look that it has (which I actually like). I sure like it so far! I haven't caught a fish that size out of that pond in a long time. I didn't even add any smelly jelly to it yet since I was just testing it out, but that fish sure didn't care. Any recommendations for modifications to maximize bites on the bull shad?

I think it's more of people having issues with the guy who makes them, Mike Bucca. I have never put any scent on a hard swimbait. I almost always catch fish when I pause the bullshad, so if I run it by a laydown I make sure to stop and go when it's in a spot where the bass can ambush it. And change out those hooks!!!

[j bab]

4 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

I think it's more of people having issues with the guy who makes them, Mike Bucca. I have never put any scent on a hard swimbait. I almost always catch fish when I pause the bullshad, so if I run it by a laydown I make sure to stop and go when it's in a spot where the bass can ambush it. And change out those hooks!!!

Change out the hooks for what kind? These seem like good hooks to me

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, j bab said:

Change out the hooks for what kind? These seem like good hooks to me

Either Mustad KVD 1x Strong 2x Short Triple Grip Treble Hooks or

Owner Stinger Treble Hook 2X Black ST-41

A-Jay

[thomas15]

I'm going to give swimbaits a more than fair amount of my time this year. From late last year and over the winter I put together a small collection of swimbaits and also a rod/reel combo. One of my baits is the smaller 7"  MS Slammers which is supposed to be a great bait but also has the hand made look. I have some Spros and Hudds and a few more.

At the moment I really cannot do much, my outboard is waiting for a few parts and I'm not sure I will have it back together next week, mentally I'm thinking 2 weeks before first splash for the year. In the meantime I have  a few small things to fix of the boat. And I need to get my tackle organized and new line on my reels, both will require a lot of time. Plus I installed a new sonar at the console. I installed one of those composite boards to mount the sonar transducer to the transom and the glue/sealer needs 7 days to cure (3M 5200).

[everythingthatswims]

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Either Mustad KVD 1x Strong 2x Short Triple Grip Treble Hooks or

Owner Stinger Treble Hook 2X Black ST-41

A-Jay

St-41 ?

[BassObsessed]

What size Owner would you recommend on squarebills that need an upgrade?

[everythingthatswims]

14 minutes ago, BassObsessed said:

What size Owner would you recommend on squarebills that need an upgrade?

Probably a 4, 6 on little ones. I just use Gamakatsu round bend hooks

[BassObsessed]

Cool. Thanks for the info.

[everythingthatswims]

1 hour ago, BassObsessed said:

Cool. Thanks for the info.

Actually let me say one more thing. Stuff like a KVD 2.5 or the bigger size RC Luck e Strike would need a #2. I just typically fish squarebills in the 1.5 size range so I didn't of that.

[Bluebasser86]

Bull Shad is one of my go to baits for smallmouth. Burning it as fast as I can reel and they just crush it. 

[j bab]

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Bull Shad is one of my go to baits for smallmouth. Burning it as fast as I can reel and they just crush it. 

I've fished it some more the last couple days, I've caught most while reeling it at a medium speed, a few after giving at a twitch and pause during the retrieve

St-41 ?

What size for a 6" bull shad? Like a 1 or 2?