Swimbait Prices

[Espo66]

Hi all,

 

New to these type of baits. I have to ask; what does one look for when buying these? The prices are all over the map.

 

I realize size and realism are probably the main factors, but I see a fair amount that look realistic from the pictures and are much cheaper than some of the others.

 

Do you have a personal limit, as to the price you are willing to fork over?

Law of diminishing returns once, say you cross $40, or something like that?

Soft/Hard/Glide preferences?

Any companies that stand out above the others?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Larry

[soflabasser]

I do not plan on fishing any swimbaits over $100 since I do not see the need for it but understand why they cost so much. Many of these swimbaits are handmade which requires lots of work, I know since I have made several of them for myself. It is up to the fisherman to decide if an expensive swimbait is worth the investment and if buying a +$100 swimbait makes you happy I say go for it. Just don't expect to be catching more +8 pounders compared to someone who uses regular lures, knows how to fish them well, and lives in a place where there is lots of big bass.

[MAN]

The only reason I will purchase a swimbait over $100 is because I want a collectors piece. 

[Hammer 4]

First off, I would recommend staying in the lower price range, If you have waters that hold larger bass, i.e. 8 lbs plus, then look into swimbaits. Don't get caught up in the large baits that look real, as they cost a on of money. Years ago, I bought swimbaits that cost up in the $ 200.00 range, they looked great, but didn't catch anymore, or bigger fish than some smaller baits, like the 6" Huddleston 68, which cost around $ 30.00. Also, the bigger/heavier baits require Heavy duty gear.

 

I'd try the soft plastic swimbaits to start with, like the 6" Hudd, and maybe an S waver for a glide type bait, see what results you get and go from there. Also, these baits are no guarantee you will catch bigger bass, swimbaiting takes Dedication, can be hit or miss. Having the appropriate rod, reel and line is a must.  

[WRB]

Before you can use a swimbait weighing over 2 oz a swimbait rod & reel is required.

When you have narrowed the size/weight issue then it's easier to make recommendations. 

Like evrything regarding bigger size bass the lure is rarely the answer, location and dedication is.

So let's start at the beginning. Do you have a swimbait outfit?

Tom

 

 

[Born 2 fish]

Keep it simple to start I would recommend a few baits. 
1. G2 shellcracker 

2 spro rat 50 size 

3. bullshad 6 inch 
4 S waver 168 & 200 

that is a good start and the baits are very inexpensive relatively speaking.

[ATA]

3 hours ago, Espo66 said:

Hi all,

 

New to these type of baits. I have to ask; what does one look for when buying these? The prices are all over the map.

 

I realize size and realism are probably the main factors, but I see a fair amount that look realistic from the pictures and are much cheaper than some of the others.

 

Do you have a personal limit, as to the price you are willing to fork over?

Law of diminishing returns once, say you cross $40, or something like that?

Soft/Hard/Glide preferences?

Any companies that stand out above the others?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Larry

For me when I got to it, I had no idea what I am getting into. It is a black hole that can suck thousands and thousands of your money.

Ive been lucky to get some used and modified swimsuits from the best(Tom WRB), and also I have purchase around 20 rare glides, Cost me $300 to $3000. Ive try some of them from boat not bank, so after you get the right Rod and reel, you just go with cheaper ones from bank and expensive ones from boat.

But friendly advice, try not to het more that huddleston and river2sea S waver 200 glides. the more you digg the more you spend money and at some point you'll be collecting them only without using them.

[TnRiver46]

don’t know if it counts as a swimbait but this thing does serious damage 

 

I knew a guy that would pour the swim baits on the top and bottom of this pic in any size/color  but he retired. 

[Big Swimbait]

Great question and many excellent responses. I love throwing swimbaits and am lucky enough to have many lakes close to me that have the potential for a PB on your next cast. That being said, once I started having luck on the big baits, the bait monkey got me and every time the new "hot" bait was talked about, I had to have it. Now I have a couple of totes with unused, unopened swimbaits because I realized that I have about 10 baits - 5 hard and 5 soft that I can handle just about any depth or water color I encounter. I really learned how and when to use these baits and now they are all I need. Out of those 10, the Bull Shad is the most used at less than $60.00. The most expensive is the Evergreen ND 180 at $90.00 that absolutely gets chewed when a wake bait is called for. All of the rest are $40 or less - some much less. But as Tom says above, make sure you have the right gear to throw a big bait or you will be very disappointed.

