Hello everyone Im not to big of a swimbait fisherman and haven't put to much time into it but I was just wondering what a good quality swimbait I should purchase if I want to start getting into swimbait fishing, the only thing Im worried about is having a pike or a muskie rip it off but Im willing to take that chance.  

Spro bbz1 jr. Only $20 so if your bait gets stolen by a snot rocket it's not a huge slap in the face.

I agree with the BBZ, I'd get a floater for sure if I was going to buy another one. Also suggest a River2sea S-Waver or ABT Banshee, both under $20 and you could probably get away with a light titanium leader without killing the action too bad. If you're wanting to fish rubber baits you're just going to have to suck it up and deal with the fact that the pike are going to wreck them when they eat one. Decoy Hydratails are a good little bait that doesn't break the bank and have proven pretty durable for me with bass, I still think a pike would probably tear them to pieces though. 

All good sugestions.  I'd add in the Shellcracker, too.  The S-Waver has caught me a lot of fish of late, I didn't have enough faith in it.  Another couple relatively inexpensive and decent baits are the Jackall Mikey, Swimming Ninja, and Giron.  The Giron is really a versatile bait, but takes some getting used to.

Other sub-$20 baits I like a lot are the Berkley Grass Pig, the Bass Pro Shops Nitro series of swimbaits, and the Koppers Herring- though you'll undoubtedly have to paint the thing in due time.  Along with the Pig, another tremendous soft swimbait for me is the Optimum Double Diamond.  Yet another soft solid is the Mattlures line which are indispensable for me under certain conditions.

I'm going to put a vote in for a 6" huddleston. I haven't been throwing swimbaits for too long but my hudd has already proved to be a fish catcher. I would probably suggest weedless, though. I feel that to fish them slow enough I get snagged too much on the non-weedless model.

 

Brian

If you're worried about a bite off why not use a heavy flouro leader or even a steel leader? Seems like you should be using one anyway if you're fishing where there are toothy critters.

I also would start with a 6" Slow sink BBZ and a S Waver.

All good suggestions but I'd say save up for a *** hardgill.

 

The initial cost seems high but the overall value of longevity and effectiveness irons that out for you. I've had one for about 5 years now. It's beat up and looks like hell but it still swims and catches fish like nobody's business.

Hard to beat the BBZ-1 Jr. 6" for a start up lure. Great action. Very productive. I like the fast sink, but they are hard to find. Plenty of slow sinks around though....not a bad compromise.

 

I catch 4 - 5 more fish on these to ever one on the 6" Hudd. JMO!

The size and weight of a swimbait determines the type of tackle needed to effectively cast, retrieve and land the bass you are targeting.

I will assume you are planning or already have a rod/ reel that can handle swimbaits that wight 2 to 3 oz.

The 7" to 9" hard swimbaits are a good choice where pike and musky are present because teeth tear up soft plastics swimmers.

Brands to consider; MIke Shaw MS Slammers original and DX, Triple Trout, Matt Lures and BBZ.

If big Smallmouths are the bass, then longer thinner profile like trout shapes in perch or hitch colors.

For Largemouth both the trout and bluegill shapes work in bluegill, perch or hitch ( alewife-herring-white fish) colors. I would use the 5" bluegill, 9" multiple jointed swimmers.

Tom

PS; use braid direct to the lure or a wire leader where pike or musky are a possibility.

Don't start, it gets addicting

Don't start, it gets addicting

nice collection! Is that a rago tool on the left with the open mouth?

It's a 30 acre dying trout.

Don't start, it gets addicting

Dude, that's exactly what I need to store mine! I am building one mañana.

Dude, that's exactly what I need to store mine! I am building one mañana.

x2

x2

x3 Tired of my Hudds getting bent tails.

They are easy enough to make. Threaded rod, two washers and two lock nuts for each rod you put in the box.

 

I zip tied snap swivels in mine onto the rod. Simple.