Swimbait Rod and Reel?

[Bassaholic84]

So I am trying to get into swimbaits. I was planning on buying a new curado 300 for the reel and get a new rod also in the winter. I was thinking about how much money that is going to cost and just dont think i can afford it. I live in the northeast (Maryland to be exact) and probally wont throw anything bigger then the mattlures bluegill. Probally none of the big 4 ouncers. I can throw the smaller ones on my other baicast rigs and was just wondering if there are any disadvantages if i just used my spinning set up i use for catfish. Its a 2 piece rod and can handle the lure weight and line etc. I also fish from a 12' jon so a big one piece rod that i wont always be using just in certain situations will get in the way. Would the spinning set up be fine or are baitcasters perferred with Swimbaits?

[roadwarrior]

You don't need special equipment for Mattlures Baby Bass or other

swimbaits in that weight class. A medium heavy or heavy bass rod

is just fine.

As far as spinning vs. baitcasting equipment, use what you are

comfortable with, it really doesn't make any difference. That said,

I prefer baitcasting gear for "power fishing", spinning tackle for

finesse.

8-)

[Raul]

I don 't get it. Don 't get it why you being up north immediately eliminate from you bait list those big 8" swimbaits from your arsenal.

Yup, I do live in Mexico, but you guys must think that in Mexico all bass are Florida strain and all grow to behemoth size and that ain 't the truth, we do have northern strain cuz it 's a native, not everywhere there 's Florida strain bass.

There 's a pay to fish lake I used to go up in the sierra, there were bass, bluegills and trout, do I need to tell you how many times I caught 3-4 pound bass with a 10 inch trout stuck in their mouth ?

[djmax22]

Yeap go big or go home when it comes to swimbaits. Check out some of the siwmbait forums of fish caught all over the US on monster swimbaits. I have had several 2lbers smack a 8" huddleston.

You dont need a 300 series reel and a specific setup for Mattlure swimbaits. A heavy flippn stick with a curado 200 will do the trick.

[flechero]

You might use the catfish rig for starters and see if you have the temperment for swimbaiting. (realizing it's probably not ideal but will work why you decide)  If you do, you can set up a rod and reel for it... and consider other reels that fall closer to your target price range.

Anything can be done on a budget.  

[Bassaholic84]

I probally will use the 8" trout next year when they stock the rainbow trout up here. I guess i could be missing out on a fish of a lifetime by not using them huh I prefer baitcasting over spinning by far when it comes to heavier lures. I think im going to just finish this year off with this rig and think about it more in the winter and possibly buy maybe a telescopic flipping stick or the new st.croix MOJO swimbait rod since that can be in my budget at only 120 i think. Im still not sure about spending 250 on that shimano tho im hoping maybe the older curados go a little cheaper in the winter.  Right now the new one is only 50 more.

[njbasser]

I don't use swimbaits, yet  , but from what i've heard the okuma swimbait rod is a good deal and I've also heard great things about the Shimano Cardiff as well. You may want to try a Cardiff 400 or 401, that would handle every type of swimbait and not limit you to the smaller ones.