Snob???

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

So someone turned me on to the swimbait.  Like a drug dealer, I was given just a taste,....try it, you'll like it,....well, in my weakness, I gave in.

AND MAN AM I HOOKED!!!!!! lol

I have been consistently finding the larger fish in the lake and it's got me to a point (already) that I EXPECT to catch these fish on each trip,lol.  Snob?  Spoiled?  Enlightened?

I'm going with "enlightened".

You hear it all the time,...the recreational angler just wants to catch fish, the tournament guy just wants 5 keepers or better but the swimbaiter fishes all day for 1 bite,...many days, for zero bites.  

This is something that is accepted by swimbaiters.  It is something that is explained (warned of) to new anglers to the scene.  They say if you are not okay with getting skunked, don't bother, it's part of the game, it's part of the discipline.

So here I am in RI, throwing these for the first season and I can't put them down.  The difference is that the action is constant, not intermittent!!  AM I SPOILED?  I have been out 5 times with great success all 5 times,.....till this morning.

Yesterday I landed 16 fish.  14 were over 3 lbs.  This is RI, keep it relevant, that's a heck of a bag around here.  So back out this morning, should be even better, the weather has stabilized and theres a bit of wind that we didn't have yesterday.

6 blow ups, ZERO hook ups, 6 hrs of fishing in pure dark. (10p-4:30a)

So it's true,....it does happen,....do I still want to do this?  ABSOLUTELY!!  

After about 3 hrs of casting and creeping, I grabbed a spare rod and threw a jig.  2 fish in 20 minutes, solid 2 pounders,.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................and they don't cut it,lol

All I can think while I am throwing this now "dainty" set up is that I could be missing THE bite.  The one that counts.

Am I now a Big Fish SNOB?  I hope not, it's not a part of my M.O.

Like I said earlier, I am enlightened.  It's a much better suited word I think.  I would never knock someone elses version of fishing but if you've been putting off swimbaits like I had for the last 3 yrs, now is the time to break that chain!!

Get out there and give it a try, there is a new excitement in my fishing now and I am really enjoying it.

I'm still a rookie but we learn every day.  Last nights skunking still taught me a few things I hadn't known yesterday so it's still easy for me to consider that a successful trip.  A few things I have learned and can pass on are ....

1.  Start off learning with a wake-bait.  You can see it, hear it, and understand it, but the biggest reason to start with one of these is because they float.  Should you snap off as you learn to cast these new larger, heavier baits, you are not out $40.

2. Be patient.  Slow is slow but slower is better.

3.  It's all about the "pause"  MAJOR trigger

4.  You don't NEED the tail on an MS Slammer.  I lost mine on the 1st fish yesterday,...they still kept coming.

5.  To "quiet" the clack of the hardware (a nice trigger in my opinion) simply add a petroleum jelly based scent to the grooves

6.  You don't NEED to go buy a wide spool reel, I am using my stx and loving it.  I learned the hard way however, that a full spool of braid is a bad idea.  Back it with mono and add some braid on top.  Thsi is a tip for those who would rather hold a low profile reel that a larger, bulkier round body.  I'm certainly not saying the low Profile is a better way to do it, I'm just saying it can be done.  The rod however, DOES need to be a swimbait rod.  Long and stiff to throw these lures.

That's my experience with this swimbait scene so far.  Follow along as I learn and progress and hopefully one or two of you will think to yourself,...."If THIS character can do it........SO CAN I"  I have been getting great input from some of our classic big fish hunters here, Fourbizz, brokeju, leftcoast, etc, thanks for all the tips, you guys are aces.

NOW GO GET YOURS!!!!!

[MaxDal]

Bravo for new-found addiction !

How many rods dead by now ?

As for the swimbait stuff, I gotta say I'm not much into it ... a lot of my fishing buddies are though.

I'm still catching as many fish as them too, and most of time same sized.

Plus those big stuff are too heavy for me to throw  ;D My little badminton-player class body doesn't allow for such a violent sport as swimbait fishing  

How are you swimbait creations going ?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Bravo for new-found addiction !

How many rods dead by now ?

As for the swimbait stuff, I gotta say I'm not much into it ... a lot of my fishing buddies are though.

I'm still catching as many fish as them too, and most of time same sized.

