I'm transitioning from panfishing into bass fishing. So far I've only been using live nightcrawlers and dillies, but I just bought a pack of STORM Wildeye Live Sunfish swimbaits. They're 2'' and 1/4 oz. Here are my questions:

1) I've read that you may need a heavier action rod to fish swimbaits. Does this only apply to the bigger swimbaits? Will I be fine as long as I don't buy lures too light or heavy for my rods?

2) I've also read that soft plastic baits may dry out or don't always mix well with other lures. Is there a certain way I should store my swimbaits?

3) What kind of rod/reel do you personally use to fish swimbaits? What swimbaits do you use and what are their sizes? How well do they work for you?

Sorry if these are stupid questions, I've only been fishing for a couple of months.

First off, no such thing as stupid questions. The term "swimbaits" is a vast category of baits. There are swimbaits as little as 2" (like yours) and some approaching a foot or more in length and weighing over 5 ounces. There are hard swimbaits and there soft swimbaits. The rod/reel combo you choose should be based on the weight of the bait you are trying to toss. There is no one perfect swimbait combo to cover the entire spectrum of these baits.

The 2" version you are throwing is pretty small. That can be tossed with just about anything you'd normally use on panfish & bass. It's only when you start getting into those baits weighing an ounce or more that you have to be selective and more cautious. If I were you, I'd start off with the soft bodied, paddle tailed swimbaits, like the Strike King Shadalicious, in the 4" - 5" length. Rig this bait on a large, weighted EWG hook, the kind with the screw lock attached to the eye. !/4 oz. weight is fine for these baits. Just toss them out, let 'em sink to where you want to be in the water column, then just reel them back slowly. Great baits!

Most soft plastic baits can be stored in a standard Plano type, clear plastic box. I would keep baits separated individually or by color pattern however. I'm sure more folks will chime in soon.

First off, no such thing as stupid questions. The term "swimbaits" is a vast category of baits. There are swimbaits as little as 2" (like yours) and some approaching a foot or more in length and weighing over 5 ounces. There are hard swimbaits and there soft swimbaits. The rod/reel combo you choose should be based on the weight of the bait you are trying to toss. There is no one perfect swimbait combo to cover the entire spectrum of these baits.

The 2" version you are throwing is pretty small. That can be tossed with just about anything you'd normally use on panfish & bass. It's only when you start getting into those baits weighing an ounce or more that you have to be selective and more cautious. If I were you, I'd start off with the soft bodied, paddle tailed swimbaits, like the Strike King Shadalicious, in the 4" - 5" length. Rig this bait on a large, weighted EWG hook, the kind with the screw lock attached to the eye. !/4 oz. weight is fine for these baits. Just toss them out, let 'em sink to where you want to be in the water column, then just reel them back slowly. Great baits!

Most soft plastic baits can be stored in a standard Plano type, clear plastic box. I would keep baits separated individually or by color pattern however. I'm sure more folks will chime in soon.

Thanks for your response. It seems I'm off to a good start, because the swimbaits I bought are soft with paddle tails. They're already rigged, though. I've seen the bass chasing sunfish, that's why I went with the Live Sunfish. I'll look into the Shadalicious, too.

I like the Storm swimbaits (or similar style), I stick with the lighter ones up to about 1/2 oz, don't care to use rods required to throw heavier lures. I have caught tons of bass, snook and tarpon on them, I find I'm most successful working the baits more on the slow side.

I have had great luck with these: Shadalicious, Hollow Belly, Keitech Swing Impact Fat and the GYCB Swimming Senko.

You don't need any special equipment.

I fish a MBR 842C/ Core 50MG/ #12 Yo-Zuri Hybrid