Was your investment into big Swimbait fishing worth it?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Trying to accomplish a life long goal of catching a DD fish on my home lake.   They are there for sure, and I catch plenty of 5lb+ fish, but I'm looking to catch 10lb+ fish.    I'm sure the big smart trophy fish on my home lake have never been presented with high end ultra realistic swim baits.     

 

I've already bought a rod last night.....an Alpha Angler WideGlide 7'9.    Now that I look into reels more and more, it seems my plan of going with a JDM Zillion TW HD is a little underpowered, and something like the Tranx 300 would be ideal.    So what I'll end up with is a $600 setup that is extremely niched to throwing 2-6oz swimbaits, and Arigs.    That's fine if this is such an effective technique it deserves it., but I won't have uses for the rod or reel if I decide this isn't my cup of tea.    With the Zillion TW HD, I'd be golden using it in a number of other setups.     

 

Now I'm researching baits, and my mind is spinning.     I like the idea of throwing the hard baits verses the soft baits, and those are crazy expensive.  Watched a great 1.5 hr video on them, and the guy from TacticalBassin said be prepared to lose Huddlesons and the like.     How do you prepare for losing a $50-100 lure LOL.   

 

Lastly, the effort required to throw these huge baits, and the size of the tackle is quite burdensome to a guy that's not in a 20" late model Bass boat.  

 

So friends, did big swimbaits up your trophy LGM game, and did you find the investment into them worth it? 

 

Thanks in advance! 

[Aaron_H]

48 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 How do you prepare for losing a $50-100 lure LOL.  

 

I would rather get clubbed in the nuggets.

 

I cannot speak of using swimbaits to target large bass, the risk of losing that much $$ to a break off is more than I can justify spending as primarily a bank angler.

 

But I can relate heavily to that pursuit of DD bass and what worked for me wasn't an expensive technique, but getting better at figuring out when/where I would have a shot at one. When they were up shallower, when they were on feeding patterns, etc. Locating bait schools during the fall transition and narrowing down prespawn locations ended up being the ticket for me finally getting into some bigger class fish more consistently.

[roadwarrior]

You don't need big, expensive swimbaits to catch DD bass. WRB has probably caught the most

on a jig and pig. My PB was caught on a golden shiner in Florida, but my other DDs have all been

caught here in the Mid South on Senkos. I have had great luck with the Rage Tail Structure Bug

locally with dozens of monsters the past several years, although none of them quite met the 10lb threshold.

 

I came close at Toledo Bend fishing the Rage Hawg.

[TnRiver46]

DD on a home lake? If it’s smallish I would use a live bluegill 

[softwateronly]

When the big bait bite is on, especially glides, it's probably my favorite way to fish.  In clear water, oftentimes you watch a big fish shadow stalking from underneath and get to watch her decide to eat.  It's a truly unique and fantastic way to have all your senses engaged for those brief moments and to use your skill to try to trigger the bite before the boat or bait sends her back to her home.

 

That said, my heavy duty swimbait setup doesn't come out with me all the time.  6"-7" baits, mostly soft swimmers, gantarel, bull shads, 168 glides, are year round companions.  These are big enough for me and my waters to target the larger panfish eating bass.  Also, I can and prefer to throw these on a 7'6XH/MF, 7'7 H/MF and a 7' XH/R because these setups are more enjoyable for me to chuck around all day.  I've also found more success w/ bladeless A-rigs and light jig heads, so I usually find the 7'7H to be the sweet spot.

 

If I were to do it all again, one high end big bait setup, and 2-3 versatile "almost" big bait set ups, they double as frog, flippin and deep cranking.  I'm fortunate that I have this many rigs so I can see how this might not be helpful.

