Swim Baits

I was wondering when you guys think the best time of year is to throw out a swim bait?? I bought a two packs of the storm holographic 6″ a while ago and i was able to catch a 5 pounder the first trip out in May, (beginners luck!!!) I figure that the best time to throw one is during the Dog Days but haven’t gotten the courage to dink w/ them…

BTW, who makes the “better” swim baits? And where can i find the swim baits that are shallow, mid, and deep diving?

Talk about a loaded question

I have no clue, I think I am missing the boat not using these things, but I have no idea what to do with them or where to use them.

I’m no expert on swim baits, but there is a pretty good article in the current Bassmaster magazine that lays out swim baits into shallow, medium, and deep options. I think it’s the July/August issue.

i purchased some of the storm swim baits, i think that they are the 5″ size, the thing that i dont like about them is that they have a really heavy weight in them, they sink way to fast, I wish they had some that length that were unweighted

Tom,
You can not go wrong with the Brovarney Baits. You can call and talk to Casy or Dan, and they can also answer ALL your Swimbait questions. I’ve got quite a few of them, and they have diff sizes that can handle your diff depths you asked about.
Here is a link to their web site, and they are also an IDA Site Advertizer.
good luck.
Jack.

Brovarnary Baits

Jack, I think he’s talking about Swim Baits like this.

I’ve got some of the Bettencourt Real Fish Bluegills that are pictured in the Bassmaster Mag. They’re a hard bait, not soft like most of the others. They come in a sinking and floating version. Depending on how you fish them, you can hit every water level.

They’re a bit pricey at almost $40 a piece, but they do catch fish. I caught by biggest ever LM on the sinking version…. 23″ and weighed in at 7lbs 6oz! They’re 5 1/2″ long, and about 1 1/2oz. They catch the smaller fish, also. A 12″ LM looks pretty funny hanging off one of those babies!

Nathan’s also got a Threadfin Shad and Rainbow Trout in the same series, that come in both sinking and floating.

Check them out at…. Bettencourt Baits

Storm makes a huge veriety of swimbaits and all you can really do is experiment and see what works for you. If you stop getting bites on a swim jig, pick up a swim bait…It dosent take long to get confident with one and certain days they will catch 5 times more fish than a swim jig.

I’ve been using Castaic Swim Baits for over 10 years. They work on everything. The 3 1/2″ Green Threadfin Shad is my favorite. I’ve caught monster walleye in the shallows and tons of bass on them now they have a new platnum series out. It appears you have you choice of baits based on the sink rate you want.

Jason

Jason, how do you work them? Just throw em out and reel em in, or more variety?

I’ve had great luck this year using Zoom Flukes and other similar baits. Not sure what category they fall into but they work great around weeds.

Thanks for the info guys I did read that article in Bassmaster and that’s why i asked about the different depth ranges

I think you’ll find this link to be extremely informative. not all of these are swimbaits, but it covers most of the major swim bait brands. Personally, I think matt lures are amazing. I just wish they made them in an additional, slightly smaller size, but they are so real looking, especially in water.

here

I have two methods of retrieving them. First simple throw it out and slowly crank it in. The don’t swim great when reeling them in fast. Which leads to my second method of along with a faster retieve I throw in quick jerks while cranking it and it causes it to dart back and forth. Kind of like working a jerkbait, but less pronounces jerks. That second methods seems to work the best.

Jason

ive heard some swim baits work more effectively if you cut it above the tail for a more life-like action.

what is “it”? What does the cut look like?