Does anyone in the mid-west use the very large swim baits you see on TV. I know they are big out west, but does anyone have any experience with them around the central part of the country (Kansas, Missouri)

Nope.

Even though I am not from there, and am by no means a swimbait expert, I can tell you that they will definately work in the midwest.  Swimbaits are not limited to Cali.  We are using them here in Georgia with massive success.  Hopefully Randall will post on this thread so he can show his evidence about them working on other places than the California lakes.  They work in Georgia, California, Florida, Rhode Island, Texas, basically, anywhere there are bass.  

If you are just starting to throw swimbaits, then I suggest you go with smaller ones to begin with.  Try the Mattlures bluegill or the new Huddleston Shad.  Get to know how swimbaits feel, then move up to the bigger ones like the Huddleston Deluxe or the Tru-Tungsten Tru-Life swimbait.  

Hope you stick a pig with em!

They only work out in California. All these GA fish in this photo must have all been crazy since they hit a 10 inch swimbait that weighed 5oz. ;D Notice that these fish are big but not huge (by my standards anyway) and they were caught in just four hours of throwing a real big bait. I bet you have some fish this size that would eat a big bait. But in reality I think the real big baits over eight inches are way over rated in most cases. Start with a smaller bait like a Mattlures bluegill and maybe a six inch bait that matches the forage your big bass feed on and go from there.  

The 6" Huddleston is a good bait to start with. As long as you have some trout eaters in your waters.

The 6" Huddleston is a good bait to start with. As long as you have some trout eaters in your waters.

Thanks, Iwill give them a try.