8-13 on a swimbait today!!!

[paul.]

i said it in yesterday's post.  i was ready for a lunker.  well, thankfully it happened sooner rather than later.    i got this long, lean 8-13 on one of my new favorite baits today - the tru tungsten tru life bluegill.  this big girl is now my swimbait pb.  8-)

earlier this year, i made some difficult decisions which i was really honestly starting to regret.  but i have been determined to stick to my guns despite some "growing pains."  after catching a few good fish early, i decided i was going to do some things differently for the rest of the year.  i was going to learn swimbaits and catch some big fish on them, no matter what it took.  i was going to stop relying so heavily on live bait to produce lunkers.  i was going to start trying new spots and methods.  in short, i was going to quit trying to rely so heavily on the things that have worked for me in the past and actually try to become a better, more versatile fisherman.  finally, it seems i might be starting to see some dividends.

i was out at one of my favorite lakes this afternoon armed with my swimbait rod and the tt bluegill.  i resisted the urge to even bring another rod or other baits to prevent me from giving up on the swimbait.  this is what i have been doing a lot of lately to force myself to learn these baits.  after about 10 minutes of casting, i noticed a BIG  wake in the the shallows-a lunker on the prowl!!!  i focused a little more closely through my costas and actually saw the fish in the clear water - a hawg for sure.  i cast the bait in the direction she was headed.  no matter what you do on a cast, this bait makes a huge splash when it lands.  but contrary to popular belief, i have learned that unless it lands right on top of one, this does not seem to spook fish.  it actually seems to attract them.  this biggun came right over and was literally inches from the bait.  i had the bait in floating mode (no balls/weights inside) and gave it a twitch to "180" it.  she absolutely came unglued.  she flared out her gills and sucked it right in.  i set the hook and started cranking with the big 7 foot rod and never looked back until this fish was in my hands.  i learned this from matt (mattlures) and he is right on the money about how you need to fight a fish hooked on a big swimbait.    i will not attempt to explain why, because he does a better job of it than me.  i'll just say, "thank you matt!!!"  now this fish is nowhere close to what matt, chris, jay, randall, and some other guys are getting on swimbaits.  but after catching this one and one over 7 last month on swimbaits, maybe it's a start for me.  sure hope so.  i am going to continue on the journey towards becoming more proficient with these baits.  here's some pix.  hope y'all are catchin' some too.                  

[Grey Wolf]

Nice bass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[paul.]

man!  this sure is a big bait, ain't it?  maybe it's too big. :-/

[paul.]

now how big does it look? ;D

[bpm2000]

great representation of how "not big" that bait is!

[Big-O]

WTG Paul, persistence paid off for you and great fish!

Big O

[packman]

yea pretty big but it looks real as could be,but if it works id use it,maybe a size smaller

[CJ]

Man Paul, I'm proud for you! Awesome catch and story(felt like I was there)!!!

Way to go!

CJ

[mattm]

Awesome fish.  The pic really puts in perspective how "big" the bait is.

[Rob.Atl]

Nice job man im getting into swimbaits too there fun to use

[rondef]

Thats one nice looking hawg you got there.  

[BassinAssassin171]

good job paul! always crankin out those big bass

[Newman12Fan]

I will be honest, I have 2 swim baits but no confidence in them because they are soooooo big, but man, that picture clears up that issue!  They are not so big!   GREAT fish! and GREAT photos!  I will try again with them.

[fourbizz]

Very cool Paul! Congrats!

[Gary D.]

Awesome Fish!!!!!

Great Job!!!!

[fishinfiend]

Great fish!! Looks like you need to change your name back to hawgcaller

What kind of swimbait is that?

[paul.]

Looks like you need to change your name back to hawgcaller  

What kind of swimbait is that?

nah, i'm done with hawg caller.  i figure i've been here long enough that i can dispense with the formalities and just use my name.  to answer your question buddy, that is a tru-tungsten tru life bluegill swimbait.  otherwise known as "legal dynamite" for bigguns anywhere they are feeding on gills.

thanks to everyone for their kind words as always.  maybe with fall coming on i'll luck up and get another nice one or 2 before year's end.  good luck to all y'all too and remember, there's still room on the bandwagon.  give swimbaiting a try.    

[.dsaavedra.]

paul you make me want to fish some swimbaits!!!!

i will have to get out there with the swimbaits i made and see if i can get some big ones (my swimbait PB is almost 2lbs).

great fish, i really like the 3rd photo!  

[Castamasta]

nice bass paul! might need to take up some swimbaiting myself

[T-rig]

Awesome fish and great story Paul! 8-)

[Bassn Blvd]

Way to go bro! I knew it was just a matter of time before you hooked into a lunker with the swimbait. She's a real beauty and a superb narrative.

Are you sure you didn't entice her with a live gill first though?

[32251]

i. i set the hook and started cranking with the big 7 foot rod and never looked back until this fish was in my hands. i learned this from matt (mattlures) and he is right on the money about how you need to fight a fish hooked on a big swimbait. i will not attempt to explain why, because he does a better job of it than me.                  

That is a fine fish.

I don't know though about the methods of just setting the hook and then reeling away until the fish is at the boat. With the big rod and the heavy line to throw the big swim bait....sounds more like salt water fishing to me.

I enjoy giving the fish a bit of a chance with modest line/rod weights and the sport and skill of playing the fish, adjusting drag, back reeling etc. Sometimes you win, sometimes the fish wins. This swim bait style of setting the hook and dragging them in......I don't know.  

I watched the videos on the Huddleston website of the fellow catching those 15-19lb bass on the swim baits. Looked like he was fishing for Tuna or something.

Maybe I will try some of the smaller swims to see if I can use my regular set up and techniques with them.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I thought we were keeping that bait low key Paul??!!??  : ;D

Great fish, and I agree, Matt has been VERY helpful explaining the swimbait world.

[-HAWK-]

Beautiful fish Paul! Its tough making changes in your fishing style. Especially during the blistering months of summer.

[mdmaynard]

WOW, I think I'd probably pass out to catch a hawg that size....

Nice Job!!!!!!!!!!!!