Anyone using swimbaits?

[BLKBEARKLR]

I have been using the berkley hollow belly's now for a couple of years, seems to work good in certain situations.

This year I decided to buy some higher end swimbaits to try them out.

Any recommendations?


Thanks
Joe

[MtnMuley]

Live minnows.  Oh wait, wrong state!

[backyard bucks]

http://www.wafish.com/group/bassfishing

go to this site.. lots of info on bassfishing and area lakes.
lots of info to be had.

good luck fishing. 

[Holg3107]

I don't use a lot of swimbaits, I usually stick with soft jerk-baits like superfukes, and bass assassins. Locally i use a watermellon with red flake in it. Went out in the float tube last weekend and threw a few but the bass are still spread out and suspended in the seattle area from what i found. (need the water temp to get into the mid 50's) I will also break out an 8" slug-O on occasion when you really want to weed out the smaller fish, looks like a garder snake swimming accross the water.

[kenzmad]

Swim baits work very well for lings in 25-35 of water. lots of fun with a 24"+ ling on a trout rod. done this for the last couple of years in neah bay. have been spoole on more than one occasion though.

kenzmad

[alanger]

Actually quite often i use swimbaits and they hardly ever fail, kinda just depends where you use them, how you use them/ present them, all those of course.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Actually quite often i use swimbaits and they hardly ever fail, kinda just depends where you use them, how you use them/ present them, all those of course.

Well are you using the higher end ones? Or something like the hollow belly, money minnow?

I just bought three that were 132.00 and playing around some with those.

Seeing if anyone has had better look with the more realistic ones.

Joe

[cohoho]

Actually quite often i use swimbaits and they hardly ever fail, kinda just depends where you use them, how you use them/ present them, all those of course.

Well are you using the higher end ones? Or something like the hollow belly, money minnow?

I just bought three that were 132.00 and playing around some with those.

Seeing if anyone has had better look with the more realistic ones.
Joe

Holy crap $132.00 for three lures

[snocohunter]

You're saying you paid $132.00 for some bass lures?  I hate paying $4-$6 for jigs for steelhead.

[jackelope]

I have seen $200 swimbaits.
each......

[MtnMuley]

What are you be fishing for BLKBR?  IMO, if you're wanting to use swimbaits (for bass), $20-$30 swimbaits are "high end".  Those $40 and up aren't worth it.  Personally, I'd throw a fluke.  

[jackelope]

I know of tournament bass anglers that are fishing $200 swimbaits. mtnmuley, all due respect, your $20-30 bass  swimbaits are not the high end ones. 

[MtnMuley]

I understand that jackelope....just making the statement that IMO $20-$30 gets you higher end quality.

[jackelope]

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/JSJ_10_Wakebait/descpage-JSJWB.html

[BLKBEARKLR]

I have been playing with the 20.00 ones, just wanting to get some baits for beds, these are supposed to do a 180 degrees with the flick of the rod, so guessing when I get it on the bed can flick it and do a 180 on the bed and really piss them off

first one was 55.00
second one was 50.00
third one was 25.00

I have fished flukes quite a bit, just wanting to try something different.

Joe

[ribka]

Swim baits work great for pike and muskies. Have been using them for years. They do not last very long with sharp teeth though.

I stay with the cheaper 3-6 dollar versions and pick them up from Cabelas and Bass Pro when they go on sale.

[PolarBear]

Wow, I guess that I have been out of the bassin' thing for too long!  I remember when only 2 or 3 guys were making and using those things on lakes Casitas and Castaic in CA. for bass in the upper teens but that was 30 years ago.  I couldn't bring myself to chunk a $25+ lure.  My luck I would lose it on the first cast.  Are you using these in Western WA waters or on the dry side?

[BLKBEARKLR]

Wow, I guess that I have been out of the bassin' thing for too long!  I remember when only 2 or 3 guys were making and using those things on lakes Casitas and Castaic in CA. for bass in the upper teens but that was 30 years ago.  I couldn't bring myself to chunk a $25+ lure.  My luck I would lose it on the first cast.  Are you using these in Western WA waters or on the dry side?

Polar, I just went to 20 pound florocarbon, that is my worst fear casting it out and losing it. I am using them mostly on the west side, I don't get over to the east side that much only once or twice a year.

Joe

[MtnMuley]

BLKBR, hit those tacklewarehouse sales, and at times you can pick them up at half the cost.  Probably the wrong time of year for many sales though!  Personally, I'm a Lucky Craft fan.

[BLKBEARKLR]

BLKBR, hit those tacklewarehouse sales, and at times you can pick them up at half the cost.  Probably the wrong time of year for many sales though!  Personally, I'm a Lucky Craft fan.

Mtn, have quite a bit of luckycraft, mostly pointers and sammy's. Do they make swimbaits also?

I just bought the G.Loomis swimbait rod, nice rod. Now looking at the shimano curado 300 free spool.

Hopefully this will pay off some I have that big bass tournament on moses the beginning of May, so will see.

Thanks
Joe

[teal101]

Can't go wrong with those Mattlures hardgills!!

[Holg3107]

I am very curious to hear a report on how you do with these. Just make sure to double check all of your knots, don;t want to throw those away. I was fishing in a tourney down in New Mexico with a guy who i watched throw (3) $80 pop-r topwater lures at a 30lb pike and had all 3 break off. Not sure what he was thinking but i got a kick out of it.

I may try and fork out some cash and pick up a few for when they stock some of the local seattle lakes with 8-10" trout this spring. A high quality soft swimbait may be the trick. Good Luck and get ahold of me if you need a partner to do some pre-fishing this summer.

[ribka]

I always use palomar knot with swim baits and flourocarbon/mono/braid.

Never have lost a bait

[BLKBEARKLR]

I always use palomar knot with swim baits and flourocarbon/mono/braid.

Never have lost a bait

Palomar only way to go in my opinion also. That is all I use.

Holg3107 ---- Will gladly let you know how it turns out. Hopefully if all goes well, the boat is in the shop tomorrow getting a srping tune up, baby is getting better so Monday my behind should be at Lake Washington with a bent rod....

Joe

[MtnMuley]

Yes BLKBR, Lucky Craft makes swimbaits.  You'll love that Loomis swimbait rod.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Yes BLKBR, Lucky Craft makes swimbaits.  You'll love that Loomis swimbait rod.

I am sure I will,  that is number 17 GLoomis for the boat. I hope I don't get addicted to it like I did the drop shot rods, I now have 5 of them. I will do some research on their swim baits..

Thanks
Joe