When do you throw big, soft swimbaits?

What time of year and what kind of areas do you look for to throw It?

Big soft SB’s….like line-throughs or Huddelstons can be good the majority of the year. I personally like them the MOST fall through prespawn, and in the summer. The key I look for is when bass are relating to chunk rock, be it deep or shallow. I kind of think of soft SB’s in the same manner I do a c-rig. I’ve had the most success with them when the bass are a bit lethargic, and I can slowly bump it through that rock and present a large easy meal to them.

Awesome. Thanks

I was looking at the MB magdraft. Since It has a treble hook on the bottom would you fish It differently?

Not really….even the line through with the treble you can bump the bottom with. The other version of the magdraft you can use an owner beast on. Super good on hard structure.

All year round... thickest pads or pad stems during spring, summer and fall.. downsize during winter and fish the same places during warming periods or switch to power plant lakes. If there is hydrilla under the pads, even better. If no pads then along the edges of thickest cover I can find in preferable three or more feet of water. Stump fields with hydrilla, especially if there are lilly pads there too.


prime time... when pads are thick. Last year late summer/early fall I think. Picture below is of same area this past weekend, pads just coming up.


Caught 8, all but one on 6 inch swimbait, 5 of the 8 had tails that were red, all between 3 3/4 and almost 5.5. Couldn't see any beds just anchored up and fan casted, over and over, move and do the same. Slow retrieve, just feeling for bottom. All were subtle bites. Missed a bunch.

Oh... and I almost for forgot, I did catch a 12.5 on 6 inch swimbait 11 days ago on a different lake.

Nice! How you keep from hanging up in the pads?

Had it skin hooked on 8/0 owner flashy swimmer, it had come out and exposed hook in picture. That fish wasn't in pads.. shallow flat covered in hydrilla near deep creek channel.. definitely a community hole on Naconiche. That bait will come thru the pads fine unless you get into the black slime stuff.

Tell me more about these big, soft "swimsuits..." My current one's kind of itchy...

Hahaha just noticed that. Stupid iPhone thinks It knows better

Year round. They are a lot more versatile than you think. Shallow to deep, slow to fast,cold water, warm water, open water, in grass, pads and timber. You can creep them out deep or run them just under the surface too.

Missed three fish this morning on a 6.75" soft swimbait this morning, watched 'em eat it too! gah!

I do this hack to the 8" MD and use the 10/0 with 1/2 oz weight. It weighs 4 oz with this hook. I use 25 Gamma Flo.

You can fish it thru just about anything rigged like this and when they bit it they choke it. I throw it out and let it sink to the bottom. Reel it slow but keep it moving just fast enough to keep the tail wiggling. When they bite it give em a second just like you would a frog before you swing. You will need a meat stick to fish it like this. This is the rod I have settled on.

I average two bites per trip on this bait and it works on my shoulder pretty good casting it. I make 20-25 cats with it then pick up a Texas Rig and fish it a few mins to rest. Then go right back to it. Caught a 10.17 on it 3 weeks ago but I know if I keep throwing it I will get a giant eventually.

The rod I have that I use for flash mob jrs is what I will use for swim baits. I don’t know that I’ll throw one enough to justify its own Rod for now.

It’s the dobyns 795 SB.

You’re good 👍

What size do you use the most and how do you mostly use the line through or the ones with a large single hook weedless or on a flashy swimmer.

What is the point of getting a pre-rigged bait and cut it out to make it weedless with an Owner beast hook. Just get the one they make that is not pre-rigged and use the beast hook.

I primarily throw the Smashtech Convict as Heath recommends on the 10/0 Owner Beast. Totally weedless and will go through any cover (coontail, pads, etc) if you keep your rod pointed at the bait so the line is straight at it and make a steady retrieve (Thanks Billy Lawson for that tip!). Haven't ever bought anything except for light hitch or ayu in terms of color. Biggest I've caught on it is 10.5lbs. Was just slow retrieving it through a field of pads and she hit it like a runaway freight train. Pretty much the most fun catch I've ever had. However, have also caught a bunch of 3-4 lber's on it who were just as determined to pull my rod out of my hands. The convict just flat catches 'em for me all year round but especially post spawn and through the summer.

Smashtech Convict


I use a Dobys Fury 795SB with a Lews SuperDuty 6.4:1 with 40lbs green braid (I think Suffix 832 but honestly don't remember the brand). Got the Dobyns for $99 from Tacklewarehouse on sale. Also use it with all of my big glide baits (up to a Deps 250) and on the rare occasion I throw an a-rig. It is plenty of rod and IMHO the best value for a swimbait rod...why pay for a bunch of sensitivity you really don't need?

Dobyns Fury Swimbait Rod

I was thinking the same thing earlier so I looked and It looks like MB only has a 6” version that’s not pre-rigged. Regardless, I would not tear one up. I’ll probably get a few 6” ones to rig and a few of those convicts.

OK Ken, that’s just arrogant! “Caught a 10.17 on it 3 weeks ago but I know I will get a GIANT eventually”??? News flash! 10.17 is still a GIANT! 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️🤪

They don't offer the 8" model in a free style version. Only the six inch

Ok, I did not look that up. I just assumed with all the equipment they make that they made both versions in both sizes.

Haha! It was my attempt at sarcastic humor. Any LEGIT DD is a Giant.

I started fishing the mag draft lately. I would definitely give it a thumbs up. One thing I have noticed is that it will catch all sizes. Hard part for me is reeling it slow enough. You can really use it anytime of year but post spawn & shad spawn to me is where it can shine. I like this lure & to be honest I didn’t think I would at first.

Dang Iconn4! Stop already! Just about the time my broken heart starts to mend again over of the closing of the boat ramp/county park you post another picture and I have to start all over with the healing process! 💔😢