Swimbaits on the Expride 7'7" Heavy - help a newbie pick some baits

[jimanchower]

The TB guys preach about the Expride 7'7" Heavy / Moderate Fast as a great setup for A-rigs and swimbaits like the Bacca Burrito. I'm a big Expride fan who usually fishes from a kayak, and I've wanted to dip my toe into swimbaits, so I pulled the trigger on this rod.

 

I've got the makings for an A-rig. I own a couple of Magdraft 6" and S-Waver 168s. I figure I'll pick up a Burrito and try it out. What are some other baits that can be thrown on this rod, and that are good for someone new to swimbait fishing? I'm a little wary of going north of 2oz on this rod that's rated up to 1.5oz but apparently Matt and Tim are throwing A-rigs that are pushing 3oz. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Shimano 190 SF is under 2oz and is friendly on the wallet.  

 

Outside of that bait and maybe the Spro Chad Shad, you get what you pay for sadly with swimbaits.    

 

They mainly throw that Magdraft and Burrito in the videos I watch.  

[jimanchower]

The 190SF is one that I had forgotten about. I'll definitely give one of those a go.

 

Other baits on my radar:

- Big Bite Baits B6 line-through

- Mattlures Magnum Hardgill

- 6.8" Keitech on a jig head

- 7" Scottsboro paddletail on a jig head

 

The rod was delivered today. It weighs in at only 4.85oz! It's also rated up to 2oz, not 1.5oz as listed on TW so that makes me a little more comfortable. Ordered up a Bantam HG to pair it with.

[PhishLI]

Black Dog Baits Shellcracker G2. One in white and another in a bluegill pattern. Swimbait City usually has them in stock. Killer bait at a stupid good price.

 

Shell Cracker G2 – Black Dog Bait Co. (blackdogbaits.com)

G2 vs SW 168

 

[softwateronly]

Duckett BD shad throws well on it too.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Duckett_Baits_BD_Shad_Slow_Sinking_Swimbaits/descpage-CBD.html#customer_reviews

 

scott

[jimanchower]

15 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Black Dog Baits Shellcracker G2. One in white and another in a bluegill pattern. Swimbait City usually has them in stock. Killer bait at a stupid good price.

 

Shell Cracker G2 – Black Dog Bait Co. (blackdogbaits.com)

 

I took your advice and ordered a white and a ghost bluegill from SC. I've got a few other baits in my Tackle Warehouse cart. Waiting to see if they get discounted for Labor Day.

 

What kind of reel speed do you guys like for these baits (in general; not just the Shell Cracker)? 6.x:1 / ~25 IPT too slow?

[PhishLI]

On 8/29/2023 at 7:47 AM, jimanchower said:

What kind of reel speed do you guys like for these baits (in general; not just the Shell Cracker)? 6.x:1 / ~25 IPT too slow?

It's a little too slow for me. In the case of the Shellcracker, it's a crank-down wake bait. Fish it as a wake-bait or crank it down to depth according to how the fish are responding to it. It will crank down with a slower IPT though if you're willing to fast crank it after the end of a long cast where the IPT is much less. If you're thinking about using 300 sized reels many come fitted with a 42mm tall spool, so gear ratio vs IPT is different than with typical 150-200 sized reels where 34mm-36mm tall spools are the norm. Bottom line is that I prefer about 30" IPT in general. It's unusual that I'm doing a straight retrieve with any swimbait, and when I'm using a burner type, which is rare, it's just about right for me.

[jimanchower]

Thanks, @PhishLI. I've got a '22 Zillion TW HD with the 6.3:1 gears from a Zillion TW SV that I was thinking about using. I measure it at about 23 IPT. It may be too slow. I've also got a '22 Bantam HG on the way that may be a better fit. Guess I'll have to try both and see.

 

I decided to hold off on the Shimano 190 SF and wait until the SS is available. In addition to the Shell Cracker I've got a couple of 5" Burritos (fast sink) on the way, and I'm looking real hard at the Gan Craft Jointed Claw 178...

[fishingtx]

For sure go check out 3:16 swimbaits before placing that tackle warehouse order. They are some of the best soft plastic swimbaits on the market. I own one or more of every soft plastic swimbait they make.  Another good soft plastic is the B6 by Big Bite. You would obviously want to get some daingerous swimmers by Bass Mafia. As for glide baits, tater hogs are pretty good, and I throw some 3:16 glides, but the best looking gizzard shad imitator is by Fish30 Acre. There are some more by a company called phoney frog that I'm looking forward to using. All glide baits that aren't mass produced are going to hurt your wallet but they are all perfect and work amazing. Hope you catch some toads.

 

Benjamin

[jimanchower]

@PhishLI the Shell Cracker is a Fish Catcher!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

On 8/30/2023 at 6:34 PM, jimanchower said:

Thanks, @PhishLI. I've got a '22 Zillion TW HD with the 6.3:1 gears from a Zillion TW SV that I was thinking about using. I measure it at about 23 IPT. It may be too slow. I've also got a '22 Bantam HG on the way that may be a better fit. Guess I'll have to try both and see.

 

I decided to hold off on the Shimano 190 SF and wait until the SS is available. In addition to the Shell Cracker I've got a couple of 5" Burritos (fast sink) on the way, and I'm looking real hard at the Gan Craft Jointed Claw 178...

The lo float nature of the 190 SF is kind of what makes the bait so successful for me, not to mention the visual nature of it.....the excitement level is fantastic with that bait.  It's a very user input-oriented bait the way I fish, seeing it makes a huge difference.    

 

You can always add some lead wire to the hooks or add suspend strips or dots to make it a SS, or even a suspender.     

[VolFan]

+1 on both the G2 and Mattlure bluegill and baby bluegill. MS Slammer in whatever size you feel comfortable with won’t hurt your wallet too much and catches fish of all sizes. I have min, 7” and 9” and they’re all great.

[Hammer 4]

Don't forget the Huddleston 6 and 8" soft baits, they catch fish and won't break the bank.

[Dwight Hottle]

@jimanchower That gan craft jointed claw 178 is good choice.

[PhishLI]

On 9/3/2023 at 6:46 PM, jimanchower said:

@PhishLI the Shell Cracker is a Fish Catcher!

I’m sure you’ve heard about this tactic before, especially regarding the Whopper Plopper, where you let it sit for a bit once it lands. Anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute. This is something that applies to any floating bait, and I’ve had dumb luck with the G2 more than once while answering a phone call just as it lands, or when pulling out errant loops in my line. It can definitely call them in and give them time to decide, especially if you drop it in outside of a pad line or a stand of weeds that they’re unwilling to move too far away from. I’ve had them eat it just as I started to wind it as if they were inspecting it then decided it was food once it twitched or dove. This is worth trying occasionally if chuck n wind isn’t drawing bites for you.

[NorthernBasser]

On 9/3/2023 at 5:46 PM, jimanchower said:

@PhishLI the Shell Cracker is a Fish Catcher!

 

Yessir.