Im curious how many people fish the swim bait.  How you choose which type and size.  I fish mostley in NC atm but would love any tips on the swim bait.  How do you rig the swim bait to be the most useful to you.  Thanks in advance.

SteveL

Some points about fishing a swimbait:

When I retrieve(slowly) one of my Matt's Baby Bass swimbaits, I point the rod straight at the bait with everything(rod, line, and bait) inline. The instant I feel a bite, I start REELING and sweeping(to the side or upward) the rod as fast as I can. You want NO SLACK in the line. You DON'T feel the bite, lower the rod, reel down, and then try to set the hook. If you allow any slack in the line, you will fail to get a good hookset.

After it's hooked, don't let any slack appear in the line---REEL FAST. Be ready to stab your rod into the water if the line starts rising and keep on reeling---no slack--none!

Dan

I am by no means a swimbait expert, but I have had some success this year in IN.  I am using small (4" or less) in minnow and bluegill patterns.  I have most success allowing them to sink to the level I feel the fish are holding and swim it just fast enough to make the tail kick.

Lightninrod makes an excellent point.  Slack is your enemy.

I got an explosive hit last summer, swept the rod and the drag just sang.   >

In the span of the second or so it took me to tighten the drag, the fish was gone.

I feel your pain Burly.  >

It 's worse when a fish strikes your bait and you only retrieve half the bait.  :-/ Been there, done that ... 3 times.  >

Here in Ca. swimbaits catch hogs!!!!!!  Ask Steve Kennedy!!!!!!!!!   Tough at first but the reward is HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ya i just saw that bassmasters myself.  I have heard of some people using them here in NC ... im just curious if it is worth my time to try it out.  I guess i can't go wrong if i give it a shot .. thanks for the tips on how to use them...

How do i rig them up ... i dont wanna have a hook come off like good ol steve kennedy did... :-(

LOL! Yea, Steve had to release 3 nice hogs due to the new law. I saw the bait, and it looked hammered!!!!!!!!!

I (as well as a couple of friends) are fishing them here in VA.  At first I was just using trout patterns in lakes that get regular stockings.  Gotten bit a few times, but no hookups yet.  One of my friends slayed them on a Castaic Platinum last summer and fall.

I've been experimenting with shad patterns in a couple of other lakes and have gotten bit on them as well.

IMO they'll work anywhere.

I'm going to be trying the GYCB Saltwater 3.5 inch swimbait on Sam Rayburn next friday.

That means you are back home from the dessert.... Awesome, glad you made it home safely!! And thanks again for your service.

(sorry for the hijack)

God Bless ya Aint Texas ...

Thanks for the answers guys.  Im guessing a jig head is the best way to rig the smaller guys like the http://www.***.com/descpageSWMBSSTRXTUBBSSTRX-BTPTT.html  if there is a better way plz let me know ... thanks again to you all