 

scott

 

ps - savage gear, storm, river2sea make some really affordable and successful big baits 

 

ps2 - tatula 300 is also a great option, jdm is $206

 

ps3 - large swimbaits haven't given me a pb or even a lake pb, but they have given me better fish on average

[Mr. Aquarium]

100% I started catching more bigger fish. I still fish conventional baits. Tubes, jigs, plastics, jerkbaits etc, but ever since I started fishing swimbaits I’ve started catching bigger fish.  I live in MA. Been fishing big baits since 2016.  Night time big baits have been awesome!  
This year  I have 8lbs 2 ounce, 7lbs 5 ounce, 7lbs 1 ounce, 6lbs 13 ounce, 5lbs 11 ounce 5 even on swimbaits! Hooked bigger!   I have many more big fish on swimbaits over the years! 

[PhishLI]

6 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Trying to accomplish a life long goal of catching a DD fish on my home lake.   They are there for sure, and I catch plenty of 5lb+ fish, but I'm looking to catch 10lb+ fish.    I'm sure the big smart trophy fish on my home lake have never been presented with high end ultra realistic swim baits.     

Try to think of them as an option which is really more about the challenge of getting a big fish to eat one than anything else. Over time, and in general, you're far more likely to get your biggest bass on a compact bait by putting it where it needs to be. However, big baits will definitely spice up your fishing experience. There's always so much anticipation when throwing them, but its a patience game where you'll basically become a Muskie fisherman who's fishing for bass. Regardless of who may pop up here that has gone on a nice run, that's a fact most of the time. Understanding this ahead of time is good for keeping your mind right.

6 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I've already bought a rod last night.....an Alpha Angler WideGlide 7'9.    Now that I look into reels more and more, it seems my plan of going with a JDM Zillion TW HD is a little underpowered, and something like the Tranx 300 would be ideal.

If you're going to be using heavy fluoro you should definitely consider the fantastic Tatula 300. The T-wing shines over all others with heavy plastic line. I have both. I have a clear preference.

 

6 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Lastly, the effort required to throw these huge baits, and the size of the tackle is quite burdensome to a guy that's not in a 20" late model Bass boat. 

Lots of guys around here are throwing them from kayaks using 8' rods. Totally doable from whatever, except for possibly a float tube.

 

6 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

So friends, did big swimbaits up your trophy LGM game?

Not yet for me or my brother, but they have for several people I know around here. The biggest confirmed catch this year in these parts reported through our grapevine was a 10+ on a big bait. Second was an 8.2

6 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

did you find the investment into them worth it? 

Worth it is in the eye of the beholder. There's a particular fun about the big bait game that has value. Only you can decide if it adds up for you. It all depends on what's in your head going into it.

 

[PhishLI]

18 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

 Night time big baits have been awesome!  

This is the case here too. I'd say 95% of the bigs that I'm aware of caught here on big baits came at night.

[GreenPig]

Definitely worth it to me. But hasn't beat my PB caught on a BPS stick - o. As softwateronly has already stated, my average weigh is also higher on swimbaits. It's just another tool that's the best tool at times, but not always. 

 

 

[Deleted account]

Whether they are worth it $ wise, only the person putting up the cash can answer that.  As far as catching big bass, no, you can catch very big bass on standard sized bass lures, and even tiny finesse ones. My PB (DD+) was caught on a 4" Senko, and its bigger than the official state record. 

[WRB]

Just looked at the OP’s rod designed for treble hook glide lures  and should work OK with wake baits and rats. Not sure about top single hook Hudds without Butch Browns treble hook rig, ROF 5 & 12 68 Hudd would be good lure to use imo.

Not fan of swimbait rods without a fore grip that helps casting and retrieving all day long, hard to palm a swimbait combo. 

Sold over 30 Hudds and big swimbaits, wakes, rats, glides  my rods and reels a few years ago. 

Big lures work and require the right tackle including line.

Suggest 25 lb / .016 D  Armillo Defier Nylon line. 5 years never broke off a swimbait, great casting line. 165 yard spool  fills 300 size casting reels.

Like any presentation big swimbaits take dedication to cast several hours without any success, long days watching for a follower or strike.

