What are your thoughts on $100+ swimbaits?

[MDBowHunter]

If you've never fished one you'll never understand, and you would be surprised at how many young guys fish them. The drawing power of a big glide bait is unmatched by any other lure, but they can be very costly along with the gear to throw them with. You will catch less fish with them, but the quality of the fish you catch will dramatically improve as long as you fish them correctly. 

[WRB]

I agree with Rual in general about pro's don't hunt big bass....during most tournaments.

Pro's do hunt big bass when fishing big bass lakes or the delta because they know you must catch them to win. Some Pro's also trophy bass fish on thier time when they have the opertunity.

Tom

[blckshirt98]

If you hold a $100+ swimbait in hand the quality and craftsmanship shines.  In that price range it becomes a collectible/short term asset, and not "just a bait".  Any swimbait posted up on SU at a reasonable price is usually bought/sold the same day of going up on sale.

 

Swimbaits are a specialized niche in bass fishing.  The costs and patience to use them are not for everyone, and their passion is unique.  If you're going out to fish all day hoping for 1-2 bites, it's all about using the bait that gives you the most confidence, and a handcrafted, hand-tuned, hand-painted finish helps.  I like to compare swimbait guys to skateboarders who would rather jump a 20-foot ramp once instead of jumping a 1-foot ramp twenty times.

[kenmitch]

If I lived about 4-500 miles more north I'd seriously consider throwing a high dollar swimbait for the chance of catching a world record class spotted bass. I'd be out there every possible moment....Just me, my kayak and a whole lot of hope and prayers. Fish of a lifetime outlays the risk too me at least.

[nosdog2]

My thoughts are I can't (don't want to) afford them. 

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎4‎/‎6‎/‎2018 at 12:21 PM, WRB said:

 If you are worried about loosing a one of a kind swimbait don't consider using it.

Tom

This sums it up for me.

 

The anxiety of losing it will destroy the peace I seek from fishing. It's a personality thing with me not a money issue.

 

 

[evilcatfish]

The "is it worth the price" debate on swimbaits could go on for eternity and people still wouldn't agree. That said, I feel like a $100 handmade by one man swimbait is a much better value than a $12 crankbait made by machine or underpaid workers in Asia. Just my thoughts.

[BassB8Caster]

2 years ago i was super reluctant to spend $10 on a bait. My first "big" splurge was $22 for a Spro BBZ 40 rat. That thing has caught bass for me day 1. Next was a whopper plopper at $18 or so. Fast forward to this winter, i came across swimbait underground forum. The rest is they say history. I made my biggest buy this winter, $70 for a Baitsanity 9.5" glide. I also upgraded to a $100 XH okuma swimbait rod as well as a Daiwa Tatula 200HD reel. I love swimbait fishing and decided to go all in for big bass. I have made a few replies to members on here in regards to spending more money than they wanted for a few baits. They decided to make the splurge and were extremely happy with the results. I have since traded that glide for a 9" ms slammer and have picked up a few other baits. I have yet to catch a bass on a big bait (been out 4 times), but i have high confidence in knowing the bait im throwing has a track record of catching big fish. But dont just go buy any and all expensive baits. You only need a few of different varieties to cover your bases. I will say that these more expensive baits are high quality. 

 

I will admit apprehension of losing an expensive bait. The more i used it, the more confident i got in it. With the right gear a big bait will cast and handle like other baits. Dont push the limits. Use proper line, proper weighted rods etc. If you cannot cast within 5 feet of an object, well....good luck.

 

Its pretty hard to argue the success of Butch Brown and the deps 250, the history of the ms slammer etc. Quality of 3:16 hardbaits is top notch. Would i ever spend $400 on a roman made mother? Nope. But i would (and will) buy a $50 dowz swimmer, a $100 deps 250, a $100 mattlures mag gil, etc. Those baits produce and they are built to last. 

