To understand the western bass fishermans passion for swim baits go to the web site for Huddleston Deluxe http;//www.huddlestondeluxe.com/ and look at the video clips for Butch Brown. Take note on how slow Butch is retrieving his swim bait, this is very important during the cold water period.
My first swim bait was a modified 3/4 oz Scrounger head jig, cut off the original hook at the bend, trimmed back the lead off the hook shank to add a 6/0 Daiichi long shank worm hook by super glueing after wrapping with 25 lb mono. Added a rainbow trout sluggo that was sent to me during the prototype period back in 1987. This lure swim with a Rapala minnow type tight wiggle and was (still is) deadly. The surgical rubber inverted lip keeps the hook out of trouble and this lure can go nearly through anything without snagging. I had one unbelievable day with this lure on lake Castaic back in 1992 with 18 bass over 10 lbs. Very few people even knew about swim baits back then, so the trout eating bass never had been exposed to a lure that swim like a trout and came up from deep water towards the surface, the presentation technique that sets swim baits apart from most other lures.
Today swim baits are very popular where big bass target big bait fish. However my original swim bait was only 6" long, not up to todays 8 to 12" lures. A swim bait should represent the bait fish the bass are targeting during the calendar period that you are using them. For example during the pre spawn and spawn, bass may be targeting bluegill of crappie where you fish, then use a 4 to 5" soft plastic swim bait that has a similar profile a coloring. Castaic Platinum series and Matt lures make a great pan fish line of swim baits for $15 to $25 or Storm for under $7. Megabait* lures ( *new name soon) makes a good swim bait called the LA Slider for under $8.
The key to these baits is to fish them slowly and reel faster where ever you feel a bump. The presentation should look like a lazy bait fish that is trying to escape to the surface. Cast out and let the swim bait sink down into deeper water and retrieve it back slowly. I like to work these baits slightly up hill along the sides of major points or structure elements during the cold water and pre spawn periods. During warmer water periods you can fish swim baits on or near the surface and at a faster pace. Surface or a few feet sub surface work at times during the cold water periods when cast over known structure that big bass are holding on.
Swim baits that weigh more than 1 1/2 ounce should be cast with a 7 1/2' heavy,fast action rod rated to handle lures up to the weight of the swim bait. Use 20 to 25 Lb premium mono, fluorocarbon hybrid line or 65 lb superbaraid with leader. Keep in mind that swim baits are made with a mouth full of soft plastic, so you need to let the bass grab the lure and turn with it before setting the hook, similar to a top water lure. Adding trap hooks is popular with the big swim baits, however remember that trap hooks are not legal for IGFA records.
Tom
* MegaBait will keep the name under it's new ownership. J & T tackle in Simi Valley Ca stocks the 5. 6 & 71/4 inch Sliders.
My first swim bait was a modified 3/4 oz Scrounger head jig, cut off the original hook at the bend, trimmed back the lead off the hook shank to add a 6/0 Daiichi long shank worm hook by super glueing after wrapping with 25 lb mono. Added a rainbow trout sluggo that was sent to me during the prototype period back in 1987. This lure swim with a Rapala minnow type tight wiggle and was (still is) deadly. The surgical rubber inverted lip keeps the hook out of trouble and this lure can go nearly through anything without snagging. I had one unbelievable day with this lure on lake Castaic back in 1992 with 18 bass over 10 lbs. Very few people even knew about swim baits back then, so the trout eating bass never had been exposed to a lure that swim like a trout and came up from deep water towards the surface, the presentation technique that sets swim baits apart from most other lures.
Today swim baits are very popular where big bass target big bait fish. However my original swim bait was only 6" long, not up to todays 8 to 12" lures. A swim bait should represent the bait fish the bass are targeting during the calendar period that you are using them. For example during the pre spawn and spawn, bass may be targeting bluegill of crappie where you fish, then use a 4 to 5" soft plastic swim bait that has a similar profile a coloring. Castaic Platinum series and Matt lures make a great pan fish line of swim baits for $15 to $25 or Storm for under $7. Megabait* lures ( *new name soon) makes a good swim bait called the LA Slider for under $8.
The key to these baits is to fish them slowly and reel faster where ever you feel a bump. The presentation should look like a lazy bait fish that is trying to escape to the surface. Cast out and let the swim bait sink down into deeper water and retrieve it back slowly. I like to work these baits slightly up hill along the sides of major points or structure elements during the cold water and pre spawn periods. During warmer water periods you can fish swim baits on or near the surface and at a faster pace. Surface or a few feet sub surface work at times during the cold water periods when cast over known structure that big bass are holding on.
Swim baits that weigh more than 1 1/2 ounce should be cast with a 7 1/2' heavy,fast action rod rated to handle lures up to the weight of the swim bait. Use 20 to 25 Lb premium mono, fluorocarbon hybrid line or 65 lb superbaraid with leader. Keep in mind that swim baits are made with a mouth full of soft plastic, so you need to let the bass grab the lure and turn with it before setting the hook, similar to a top water lure. Adding trap hooks is popular with the big swim baits, however remember that trap hooks are not legal for IGFA records.
Tom
* MegaBait will keep the name under it's new ownership. J & T tackle in Simi Valley Ca stocks the 5. 6 & 71/4 inch Sliders.
