Swimbaits?

[prov1900]

Anyone into swimbaits yet? What it the best way to retrieve them? What sizes are you using? What is the best one? I have been doing a lot of reading on them and plan on throwing them into my arsenal, not only for largemouths, but everything else. Are they worth the investment? How do they hold up to the rigors of getting eaten by bass?

[SluggoMaster]

I've thrown a few here but with very little success. I think you have to worry about the toothy critters. Bass are not hard on the lures, the Pike are.

Most if not all swimbaits are not very weedless, which does not bode well for most lakes in Minnesota.

That's my 2 cents! Have fun!

[zepman]

I caught a ton of bass last fall using the Storm suspending swim bait slowly twitched and retrieved in and around cover. Very aggressive strikes and some fish exceeding 20" were caught using this presentation. Not a weedless lure at all but works great in areas where you're able to throw it.

[Central Bassman]

I would also like to learn more about these lures. You see alot of the guys from out west and a few from down south living and dieing buy these things.

[Sproguy]

As my name shows I'm a fan of SPRO and they have a new one out. Could end up being to big for bass in our area but I have vowed I'm going to try it! The guys out west talk all the time about all the 2 to 5 pound fish they catch on those giant 8 to 12 inch baits so I don't know?????

I have used the Storm ones in the past with little or no success. I have been in the boat with a buddy who used a brand from the west coast and he took those poor fish behind the woodshed for a serious butt kicking! Besides just the SPRO one I am going to get a few this winter and try them come summer. I think it could be pretty interesting in this area.

If guys are interested as far as I can tell the best place for different styles are out west. They also have a HSOforum exclusively for swimbaits. A giant forum just like this one and all the brand info. If ok I'll give out the details but I don't think I'm suppose to do that on here.

From my reading I've found that the six to eight inch sizes seem to be the favorite. You need to make sure that your rod of choice can handle the size of the baits since a lot of them are up to several ounces and some go all the way to a pound. Can you imagine casting a one pound bait all day? St. Croix has a monster swimbait rod so does Okuma. I bought an Okuma this winter to try out so I'll keep my fingers crossed that giant swimbaits work in MN and WI.

[Central Bassman]

Thanks for the Info.

Let me know how it go for you this summer.

[prov1900]

I plan on using a 7'6" heavy flipping stick, but I dont think I'll ever use the pound ones, wow, that would be a workout! The four inch ones seem about right and could see using those for walleyes as well. Swimbaits have got to be the hottest bait (at least advertised) right now. I know In-Fisherman had a lot of stuff on them last season, but I am always a year behind. Havent got into drop shotting yet either. That will be my next post. Thanks for the info.

[DeBo101]

I have been using swimbaits quite a bit the last few years. One thing I like about them is that they catch big fish of all species, many times fromt the same general areas.

I prefer to buy the bodies and the jig heads separately. All of the pre-rigged baits are just too heavy for this part of the world. Most of the best ones are marketed as saltwater baits. 5 inchers seem to be about the best overall but I have had success throwing 6 inch baits. If you rig those big plastics on 1/4 to 1/2 jigheads it really helps to keep them higer in the water column and out of the weeds.

My favorite way to retrieve is with a steady retrieve with ocassional pauses. Jigging them like smaller plastics just hasn't worked as well for me. They are excellent weedline baits.

I rig mine on a 7ft med heavy baitcaster with 14lb test. Most have exposed hooks so you don't need anything too heavy. I would also suggest 20-30lb flourocarbon leaders to minimize pike bite-offs. Fish seem to really engulf these baits.

[Goldenboy]

Sproguy, I too am interested in lobbing some of those bigger jointed swimbaits from out west. I received for x-mas and just finished reading Big Bass Zone by Bill Siemantel. It is a pretty interesting read and he brings up a unique one cast approach to each prime piece of fish structure with some very convincing arguments for the system he presents. After hearing all the musky anglers on Minnetonka claiming they regularly have bass attack some of the larger musky baits they lob, I need to give those large jointed baits a try.

In regards to the smaller soft plastic versions (Storm, etc...) I used them sparingly last summer and fall, but found that I personally fared better with a crank bait or fluke depending upon the cover.

[prov1900]

In the June 06 Bassmaster mag, they have a good article on swimbaits as well as some web sites to go to for ordering. Most of them are from the west coast and look great. Pricey, but seemingly worth it. I didnt care for the look on the Storm ones either. If anyone needs the websites, email me and I will get them to you.

[bass eater]

do a search for Mattlures, he makes some awesome sunfish and babybass swimbaits that work well for bass

[go4carl]

I have been taking the swim baits and putting them on small spinners with a round (colorado?) blade and have had good luck, mostly used in clear Alexandria area lakes...

[Central Bassman]

how big of jig head or weight do you use???

[go4carl]

I used the storm with the weights in them, the smaller size. They are bigger than the mimic minnows... Baby bass color works best.