Hello everyone,  I'm just getting introduced to swim baits and need a little guidance.  I'm in the midwest, and would like to know if there is a time you should throw a hard swimbait like- king shad, BBZ-1 shad, or tru tungsten, over  a regular single hook soft swimbait like a shadalicious or lake fork live magic shad.

Soft baits are easier to deal with when you first start throwin em.

However, the conditions of the lake/lakes you fish might determin which type of swimbait you use. Most of the hardbaits have bottom treble hooks which can easily get snagged on thick weeds, wood ect..so a bait like a Huddelston weedless " might be the way to go, or a huddelston ROF 5, or you could use a slowsink BBZ for example, but keep it about the structure, or weeds.

If you fish open water, then the sky is the limit. Another thing to consider is the forge, if the lake has shad, then you have a couple options, if they stock trout, then a trout soft bait would be my choice.

I don't think there is a time to throw soft baits anymore than there is a time for hardbaits, the conditions, and fish will let you know what they prefer.

Just a note: if you get into some of the larger baits, i.e. 6" and bigger, you'll need more than a flipping rig to throw them. Grab a some and  try them out, and have fun..Swimbaits aren't a numbers game for the most part in the 6" and above range, smaller than that and you should have a good time..

let the fish tell you , there is a time and place for BOTH !! 

All depends on the conditions, here are my guide lines

Clear water- soft

Stained water-hard

Brush-soft

Docks- hard

Rocks- soft

Weeds- soft

Deep water- hard

Shallow water-hard

I'm sure other guys do it different but try those out and the adjust to what you feel most comfortable with in those situations

Capt.O