Big Swimbait Users - Help

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey ya'll,

 

So I had about an hour or so to bank fish and I went with a 6" trout swimbait. First time ever throwing a larger swimbait. I had one bite it but did not commit to it. Now, in my mind, I envision that with a pretty big bait like that and with it being a softer swimbait and all (its a Savage Gear Pulse), I should let the fish take the swimbait for a second or two before I set the hook. But how do ya'll do it? At the slightest tick, are you swinging? Or do you let em have it for a second? I'm not even sure I would have hooked the fish if I swung immediately, though. Kind of felt like he nipped the tail. But he got me all excited because hey, a bite is a bite.

[Dwight Hottle]

Yes with soft swimbaits unless they are choking it you can delay until you feel weight/pull thru the rod tip. 

[Deleted account]

I've pretty much settled on the same hookset for most baits, I point the rod, reel the slack until the rod loads and rear back with the appropriate stroke for the bait at hand. 

[Dogface]

I would say in general if they want it they will take it and start to run with it. If they are just tapping it they have not committed. Very sharp hooks are your friend if the latter is the case. Sometimes they will hook themselves on a sharp hook. 

[Bass Rutten]

A friend of mine was not able to get the hang of what to do on a swimbait bite so I asked him what he does when he gets bit on a worm, he answered I give her some slack watch my line swim off tighten up and crack her. Then I asked him why he thinks it’s any different with a swimbait, then he got it. The only difference being that the swim bait is moving at the bite and you must train yourself to react by not reacting and stop reeling for a few seconds, just takes practice.