Eric is catching far more fish than me,....and I'm waaaay ok with that.    (Mine want to eat his )

Plus those big stuff are too heavy for me to throw  ;D My little badminton-player class body doesn't allow for such a violent sport as swimbait fishing  

Dude,...you ever see my vids?  I'm 5'7", 130lbs wet.  The floating ones don't beat you up any where near as much as the submerged ones

How are you swimbait creations going ?

Been on the water all weekend, I'll have something done this week.

[skillet]

Haven't been bitten by that bug yet (maybe never :-/). Think I still like catching several smaller fish than going out for a trip and ending up with the dreaded "skunk" ! I realize it ups your chance for larger fish but so does a nice jig and pig or variation of ...

                                   As Ever,

                                    skillet

BTW glad you're having such good luck and fun with them. Enjoy your addiction!!!

[MaxDal]

Dude,...you ever see my vids? I'm 5'7", 130lbs wet. The floating ones don't beat you up any where near as much as the submerged ones

Sure I've already seen all your vids ... and they rock !

Now I was just kidding, I happen to fish with big baits too .... only, not most of the time !

I know physical condition can't be an excuse, but that's the only one I could manage ;D

And I'll bet that flipping is way more stressfull for the muscles than swimbait fishing.

BTW, I don't think you're a snob ! It's just like a new type of satisfaction.

I, for one, hate the idea of getting skunked..... even for a big fish every now and then. I just love those little "pic pic" in the rod.  

[Paul Roberts]

3.  It's all about the "pause"  MAJOR trigger

[paul.]

amen brother russ!  testify!  i believe, i believe!

this is a great post.  i hopped on the bandwagon myself a few days ago.  now i could kick myself for being so stubborn and not using swimbaits the past few years.  i bought what i'm calling "THE BAIT" back about a week or so ago.  it hurt unbelievably bad to plunk down that kinda money for a bait.  and in the back of my mind, i felt like i was probably wasting my time and money.  but i was determined to give it a try.  i went all of june without catching a lunker and i was desperate to break the streak, even if it meant resorting to a "radical" technique like learning and throwing a bait that is totally new to me.  

truthfully, i did not go hardcore like russ and get big baits right off the bat (and i still haven't).  like it is to a lot of other anglers, it is important to me to catch some fish, even small ones, on a bait for me to have confidence in it and continue to throw it.  so i got a regular size swimbait, figuring at least i would catch a few regular size bass.   to say i have been amazed with the results is an understatement.  it only took a few days for me to break the lunker drought and get a big fish.  now i am convinced the "big baits" will produce and will have no problem purchasing them.      

russ covered so many key points above, there really isn't anything i can add in terms of what i have learned so far about using these baits except 2 things.  

1 - be prepared for a lot of "follows" without a bite.  this is frustrating but i honestly think even inactive fish are so intrigued by the action of these baits at times that they follow them just out of curiosity.  trust me, if a fish wants the bait, it'll let you know it real quick.  swimbait hits are really cool.  they don't strike the bait, they try to EAT IT.

2- resist the urge to overwork these baits.  most of us are used to trying to "do something" with our baits to make them look injured or wounded.  even though i'm sure this tactic will work with swimbaits, to me it doesn't seem to be the best one.  i had to learn to resist the urge to "overwork" the bait.  like russ said, just crank it in slowly, pause every once in a while, and let the bait work its magic.

again, great post russ.  thanks a bunch.  please let us swimbait novices know as you continue to learn so we can learn too.    

[Sam]

Hummmmm,

With a testimonital like that I have to now start throwing them.

Will let you know how I do with them.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

1 - be prepared for a lot of "follows" without a bite.  this is frustrating but i honestly think even inactive fish are so intrigued by the action of these baits at times that they follow them just out of curiosity.  trust me, if a fish wants the bait, it'll let you know it real quick.  swimbait hits are really cool.  they don't strike the bait, they try to EAT IT.

This is a fine example of how your thinking needs to "change",....to be OK with the negatives that come with this presentation.

Normally, 6 misses after a night like last night, would have me thinking along the lines that I need to modify or change something because I am close but not "dead on" with my presentation.  In the past, If I had been using a double bladed prop bait and gotten 6 misses, I would switch to something slower, a spook or a popper, something that stays in the zone longer.  

NOW,.....

I see it as even though there is no bite whatesoever, SOME fish STILL have to come investigate,...pure instinct.  I also think,....Those were probably smaller fish considering the bait.......

