I have this swimbait and when I get it working right it looks like a total killer, but then there are times when for some reason I can't get it to "swim" in the side to side manner it was designed for.

I'm hoping some of you Cali guys or others have experience with this bait.  I'm using a big stick and braided line.

thanks,

avid

I have the large sidewinder. You are right it does look pretty killer when it is kicking properly. My bait has couple EXTRA ounces of lead in it now. No joke I spent sooo much time nail weighting it, trying to get it to run well, and frankly it just never happened. That bait was way ahead of its time. There weren't any lipless flat tailed baits that swam. I love the company, and I just bought their newest bait, but the sidewinder just sits in a box in my closet. If you can nail weight it and tune it though, I have NO DOUBT that you'll catch fish on it.

Jay

I haven't had a Side Winder but some baits like them with no bill often have one speed that seems to get them moving best. Try speeding it up and slowing it down. After it gets moving side to side then its easier to speed it up and slow it down since it keeps the action better.

Fourbizzle said it right. The sidewinder was so far ahead of its time it wasn't even funny! Nobody had done anything like that that I know of. Problem is, it wasn't 100% flawless IMO. It is very tough to get it to do what you want. Its a sweet bait, when it was made is was an AMAZING bait. These days Mickey (316) and others are making baits that have pushed the sidewinder off to the sidelines.

I had one that I threw on 20lb mono and it swam fine but it only lasted about three trips.  I managed to decapitate the thing while casting it.  I didn't hit it against anything, it just separated at the first joint.