The Big Swimbait Debate

[Adleyfishes]

What are your thoughts on the differences of expensive swimbaits vs cheap swimbaits such as the S-waver? I really want to get into the "big" swimbait game (I live in Iowa). I have done the research I really like the Hudd 68 and S-waver prices and performance, but I was wondering what other swimbaits can do the job versus the $100+ swimbaits.

[Angry John]

This is a get in where you fit in category.  My best day has been on an swaiver 168 in you know it.  I own baits up to 200 bucks.  I have never had a hud fish but to be honest i dont like to fish the bait that much.  If your getting in, grab a few of the larger keitech;s and just try them out.  

[Jelvas]

If you want to dip your toe in to the big bait world without taking a second mortgage check Savage Gear and Spro line ups, they have very good baits that cover all the basics...

[Adleyfishes]

3 minutes ago, Jelvas said:

If you want to dip your toe in to the big bait world without taking a second mortgage check Savage Gear and Spro line ups, they have very good baits that cover all the basics...

Savage gear has some great boot tails but I'm disappointed in their jointed baits mine didn't swim straight and I hooked into a 5 pounder and he pulled my line through swimbait through the line and all that came back was my treble hook.

[MassYak85]

S-Wavers are great baits, nothing wrong with them. Once you go above the 200 size s-waver you go up drastically in price as you go from large scale production lures to custom lures, or JDM baits (Deps 250 etc.). Other good swimbaits in that price range you have the gantarel, savage gear shine glide, spro BBZ (segmented trout and the rats) and some others. IMO the swimbait "sweet spot" is in that $50-$75 dollar range because you start getting into those custom makers like mattlures, bullgills, MS slammers, etc. that are amazing quality without going into that upper price range (200-300 plus for custom glide baits). As far as soft plastic there are lots of choices, even from custom guys, in those lower price ranges comparable with the Hudds. Real Prey swimbaits makes some silicon baits, 3:16 minnows and WRS are great. Look around though, there are good lures in just about every price range for swimbaits. You're generally getting what you pay for but when $30 is considered a "budget" lure in this category you are still paying a lot. 

[WRB]

Soft swimbaits;

3:16 9" Mission Fish

Basstrix 8" paddle tail

Little Crippers 8" Trash Fish

68 and 8" Huddleston Delux

Wake baits;

Mike Shaw MS Slammer

Srpo BBZ-1 50 Rat

Glide baits;

R2C S-Waver 168 & 200

Hard multi jointed:

Matt lures 5" Gil slow sink*

Black Dog 5" slow sink wooden Shell Cracker*

22nd Century 9" Triple Trout

BBZ 8" Trout.

Should get you started M but you will need a XHeavy swimbait rod.

Tom

*hard to find check Swimbait City

[KickingFish]

1 hour ago, Adleyfishes said:

What are your thoughts on the differences of expensive swimbaits vs cheap swimbaits such as the S-waver? I really want to get into the "big" swimbait game (I live in Iowa). I have done the research I really like the Hudd 68 and S-waver prices and performance, but I was wondering what other swimbaits can do the job versus the $100+ swimbaits.

I fish Muskys a decent amount and all the lures we use for them are under $30. They are some of the most finicky fish and they still hit baits that are rubber with next to no detail. Go with a less expensive baits like the s waver it is all about presentation, if you can find out how the fish want the bait then it will not matter if you spend $100 or $20 you will catch fish.Just my 2 cents.

[Scarborough817]

some of the best i wont say an s-waver 200 or a shine glide are the same as say a 250 but i will say that they work

[Bluebasser86]

I've fished the lower end baits like the S Waver and Savage Gear baits, and I've fished the Deps, Phoneys, and customs. The Savage Gear Shine Glide and MS Slammer are by far my most productive baits, neither are what I'd consider expensive swimbaits. The initial investment might seem a little high on a bait like a Slammer, but it's a big topwater that will catch hundreds of fish and is hard to lose unless you do something careless or lazy with it. 

