Looking for a swim bait

[skekoam]

My son wants to buy a swim bait and I don't know where to start.  I've heard of Huddleston etc.., but they have so many options.   I need something he can handle on his shimano slx xt and 6ft8 dobyns med heavy with 10 lb YZ hybrid line.

 

Thanks guys.

[Bass Rutten]

For soft baits keitech fat swing impact   in the 4.8 or 5.8” rigged on owner beast hooks is very effective and cheaper than the huddelstons (not to mention they’re weedless too), but you’re going want to have him beef his line up to at least 12lb, 14 would be even better as you need a strong hookset to drive through plastic.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

@skekoam:  A lot of factors come into play when fishing “swimbaits”.  I would suggest starting by checking on the rod for the recommended lure weights for that particular rod.  I’m taking a guess that the recommended maximum lure weight for the Dobyns MH rod is around 3/4 of an ounce. Baits such as the Huddleston weigh two ounces or more ... difficult to cast with your rod, if not downright dangerous for your rod tip.

 

Since swimbaits come in all sizes, I’d consider looking at something like a Keitech (comes in sizes from four to seven inches) or other similar brands which would be compatible with your setup. You may want to go to one of the tackle websites, search for “swimbait”, and see the options.  

 

Good Luck

[DanielG]

Here's a thought. When I began fishing again after a lifetime hiatus I began with something that wasn't available when I was younger. I went to walmart and bought a package of Berkley swimbaits, the ones with the large hooks already in them; $2.98 for a package of five. I still think they're that price. They've got the paddle tails. They started me in catching fish again and were very successful while trolling.

Just sayin'

[txchaser]

Baby Bull Shad will throw quite well on that rod, and is basically a mini-swimbait.

 

Or like the posters above mentioned, a keitech. You won't need the owner beast size hooks for the 4.8 - a regular 5/0 owner cps hook (with or without weights or underspins) will be fine.

[Dangerfield]

Jackall Giron, Spro Bbz-1 Shad and bbz-1 rat 25, swaver 120 and 5" Savage gear shine glide are medium sized productive baits that don't exceed 1oz. Can be used on conventional tackle and 12lb test.

 

I've got them all in my tackle bag and used them on my cranking rod and mh spinning rig. Choose one or the other when it comes to the swaver or the shine glide. The rest are all pretty unique. The bbz-1 rat is the most versatile and productive of the bunch.

[GreenPig]

Huddleston does have the weedless Shad and weedless Grass Minnow both under 1 oz that should work. I have zero experience with them but alot of folks like them. 

[Comfortably Numb]

Med heavy rod is fine for small swim baits but the 10# line needs to go.

 

If he wants to catch fish go with a Keitech. 

[bholtzinger14]

2 hours ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Med heavy rod is fine for small swim baits but the 10# line needs to go.

 

If he wants to catch fish go with a Keitech. 

That 10 lb yozuri is like 16 lb. It should be fine. Thats what I have on my small swimbait rod.

[Harold Scoggins]

11 hours ago, skekoam said:

I need something he can handle on his shimano slx xt and 6ft8 dobyns med heavy

 

10 hours ago, GrumpyOlPhartte said:

recommended maximum lure weight for the Dobyns MH rod is around 3/4 of an ounce.

 

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Get him a Baby Bull Shad

Baby Bull Shad = 1/2oz, good choice.

[Bluebasser86]

3 minutes ago, Harold Scoggins said:

 

 

Baby Bull Shad = 1/2oz, good choice.

IMO, it's hands down the best answer here. Fits the needed specs for the rod, fishes great on 8-10 lb line, isn't overly expensive, and it's just a sweet little bait. Keitech's are awesome, but they kind of lose that "swimbait" feel to me when you get that small. I'd still get some of them for sure, but that little Baby Bull Shad is just a fun bait that catches all sizes.

[Mr. Aquarium]

If you want to throw bigger swimbaits. Lot of people say a 4 inch keitech is a swimbait. For me swimbaits are like hudds, ms slammers. Spo , savage gear.  
 

if you want to throw bigger baits. I’d look into savage gear, and spro. Both are  “cheaper” swimbaits.  They get bit. They also have a decent line up, good variety.   A spro rat 40, bbz1 6 inch,  savage gear 6 inch line through, savage real trout.  Those 2 company’s are were a look if you want to get started. 

[the reel ess]

5 hours ago, bholtzinger14 said:

That 10 lb yozuri is like 16 lb. It should be fine. Thats what I have on my small swimbait rod.

You don't want to lose a $15 bait.

 

I have the SPRO Rat and Savage gear Glide. I like the rat. Haven't gotten a follower on the Glide yet.

Either of these is in your budget and within the rod's capabilities. The Glide doesn't cast well for me and the rear hook tends to catch on the rubber tail.

 

I also have a 5/8 oz H2O bluegill swimbait from Academy. People swear by this bait, but ut hasn't worked for me yet.

[Drew03cmc]

On 1/7/2020 at 5:41 PM, skekoam said:

My son wants to buy a swim bait and I don't know where to start.  I've heard of Huddleston etc.., but they have so many options.   I need something he can handle on his shimano slx xt and 6ft8 dobyns med heavy with 10 lb YZ hybrid line.

 

Thanks guys.

Honestly, if he has a rod that can handle 2oz, I've got some lower priced stuff I'd sell really cheap. It's a Savage Gear 5" Bat, 6" Slow Sink Spro and a new Fishlab 5" gill swimmer. Nothing extravagant, but if he's wanting to start with bigger stuff, these are a good place to begin. 

[Oklahoma Mike]

I'd second the Baby Bull Shad if you want a hard bait. If you're going the route of soft paddletail baits, I'd recommend the Jackyl Rythm Wave.

[Tizi]

IMA Glide Fluke 125 and Spro BBZ-1

[Angry John]

For the price the keitech is easily the cheapest.  I have and use both the hud shad and grass minnows.  They do not last very long and the skin on the belly is very thin.  They do repair well with mendit. And they get bit in overfished waters when nothing else will.  Dont overlook the hollow body baits either.

[skekoam]

I just wanted to take a minute and thank @BoatSquirrel for sending my son a few small swimbaits and other goodies to try out.  I've learned a lot here thus far and the members are amazing.

 

 

[GreenPig]

On 1/8/2020 at 6:05 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

IMO, it's hands down the best answer here. Fits the needed specs for the rod, fishes great on 8-10 lb line, isn't overly expensive, and it's just a sweet little bait. Keitech's are awesome, but they kind of lose that "swimbait" feel to me when you get that small. I'd still get some of them for sure, but that little Baby Bull Shad is just a fun bait that catches all sizes.

I've got four Baby Bull Shads and they do indeed catch fish. They just cast like a potato chip.

3 hours ago, skekoam said:

I just wanted to take a minute and thank @BoatSquirrel for sending my son a few small swimbaits and other goodies to try out.  I've learned a lot here thus far and the members are amazing.

 

 

Very nice of you @BoatSquirrel. I need to try those Spros myself.