I think everything BUT the negative.  Changing up is not an option, with these baits, they either commit or they don't.  When the big one is ready to eat, this bait will surely be attractive, no need to change, just keep throwing and wait till SHE'S ready.  When she is,....your bait will be engulfed.  OWNED.

So call me an optimist but "near misses" are now not something I messed up on, it was a fine enough bait in a fine enough place but the fish wasn't ready to commit for whatever reason,....nothing I can do about that but keep chucking and wait for her sister, mother, or even better yet,....grandmother.

She's out there and I KNOW this is a bait she is willing to eat.  Knowing this allows me to throw endlessly,....hoping,.....waiting,.....creeping......

CRANKING!!  

GET THE NET!!!

[fishbear]

After that posting, thank my lucky stars I am broke, or the bait gorilla would be jumping up and down on my shoulders..

[fishbear]

guess it's not lbh anymore. how bout 'H.C.W'       High class .......

b

NOW THAT'S FUNNY, I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE!!!!!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

no,no,no,......y'all wait,......woodshop 101 is kicking in,....no $50 price tags for this guy,lol

(B-what's mine is yours dude,...that's a given )  (seriously, if you need something,....holla)

[fishbear]

no,no,no,......y'all wait,......woodshop 101 is kicking in,....no $50 price tags for this guy,lol

(B-what's mine is yours dude,...that's a given ) (seriously, if you need something,....holla)

Sounds like someone is trying to dig himself out of a hole here.......

;D ;D

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

No hole,....I am what I am,....Low Budget.

[5bass]

Excellent post Russ and filled with good info. I've been throwing the smaller soft swims a lot more lately but haven't done much at all with the bigger swims. Looks like I might have to get one or two just to see what happens.

I doubt I'll be able to throw it for too long without any action.....I am a tournament fisherman you know.  

[fretfishman]

kudos, LBH. swimbaits are a lot of fun and I'm glad you're diggin' it. may everyone have the success and joy you're having with them!

[32251]

You go through different phases if you enjoy fishing long enough.  Enjoy this phase.   There will be others.

[David P]

For all the guys that say "Swimbaits and big baits only work in California and big bass waters", Russ has simply proved everyone wrong.

I hope this can show guys in every state, and out of the USA, that swimbaits work, and catch quality fish regardless of where you are.

California may have HUGE trout fed bass, BUT all bass eat some type of fish, and there's nothing better to imitate a bait fish then a swimbait!

Congrats again bud, I'm glad you're having so much success.

[Jake P]

guess it's not lbh anymore. how bout 'H.C.W'       High class .......

b (I call all of his other tackle!!!) ;D

You would just get a box full of your baits back .

That post along with the few others you have made recently Russ are really making me consider picking up some swimbait gear and giving it a try.

[BassinAssassin171]

never had the gear or the guts to try it, but i think i will now with that recommendation!

[FR0G]

Like a drug dealer, I was given just a taste,....try it, you'll like it,....well, in my weakness, I gave in.

That is a great way to put it! It is exactly like that haha. I started out with a Ultimate Bluegill, and now have over 200 dollars worth of swimbaits.

[Catt]

Enlightened?

Our boy comes of age  

[roadwarrior]

Low Budget no more...

8-)

[Raul]

1 - be prepared for a lot of "follows" without a bite. this is frustrating but i honestly think even inactive fish are so intrigued by the action of these baits at times that they follow them just out of curiosity. trust me, if a fish wants the bait, it'll let you know it real quick. swimbait hits are really cool. they don't strike the bait, they try to EAT IT.

And there you are, you can see a couple of big mommas following the bait, you feel the adrenalin rush as you expect any of them to bite the bait, you keep reeling in, you begin to sweat, oh boy the suspenese is killing you and then suddenly ......... out of nowhere comes a bass the same size of your bait and strikes it with vengeance !  >  which of course causes the big mommas to loose interest in the bait and the teeny tiny bass not to get hooked cuz the bait is too large.  :-?

It takes a different kind of angler to stand that over and over again.  

[.dsaavedra.]

no,no,no,......y'all wait,......woodshop 101 is kicking in,....no $50 price tags for this guy,lol

(B-what's mine is yours dude,...that's a given ) (seriously, if you need something,....holla)

makin swimbaits is SO MUCH FUN!!! im on AIM all the time if you ever wanna talk swimbait makin