Mattlures Bluegill and other swimbaits, need help

[HillBilly Willie]

Do these baits work very good where the water isn't clear?  I live in Louisiana and all of the places around here have dark water with cypress trees and stuff like that so would this bait work good?  Another thing, I see bass swim by small bream all the time, I fail to see why they would bite my bait when they aren't even eating the real thing.  I know they eat bream some, but is it enough for me fish one?

I can see where they would work very well on bedded fish, just I'm not sure how to fish it, where to fish it, and when to fish it for non-bedded fish.   I'm totally ignorant as far as swimbaits go, so any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks!

[fourbizz]

The will work in dark water just fine. I have never understood the "swimbaits only work in clear water" mantra that people always spew. I hear what you are saying about the fish just passing the bluegills by. But that is probably in relatively open water. Bluegill are quick and I dont think bass will be burning a bunch of energy chasing bluegill down. They want to get the drop on them. Thats why I try to fish Matt's BG as close to cover and ambush points as possible. The majority of my success on that bait has had fish come out of very heavy cover to whack it as it buzzes by.

[Raul]

I can see where they would work very well on bedded fish, just I'm not sure how to fish it, where to fish it, and when to fish it for non-bedded fish.

That 's an easy one:

How.- Cast, let it sink at the desired depth and reel in slowly at steady pace all the way to the boat, or cast, let it sink at the desired depth reel in, two or three jerks of the rod, reel in, two or three jerks, reel in; or cast and as soon the bait hits the water reel in like mad to keep it on the surface as a wake bait.

Where.- where you would normally cast another bait like a crankbait, certainly y wouldn 't recommend throwing it in heavy cover.

When.- when you would normally fish another bait.

The difference would be that instead of fishing a crankbait you 'd be fishing a swimbait.

[Mattlures]

Bass live thier whole lives next to thier prey. They are not always eating. They can be side by side and the bass doesnt even seem to notice the real gills. Its just the way it is. Something happens and its eating time. The prey species are also awar of this and they are no longer just swimming around the bass. Ever watch the nature shows with the lions and all the herd animals. If the lions are just hanging around the antilopes keep feeding. Yes they keep an eye on the lions but they dont take off untill the lions get up and start sneaking around. Then they take off. Bass and gills are the same way. They are forced to live next to ech other and the gills know when its time to hide. If they make a mystake then they get eaten. Here is an experiment for you. Next time you see bass and gills hanging around put on a piece of real worm and catch one of the gills and see what happens. There is a good chance the bass will "turn on" and crush your gill or at least become very interested in it. As hard as I try I simply can not make a swimbait swim EXACTLY like a real fish. The bass can detect this and it triggers them to attack. Fourbiz described it perfectly. Swim the gill past ambush points, usualy heavy cover and you can get hit HARD. I also like using bottom swimbaits like a worm or jig and just slowly work the bait uphill and over points just dragging it or making small hops. Those bites usualy arent so crushing. I also agree with the clear water thing. I have never realy understood that logic. For clear water the realism can be extremly important. So why would a realistc bait not work in dirty water? If anything a realistic bait becomes even more realistic in dirty water because the fish cant see the bait completly perfect. But what it does see looks completly real.

[HillBilly Willie]

Thanks for the replys!

I'm gonna have to pick up a couple of them and give 'em a try. I guess the main thing is that I just need confidence in the bait..

[surfer]

I just started with the swim baits and here is my experience.

Matt Baits Ultimate Blue Gill = 7.25lbs in 100 casts in muddy water

AC Minnow 7" = 4lbs in 20 casts in clear water.

Both of these were slow bite days in normally productive water. I can't wait to go out and cast some more.