Swim Bait Success?

[Blue Raider Bob]

Lately I have been catching a few trolling crankbaits in deeper water away from the river bank. I do this because The water on the Tennessee is low and clear, and I can't catch anything pounding the bank. Trolling crankbaits ( Bomber Fat Free Fingerling, and Rapala DT6 ), in about 12 FOW has been consistently producing the past couple weeks but here lies the problem. My fingers look and feel like pincushions due to the constant removal of cranks from the mouths of flailing bass. Sometimes it seems we both get hooked with each fish! Not to mention the PITA hook removal from nets if the fish are large enough. I'm thinking of trying swimbaits and wanted your thoughts. The fish are definitely on a fish diet because not only am I catching lots but several are throwing up fish when boated, and they are all fat as pumpkins! I have done poorly trolling swimbaits in the past but perhaps I am doing something wrong. Thanks in advance! 

BTW.....I'm thinking swimbaits because of the one hook. May be easier on me and the fish!

Looking forward to some rain to raise water levels and create current to push these Smallies to the banks. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Sounds crazy, but trolling a Chatterbait works amazingly well.   Single hook.  Different weight models to get you deeper, maybe run it on Fluorocarbon as well.

 

MiniMax and Flashback Mini models work really well, big ones I don't try it with.  

[Kev-mo]

Can't help you with your swimbait question but spend some of your kids inheritance and get a rubberized net that the hooks won't stick to

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

BTW.....I'm thinking swimbaits because of the one hook. May be easier on me and the fish!

Looking forward to some rain to raise water levels and create current to push these Smallies to the banks. 

 

I have had some success throwing 3-5 inch paddletail swimbaits for brown bass.

Here's a little info on how I do it.

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

Wear those pin cushion hands like badges of honor and keep doing what you’re doing 

[Tennessee Boy]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

Wear those pin cushion hands like badges of honor and keep doing what you’re doing 

I agree.   Try some different pliers,  fish grippers,  gloves, etc but don't change how you're fishing if you're catching fish.

[J Francho]

Get a fish gripper and a better net. Keep at it. 

[MN Fisher]

^ What he said.

[Blue Raider Bob]

22 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Sounds crazy, but trolling a Chatterbait works amazingly well.   Single hook.  Different weight models to get you deeper, maybe run it on Fluorocarbon as well.

 

MiniMax and Flashback Mini models work really well, big ones I don't try it with.  

Will certainly give your suggestion a try! Going to the river tomorrow!

Thanks!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

30 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Will certainly give your suggestion a try! Going to the river tomorrow!

Thanks!

Awesome just one point to note....the smaller models are picky about trailers.  I've found the Armor Shad in 3" to be perfect.    the 3/8th is my favorite, but the 1/2oz catches a ton of fish too.   

I like the Gizzard Shad color.  

[Deleted account]

23 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Sounds crazy, but trolling a Chatterbait works amazingly well. 

Bass guys need to get out more...

[Bluebasser86]

A strike king swimming shiner on a 1/4oz jighead is one of my favorite smallmouth baits.

[drakesndrum]

3.25" Rage Swimmer on a 1/8oz jig head got all my bites yesterday in 56-57 degree water.  I'm buying stock in those baits, I've probably caught more smallies on those than anything I have.  Keitech 3.3" works as well.  Even caught a 26" Musky on one yesterday! 

[Bdnoble84]

Only trolling? A 3.8 keitech on a 1/4 head is money. If they are that active on baitfish id be inclined to throw a white spinnerbait as well.

[nbbassin]

Troll a weight 4 or 5" fluke texas rigged.  I have been meaning to try trolling a donkey rig with two different weights and an A rig with swimbaits. An underspin could be killer too. We used to troll for trout and there was always some kind of flashing metal like cowbells, dodger  or spinner.  

[Deleted account]

On 10/25/2022 at 10:35 AM, Blue Raider Bob said:

Lately I have been catching a few trolling crankbaits in deeper water away from the river bank. I do this because The water on the Tennessee is low and clear, and I can't catch anything pounding the bank. Trolling crankbaits ( Bomber Fat Free Fingerling, and Rapala DT6 ), in about 12 FOW has been consistently producing the past couple weeks but here lies the problem. My fingers look and feel like pincushions due to the constant removal of cranks from the mouths of flailing bass. Sometimes it seems we both get hooked with each fish! Not to mention the PITA hook removal from nets if the fish are large enough.