$100 to $200 hard swimbaits and glides add up and take a lot of time on the water to become a good big lure angler. Slow down, keep focused and choose high % seasonal periods and time. My advice start at the major points near the dam, and any long underwater point into deep water where big bass live.

Worth it...yep caught lots of big bass and enjoyed swimbait fishing when our lakes were being stocked with trout.

Good luck,

Tom

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

3 hours ago, softwateronly said:

When the big bait bite is on, especially glides, it's probably my favorite way to fish.  In clear water, oftentimes you watch a big fish shadow stalking from underneath and get to watch her decide to eat.  It's a truly unique and fantastic way to have all your senses engaged for those brief moments and to use your skill to try to trigger the bite before the boat or bait sends her back to her home.

 

That said, my heavy duty swimbait setup doesn't come out with me all the time.  6"-7" baits, mostly soft swimmers, gantarel, bull shads, 168 glides, are year round companions.  These are big enough for me and my waters to target the larger panfish eating bass.  Also, I can and prefer to throw these on a 7'6XH/MF, 7'7 H/MF and a 7' XH/R because these setups are more enjoyable for me to chuck around all day.  I've also found more success w/ bladeless A-rigs and light jig heads, so I usually find the 7'7H to be the sweet spot.

 

If I were to do it all again, one high end big bait setup, and 2-3 versatile "almost" big bait set ups, they double as frog, flippin and deep cranking.  I'm fortunate that I have this many rigs so I can see how this might not be helpful.

 

scott

 

ps - savage gear, storm, river2sea make some really affordable and successful big baits 

 

ps2 - tatula 300 is also a great option, jdm is $206

 

ps3 - large swimbaits haven't given me a pb or even a lake pb, but they have given me better fish on average

Those are exactly the type and size baits I'm looking to fish.      I hear lots of people talk about seeing huge fish they had no clue were in a lake follow these baits.

 

The JDM Tatula 300 is the reel at the top of my list now.   I can't find a Tranx JDM, and I want to buy every reel JDM until the exchange rates change. 

 

Thanks for the great info. 

35 minutes ago, WRB said:

Just looked at the OP’s rod designed for treble hook glide lures  and should work OK with wake baits and rats. Not sure about top single hook Hudds without Butch Browns treble hook rig, ROF 5 & 12 68 Hudd would be good lure to use imo.

Not fan of swimbait rods without a fore grip that helps casting and retrieving all day long, hard to palm a swimbait combo. 

Sold over 30 Hudds and big swimbaits, wakes, rats, glides  my rods and reels a few years ago. 

Big lures work and require the right tackle including line.

Suggest 25 lb / .016 D  Armillo Defier Nylon line. 5 years never broke off a swimbait, great casting line. 165 yard spool  fills 300 size casting reels.

Like any presentation big swimbaits take dedication to cast several hours without any success, long days watching for a follower or strike.

$100 to $200 hard swimbaits and glides add up and take a lot of time on the water to become a good big lure angler. Slow down, keep focused and choose high % seasonal periods and time. My advice start at the major points near the dam, and any long underwater point into deep water where big bass live.

Worth it...yep caught lots of big bass and enjoyed swimbait fishing when our lakes were being stocked with trout.

Good luck,

Tom

 

 

Most excellent advice, thanks for weighing in.     I've never had the ability to get advice from someone who has caught the size fish you have until I joined this forum.    This place is great, and thanks for offering your expertise.    

3 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

100% I started catching more bigger fish. I still fish conventional baits. Tubes, jigs, plastics, jerkbaits etc, but ever since I started fishing swimbaits I’ve started catching bigger fish.  I live in MA. Been fishing big baits since 2016.  Night time big baits have been awesome!  
This year  I have 8lbs 2 ounce, 7lbs 5 ounce, 7lbs 1 ounce, 6lbs 13 ounce, 5lbs 11 ounce 5 even on swimbaits! Hooked bigger!   I have many more big fish on swimbaits over the years! 

