Let's talk about swim baits...

I'm ready to test the swim bait waters. What are your favorite swim baits? What line are you using to throw a 1.5oz bait? And what's the best way to fish them?

Throw several but my favorite is 3:16 Rising Sun. I use 20lb Big Game on all my "medium" weight swimbaits(1-2oz baits).

My favorite swim bait is a very small one that used to be made in Round Rock, Texas, named the Tom's Minner. It isn't mad anymore, but wow - does it ever catch fish. It's one of the original "do nuthin' baits, and I only fish it with finesse tackle and rigging. With a light or medium-light rod and light spinning real, it almost guarantees a bite. It's not a big bass bait, although I've caught bass up to 7+ on it. Unfortunately, it's no longer available. The company also made the Tom's Shad, which was the predecessor of the Mister Twister Sassy Shad - which was the predecessor of all of today's swim baits. The original Tom's Minner had a straight tail, so it didn't "wobble" like modern swim baits.....it was intended to be retrieved as a "do-nothing" bait like Charlie Brewer's Slider worms, but on a on a 1/8-oz round jig head. It's one of my 'go to' baits, and seldom fails to produce. It works best as a swim bait with a slow retrieve, but also produces on a dropshot rig.

Check out this VIDEO made by Matt Allen from Tactical Bassin...pretty good stuff and might help you out.

Can vouch for the 3:16 if you go with the higher dollar baits. Don't really have a preference when it comes to your 5 or 6 inch packaged bait.

Top shelf. 15-20 pound fluoro depending on cover.

You really should check out the Smash Tech swim baits. Made right here in NE Texas but a local Game Warden (Heath Taylor). I've got several of them and they are the real deal. For line, I would use 20-25# either fluorocarbon or Mono. Have heard arguments for both. I prefer the fluoro.

Smashtech Swimbaits

Heavier baits (over 4 ounces) mono 25#-30#, fluoro will sometimes break on a cast (due to less stretch to give and also small kinks in line) and you do not want to see a $100-400 bait slowly sink to the bottom of the lake.

Anything lighter I use 20-25 co-poly or fluorocarbon...

Osprey Tournament 6 & 7 inch swimbaits



I throw these quite often when I'm looking for a big bite. They're super soft, have a great action and are relatively cheap. I throw all of my swimbaits on either 17# or 20# Sunline flouro depending on cover or structure. On the swimbaits over 4 ounces, I throw 25# flouro and a stinger treble if necessary. I mostly throw swimbaits during Winter snd Summer but there are other times of the year when they can be deadly. Make sure you learn how to tie a San Diego Jam knot.