What's the Skinny on Swimbaits?

[GobbleDog]

Like a lot of Florida anglers, I worm fish almost exclusively. I don't know squat about swimbaits.  The only thing I know after throwing my first swimbait last Sunday was that if you don't reel painfully slow, they swim sideways.  

Anyone consistently catch fish with them? What are the finer points to fishing these cartoonish-looking baits?

:-?

[David P]

Sounds like you need some better swimbaits.

There are many guys on here that catch a LOT of fish and a lot of BIG fish on them.

[Branuss04]

Let me start off by saying i am NOT , nor anywhere close to, an expert of swimbaits.  I've been throwing them for a year, but have spent the last 6 months or so only throwing big baits.

From my experiences, they can be used year round, but I have had most of my success pre-spawn.  This is not to say they don't work during spawn, or post spawn, I'm sure they will still get you bites.  Everybody has told me that swimbaits will get you quality, not quantity, which has served true, considering ALL of my PB's have been caught on SB's.

When I first started throwing them i was using a 3:16 mighty minnow.  This is one that if fished to fast, will roll on you.  In my experience, the hardbaits I have used are able to swim faster then soft plastic.  Triple trout, spro BBZ, 3:16 wake jr can all be swam at a decent speed.

To answer your questions, I don't catch them consistantely, but usually when I throw them, I am fishing for quality not quantity, so I already am aware that I may only get 1 bight all day long.

The key to fishing them is PRACTICE and PATIENCE!!!  Just when you think you are getting to know how to fish swimbaits, you have only begun to scratch the surface.  My last 4 trips i've thrown nothing but big baits, and found that there is MUCH MUCH MORE than just throwing out and reeling in.  The bait can do so much more when you actually now how to fish it right!!!

Oh yea, and be careful, swimbaits are ADDICTING and can cause you SERIOUS debt.  Good luck.  

[dumb_dog11]

My last 4 trips i've thrown nothing but big baits, and found that there is MUCH MUCH MORE than just throwing out and reeling in. The bait can do so much more when you actually now how to fish it right!!!

so how do you fish it right?

[Branuss04]

My last 4 trips i've thrown nothing but big baits, and found that there is MUCH MUCH MORE than just throwing out and reeling in. The bait can do so much more when you actually now how to fish it right!!!

so how do you fish it right?

What are you throwing?

[Raul]

"Swimbaits" describes a family of large sized baits and many of them the only thing they have in common with each other is the group name, therefore when asking something about swimbaits you 've gotta be specific with the type of swimbait otherwise we got no idea what you are talking about.

[Bass n Bows]

Not meaning to hijack your thread, but would it be stupid to even consider throwing 6"+ swimbaits for lmb here in Northern Illinois?

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Not meaning to hijack your thread, but would it be stupid to even consider throwing 6"+ swimbaits for lmb here in Northern Illinois?

The guys on here who throw them all the time would tell you its dumb to NOT throw them.

Your bass easily have the capability of eating 6" and larger baitfish, so yes, they will work.

This is funny b/c two months ago, I thought the same exact way. After having it explained to me by those who know what they are talking about, it definitely makes more sense now.

Like Branuss said, be prepared to go without sometimes....

[dumb_dog11]

My last 4 trips i've thrown nothing but big baits, and found that there is MUCH MUCH MORE than just throwing out and reeling in. The bait can do so much more when you actually now how to fish it right!!!

so how do you fish it right?

What are you throwing?

i have a couple mattshads, huddleshads, R2S bottom walkers and a megabait charlie

[Kodiak Zach]

Get some 3 inch Storm WildEye Swim Shads in the Shad color. They work awesome in Florida. I also agree that pre-spawn is a good time for them. I was slaying them in November with those Shad this year.

[CFFF 1.5]

I haven't had the chance to fish the swim baits I have but I am going to give them a real good fishing if I can get out this weekend. Hopefully I can pull out my pb, another DD.

[Kodiak Zach]

Here are a couple chunkers I landed on Storm Swim Shads in November out of the pond in my back yard and lake across the street:

[-HAWK-]

lol.. Thats a great shot, fishing in style. Im assuming you rushed to the lake right after work?

[Kodiak Zach]

lol.. Thats a great shot, fishing in style. Im assuming you rushed to the lake right after work?

You got it man. Got home from work and the wifey has being a B_*_* so I grabbed the dog and my pole and walked across the street to catch the bite as the sun went down. Didn't have that swim shad in the water longer than 20 secs before that ol' girl came up.

[Branuss04]

Not meaning to hijack your thread, but would it be stupid to even consider throwing 6"+ swimbaits for lmb here in Northern Illinois?

I have had a couple 3# fish try to inhale an 8" bait.

[Danceswithbass]

The west coast guys have the swimbait thing down to a science. But out here in the fly over states,we use them too. Not to target huge bass in deep clear water the way they do out west, but to target pre spawn bass that are feeding on shad.

My PB smallmouth  4lb came on a Storm 4" swimbait. I like to buy the shad colored baits and change their color to suit the lake, I use dipping dye and a Q tip to color it the way I want it. I made some sexy shad color baits last weekend.

If your bait is rolling over on its side you should slow down your retrieve or use a 5.3 or less reel.

[LifeintheBASSlane]

i never use a swimbait but reading this i might just try it so.......  what would you guys suggest for a newb like me???? a pre rigged like a northland mimic minnow till i get use to it or a good ol Luck ''E'' Strike Bass Magic Swimbait?