Haha, I saw your pics in the two biggest fish of the year thead, and IIrc they had big swimbaits in their mouths.      

[AlabamaSpothunter]

2 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Try to think of them as an option which is really more about the challenge of getting a big fish to eat one than anything else. Over time, and in general, you're far more likely to get your biggest bass on a compact bait by putting it where it needs to be. However, big baits will definitely spice up your fishing experience. There's always so much anticipation when throwing them, but its a patience game where you'll basically become a Muskie fisherman who's fishing for bass. Regardless of who may pop up here that has gone on a nice run, that's a fact most of the time. Understanding this ahead of time is good for keeping your mind right.

If you're going to using heavy fluoro you should definitely consider the fantastic Tatula 300. The T-wing shines over all others with heavy plastic line. I have both. I have a clear preference.

 

Lots of guys around here are throwing them from kayaks using 8' rods. Totally doable from whatever, except for possibly a float tube.

 

Not yet for me or my brother, but they have for several people I know around here. The biggest confirmed catch this year in these parts reported through our grapevine was a 10+ on a big bait. Second was an 8.2

Worth it is in the eye of the beholder. There's a particular fun about the big bait game that has value. Only you can decide if it adds up for you. It all depends on what's in your head going into it.

 

Very detailed and informative reply, appreciate it!   

 

Yours along with a few others have tampered my expectations, but equally reinforced my belief I must give this technique a go.    I remember dreaming and reading about guys like WRB in Bass rags in the late 90s using Trout 12" Swimbaits and it blew my mind.     

 

The Tatula 300 seems like the reel for me.

[Derek1]

We’ll I catch allot more 3 pounders. 

You already have a rod on the way. So order your reel and a spro ray 50 in the morning dawn color. 
the thing looks ridiculous, but catches fish. 

it’s fun. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 minute ago, Derek1 said:

We’ll I catch allot more 3 pounders. 

You already have a rod on the way. So order your reel and a spro ray 50 in the morning dawn color. 
the thing looks ridiculous, but catches fish. 

it’s fun. 

Yeah I'm committed for the most part already lol.   

 

I knew I wanted to fish the big hard swimbaits when I threw a Jackall Giron for the first time a week or two ago, caught a pig Spot on it the first cast.     Then I realized that the Giron is just a miniature hard swimbait.  

 

Even though it only weighs 3/4th, the only rod I have that can throw it with any accuracy, and not have it create a huge splash is my new 7'2 Chatterbound.    

[JustJames]

Getting bite and set hook on 6” or 8” hudds or even Gantarel Jr. is really exciting. Worth it is really up to you to decide. No I don’t catch biggest fish on those baits, but I’m sure my blood pumped harder with a bigger hope than when setting hook with Senko. 

[NorcalBassin]

Hasn't been worth it yet but I'm optimistic it will be! I went down that rabbit hole with a backhoe and accumulated way more swimbaits and gear than I'd ever need. I recently switched my Zillion HD over to a mid-sized swimbait rod (up to 3oz) and I really liked that combo during my first trip with it over the weekend. I have a couple Tranx 300's and a Curado 300 on my combos for the larger baits (both excellent choices) and a Curado 200 for my wake/rat/magnum topwater rod that handles up to 2-3oz well. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Just now, Bass_Fishing_SoCal said:

Getting bite and set hook on 6” or 8” hudds or even Gantarel Jr. is really exciting. Worth it is really up to you to decide. No I don’t catch biggest fish on those baits, but I’m sure my blood pumped harder with a bigger hope than when setting hook with Senko. 

The Gantarel Jr. is the first bait I'm gonna buy.      That's the bait along with an A-Rig I already own I had in mind when deciding to go down this rabbit hole.   