 

 

[Angry John]

4 hours ago, BassB8Caster said:

2 years ago i was super reluctant to spend $10 on a bait. My first "big" splurge was $22 for a Spro BBZ 40 rat. That thing has caught bass for me day 1. Next was a whopper plopper at $18 or so. Fast forward to this winter, i came across swimbait underground forum. The rest is they say history. I made my biggest buy this winter, $70 for a Baitsanity 9.5" glide. I also upgraded to a $100 XH okuma swimbait rod as well as a Daiwa Tatula 200HD reel. I love swimbait fishing and decided to go all in for big bass. I have made a few replies to members on here in regards to spending more money than they wanted for a few baits. They decided to make the splurge and were extremely happy with the results. I have since traded that glide for a 9" ms slammer and have picked up a few other baits. I have yet to catch a bass on a big bait (been out 4 times), but i have high confidence in knowing the bait im throwing has a track record of catching big fish. But dont just go buy any and all expensive baits. You only need a few of different varieties to cover your bases. I will say that these more expensive baits are high quality. 

 

I will admit apprehension of losing an expensive bait. The more i used it, the more confident i got in it. With the right gear a big bait will cast and handle like other baits. Dont push the limits. Use proper line, proper weighted rods etc. If you cannot cast within 5 feet of an object, well....good luck.

 

Its pretty hard to argue the success of Butch Brown and the deps 250, the history of the ms slammer etc. Quality of 3:16 hardbaits is top notch. Would i ever spend $400 on a roman made mother? Nope. But i would (and will) buy a $50 dowz swimmer, a $100 deps 250, a $100 mattlures mag gil, etc. Those baits produce and they are built to last. 

 

 

But do you own a donut yet.  Get cracking 

[mwh33]

I have never fished or owned $100 lure. I do have one Bull Shad that cost me $50. I will go swimming for it if I need to. Other than that the majority of my lures are less than $13. I have 2 hudds, but got both for around $20. I just can't justify throwing a lure that cost as much as decent rods and reels these days.

[Cgolf]

Right now the priciest bait I have is the SPRO 50 rat. I don’t see myself going anymore expensive than that because we have giant Muskie and not so giant bass. If we had a bunch of ten pound bass swimming around I would change my mind, but the chance of a Muskie either stealing or tearing up a pricey bait will keep me away. 

[Angry John]

2 hours ago, cgolf said:

Right now the priciest bait I have is the SPRO 50 rat. I don’t see myself going anymore expensive than that because we have giant Muskie and not so giant bass. If we had a bunch of ten pound bass swimming around I would change my mind, but the chance of a Muskie either stealing or tearing up a pricey bait will keep me away. 

But you could change that 10k cast fish into a 3 cast fish.  That's my luck at least.  Having toothy critters is a game changer, in risk vs reward.  Don't know if I would use them in gator country either.  

[Bluebasser86]

10 hours ago, Angry John said:

But do you own a donut yet.  Get cracking 

I did for about 4 hours lol, got to love them zebra mussels. 

 

[Catt]

To keep things in perspective this bass was caught on a Chicken McNugget!

 

They don't care how much your tackle cost!

 

 

[BassB8Caster]

12 hours ago, Angry John said:

But do you own a donut yet.  Get cracking 

I do not. Having just gotten into big swimbaits, my collection is small right now. 

[Angry John]

1 hour ago, BassB8Caster said:

I do not. Having just gotten into big swimbaits, my collection is small right now. 

To be fair I just got mine.  The shape is rather simple and a little odd but the paint and finish is excellent.   They just had a price increase but you would never know it's a wood bait buy looking at it.  The glide is nice and I am still learning the bait with only two sessions so far.  No fish yet so can't say it's amazing.

[Tennessee Boy]

I waiting until Plano comes out with a steel lure safe that I can install on my boat. ?

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Fish what you can afford or are willing to spend. If you're catching the fish you want to catch, keep doing your thing.

 

Personally, I get enjoyment out of catching fish on big lures, whether they cost $25 or $400. It's all personal preference. I will say my biggest fish have come on swimbaits, so there's that.

[BassB8Caster]

10 hours ago, Angry John said:

To be fair I just got mine.  The shape is rather simple and a little odd but the paint and finish is excellent.   They just had a price increase but you would never know it's a wood bait buy looking at it.  The glide is nice and I am still learning the bait with only two sessions so far.  No fish yet so can't say it's amazing.