[Hammer 4]

Forgot to add, you could toss some Spro swimbaits in there as well. Very reasonably priced.

[Espo66]

On 11/2/2020 at 4:13 PM, soflabasser said:

I do not plan on fishing any swimbaits over $100 since I do not see the need for it but understand why they cost so much. Many of these swimbaits are handmade which requires lots of work, I know since I have made several of them for myself. It is up to the fisherman to decide if an expensive swimbait is worth the investment and if buying a +$100 swimbait makes you happy I say go for it. Just don't expect to be catching more +8 pounders compared to someone who uses regular lures, knows how to fish them well, and lives in a place where there is lots of big bass.

Yeah, at this stage, don't think I could part with 100 and feel comfortable either. Was just wondering why there are 20 and 30 dollar ones that seem pretty nice, to me. Maybe the action is not as good...?

22 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

First off, I would recommend staying in the lower price range, If you have waters that hold larger bass, i.e. 8 lbs plus, then look into swimbaits. Don't get caught up in the large baits that look real, as they cost a on of money. Years ago, I bought swimbaits that cost up in the $ 200.00 range, they looked great, but didn't catch anymore, or bigger fish than some smaller baits, like the 6" Huddleston 68, which cost around $ 30.00. Also, the bigger/heavier baits require Heavy duty gear.

 

I'd try the soft plastic swimbaits to start with, like the 6" Hudd, and maybe an S waver for a glide type bait, see what results you get and go from there. Also, these baits are no guarantee you will catch bigger bass, swimbaiting takes Dedication, can be hit or miss. Having the appropriate rod, reel and line is a must.  

Thanks, kind of what I thought. I did purchase a lot of swimbaits from a fellow member here. Will start with those for sure, but was just eyeing some others and wondering. Huddlestons are on my list to get.

22 hours ago, WRB said:

Before you can use a swimbait weighing over 2 oz a swimbait rod & reel is required.

When you have narrowed the size/weight issue then it's easier to make recommendations. 

Like evrything regarding bigger size bass the lure is rarely the answer, location and dedication is.

So let's start at the beginning. Do you have a swimbait outfit?

Tom

 

 

 

I do. I just got the Daiwa BLX JDM Bass  7'2" HF that was on sale for $200. It is rated for 3/2-2 oz, so smaller swimbaits. Paired it with a Bantam MGL. 

Also have a old spinning combo that my dad had that might be servicing until I would be able to replace it.

Older Dawia 2500c and a No Name 9' Heavy rod (probably a saltwater rod) that could handle up to 4oz

 

Think you advise is spot on, and I'm probably just getting "lured" by the thought of the bigger baits.

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, Espo66 said:

Yeah, at this stage, don't think I could part with 100 and feel comfortable either. Was just wondering why there are 20 and 30 dollar ones that seem pretty nice, to me. Maybe the action is not as good...?

 

There are plenty of good swimbaits for less than $100. I suggest you get one that you feel will work good in your area and only fish that one swimsbait until you are very comfortable with it. Too many people buy too many swimbaits just to barely use them. No lure catches fish if it is not being used.

[MassYak85]

On 11/2/2020 at 6:59 PM, Born 2 fish said:

Keep it simple to start I would recommend a few baits. 
1. G2 shellcracker 

2 spro rat 50 size 

3. bullshad 6 inch 
4 S waver 168 & 200 

that is a good start and the baits are very inexpensive relatively speaking.

Ditto. These are tried and true staples that don't break the bank. And you'll keep using them even if you do decide to step up in price later on. Add a couple Hudd 68s and you're all set to go. Give it a season to see if you like it and go from there. 

[Bluebasser86]

For soft baits, I have a hard time going over $20 a bait, but I've not had much success with soft baits. Hard baits, once I get up to $100 I really start to think the purchase through, but I've gone way over that for baits that I wanted.

 

There's lots of very reasonable options out there. Savage Gear makes lots of good baits, so does Spro. FishLab is a newer company that has some nice baits. Lots of people started with a R2S SWaver 168. Savage Gear is my top choice for realism, functionality, and affordability.

[TnRiver46]

The jointed hardbaits made by h20 express (academy sports brand) have caught me some nice fish and are under $10 . They have a more slender shad shaped one I do better with but the sunfish also works