 

I also really like the Mattlures Magnum Hardgill, but it's like $110 LOL

 

Every Jackall bait I own has action that blows me away.   I could just watch that Giron above for seemingly hours in amazement.    Same thing with their Squidminnow 95.    Also catch more crankbait fish on theirs than any others.   Maybe confirmation bias, but they really seem to make amazing baits.  

[Derek1]

1 minute ago, Bass_Fishing_SoCal said:

Getting bite and set hook on 6” or 8” hudds or even Gantarel Jr. is really exciting. Worth it is really up to you to decide. No I don’t catch biggest fish on those baits, but I’m sure my blood pumped harder with a bigger hope than when setting hook with Senko. 

That’s so true. The anticipation and hook set are so much more exciting even though it’s just another 3 pounder. 
I’m ok with that. 
also the six and eight inch mag drafts are affordable and catch fish. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Just now, NorcalBassin said:

Hasn't been worth it yet but I'm optimistic it will be! I went down that rabbit hole with a backhoe and accumulated way more swimbaits and gear than I'd ever need. I recently switched my Zillion HD over to a mid-sized swimbait rod (up to 3oz) and I really liked that combo during my first trip with it over the weekend. I have a couple Tranx 300's and a Curado 300 on my combos for the larger baits (both excellent choices) and a Curado 200 for my wake/rat/magnum topwater rod that handles up to 2-3oz well. 

"With a backhoe"  I like your style brother.....might as well hit full send ?

 

Thanks for weighing in.  

[PhishLI]

16 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

The Gantarel Jr. is the first bait I'm gonna buy. 

Don't forget the Black Dog Baits Shellcracker G2. It's the dirty little not-so-secret bait of the big bait crowd. I throw it and the Jr often, but if I were forced to choose just one it would be the G2. 

24 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I knew I wanted to fish the big hard swimbaits when I threw a Jackall Giron for the first time a week or two ago, caught a pig Spot on it the first cast.     Then I realized that the Giron is just a miniature hard swimbait.  

 

Even though it only weighs 3/4th, the only rod I have that can throw it with any accuracy, and not have it create a huge splash is my new 7'2 Chatterbound.    

There are times where a quiet entry is the deal. However, I've been out with several guys throwing big baits in close proximity where it sounded as if dinner plates were hitting the water, but it did nothing but ring the dinner bell, and this isn't a one-off thing.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 minute ago, PhishLI said:

Don't forget the Black Dog Baits Shellcracker G2. It's the dirty little not-so-secret bait of the big bait crowd. I throw it and the Jr often, but if I were forced to choose just one it would be the G2. 

There are times where a quiet entry is the deal. However, I've been out with several guys throwing big baits in close proximity where it sounded as if dinner plates were hitting the water, but it did nothing but ring the dinner bell, and this isn't a one-off thing.

Haha about the dinner plates......and going to look at that bait right now, got the TW page open in another window, the monkey makes me always have a TW tab open ? 

[PhishLI]

5 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

and going to look at that bait right now, got the TW page open

Check Swimbait City for G2 stock.

[bigspirit]

I’ve been throwing big baits all year and have really enjoyed it. My average size has certainly gone up, but overall catches is lower. That’s completely fine by me though, I’d rather catch *** or 4 lb bass on a glide or wake bait than filter through more smaller sized bass. Obviously you can catch a big bass on a senko or jig but I just find the big baits more exciting to fish. 

[Derek1]

32 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Don't forget the Black Dog Baits Shellcracker G2. It's the dirty little not-so-secret bait of the big bait crowd. I throw it and the Jr often, but if I were forced to choose just one it would be the G2. 

There are times where a quiet entry is the deal. However, I've been out with several guys throwing big baits in close proximity where it sounded as if dinner plates were hitting the water, but it did nothing but ring the dinner bell, and this isn't a one-off thing.

I forgot I have a shell cracker. I’ll have to dig that sucker out. 

You’ll want to put in your order for a ms slammer  now so you have it for spring lol. 
jeez I can see how this gets out of control fast.