Can you guys help me with running depths of some of the swimbaits?  I had assumed that the Huds for example, ran at or near the ROF depth but I saw the vid where Matt(lures) metions the ROF 16 being good to about 40'  I had no clue!  

So how deep do you fish em' and What bait at your listed depth?

Thanks!

The deepest I normally fish a swimbait would be about 60 feet. I like the ROF 16 for this. THe LA slider ( replaced by the Bass Grande) runs really well down to about 80-100.

Wow, that's deep! I guess I need to ask my question differently since I'm not going to fish them deeper than about 30' and more often -water in the 20'-25' range... usually there is brush so I guess I need a little advice on what baits will run comfortably at 20' or so and also baits in the 10'-15'range to stay above the brush/tree tops.

Any opinions on the 6" huds? What depths will you use the ROF 5 and 12 on them?

Will both huds run (and stay) at or near the depth you count them down to?

The more I learn, the more I see I have a ton to learn.  Thanks for the help!

I really like the 6" Hudds. I dont throw softbaits that size very often, but when I do, its the baby hudd. I own probably 10 of them and all are rof12 save one. I like the 12 for water 10-30ft but this small bait is affected by line planing WAY more than the 8" so it is a bit tougher to keep down. It would work very well at the depths you mentioned using  a tough 20lb line ( maxima ultragreen, pline cxx, etc)

As for the 8" on a nice slow retrieve the rof 12 will stay planted to the bottom in 30 ft no problem. The 8" doest plane up real bad at all so if you count it to 15ft, it will stay in that general zone for most of the cast, depending upon retrieve speed.

Basically the 12 in both sizes. If you want to super slow roll above and through the branches the 8" rof5 with a suitable head hook can work real well.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BAIT KNOCKER!! hudds don come through trees very well, but it is worth constantly unsnagging them.

Fourbizz what swim bait would you select if you were going to fish Toledo Bend at night?

Many thanks, Jay! That's the info I was looking for! I do have a knocker... been in the boat for 2 years and is still in the package, but I have one. ...lol

What is your glue of choice for repairs? I have a little "Pro's soft bait glue" left but it's beyond shelf and almost empty so I'm ready for another bottle of something.

You covered the Huds well, any info on the 3:16 models other than the mission fish (I have several of them) or other soft baits? Should I really be looking at others? I have a handful of Matt's BB & BG but that's it.

Thanks again,

Keith

As far as glues go, there are really only 2 choices imo. The 3:16 softbait glue and "Mend-It". neither are glues, but an MEK solution that melts the plastic back together. so it dries soft and pliable, just like new. You can REALLY stretch a baits longevity with this stuff. They are pretty much identical as near as i can tell, but the 3:16 stuff is cheaper.

I think the Matt BB could do really well in those conditions this time of year as this years juveniles will be about that size and *might* be hanging around those tree tops. The 3:16 k9 would do well for over the tree tops, but with a bottom treble, you are not gonna comb through limbs very easily. I absolutely LOVE the Rising Son, but it is only fishable down to about 2 ft, if you are fishing shallower water, or there is good vis, fish it. If i had good water clarity I have no doubt that fish will come up 15ft to mouth punch the rising son. Another noteworthy bait for those depths w/ trees is the 6" Osprey Tournament Talon. between the tophook and the line tie position it comes through limbs real well.But all that being said, my favorite baits in the trees are mission fish and hudds. But you will donate some baits. I put $160 worth of hudds in tree limbs last november, and that was with 3 different lure retrievers on board.

Tommy,

Not familiar with Toledo bend, most of my knowledge gleamed from your posts. There is one lake that I night fish that sounds similar to your situation, so I will tell you what I use there. It is a shallow lake, very clear, and clogged with hydrilla. limited structure, but there are some humps, holes, points, and ridges. I concentrate the majority of my efforts on deepwater weedlines on or near this structure.

My number 1 big bait here, and most everywhere else really, is a 3:16 Wake jr., color unimportant. as i mentioned above, with sufficient water clarity, fish will come a very long way to smack this bait too. pricey, yep, deadly, yep. the rising son, again (broken record ). perfect for suuuuuper slow crawl along the weedlines. I have caught fish on a few different big baits at night. the one i make, the bbz, the slammer, and a few others that i will not be mentioning on a public forum ;D. But this might come as a surprise to some, in the dark, i'm usually throwing a giant worm :-/

Thanks bizz  

Giant worm you say! I might have a couple hundred of those

Sorry flechero for infringing on your topic but when you have one of these swim bait experts talking you don't let them get away.

Jay,  Thanks for the detailed info!  Much appreciated!  Looks like I get to do some more shopping...  I hope you get a little off the monkey!  ...lol

No problem Catt, you are right on in that we can learn alot from the swimbait experts.