plastic swimbaits in the 6" size arena. new to it all.

Darth-Baiter · November 6, 2023

I love to throw them. the size/weights are easily managed by my current rod arsenals (not perfectly). Magdraft, Magdraft Freestyle, Trash-Fish, Stealth Shads, etc. I'm throwing them on 16lb flouro, and they cast and swim awesome (to my eyes).

I have had some luck, and the bites are dang addicting. I want to have MORE successes. in your minds, is this a seasonal offering? I was super slow dragging a TrashFish this weekend. super slow, with long pauses to let it settle back down in the silt, and slow retrieve again. I was going so slow, it was almost imperceivable the lure was doing anything. but once in a while,,SMASH! it feels like a fish body slams it. I couldn't get a hook into anything, and it was super frustrating, but I casted it for hours. about 12 feet of water, and I cast as far as I could up an underwater slope and would swim it down the hill. most of my success was spring with the Magdraft freestyle. the big 5 or 8/0 hooks stabbed fish effectively, if they bit.

I want to swim a Hitch replica after big Clearlake bass this coming season. everything was sold out this year, so I want to shop early to be ready.

Hammer 4 · November 8, 2023

What.... no Hudds ?????????????

FishTank · November 8, 2023

In the softplastic realm, there is the 6in Deps Sakamata Shad. I have only used the 5in and I caught a few on it but the Magdraft is still my favorite.

txchaser · November 9, 2023

On 11/6/2023 at 11:48 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

but once in a while,,SMASH! it feels like a fish body slams it.

I learned from here to just keep reeling like nothing happened. They are trying to stun it.

Anyway I've caught a bunch of nice fish on the Optimum boom boom in 6". It's a big piece of plastic though, need a 1-4oz rod and I wouldn't throw on less than 20lb line (assuming normal diameter). I usually use 22lb tatsu. If you get them, you need to open up the hook pocket, there's really not enough room towards the front of the bait.