Greetings all,

 

Haven't been on much or fishing as much as I would like, but the young ones come first.  So I am thinking about pulling the trigger on the new Dobyns Champion XP Swimbait Rod 7'9" Med Hvy.  I haven't really thrown true swimbaits much before.  Few questions: I seem them listed as floating, slow sink or fast sink.  Is the floating bait more a like a wake bait or just under the surface?  Then slow vs fast I would think is more where in the water column you want to fish and how fast of a retrieve?  

Bonus help - any suggestions on some $20-50 baits.  I have a MS Slammer and a Bucca Shad and a S-Waver 168 already.  

Thanks!

Floating baits generally can be fished like a wake bait, twitch bait (like a floating minnow), dead sticked, or walked. 

You're right on with the slow vs fast idea.

Savage Gear makes some great baits for reasonable prices. I really like the bigger shine glide, the 3D bluegill, and the 3D line through trout. There's a chance if you look around that you can find a Deps 175 towards the upper end of your price range. The Jackall Gantarel and Gantarel Jr are good baits. The Hudd 68 special weedless would be another one I'd suggest. 

On 5/9/2016 at 6:28 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Floating baits generally can be fished like a wake bait, twitch bait (like a floating minnow), dead sticked, or walked. 

You're right on with the slow vs fast idea.

Savage Gear makes some great baits for reasonable prices. I really like the bigger shine glide, the 3D bluegill, and the 3D line through trout. There's a chance if you look around that you can find a Deps 175 towards the upper end of your price range. The Jackall Gantarel and Gantarel Jr are good baits. The Hudd 68 special weedless would be another one I'd suggest. 

I highly recommend the Gantarels as well. Blue why do you recommend the weedless over the top hook? Just wondering because I'm getting a 68 soon

8 minutes ago, j bab said:

I highly recommend the Gantarels as well. Blue why do you recommend the weedless over the top hook? Just wondering because I'm getting a 68 soon

I like the versatility of the weedless better. I can fish it very slowly through the thick stuff and not really have to worry.

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like the versatility of the weedless better. I can fish it very slowly through the thick stuff and not really have to worry.

and the hook up ratio is just as good? sounds appealing

5 hours ago, j bab said:

and the hook up ratio is just as good? sounds appealing

I've always had great hookup ratios with them and poor ratio with the top hook. 

On 5/9/2016 at 7:28 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Floating baits generally can be fished like a wake bait, twitch bait (like a floating minnow), dead sticked, or walked. 

You're right on with the slow vs fast idea.

Savage Gear makes some great baits for reasonable prices. I really like the bigger shine glide, the 3D bluegill, and the 3D line through trout. There's a chance if you look around that you can find a Deps 175 towards the upper end of your price range. The Jackall Gantarel and Gantarel Jr are good baits. The Hudd 68 special weedless would be another one I'd suggest. 

x2 on the savage gear line through trouts and bluegills. They're great and you don't have to break the bank to get a couple.