I between my partner and I we put 34lbs (20lbs and 14lbs respectively) of smallies in the boat (10 fish) this fall on 6" Lunker Punkers, 5" Keitechs and Saltwater Spooks...  IN driving wind and rains with lots of chop.  Check Matt Stevens (Southern Trout Eaters) youtube clip on swimbaiting Champlain.  A Smallie will hit obnoxiously large baits.

I between my partner and I we put 34lbs (20lbs and 14lbs respectively) of smallies in the boat (10 fish) this fall on 6" Lunker Punkers, 5" Keitechs and Saltwater Spooks...  IN driving wind and rains with lots of chop.  Check Matt Stevens (Southern Trout Eaters) youtube clip on swimbaiting Champlain.  A Smallie will hit obnoxiously large baits.

 

Matt Peters, website is Southernswimbait.com and STE on Facebook.

 

I never could get into a punker bite. Seen lots of guys catch a lot of fish but just can't seem to get into it. I walked the hell out of those things when I had 'em too. LOL

I just ordered 5 of the optimum line thru 5 inch swimbaits from Cabelas...at 3.88 per.

 

Hopefully, I will have some good success with them. Figured for that price, couldn't go wrong.

 

Anyone have any experience with lures?

Zoom super fluke (pearl white, watermelon red, baby bass, Arkansas shiner) rigged with a 5/0 twist lock hook. Throw it anywhere and reel slowing while twitching

Those storm shad always swim on their side for me...am I doing something wrong? Others never do.

 

Try the River to Sea Live Eye Bottom Walker, they are much more consistent and come in a variety of sizes. Just like the Storm they are very affordable. The only thing I don't like about them is that the eyes are prone to popping out which is why I put a couple of coats of 316 softbait glue over them B4 I take them fishing.

I had looked at the River2Sea a few times, and never "pulled the trigger". I will have to pick up a pack or two this spring and give them a shot. Thanks for the input.

I just ordered 5 of the optimum line thru 5 inch swimbaits from Cabelas...at 3.88 per.

Optimum makes good swimbaits. They are fish catchers. The line thru baits are great for fishing the upper, middle and lower middle of the water column. They will hang up if you try to fish them on the bottom.

For cover/vegetation I use Huddleston Weedless shads and Grass minnows.

I also started using a Live Target Blueback Herring in fast sinking for a hard bodied open water type swimbait. Have yet to catch anything on the Live Target, but I have barely used it yet. The Huddlestons produce well though.

For cover/vegetation I use Huddleston Weedless shads and Grass minnows.

I also started using a Live Target Blueback Herring in fast sinking for a hard bodied open water type swimbait. Have yet to catch anything on the Live Target, but I have barely used it yet. The Huddlestons produce well though.

 

I checked out the Huddleston weedless shads. How do they hold up for you?

 

I too have some "hard-bodied" swimbaits...a couple sebile magic swimmers and a strike king sexy swimmer, but have not had any real luck with either. I have had a couple hits one the strike king.

They hold up pretty good. I have even caught a few pickeral on them and they continued to work without gluing them. If you can avoid toothy critters, they hold up for a fairly good number of catches

Not actually a swimbait, but definitely swimbait related...

 

Get yourself some good glue. I prefer the 3:16 glue but have used Mend It as well.

 

Not a fan of Pro's Glue as it makes the bait crispy when dry. Also don't like the Huddlebond due to the container it comes in.

Speedbead, why do you like the 3:16 glue better than Mend-it???

I had the Mend It before it came in a glass jar and it evaporated on me. The newer mend it product comes in a jar now.

 

I like the fact that 3:16 glue comes in a glass jar, has an applicator brush and only costs 5 bucks.