Getting Started With Swim-Baits!

 

 

Fishing big swim-baits has quickly become all the rage lately. There are many people out there who are looking to get started, but would like to know a few of the basic setups needed to effectively fish the big baits with. Also, there are a myriad of baits to choose from, so I decided to write this little article to help point some of the curious in the right direction.

 

I am by no means an expert when it comes to fishing swim-baits. I have only seriously been throwing them for a couple of years, but I have done a lot of research on them, and have witnessed firsthand many of the available choices in action. I hope to pass some of my findings on to you, so that you may make an educated decision when getting started. Let’s face the fact: Swim-baiting is an expensive tactic, and can become addicting. Once you get hooked on them, there are just so many “gotta have” baits out there that sometimes it is hard to force yourself to stop buying. I have amassed a rather large collection of baits and still find myself buying more. I have even resorted to the “collecting” stage now, buying hard to find baits, just for collection purposes. I suspect that many people are much like myself and take great pride in the assortment of baits that they have accumulated. Many of the handcrafted swim-baits are true works of art. Most are almost to pretty to fish with, but they were meant to catch big fish….and they consistently do it better than any other bait available.

 

One can easily spend $1500 or more just to get started, but of course not everyone wants to drop that kind of cabbage for starters.  In this article, I will break down the equipment that you will need and offer suggestions for baits to get you started. Since many people are on a budget, I will offer recommendations based on three different levels of entry.

 

 

(A)  I’m on a tight budget: Get me started with the basics.

(B)   I’ve got some money burning a hole in my pocket.

(C)   I’m going all out!

 

 

 

For today, I will discuss (A) I’m on a tight budget: Get me started with the basics.

 

(A): In this first series, I will discuss the basic and most affordable entry into the swim-bait world. Ok, for the first scenario: You can get started swim-baiting for a nominal investment. Of course you won’t have the top of the line, but you can easily get by with the following setup and catch fish.

 

Reel: There are only a few budget reels available that will get the job done. You will be fishing baits on 20-25 lb. line, so you are going to need a high capacity reel. Probably the most inexpensive reel out there that will handle the task is the Shimano Corvalus. Depending on how large a bait you intend on throwing will dictate which series of reel you need. If you plan on fishing sub 4 oz. baits, then a 300 series would be a logical choice. For anything larger, you will definitely want to opt for the 400 series, which will hold 165 yards of #20 monofilament line. The reel casts very well, and is typical Shimano quality. The Corvalus can be had for $69-$79. For the price, the Corvalus offers tremendous value for those on a minimal budget.

 

 

 

Rod: The 7’11” Okuma Big Bait Series rod is a great choice for a high quality stick. I own an Okuma BBS, and it is a first-class and well built rod. It is really hard to believe that you can actually but one for less than $100.  The Okuma offers Fuji reel seats, 10 Fuji Alconite Concept guides, and a lifetime warranty. The high number of guides really aid in casting the big baits. The BBS has a very long handle, which makes casting a breeze. For medium sized baits, opt for the MH action. If you plan on throwing larger baits such as the 8-9 inchers, definitely get the H or XH action. These rods are balanced well, and have just the right amount of tip action and backbone to get the job done.

 

Another option available is the Daiwa HeartLand Big Bait Special series. The 7’ 9” rods are originally intended for salmon and steelhead fishing, but work great with swim-baits. I also own one of the Daiwas in X-tra Heavy action, and it is a really nice rod for the money. The XH is rated for baits from 1-8 ounces. The best thing about the Daiwa rod is that you can purchase one for only $65.00.  

 

 

Hard-Baits: Ok, here is where the expense can really add up on you. I am going to list a couple of the more affordable basics to help you cover any situation that you many encounter. First off, you are going to need a wake-bait of some sort. There are two affordable options available, and both are excellent choices. The 9” MS Slammer is a really nice wake-bait. It doesn’t really look like much, but it definitely catches fish! Slammers are wooden jointed baits and are all hand carved and painted by Mike Shaw. There are many different colors to choose from, so you can easily find one that you like. The going price for a MS Slammer is around $40 for the 9 inch version. The smaller version is a little less.

 

The 5 inch Rago Rat is a must for any swim-bait box. The BFHP’s CaliKid will recommend this bait every time. I own a 5 incher, which is 8” in length with the tail. Now, this bait has some action! The Rago is actually a very light bait, at 1.6 oz. but it swims great and looks just like a small rodent swimming across the top of the water. The Rago Rat is also deadly surface bait for night fishing. It is a real bargain at $23.00.

 

Soft-baits: There really aren’t many choices in the soft-bait category for cheaper baits. The Castaic Original swim-bait has caught tons of fish over the years. The 8” version will run you around $11.00. The Platinum Slow Sink version is a step above the Original series, and will cost you $16.00 each. Osprey also makes a good swim-bait: The Inline Heavy model will run you around $16-$18. Optimums can be bought for around $10 each. The 8” Bass Harasser by Reaction Strike is a relative newcomer to the market, and is pretty similar to a Huddleston.  They are not quite Hudd quality, but they are good baits for the $20.00 cost. I would recommend getting the slow fall for the average person. If you fish deep lakes, then a medium fall would fit the bill. Avoid the fast sinker unless you are fishing really deep (20+ feet). Another pricey bait that is pretty much a “must have” is the Mattlures Bluegill. These are wonderful baits, and the quality and detail is first class. They are not too big, but they will catch everything from 2 pounders to 15+ pound bass. It’s going to cost you $20 to get one of these in your arsenal, but they are pretty much a necessity and will work well on any lake in the USA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Bare Bones” Recommendation:

 

Qty 1 = Shimano Corvalus reel ………………………$75.00

Qty 1 = Daiwa Heartland XH rod…………………….$65.00

Qty 1 = Jerry Rago Rat 5”………………………….…$23.00

Qty 1 = MS Slammer 9”………………………………$40.00

Qty 1 = Mattlures Bluegill……………….……………$20.00

Qty 1 = Reaction Strike Bass Harasser………………..$20.00

Qty 2 = Optimum Original 8”…………………………$20.00

Qty 2 = Castaic Original 8”……………………………$20.00

 

 

The grand total for all the above comes to about $283.00. With shipping costs, you will probably be just a bit over $300, which is actually pretty reasonable for starters. You will have most of the bases covered, and can then decide what you like the best and then expand your arsenal. Let’s face it; swim-baiting is not going to be for everyone. Many people are going to try it and hate it. Others are going to become addicted. If you are not really sure that you are going to have the patience and commitment needed for swim-bait fishing, this budget option is a great way of “testing the waters”, without investing an insane amount of money. If you decide to stick with it, you can always upgrade your equipment and start investing in the more costly options. All the above items are available via Tackle Warehouse. Their shipping prices are excellent, and they don’t charge extra for shipping rods.

 

Next time, I will discuss options for part (B):  I’ve got some money burning a hole in my pocket. This is the route that I first chose, and I’ll make recommendations for getting everything you generally need, including 2 rod/reels, to get you started…… practically first class for between $750 and $1000.

 

A special thanks goes out to California Kid and Triton Mike Bucca, regulars from the BFHP. These guys are definitely swim-bait connoisseurs and have greatly helped in my research on swim-bait gear. Many of the suggestions offered above are credited to both of them.

 

Stay tuned for Part (B)!   

 

 

 

 

 

David Stewart – DvdStewart BFHP