Hey guys, I'm trying to get into swimbait fishing and I realize I don't have any proper equipment to fish a swim-bait.  I'm really interested in fishing the Huddleston baits up to the 8 in.  I wonder what type of line reel and rod I should be looking at for larger swim baits.  Any responses will be greatly appreciated!  Cheers and tight lines!

I use a MH FA 6'6 Abu Garcia for smaller cranks and swims up to an once. I currently have 30lb braid, and I am getting a H FA 8" Abu Garcia that will take up to 4oz swims in a couple of months. I think I might run 50 plus on that one.

But keep in mind the reel you are using to.

i just got into swim baits last year and my setup is a Daiwa s casting rod 7'4 heavy with an abu garcia ambassadeur sx round casting reel with 60lb power pro so far i love it even though i don't throw swim baits that much, mostly the river 2 sea s-waver 168s if you have any questions i could try to help

 

good luck

tight lines, jim

Okuma guide select 7'11 heavy is an inexpensive swimbait rod to get you started or the Daiwa dx. You can use a round reel or low profile reel. Examples - Shimano cardiff 300 or Daiwa lexa 300 A strong Copoly line such as P line Cxx in #20 will be fine also. I was able to get everything new online by looking around.

Rod - $115

Reel - $95

Line - 13

St. Croix Mojobass Swimbait rod 1-4oz, handles a 4oz bait pretty well. Excellent rod, I would recommend a cardiff 300. Use 20lb mono, not heavy braid, if you backlash while slinging a 4oz bait with braid, your bait will go sailing away but with mono you have some give that may save your bait. Also, when ripping a hookset using a broom stick like the mojobass, braid just doesn't seem like a good choice IMO.

 

Get a couple s-waver 168s

I have a St Croix mojo bass swimbait rod with a Lew's super duty spooled with 20# izorline platinum. it launches a 8 inch Savage gear line through trout

 

      The okuma guide series is a rod with a lot of options for like 130 bucks

 

       tight lines

 

          Andrew

St. Croix Mojobass Swimbait rod 1-4oz, handles a 4oz bait pretty well. Excellent rod, I would recommend a cardiff 300. Use 20lb mono, not heavy braid, if you backlash while slinging a 4oz bait with braid, your bait will go sailing away but with mono you have some give that may save your bait. Also, when ripping a hookset using a broom stick like the mojobass, braid just doesn't seem like a good choice IMO.

 

Get a couple s-waver 168s

You beat me too it lol

+1 on the Guide Select and the Cardiff 300 great set-up to get going on big baits with. Also consider an Okuma Citrix 364 reel. A lot of guys like Big Game in #25 0r #30 because it has a lot of give and will save you some cast offs. Trust me it sucks to watch a brand new bait go sailing away because of too light of line.

Matt Allen has a ton of good videos on YouTube or tactical bassen. He discusses dobyns because that is what he fishes. He also covers reels line and proper way to cast large baits. Mostly a one stop shop.

Okuma Guide Select Heavy

Cardiff 300

20-25# mono

I have to second the Okuma Guide Select 7'11" Heavy. Great entry level rod for the money. If you are looking to spend a little more money Phenix, Loomis, Doybns and Low down customs all make great swimbait specific rods. Most 300 series reels or larger will handle the job. I am pretty much a shimanno guy. On my swimbait rods I have 2 Calcutta 400's, 2 currado 300's and one cardiff 300.   

Got into it just like you.....didn't want to spend a bunch of money so here is what I ended up doing.

 

BPS IM6-Graphite Musky Rod 7'6"MH  $59.99

 

Cardiff 300   $109.99

 

Line is your choice.  I choose to put 40lb braid and use 25lb CXX topshot (between 10-15ft).  So far that combo has caught plenty of bass, throws 8" hudds like a champ as well as lighter Line Thru's and I am out less then $200.  The rod can handle baits up to 8oz without any issues as well.  I can throw the 10oz Dead Twitch with it and don't have any problems.                                        

Just don't "down size" It kind of kills the purpose of "going big" ya know. Look at these little Spots choking down a 8" weedless hudd . Last 4 fish here plus the 7+ kicker were on the new Hudd rod with a 200 deep spool reel even (tatula) HD. One spot (not shown)m was only 2.12 lbs. So I know people say "we don't have fish like you here" but you do have them this small and they eat a 8" bait too LOL!  I got off the 400 reel thing. Largemouth don't take drag unless you let them. The 400 spools are over kill. These smaller reels on the 300 size are doing fine. Get a rod to match the fish not the bait. These were setting the hook in deep water with 25# Copolymer with a weedless.

 

^^^ THE DONFATHER KNOWS!

Just got me a setup 7'9" at croix mojo swimbait rod shimano cardiff 301a and some p line cxx. Tried it out yesterday with a hudd 68. Got some 8in hudds and can't wait to stick some good fish with it!

I have a Dobyn's Mike Long 806, Cardiff 400 and 25# Mono. 

 

it was tough deciding between the 300 and 400, chose the 400 since this rod will also be used to hunt stripers.

Got into it just like you.....didn't want to spend a bunch of money so here is what I ended up doing.

 

BPS IM6-Graphite Musky Rod 7'6"MH  $59.99

 

Cardiff 300   $109.99

 

Line is your choice.  I choose to put 40lb braid and use 25lb CXX topshot (between 10-15ft).  So far that combo has caught plenty of bass, throws 8" hudds like a champ as well as lighter Line Thru's and I am out less then $200.  The rod can handle baits up to 8oz without any issues as well.  I can throw the 10oz Dead Twitch with it and don't have any problems.                                        

Thank you! I think I'm going to look into this setup!

Thanks for all the responses guys! Very helpful!

Thank you! I think I'm going to look into this setup!

you have any questions just shoot me a PM and I'll help ya out the best I can.

I'll be another to get behind the Okuma rods. I use a Lews Superduty with 25# copoly.

The BPS Graphite Series Musky rods make a great $60 big bait rod and pairs well to a used BPS Nitro NT10 swimbait reel.  $60 for the rod and $60 for a good condition reel and you're at $120 for the combo. 

St. Croix Mojobass Swimbait rod 1-4oz, handles a 4oz bait pretty well. Excellent rod, I would recommend a cardiff 300. Use 20lb mono, not heavy braid, if you backlash while slinging a 4oz bait with braid, your bait will go sailing away but with mono you have some give that may save your bait. Also, when ripping a hookset using a broom stick like the mojobass, braid just doesn't seem like a good choice IMO.

 

Get a couple s-waver 168s

x2 its a 215$ combo but its cheap and will do the trick and will last but you can find cardiffs on line for 75 bucks and it will last a life time good starter combo and easy to get rid of if you dont like it!

You need a heavy action rod a 300 size shimano plus some 50 pound braid

I use a MH FA 6'6 Abu Garcia for smaller cranks and swims up to an once. I currently have 30lb braid, and I am getting a H FA 8" Abu Garcia that will take up to 4oz swims in a couple of months. I think I might run 50 plus on that one.

But keep in mind the reel you are using to.

I've been wanting to get into big swimbaits, but what has stopped me is the thought of our favorite toothy critter up here our friend the pike.  I get bit off so many times on a spinnerbaits and cranks that I get a little leery about losing a swimbait that costs 5 to 6 times more.  Have you seen this problem being up north with me?

I'm just starting and am throwing mattures  baby hardballs and the u2 gill series, they weight in around an ounce or so  I use a 6'8" GLX ex hvy and a *** reel with 30# power pro ... Works well for me and the A has a 21# drag .So plenty of power ..Good luck