I have read that swimbaits are more of a clear-water technique. I mainly fish the northern Chesapeake Bay, which is tidal and inherantly stained. I'm looking for some tips on tossing swimbaits like the Havoc Sick Fish in stained water. Is it a good idea? It's mainly shallow grass and docks.

What's your favorite way to rig a paddle tail swimbait for grass? Docks?

What's your favorite way to rig a paddle tail swimbait for grass? Docks?

 

Weighted swimbait hook with a centering pin.

 

 

I have read that swimbaits are more of a clear-water technique.

 

Nonsense.  They excel in low at visibility with all that tail thump.

I catch swimbait fish on the CA delta with only a foot or two of visibility. Personally I have had better luck with baits that are noisy or that move alot of water in low viz conditions. One of my go to baits is a trashfish. The sick fish is the same mold as the trashfish. Berkley partnered up with Little creeper to mass produce the bait. I have not tried the sick fish but it seemed to me that the bait was more ridged than the hand poured trashfish.

I just picked up 6 packs of Sick Fish today, hoping to try them out tomorrow. They seem pretty soft to me but I'm sure nothing like the Trash Fish. I hope they turn out to be pretty good little baits because for the price they'd be a great deal. 

If you're in grass, fish it like you would a trap. Let it fall into the grass and rip it out. The commotion of the bait hitting the grass and the thump of the tail will overcome any lack of visibility you have.

 

With no moon, water is black at night.