SOO still think a swimbait cant win a T?

[Mattlures]

I few months back I was in a heated debate over weather swimbaits could win a Major tournament. Some guys said they were an all or nothing bait and werent consistant. WELLLLLL the last 2 elite tournament were both WON using swimbaits. Not only were the winners using them but prety much everybody who made the final cut were also using them. They werent throwing those cheap walmart baits either. Nope the majority were using high end west coast style baits.

I wonder were the doubters are now?  MR FLY? ;D

This post is light hearted dont get all hurt

[Captain Cali]

I wonder were the doubters are now?

They are all out shopping for swimbaits!  

Most of us on this side of the country knew it was just a matter of time.  8-)

[tipptruck1]

I use them all the time. The muskies really love them. But Iam not throwing 30 doller plus swim baits. Iam throwing 10 doller swim baits.

[fourbizz]

What!?!?! Swimbaits win an Elite tournament?!?!? TWO IN A ROW!?!?! 122lbs in 4 days?!?!? Thats just...crazy! Living in california sucks :

[Guest avid]

What baits?

Let us all in on the secret.

[KenDammit28]

the thing you have to keep in mind is that when most people think of swimbaits, they think of giant lures, 10" and such and they don't really know about the 5, 6, 7" baits that are out there.

[Mattlures]

Steve Kennedy was throwing a full sized Huddleston trout in hitch color. That bait is 8 inches long and its a big bait. I am not sure who was throwing what but most of those guys had lots of diferent baits so I am not sure about specific baits. Some had mt stuff, some had swimbabes and others had 3:16 and Hudds

[SteveFinMD]

tipptruck1,

Which baits are you using for muskies?  I have been wanting to throw some in my local lake that is stocked with Tigers.

Thanks

[Catt]

I have one question y'all ever throw swim baits at night?  

[flyphisher #]

Leave it to an Alabama Transplant from GA to go to Cali and whoop up on everybody....Steve grew up  about 45 minutes from me. Funny how he got his start in muddy water. Glad to see you getting the free press, Matt.

I read Kennedy spent $3000 on swimbaits since he has been out there. I dont know if the baits will be as big in the rest of the season though....Definately a clear water thing.

[Mattlures]

Catt I love throwing them at night. I usualy start with a waking bait like an osprey type bait or a wood bait like an MSslammer. The rubber baits also work well but at night I generaly start with bigger baits on the top of the water and go smaller and deeper until I find them. Surface swimbaits are also a nice change up or follow up to buzz bait at night

[Catt]

fourbizzle 122lbs in 4 days aint that great, 25 lbs a day is average in Toledo Bend tournaments.

mattlures thank you sir, the little wheels in my head are buzzing the more I think about swim baits.

I simply love night fishing  

[fourbizz]

Yeah but 25 lbs is average for almost EVERY lake out here.

When the locals fished it a couple weeks ago, the winner had 37lbs on day one and 44lbs on day two...Toledo where?!?! ;D

[john087]

You guys would hate fishing up here friggin 8-10 pounds normally wins all our tournaments, an outstanding weight during the spawn would be 15. Lucky badgers!

[Catt]

You're talking lakes stocked with nothing but Florida bass while I'm talking a lake that has more none Florida bass than Florida bass. Toledo Bend & Rayburn you'll need 25 lbs plus just to be in the money and besides you're talking pond fishing when compared to lake this size.

[Captain Cali]

LOL...yeah, Clear Lake is a puddle.  :

I know!! It's because of all the trout that get stocked into Clear Lake. That must be why they get so big!  

[fourbizz]

Actually no, I am not. Clear Lake and the California Delta have much stronger northern genes than Florida. Clear lake is becoming rapidly more northern strain.

Clear lake is over 43,000 acres, hardly a puddle. There are no trout stocking programs implemented there either.

The California Delta has over 1000 miles of navigable waterways and god knows how many miles of shoreline. No trout.

Oh and the fact that almost every Elite pro that spoke on stage asked the locals to " Take care of this fishery, it is THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY" But who are they to say such outlandish things? :

Peeing constest: FB 2  Catt 0

Just playing with you dude! No hard feelings. I know how all y'all Texas folk are wit yer Lun Star pride!

[Catt]

Peeing contest: FB 2  Catt 0

That's how you see it  

Either way I'm got some serious plans for swim baits this year

Ps: I'm going to shot my internet provider

[Ribbit_Ribbit]

They work on Florida strain bass in Florida too. hehe  

~jp

[Matt Fly]

What do you want, a Brownie medal.      Compare how much money they have won to conventional baits.     No comparison.    And most guys used multiple patterns, not 100% of those fish were all swimbaits.    

Matt

[Mattlures]

No brownie metal just admit you were wrong without making excusses. Are you big enough

Mr Fly what you dont realize is that swimbaits have already won tons of money and tournaments. A lot of guys dont like telling what they won with.  A large percentage of them out west are won with them and some of the big name pros are just learning when and were to use them. THEY ARE A TOURNAMENT BAIT!!!!

When I do go to shows I meet a lot of the big name pros and every one of them has and uses swimbaits but almost none are sponsered by the real swimbait companies, thats why they dont get mentioned as much as they should.

Its OK I have been wrong before to  

[earthworm77]

fourbizzle 122lbs in 4 days aint that great, 25 lbs a day is average in Toledo Bend tournaments.  

A 30+lb average is much more significant than a 25+lb average which is common on even some of the NY lakes I grew up fishing. 25lbs is great but an extra 5+lbs a day is significant.

[Catt]

Earthworm77

25 lb is the minimum average; I've lost tournaments with that average

My personal best is slightly over 38 lbs; I think the lake record is over 45 lbs which aint bad.

[earthworm77]

I understand but if the sun and moon align, these California guys have the potential to bring in a 90lb bag for 5 fish. Reality and experince tells me that this is an extreme not a norm. I took a 32lb bag in NY when I lived there but that was not the norm. A 20 to 25lb bag is respectable where ever you fish. I fish places that have produced fish over 18lbs but that doesn't mean I can fill my livewell with them. Potential and reality are two different things in fishing.

[5bass]

I saw the footage of the Clear Lake Elite today also. I am impressed with the quality AND quantity of the fish out there and also the swimbait bite that was obviously HOT!

That "inside the mouth" rule is BS.....especially with a swimbait. I can see it while fishing a bed......and man it was killing me to see Kennedy release that 9 or whatever it was, it was a HAWG!!!