I am interested in using swim baits starting next season.  Zoom swimmin fluke jr and SK caffeine shad were the types i was looking into. I fish clear water for the most part. How would you rig them ? what Rod, reel, and line size would you use. What time of year would you fish it ?Deep , shallow or any depth ? what Color would you select? What Brand swimbait would you use? What Hook or jighead would you use. How do you fish it?  You dont have to answer all the questions if you do not want to any advice is appreciated . thanks !

Shadalicious (shad) and Berkley Hollow Belly (chartreuse) on a weighted hook.

Cast and rertrieve at various depths. The paddle tail provides all the necessary

"action".

 

Keitech Swing Impact Fat 3 1/2" or 4" rigged on a Buckeye Jig Head. Same cast

and retrieve as above. In all cases the key is fishing on or around structure and

cover.

 

 

 

Shadalicious (shad) and Berkley Hollow Belly (chartreuse) on a weighted hook.

Cast and rertrieve at various depths. The paddle tail provides all the necessary

"action".

 

Keitech Swing Impact Fat 3 1/2" or 4" rigged on a Buckeye Jig Head. Same cast

and retrieve as above. In all cases the key is fishing on or around structure and

cover.

 

 

 

thanks

I am interested in using swim baits starting next season.  Zoom swimmin fluke jr and SK caffeine shad were the types i was looking into. I fish clear water for the most part. How would you rig them ? what Rod, reel, and line size would you use. What time of year would you fish it ?Deep , shallow or any depth ? what Color would you select? What Brand swimbait would you use? What Hook or jighead would you use. How do you fish it?  You dont have to answer all the questions if you do not want to any advice is appreciated . thanks !

 

I take it we're talking 3-5 inch paddle tail swimbaits and not the big bad hard body stuff.  I like to fish a 4 1/2 inch paddle tail on the back of a 3/8 -1/2 oz swim jig and fish it like spinnerbait or place one on a spinnerbait/buzzbait as a trailer.  Weighted swimbait hooks and even a texas rig are popular options as well.

 

Equipment:  I use a general purpose 7' MH, in my case a Daiwa Jupiter paired to #14 mono/fluro or #30-#40 braid with a wire leader if I need to rip it through weeds and when toothy fish are present.  When it comes to rods just about any MH will do the job but I'd be a bit leery about anything with an ultra stiff tip considering that it is a moving bait.  The kind of rod you'd throw spinnerbaits on will work very well.  When it comes to reels you can use anything from ultra fast to ultra slow.  A 6.x:1 is a good middle ground ratio.  I use a 7.x:1 and it's a little too fast for me to keep the bait real deep.

 

Baits:  I use the BPS Sally Sally in the 4 1/2 inch size because it's a cheap, durable Little Dipper knock off.  There's a lot of good baits on the market today so it's hard to go wrong just stay away from anything with a stiff tail action.

I swear by the Buckeye jig heads and Keitech Swing Impact Fat's. Use em anywhere and everywhere. I use my crankbait setup with this, Shimano Crucial 7-2 Crankbait Rod and Calcutta 200 TEGT to be exact.

I sometimes feel the same way about swimbaits as crocodile dundee does about knives.