Who fishes swimbaits regularly and with consistent success? Specifically the 5" plus line- thru's and magdraft types..

Calling Mark Perry....Paging Mark Perry

I've started fishing more larger soft body style swimbaits... Magdraft, BoomBoom, and ordered one of Zal's MB copies to check it out as well. As for consistent success, jury's still out.. but still learning I suppose . Mostly fishing freestyle on lightly weighted pin hook due to fishing through grass/cover/etc, but sometime rig one on exposed hook swimbait head if fishing deeper.

I just make a few here and there. I'm no expert.

The more I research big swimbaits the more confused I get. Decided that I'm not going down that rabbit hole

I used to experiment with a lot of the big Swimbaits when they came out and just never had much luck. Then I got an actual tip from one of the Youtubers which really simplified my gear and approach and now it is a technique I use a lot and have had a lot more success the last couple of years. I now have one on all of the time with a 3.5 to 5" paddle tail bait that I sling around at all types of structure and depths and have a blast fishing them. Sometimes even if fishing is tough I have found fish really feeding on shad on rocks or retaining walls etc and you can load up on the fish in a short time if you hit them feeding.

Start of with a 5-6' version. If you like throwing then gradually move up in size. I wouldn't run out and buy a lot of bigger baits until you find out if you even enjoy throwing them.

Might search Tactical Bassin. They have a lot of content on their youtube channel.

https://www.tacticalbassin.com/swimbaits

I'm sure I'd enjoy throwing them. It's my wallet that won't. Some of them things are priced crazy and stupid me would buy them.

I was having no luck at all this spring but I think I was trying twitching to much. I had a backlash and when I was reeling up the slack I noticed my line was moving. My first fish was 5.5. I slowed way down and had much better luck. I don't catch a lot but when I do they are nice fish. I did catch a 10 inch spot on a 6" bait.

PB is on gantarel and definitely not a big swimbait. Caught quite a few on keitechs of all sizes, but mainly one color. Have done well with MS slammers too. All other softies, including burritos, 3:16', wcz's kind of dead even with no real standouts taking a clear top spot. The common theme with them all? Going slow.

Thanks for the feedback.

A glide i would recommend is by RiverCity Swimbaits. They make a few versions but this ShadGlide is my favorite.



Also checkout HillCountry Swimbaits. Couple builders out of San Antonio. I can attest that their glides are legit.

Softies I would recommend are from JawJack'n Baits. They have a 6in & 8in version. Action is sweet. Also Huddleston is a staple.



As far as gear goes the sky is the limit. Just like anything in life you can spend as much as you want. I own the entire line up from NorthFork Composites SWB series. 805 through 809. 8 foot rods MH through XXH. The 809 is no longer available but its overkill to be honest. You can throw a bowling ball with that thing. Reels you will be looking at 150 through 400 series. Gear ratio is up to how you fish.

Swimbaiting is an entire world in itself. You can quickly get addicted if not careful. There are guys out there that it is their religion. You might go a month without a bite but when you do get bit its most likely going to be a large fish. Its a trophy hunt tactic and not for everyone. It has its place but a lot of times that place is exclusive. The people most successful at it only throw large swimbaits and leave all other rods at home.

Check out crazybassfisher on youtube. Geoffrey is my favorite talking head on the topic. Super cool kid and an OG on Swimbait Underground. Wealth of knowledge.

I use the 8" MD a lot. Caught two DD's on it last spring. I recently bought a pack of the new Zaldain 7" unrigged baits. I rigged it with an 8/0 Owner Beast with 1/2 oz weight and shaved off about 1/8 oz. Have caught prolly a dozen fish on it this spring but nothing over 4# yet! Caught four 2 pounders on it last week.

I have two 7" Hinkle's and two 7" 3:16 Workhorse that I throw some too. You mostly get followers on the glides but they are good to show you what lives there.

I’ve done best on MS slammers and Mattlures hard hills. Those are what I find myself throwing most anyway. But I’ve been impressed with the Savage Gear Shine Glides. They won’t break the bank if you’re looking to get into the glide bait craze. I have a Hinkle and a Phoney Shad glider but I haven’t thrown them as much as I should (a bit scared to lose them).
You can’t get good deals in the Black Market on Swimbait Underground. So maybe check them out.