[ItsHardwick]

I want a Slammer so bad. Which model would you get for starting out? Also, my heaviest rod is a 7’3” heavy Dobyns Fury. 

[teethmarks]

that 7'3" heavy dobyns is rated up to 1oz lure and the 7" slammer comes in at 1.8oz. just a heads up.

 

maybe try the mini slammer starting out but have never tried that bait over here so cant speak to its performance. 

[Angry John]

The spro rat would be a better choice as far as cheaper works and in your weight range.

[Primus]

another good budget priced swimbait would be the Evergreen ES Flat in addition to many that have been mentioned already .

[soflabasser]

There are many proven swimbaits that are under $100 which you can get if you want but what is most important is that you spend enough time on the water with a particular swimbait to get comfortable with. No point in getting a couple hundred dollars of swimbaits if you do not know how to use them very well in the places you fish. You will probably be better off learning how to fish 1-5 different swimbaits than getting +10 different varieties that you barely fish with.

[TnRiver46]

I got a $5 chatterbait stuck in a thorny Rose bush yesterday and my trolling motor could barely keep up with the current to go get it . I was very concerned about this $5 bait, so that tells you if I have ever chucked a $100 lure into the river........

[evilcatfish]

I've got $15 swimbaits and others that cost 15 times that. They all have their time and place. Otherwise, just buy what you can afford and get after it, most all work

[N Florida Mike]

On 10/30/2018 at 9:38 PM, Angry John said:

This is a get in where you fit in category.  My best day has been on an swaiver 168 in you know it.  I own baits up to 200 bucks.  I have never had a hud fish but to be honest i dont like to fish the bait that much.  If your getting in, grab a few of the larger keitech;s and just try them out.  

200 bucks for 1 bait ? No wonder your angry , John. ?

[Mr. Aquarium]

some good swimbaits are cheap because they are big companies but mass produced. like swaver, good swimbait made by a big company, mass produced. these expensive swimbaits are not mass produced and made by smaller companies

[EGbassing]

Never tried this one but I'm thinking about it: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Spro_BBZ-1_Swimbait_8_Slow_Sink/descpage-SPBBZS.html It looks really good for $35.

[Bluebasser86]

On 11/2/2018 at 8:00 AM, EGbassing said:

Never tried this one but I'm thinking about it: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Spro_BBZ-1_Swimbait_8_Slow_Sink/descpage-SPBBZS.html It looks really good for $35.

They're a decent bait. Make sure you have the rod to throw it since they are nearly 5oz.

[WRB]

The BBZ 8" swimbait is a wide body heavy lure and a mouth full for LMB under 7 lbs to get a hook set on. The lure moves a lot of water attracting bass. Unless you have DD size LMB in your lakes I wouldn't advise using it. Agree with Bluebasser, you need a XH swimbait to effectively fish this lure.

Tom

[soflabasser]

I have caught big bass on Storm swimbaits so you can try those out if you want.

[Mr. Aquarium]

On 11/3/2018 at 12:44 PM, WRB said:

The BBZ 8" swimbait is a wide body heavy lure and a mouth full for LMB under 7 lbs to get a hook set on. The lure moves a lot of water attracting bass. Unless you have DD size LMB in your lakes I wouldn't advise using it. Agree with Bluebasser, you need a XH swimbait to effectively fish this lure.

Tom

not true my friend. ive caught crappies on 7inch swimbaits. this bass was caught on a 10inch swimbait. small fish will hit big lures.  i live in MA and i can tell you most of our lakes dont have DDs but ive caught many many bass of all sizes.  i fish baits to 15 inches

 

 

[WRB]

Didn't say dinks wouldn't strike a  swimbait, post a photo using BBZ-1 8" swimbait.

Nice crappie!

Tom

[Mr. Aquarium]

i dont use it! actually broke it tying to modify it. its a big bait. it will 100% get bit.  its a great looking lure though. ive caught some nice fish on the 6inch.