Does anyone here use an Huddleston swimbait's? Was thinking about getting the 6in. version to fish here in North Carolina just wanting some feedback on how you like them and how you rig them? Thank's guys!

Swimbaits don't work well at all. I dont know why anyone even throws those.

Swimbaits don't work well at all. I dont know why anyone even throws those.

 

 Speed is kidding of course, he is one of the best swimbait throwers on the eastern half of the country. Regarding the Hudd baits I prefer the regular 8" bait over the regular 6". If you choose to go that route you will need a big boy rod to throw it such as a Dobyn's 867 or Low Down Custom rod with a large reel such as a Shimano 301 Curado spooled with 20-25 lb line. Look up Butch Brown rigging if you are using the ROF 5 (sinks 5' over a 10 second span ). Some will use heavy mono or braid line instead of the wire material if you don't want to get crimps and all that right away. The ROF 12 ( sinks app 12' every 10 seconds ) is great for fishing faster or deeper, it does come with a jig hook. Some fish it as is but many cut the jig hook off and do their own version of the Butch Brown style rigging method to lower the odds of the fish throwing the bait.

 

 For the smaller size I prefer the 68 model which is the 6" Hudd profile with the tail from the 8" bait to move more water. Regarding rods you can probably start with a flipping stick if need be but a Dobyn's 795 will work well for baits in this size range. Both 68 models have the jig hook. 

 

 Other soft swimbaits that I like would include the Real Prey Alewife ( very durable ), 7" Rago BVD  , 6" River to Sea, Matt lures tournament series and 316 Rising Sons are also highly regarded. Don't be afraid to add nail weights to some of these if necessary to get the action you want.

The 6" weedless Hudd is a great bait that I love pulling through weeds. Haven't ever tried the 8" but I've heard it swims even better and it catches big fish. The little 4" weedless shad is an amazing little fish catcher too.

6" weedless or 68 special are good starters. 8" is a bit intimidating and as said needs more stout gear. I prefer ROF 12. Perch works great in northern lakes and Rainbow trout works anywhere.

For the smaller size I prefer the 68 model which is the 6" Hudd profile with the tail from the 8" bait to move more water

 

 

This is my Hudd of choice, here in NY.  I use a custom rod built off the same blank as the Saint Croix LTBC79HF "Swimbait" rod, with a Calcutta and 20# CXX.

Thank's for all the info guy's. The only rod I have now that I even think would handle the huddleston 6in. is a 7'6 H Carbonlite with a Daiwa Millionare S Reel. I bought it for a first swimbait setup would that be decent to start off with?

I throw the 68's as well.  They weigh a bit over the 2 oz rating on the carbonlite, but I will tell you that it will work.  Start with that since you already have it and see how deep you want to get into the swimbait addiction.  Oh, I mean these bait don't work. 

 

Jeff

From the other night ~ The "68" is good.

 

A-Jay

 

The 68 is awesome. It's big enough to be considered a big bait but small enough that it isn't overwhelming if you're just starting out. They are releasing them pretty regularly now too. I really like the new "blueback herring" color. I'm ready for the weedless 68's.

Yeah I like the size and look of that 68. What kinda setup do you throw it on? Line?

I use the  Shimano Calcutta 300D filled with 20lb big game mono mounted on an Okuma swimbait rod.

 

A-Jay

 

I use an Okuma Guide Select Heavy 7'11" and a Lews Speed Spool. I would not recommend using a reel like I am because it strips the gears and just blows the reel out fishing 8" huddlestons and basically anything 2oz and up. A Shimano Cardiff 300 and the Okuma rod is the best set up for your first swimbait set up. I also prefer the 8" over the 6" because you get a bigger tail thump and a much bigger profile even though its 2" bigger then the 6".. I'm getting a 68 soon and I think I will like it more then the 8". All of my 6" weedless Hudlestons tore straight out the harnesses. I'm glad Ken pulled them off the shelfs because the hook up ratio was not the good at all. He is revdoing the though so hopefully I can get my hands on them when he does.

Lob cast work well with these baits.

I throw the 68 on a heavy bass rod with 15# P-Line CXX to a med heavy Shimano Swimbait rod with 20# CXX.  The heavy bass rod with 15# line is really a little light but will work.

Low Down Custom 8' H and 8'6" H Production rods, also have a custom Loomis wrapped by a fella on here named Alpster.

 

Lexa, Curado and Cardiff all get used.

Well I'm gonna have to get a swimbait specific rod it sound's like. Maybe the Okuma Guide Big Bait's rod is what I'm looking at for a starter. Pair it with a Daiwa Mill. S to start off and learn with.

Well I'm gonna have to get a swimbait specific rod it sound's like. Maybe the Okuma Guide Big Bait's rod is what I'm looking at for a starter. Pair it with a Daiwa Mill. S to start off and learn with.

 

That combo will suit you just fine.

 

I started off with two different Okuma rods and they served me well. My regular fishing buddy now has my 7'6" H and it still performs flawlessly. It's less sensitive than the custom rods but it is a very serviceable swimbait stick.

What about the reel? I see on *** the Okuma Millionaire S reel. It's cheap but it has some good reviews.

I know a guy that throws BIG stuff with a Millionaire S. He likes it, speaks very highly of it and catches some really good fish.

 

I think the reel should do fine for you. The 7'6" H Okuma is what I would recommend.

That combo will suit you just fine.

 

I started off with two different Okuma rods and they served me well. My regular fishing buddy now has my 7'6" H and it still performs flawlessly. It's less sensitive than the custom rods but it is a very serviceable swimbait stick.

How sensitive of a rod would you need for this? I would imagine the feel would be noticeable of a fish that big on a moving bait. Im asking not sharing a sarcastic opinion. Do they take them subtly at times or is it hard to tell 5oz from 5lbs 5oz?

You'd be surprised how lightly a fish can pick up a soft swimbait dragging slowly across the bottom. A lot of guys have the misconception that every bite is this bone jarring car crash. Quite the opposite.

 

The other thing is being able to tell weeds from a soft bite, running into a log instead of a bite, being on mud or in rocks. Doesn't necessarily help with bite detection all the time but definitely lets you know if you are where you need to be.

 

Big baits, big soft baits particularly, are not any different than fishing a jig really. I want to be as connected to what that bait is doing as humanly possible. It instills confidence if I know what is going on when I can't see it.

Thank's for all the info man. I know who to turn to when it come's to swimbait's now! Haha

Big baits, big soft baits particularly, are not any different than fishing a jig really.

 

 

Quite possibly the key element to success with big baits.

You dont need a specific rod for the 6". Any heavy rod will work. A MH works fine for me too.