I will be going fishing for a week here pretty soon and had a couple questions about throwing swimbaits. When are the best times to use swimbaits? Where to use them? What type of cover? Overcast or clear sky? I want to know when its best to throw these so i have a better chance of getting the big fish and then i can throw my normal arsenal while its not as good to throw swimbaits. Right now i have 2 mattlures baby bass, one small bulldawg, some shadalicous, some saltwater berkley swimshads (5") and a couple homemade hard swimbaits.

I usually throw swimbaits anywhere i would normally throw a spinnerbait or maybe even a crankbait. I mostly use the Basstrix and Bass Magic swimbaits rigged on a 5/0 1/8oz Dave's TT swimbait hook.

I have had much more success with swimbaits around rock or wood cover than I have grass, I'm not exactly sure why but I rarely get bit around grass or pads on a swimbait.

There isn't really a "best" time to throw a swimbait IMO, I usually just pick it up when i get to an area that just looks right for one or I get a feeling that a swimbait would probably do really good. Probably not the answer you were lookin for but thats just what I do.

I usually throw swimbaits anywhere i would normally throw a spinnerbait or maybe even a crankbait. I mostly use the Basstrix and Bass Magic swimbaits rigged on a 5/0 1/8oz Dave's TT swimbait hook.

I have had much more success with swimbaits around rock or wood cover than I have grass, I'm not exactly sure why but I rarely get bit around grass or pads on a swimbait.

There isn't really a "best" time to throw a swimbait IMO, I usually just pick it up when i get to an area that just looks right for one or I get a feeling that a swimbait would probably do really good. Probably not the answer you were lookin for but thats just what I do.

Couldn't have said it better Basspro and your hook choice is absolutely correct on swim tubes style baits.  

Big O

I live and fish in Northern IL. and nothing works better than a 4.5"

Shadalicious or Bass magic retrieved slowly along the inside edge of the weedline. Be sure to cast parallel to any docks or boats you might come across. Bass up here seem to inhale this and you rarely miss them. Only problem is when you rear back to set the hook and come up with an empty line. Musky or Pike love these too!