Fishing swimbaits for bass is a unique experience and one that requires a bit of expertise and finesse. These are big fishing lures, and they’re known for bringing in trophy bass, but you do have a good chance of catching smaller bass as well.
How do you rig a swimbait for bass?
When should you throw a hard swimbait?
The prime time to throw a swimbait in the shallows is after a shad spawn. Spinnerbaits are typically great lures for throwing during this time, but swimbaits will outperform blade baits in clear-water situations or on waters experiencing heavy fishing pressure.
How do you fish a swimbait lure? – Related Questions
What is the best color swimbait for bass?
In murkier water, it’s best to go with darker swimbait colors like blue, june bug, or black, or brighter hues like bubblegum or chartreuse. If you’re into smallmouth or spotted bass, they usually can’t resist a brighter colored lure like the RS Chunky Shad in Electric Blue Chartreuse.
A swimbait rod should be stiff, not for the bass, but for the baits, which can weigh 4 ounces, or more. Many fishermen prefer longer rods as well, both for the extra casting distance and added hook-setting power. The sweet spot for a swimbait rod is an 8-foot rod rated for 1- to 4-ounce lures.
What time of year is best for swimbaits?
Some anglers prefer using swimbaits during the colder months when fish swim in shallow waters, on windy days or during the summer when they’re fishing closer to the bottom. You may find that swimbaits work well on their own. Other bass fishers switch between plastic lures and live bait.
When should I use big swimbaits for bass?
They excel in cold water and do really well in current and warm water just the same. There’s really not a bad time to throw a swimbait. It can be a good way to go after one big bite when you need it in tournament bass fishing. We like to throw them on days that have some windy and partly cloudy skies.
Are swimbaits good in winter?
Winter has arrived and believe it or not, it is one of the best times of the year to catch big bass on big swimbaits. Well-known California swimbait guide Matt Allen, takes full advantage of the winter swimbait bite. Allen believes during this time bass are in survival mode.
What action is best for swimbaits?
Small Bait Rod
This designation is for swimbait rods, meaning that even though it is medium-heavy, it is still much more potent than a medium-heavy worm/jig rod. Fast action is ideal for the soft baits, and a slightly more moderate action is desirable for the hard baits, but a compromise can be found.
Many anglers use braided line for its strength, but sometimes braided lines can spook fish in super-clear water where swimbaits work best. To remedy this, attach an 18- to 36-inch section of fluorocarbon leader to the end of the braided line.
Do you use weights with swimbaits?
Weights generally run from 1/16 to 1/4 ounce, and the 3/16 ounce seems to be the magical weight when casting a 3.6- to 5-inch swimbait. Another added benefit with the sled- or keel-style weighted offset hook is that baits can be slow rolled across the bottom.
What is the best gear ratio for swimbaits?
In nearly all cases I like to use a 5:1 gear ratio reel for swimbaits. This slow retrieve reel enables me to have a slow, subtle and realistic movement with these lifelike lures. Some would say ‘well just get a faster 7:1 gear ratio reel and wind it slower’.
Do swimbaits catch big bass?
Some of the coolest experiences in bass fishing can be had with big swimbaits because they will expose a lot of big bass you might not otherwise see.
How deep can you fish a swimbait?
On some bodies of water, it might be 10 or 12 feet. And others, like those around Mullin’s east Tennessee home, might be 40 or more feet. Regardless of the actual depth, the tactics are the same. Focus less on that number and more on selecting, rigging, and retrieving your swimbait.
Whats the difference between a crankbait and a swimbait?
A swimbait allows you to fish a small bait deep while also keeping a lower profile. With crankbaits, you traditionally make a long cast and crank it back to the maximum depth to hopefully tick the bottom. With the swimbait, you can fish different water columns just by how much you let the bait sink.
While productive depths during the early summer are dependent on the lake, I like 6 to 12 feet of water. During the height of summer, bass may move as deep as 15 or 20 feet, especially in clear water. Fishing crankbaits along weed edges is a proven summertime tactic for big largemouths.
What’s the difference between swimbait and Jerkbait?
Most commonly, a swimbait has a natural swimming motion that’s achieved by either a soft body (most commonly) or joint(s) in the lure. Jerkbaits, on the other hand, are one, solid, slender-bodied lure that gains it’s fish-like appearance through the way the angler works the lure.
Does jerkbait color matter?
Fishing with a suspending jerkbait is one of the times that color is of the utmost importance, because you are letting the fish stare at your lure without moving. This Prescription of the Week will help you with choosing the right jerkbait color to “match the hatch” and hopefully catch more fish this spring.
Is a Rapala a jerkbait?
Rapala has perfected the natural minnow action in this new jerkbait that triggers fish in three ways: on the kick, on a slow fading fall and on the snap back to life. Most jerk baits continue on a forward plane with each jerk.