I have heard the name a few times over on the underground but never really looked into them. Wasn't a really common name thrown around (vs say 316 deps etc). After you commented to me I looked them up. Def a custom bait. Shapelooks rigid/stiff (maybe it has a wide glide, I have no idea) but I will agree, the paint jobs are stellar. Personally, I would be hesitant to throw $100 for one as there are more talked about glides for that money from what I have read. At the same time I know $100 isn't much for a custom bait either. If it swims half as good as the paint job it is a winner. 

[Angry John]

2 hours ago, BassB8Caster said:

I have heard the name a few times over on the underground but never really looked into them. Wasn't a really common name thrown around (vs say 316 deps etc). After you commented to me I looked them up. Def a custom bait. Shapelooks rigid/stiff (maybe it has a wide glide, I have no idea) but I will agree, the paint jobs are stellar. Personally, I would be hesitant to throw $100 for one as there are more talked about glides for that money from what I have read. At the same time I know $100 isn't much for a custom bait either. If it swims half as good as the paint job it is a winner. 

All you have to do is see how long they are posted before being sold.  That's the truth on su.  My partner has a bunch of 316 and I have yet to see a fish caught.  My deps 175 does though.  Good bait to find used for 60 bucks or so.  Got one almost nip for that price.

[MassYak85]

There are a ton of great swimbaits for under a hundred. That 40-80 range will get you a LOT of quality, and even custom baits that are some of the best in the market. Again it's all about what you can afford and what you are fishing. There are a lot of guys fishing swimbaits ONLY throw swimbaits. So dropping 200 on a bait that is going to get fished for 50 hours that season isn't really that crazy if you think about how much guys spend on soft plastics, jigs, and terminal tackle every year just as an example. Now if you own 10 roman made's than I can't defend that too much lol, but again it's all about what you can afford and what's still enjoyable. 

[BassB8Caster]

10 hours ago, Angry John said:

All you have to do is see how long they are posted before being sold.  That's the truth on su.  My partner has a bunch of 316 and I have yet to see a fish caught.  My deps 175 does though.  Good bait to find used for 60 bucks or so.  Got one almost nip for that price.

Yes and no. Some of these swimbaits have a cult following.  Just because they get top dollar doesn't mean they fish to their price tag. I have seen Roman made mother's sell as fast as they are posted at $400 a pop. I have also read some reviews saying they do not swim that great and paint doesn't last long (not from just one poster either). Go look and watch the market on SU. quite often expensive baits are sold brand new, never casted once. People will and do buy based on looks. I now do not mind spending decent money on quality stuff. But I spend a lot of time researching them before I buy. And even though I have some apprehension about losing an expensive bait,  I still want to use it. And will. I'm not buying a new car to look at it in the garage. 

[Fishingmickey]

On 6/14/2018 at 5:17 AM, Catt said:

To keep things in perspective this bass was caught on a Chicken McNugget!

 

They don't care how much your tackle cost!

 

 

Was it a wacky rigged or Texas rigged McNuggett Catt?

[MDBowHunter]

On 6/14/2018 at 10:05 PM, Angry John said:

All you have to do is see how long they are posted before being sold.  That's the truth on su.  My partner has a bunch of 316 and I have yet to see a fish caught.  My deps 175 does though.  Good bait to find used for 60 bucks or so.  Got one almost nip for that price.

Dont always look at that though, a lot of times some of these baits are a bunch of hype and these kids buy them up. I've heard nothing but great things about the donuts though, but don't own one myself. I personally love my Phoney Shad and my Chad Shad, both are super nice gliding baits that flat out draw the fish in. The hinkles look amazing as well but I can justify spending $200 on one when the Chads and Phoneys are half that. Well I guess this won't be so true soon after the post that Jason St.Mary put up, I guess his baits will be up around the $200 mark here very soon. I'm glad I got on his list before this all went down.

 

[whitwolf]

On 4/4/2018 at 6:44 AM, Mike L said:

 

 

Just use what you have confidence in and fish where they live and the world will turn. 

 

 

 

Mike

This, and more this!