Budget Swimbaiting

[BassSam5]

I’m 14 and on a budget and I’m trying to get into the big Swimbait game for under like $150. Do you have any suggestions for rods, reels or swimbaits?

[MN Fisher]

Rods that can handle the larger/heavier swimbaits (2 oz and up) get into the $100+ range just for the rod

 

Diawa DSXB series - $110 from various places

Dobyns Fury Swimbait rod - $130 from Dobyns or others

St Croix Bass X - $100 from St Croix and others

 

Swimbaits themselves are $15 and up - some cost over $100 just for the lure. But 3-4 at the $20-$25 range would give a good selection of fair quality lures.

 

So you're already at $200 and that's without a reel.

 

I'd suggest saving up more...going with small swimbaits that can be cast with a standard Heavy power rod...or going to a different technique. Large swimbait fishing gets expensive really quickly.

[MassYak85]

Savage gear has some decent stuff at reasonable prices. You could probably get a few baits for under 50 bucks. That leaves 100 for the rod and reel. Retail I don't really think you've got many options, but if you can find someone selling a used cardiff and used dobyns fury or something you could probably be spooled up and ready to fish for around 200. 

[d-camarena]

Daiwa dxsb rod $109

Daiwa millionaire utd reel $50 on ebay

 

Gets the job done

[Fried Lemons]

S waver 168s. Probably the best bang for your buck for hard baits. Soft baits you have more options like 3:16, keitechs, basstrix.

[Arcs&sparks]

Few things to consider at a fair discount, slightly over budget,  but baits can be accumulated over time..

 

Rod; https://www.sierra.com/wright-and-mcgill-co-skeet-reese-victory-pro-carbon-swimbait-xi-casting-rod-1-piece-8-fast~p~345hd/?filterString=fishing~d~14%2Fclearance~1%2F&merch=prod-rec-prod-prod345HD

 

Reel RH; https://www.sierra.com/quantum-monster-300-hpt-baitcast-reel-right-hand~p~529ut/?filterString=fishing~d~14%2Fclearance~1%2F&merch=prod-rec-prod-prod529UT

 

Bait; https://www.sierra.com/yo-zuri-hardcore-ninja-twitch-n-glider-slow-sinking-lure-2-5and8-oz-7~p~641kk/?filterString=s~yo-zuri%2F&merch=prod-rec-prod-prod641KK

 

 

[Brett's_daddy]

I'm looking at this rod in the 7'6" Heavy/Fast...

 

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-graphite-series-muskie-casting-rod

 

I know it says Muskie rod but I know some people use it for a budget swim bait rod as it says it can handle baits in the 2oz. - 10oz. range. Get this for $50 and a Daiwa Fuego CT for $75 and you should be set...at least this would give you a taste of fishing these bigger baits to see if you want to do it a lot and then you could upgrade at that point.

[d-camarena]

Fuego ct will not handle baits over 3.5 oz efficiently

[Smalls]

If you hurry, like don’t hesitate and just go buy, you can get an F5 Departure for $142 shipped. I just snagged one of the last couple left. Use code DPTBLOWOUT at check out. 

 

 

[MassYak85]

On 5/17/2019 at 1:45 PM, d-camarena said:

Fuego ct will not handle baits over 3.5 oz efficiently

This. One really bad backlash with a heavy bait would probably shred the gearing in a Fuego IMO. Don't get me wrong, I love my Fuego...for jigs. I would never toss a hudd on one. Also the spool capacity for heavy line just isn't there. That is unless you go braid, but then you're back to ruining the reel if you make a mistake on braid since it's much less forgiving. 

 

But if OP is just looking to toss 168 Swavers, shellcrackers, and at most a Hudd 68, he could get away with it paired with some 50lb braid probably. Might even be able to get juuust enough 20lb copoly or mono on the Fuego.  

[Joshua Vandamm]

On 5/17/2019 at 12:47 PM, Brett's_daddy said:

I'm looking at this rod in the 7'6" Heavy/Fast...

 

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-graphite-series-muskie-casting-rod

 

I know it says Muskie rod but I know some people use it for a budget swim bait rod as it says it can handle baits in the 2oz. - 10oz. range. Get this for $50 and a Daiwa Fuego CT for $75 and you should be set...at least this would give you a taste of fishing these bigger baits to see if you want to do it a lot and then you could upgrade at that point.

2x. Best under rod 100 for this purpose imo

[Drew03cmc]

On 5/17/2019 at 11:47 AM, Brett's_daddy said:

I'm looking at this rod in the 7'6" Heavy/Fast...

 

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-graphite-series-muskie-casting-rod

 

I know it says Muskie rod but I know some people use it for a budget swim bait rod as it says it can handle baits in the 2oz. - 10oz. range. Get this for $50 and a Daiwa Fuego CT for $75 and you should be set...at least this would give you a taste of fishing these bigger baits to see if you want to do it a lot and then you could upgrade at that point.

No. Just no. I tried that rod first. No. It's the worst thing I ever cast. Used Fury 795 or 806 come up all the time for $60-70.

[Joshua Vandamm]

5 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

No. Just no. I tried that rod first. No. It's the worst thing I ever cast. Used Fury 795 or 806 come up all the time for $60-70.

Yea true. I ended up with a 795. It’s a bit light for bigger baits still. Like over 4oz is no fun. 

....he’s on a budget tho. ?‍♂️

 

Thinking outside box, a short heavy jigging pole for big spoons etc I’ve heard people say the like for big Swimbaits actually. It makes sense. Long handle and shorter provides more power to horse them back and hook sets are just reel and pull anyways. 

 

https://m.dickssportinggoods.com/p/shakespeare-ugly-stik-tiger-elite-jigging-casting-rod-16sksuglytgrjg501rod/16sksuglytgrjg501rod

[microotter]

If you want to throw bigger swimbaits the 13 fishing defy black swimbait rod is pretty affordable at $80. There will probably be a Memorial Day sale soon too. I have no experience with the rods, but a guy I know uses one and is happy with it. They have an 8’H rated 4–8 oz. & an 8’XH rated 8–14 oz. on Tackle Warehouse. 

[WRB]

Welcome to BR young man.

Your best deal would be a slightly used rod reel. A lot of bass anglers buy undersized rods and reels for swimbaits get discourage and sell them after using them only a few times.

Dobyns Fury FR795 SB or possibly FR806 SB are excellent rods that can be found around $80. Shimano Cardiff 300 reel is also excellent for swimbaits and a round reel some anglers don't like or upgrade to Calcutta, it can be found go about $75 or less.

First call Gary Dobyns at Dobyns rods he often has refurbished rods at good, especially for young bass anglers.

Shipping long rods can be expensive so use caution looking at used rods.

Spro BB1 swimbaits and rats are reasonable and catch bass along with Savage Gear Shine glide and R2Sea S-Wavers.

Budget swimbaiting is a oxymoron.

Good luck,

Tom