 

Here's how we do it, Get a 5 gallon pail and cut a v notch about 1" wide, and 3/4" deep (doesn't have to be exact), fill it with about a foot of water (optional), lift the fish into the bucket using the heavy(ish) mono leader (did I mention no fluoro?), now depending on how the fish is hooked, either pull straight up and wedge the lure against the notch and pry the hook(s) off with needle nose (note we haven't touched the fish or come near the hooks), or if its deep down, grab a hook (with the pliers) and pull on the leader to control fish, and lip it and then use the needle nose, what helps is to upsize the hooks one size, and cut a point off each hook (the one facing the lure on the front, and the one facing down on the tail) sounds like a lot, but in real time it takes maybe 10-20 seconds if that.

Or a gaff...  

[WRB]

Change the trebles to Owner replacement single hooks.

A Scrounger jig also works good with a Sluggo for a trailer.

Tom

[Blue Raider Bob]

I can't get a scrounger to swim correctly. The heads I have all just spin in circles.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I can't get a scrounger to swim correctly. The heads I have all just spin in circles.

They are picky, play with the bill a bit....if not you just got to move on to another company that makes ones that run true.    TW has a dozen plus models.....only a few have great reviews.    It's not easy getting these things to run right, but they catch a ton of fish, especially down here South with the abundant Threadfins 

[Blue Raider Bob]

14 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

They are picky, play with the bill a bit....if not you just got to move on to another company that makes ones that run true.    TW has a dozen plus models.....only a few have great reviews.    It's not easy getting these things to run right, but they catch a ton of fish, especially down here South with the abundant Threadfins 

Thanks, I will. Tried to troll one yesterday because I hurt my hand and couldn't fish any other way. The durn thing just spun and spun.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

10 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Thanks, I will. Tried to troll one yesterday because I hurt my hand and couldn't fish any other way. The durn thing just spun and spun.

I threw my shoulder out with a big swimbait setup, and have been trolling about 75% of the time, and then only casting on places I feel are holding big fish.    

 

Troll that Flashback Mini 1/8th with 3" Armor Shads.......it's like magic.   Trolling this last week or two has been a real eye opening experience.    I never trolled for Bass until this year, and didn't do it but from spot to spot.    I can see why some tourneys ban it, when it works or when you match that perfect speed they want.......it's non stop fishing that's hard to achieve casting.    

 

I find the scounger head best works for me when I throw them around shad pods, and then yo yo them through the pods.    Spots usually slam them on the downfall.     The Live Magic Shads are my favorite for the trailers.  

[Blue Raider Bob]

26 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I threw my shoulder out with a big swimbait setup, and have been trolling about 75% of the time, and then only casting on places I feel are holding big fish.    

 

Troll that Flashback Mini 1/8th with 3" Armor Shads.......it's like magic.   Trolling this last week or two has been a real eye opening experience.    I never trolled for Bass until this year, and didn't do it but from spot to spot.    I can see why some tourneys ban it, when it works or when you match that perfect speed they want.......it's non stop fishing that's hard to achieve casting.    

 

I find the scounger head best works for me when I throw them around shad pods, and then yo yo them through the pods.    Spots usually slam them on the downfall.     The Live Magic Shads are my favorite for the trailers.  

Do you use the silver Flashbacks? I am going to get some and be content to troll for a while until I can heal up.

Thanks

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I can't get a scrounger to swim correctly. The heads I have all just spin in circles.

Every 'scrounger' type bait out there, MUST be worked very slowly, to run correctly.

Especially the medium & long bill versions.

Regardless of the trailer type, most of todays high speed reels would need to be cranked

ultra slow to keep the bait from spinning.

So trolling one, is just about impossible.

A-Jay

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Do you use the silver Flashbacks? I am going to get some and be content to troll for a while until I can heal up.

Thanks

Honestly the color doesn't matter as the fish end up tearing the paint off the heads.   I also don't use the included swimbodies.    3" Armor Shad in whatever color you think matches best with the smaller sized Shad in your waters.        

 

[zeth]

RS Nets IMO are the best. Then theres the rest. They make one called the Small jaw but don't let the name fool you it works for everything. This is an expensive net but worth it. Don't drop it. It's heavy and will sink like a rock. That's good though. It'll never break like the cheaper nets made by Frabill etc..   I have netted many a smallmouth with crankbaits and this net has never been a problem. It's fast to extend as well.