Northeast Swimbaits....

[flyhatch]

I am thinking I want to throw monster baits for monster fish here in Pa.

Can anyone share there expierance with swimbaits. What  baits worked for you?

What is the best route on gear?

Enlighten me.....

[WTRDOG]

Fly I don't throw swimbaits very often.Reason being I'd rather catch numbers.Throwing a swimbait the hits are far and few,but when you do get hit it will be a good one.I understand how guys like to throw them just not my style of fishing.Do all of us a favor when you do get a lunker on one and want to share the pic of it.Give that fish the respect it deserves and don't take a pic of the fish flopping on the ground .It really bothers me how people have no consideration.Good luck on your quest.

When I do throw one it's a Rago Rat.

.

[Captian Planet]

I agree with WTRDOG , the bass don't get big enough up here regularly to catch numbers with a swim bait. The most productive I've found are as follows: the Sebile Magic swimmer, wake it around sunken trees and over shallow flats. The Strike King King Shad is probably my all around favorite lure. Its fairly small for a swim bait, and I've had short of one pound fish swallow it, so you wont be sacrificing numbers. It dives about three feet and I usually fish it in clear open water to bring bass up from the depths, also if you swim it through any bass bed its an automatic strike. If you do want a swim bait that is prone to catch a tru lunker the one I would recommend is the Castiac Catch 22 in a large size 8+ inches. This lure swims incredibly well and is almost equal in endurance compared to 50$+ hard swim bait for considerably less. And with all of these baits always match the natural forage of your area. Swim baits are clear water lures so realism is key.

[flyhatch]

Thanks for the input.

I know what Im in for with the numbers deal.

I am thinking for throwing a swimbait for a few casts at every spot I hit.

Then I will switch over to other baits. I figure sooner or later I am gonna get hit.

[Tokyo Tony]

I'm just getting into it this year. I got an Okuma swimbait rod, 7'6", rated 1-5 ounces, and a Shimano Calcutta 200B. It's a great setup and I've had no problems casting my 9" wakebaits (Mattlures Woody), except that the brake on the Calcutta isn't designed to be able to handle such big baits, so I have to thumb the reel pretty carefully during the cast.

I think some other considerations for baits in the northeast are:

MS Slammers, 7" or 9"

Huddleston Deluxe soft swimbaits, 6" or 8"

Mattlures soft or hard bluegill

Mattlures baby bass or perch soft swimbaits

As I said, I just started getting into it, and everything I know about swimbaiting has been learned from other guys on this site. I can't wait until I get that first fish on the 9" wakebait. It's gonna be a good one.

As for your idea of throwing one for a few casts at each spot, you may be better off just taking your swimbait setup out for a few outings so you're not tempted to throw anything else. Once it warms up enough for me to feel more confident that the fish will come up for the wakebaits, that's what I plan on doing until I really get the hang of it.

Good luck, and make sure you post the pics :-)