So I just purchased my first 'expensive' Swimbait a 5" bull shad. I know it's not a deps 250, but it's still pricey. I'm really excited to throw it - I know I will have to be patient and stay with it, but hopefully good things will come.

Now I know if I want to succeed at fishing these baits I can't be scared of loosing it but do you guys that throw these baits regularly worry about it - even if it's only in the back of your mind.

Matt

I'm in the same boat. I have never fished a hard body swimbait and I just purchased a LC real California 110 and a Megabass i-slide 135. I'm not sure if I should fish them in open water or in and around cover.

I was the same way in the beginning with pricey swimbaits I bought, so I got more affordable swimbaits and practiced around, over, between trees and anything else I knew held fish. Also get a good plug retreiver it paid for itself the 1st time my Bullshad got hung up on a deep branch as well as saving many other swimbaits since. 

You should invest in a bait knocker, the one with chains that hang off it. Its worth its weight in gold. You have to think of swimbaits as tools that are used for specific jobs. Some come through trees really well, some come through grass well etc...You have to select the right bait for the right job. And yes there is a good probability that you will get hung up from time to time even using the best possible bait for the situation. The reality is that you will probably even lose a few. However the right gear will greatly diminish the chances of losing a bait.

Thanks for the replies. I'll look into getting a lure retriever.

Also, you may want to work on your diving skills

5" Bull Shad is only 1.25 oz, with 2 treble hooks, so you can fish it using a crankbait rod.

The big difference between a crankbait and a swimbait is the speed you retrieve the lure...swim it!

You can jiggle it out of a lot of snags when fishing it slower. Keep in touch with the lure, feel the line rubbing objects before it hits the snag.

I fish nearly all my swimbaits using 25 lb Sunline Deifer Armilo Nylon line, 300 series round reels and swimbait rods rated for 1-5 oz and 3-10 oz, 7'11 and 8' rods. My advice; Invest in a swimbait rod and reel and a good lure retriever.

Tom

12 inchers will eat that thing just fine, and you'll get plenty of bites to keep your confidence up.

12 inchers will eat that thing just fine, and you'll get plenty of bites to keep your confidence up.

That's what I'm hoping!

Thanks for the replies. I'll look into getting a lure retriever.

They can be made easily..

5" Bull Shad is only 1.25 oz, with 2 treble hooks, so you can fish it using a crankbait rod.

The big difference between a crankbait and a swimbait is the speed you retrieve the lure...swim it!

You can jiggle it out of a lot of snags when fishing it slower. Keep in touch with the lure, feel the line rubbing objects before it hits the snag.

I fish nearly all my swimbaits using 25 lb Sunline Deifer Armilo Nylon line, 300 series round reels and swimbait rods rated for 1-5 oz and 3-10 oz, 7'11 and 8' rods. My advice; Invest in a swimbait rod and reel and a good lure retriever.

Tom

I'm confused. You first state that the OP can use a crankbait rod with the current bait he has. You then go on to say you advise to buy a strictly swim bait rod.... So which is it? Seems as if he would have two rods and only ONE bait.

I'm confused. You first state that the OP can use a crankbait rod with the current bait he has. You then go on to say you advise to buy a strictly swim bait rod.... So which is it? Seems as if he would have two rods and only ONE bait.

You can use a cranking stick but you would be better off actually buying a swimbait rod. If that is something you plan on getting into of course.

5" Bull Shad is only 1.25 oz, with 2 treble hooks, so you can fish it using a crankbait rod.

The big difference between a crankbait and a swimbait is the speed you retrieve the lure...swim it!

You can jiggle it out of a lot of snags when fishing it slower. Keep in touch with the lure, feel the line rubbing objects before it hits the snag.

I fish nearly all my swimbaits using 25 lb Sunline Deifer Armilo Nylon line, 300 series round reels and swimbait rods rated for 1-5 oz and 3-10 oz, 7'11 and 8' rods. My advice; Invest in a swimbait rod and reel and a good lure retriever.

Tom

  

I'm confused. You first state that the OP can use a crankbait rod with the current bait he has. You then go on to say you advise to buy a strictly swim bait rod.... So which is it? Seems as if he would have two rods and only ONE bait.

Dude: this Shane guy is out to get you. Lol

Dude: this Shane guy is out to get you. Lol

Not out to get anyone.... Just looking for an explanation as to why he would need a dedicated swim bait rod for ONE bait. I do agree with Hatrix and if it's something the OP is going to get into then the purchase would make sense. Otherwise I don't think buying a dedicated setup is needed as Tom stated a crankbait rod could be used in the OP's situation and current bait owned.

I generally agree with Tom but I can't see fishing that bait on a standard crankbait rod. Maybe a rod built to throw a 10xd. Like a Dobyns 806cb or something along those lines. I feel a standard crank rod would be over powered by the bait. I am not saying that a rod has to be labeled as a swimbait rod to be a good swimbait rod, but certain things need to happen. Like it needs to load properly to get a good cast out of it. When you set the hook there needs to be enough power to drive larger hooks and get the fish moving at you, it needs the right parabolic bend etc... If the rod accomplishes the right things and it says a-rig on the side who cares. But swimbaits are a power game, you don't want to try and play a fish. The heavier the bait the more likely it will be thrown by the fish. One mistake that I think happens all to often is that we gear ourselves towards smaller fish and it costs us. You might be able to go out and throw that bait on a crank rod and even catch a few 2-3lbers but whats gonna happen when its the fish of a lifetime? You will probably have a good story for the "one that got away" thread. 

I JUST purchased a MB XX Perfect Pitch, mostly it will be used for flipping/pitching as well as frogs. But I bought the bull shad, a 7" ms slammer as well as a 168 s-glide. But the bull shad is the only one that will be here this week. I know it's not a true swimbait rod but I am so new to swimbaits it will do for now. Looking forward to trying them out.

That rod should work ok. 

As you build up your swimbait collection and have extras to spare, you might identify a couple of swimbaits in your arsenal you may be willing to risk in dodgy cover.

I'd generally keep my trebled swimbaits away from cover.  Stuff like Huddgill and the weedless hudds are better around cover.

You bit the bullet, and purchased some "pricey" swimbaits, now realize that you can't be wary of throwing them where ever they need to be thrown to catch fish, trebles or not.

You have to put baits where the fish are, cover or not. Lure retrievers are great investments. So far, I have a 100% success rate with mine (BPS brand) after hanging up lures from jigs to cranks  to big swimmers. As you acquire more swimbaits, you can get a big bait rod to suit your needs. Tight lines