Swim bait question

syd · 07-21-10, 04:02 PM

I fish mainly Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. It was well publicized that the Rago swim bait in color Hitch was what won the Blue Ridge Brawl for Skeet Reese there.
Questions are this. Would this be a good bait to use year round? Plus, i don't really want to shell out $23.00 for one (but i will the bait monkey strikes again). Is there any other swim bait or plastic that resembles this in color and size. The only ones i currently use are Tennesse shad.
Thanks for any input

CamG · 07-21-10, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syd

I fish mainly Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. It was well publicized that the Rago swim bait in color Hitch was what won the Blue Ridge Brawl for Skeet Reese there.
Questions are this. Would this be a good bait to use year round? Plus, i don't really want to shell out $23.00 for one (but i will the bait monkey strikes again). Is there any other swim bait or plastic that resembles this in color and size. The only ones i currently use are Tennesse shad.
Thanks for any input

Just remember - swimbaits are just another tool. Don't get hung up on colors or the exact bait someone used to win with. There are plenty of swimbaits out there that don't cost you $23 and will work just as well.

Been doing pretty good on these right here, and the 6" are on sale!

http://www.abtlures.com/soft.htm

I just need to get my new swimbait rod finished so that I can fish these a little better.

geezer1 · 07-23-10, 01:51 PM

syd...I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to pay $23 for a swimbait either. I'm not a big swimbait fan, but I do own an exceptional swimbait thanks to a buddy who is a big swimbait fan. He owns many high dollar swimbaits & uses them all regularly. That's his thing. His favorite? It's not the $50 whatever, or even the $30 whatchamacallit. It's the $9 H2O Express 4.5" Jointed Shad. The action is incredible & he's caught some monster Bass with this thing. I bought one, "just in case" I feel the urge to throw a swimbait. Sold through Academy Sports & Outdoors, or can be ordered online.Good fishing.

Jim80 · 07-23-10, 02:01 PM

Syd I use these

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Keite...page-KSIF.html

with these hooks year round and they work great . They come in a five pack. The swimbaits that is

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamak...page-GSSL.html

Jim

Kevin · 07-23-10, 03:57 PM

Hi Syd,

I've been out on Smith Mountain in 90+ degree days numerous times, and swimbaits still work!

It's tougher though, because many bass do go deep there, but when you are only looking for a handful of key big fish, then that doesn't matter.

The great thing about Smith Mountain is the massive quantity of docks and points.

There are sort-of two sides to Smith Mountain... the highland tree-laden side and the commercially developed side.

The commercially developed side is much better for swimbaits because it can receive wind and intense sunlight.

Target deeper docks that cast HEAVY shade. You need some wind for swimbaits to work really good there (or anywhere really). So find docks that are getting a lot of wind.

The bass are going to be on the outer-ends of the docks so make long casts paralleling the pilings and shade line with your swimbait.

Also find wind-blown points and target 10-20+ feet. This can be tough because the baitfish move so much it seems on that lake. I'd try the docks first.

You don't need the Light Hitch color to catch fish. In fact, I think clear shad colors will do better. I think Skeet probably used Light Hitch because that was the only SKT Swimmer color came in (I think? - well other than 'Hitch'). But either shad or light hitch will work fine.

While Rago makes decent swimbaits, I still like the Osprey Inline Tournament Talon best. My favorite color is "Shad" for clear water (which SML usually is), and "Chartruese Shad" when the water is a bit murky from recent rains or something.

CamG · 07-23-10, 07:54 PM

Those Osprey's are nice baits as well. I just got a blue gill and chartreuse shad in this week in 7". Kinda wish now after seeing them I would have picked up a couple 6" as well. I think the line through deal is going to be nice!

syd · 07-24-10, 09:00 PM

Thanks for the great feedback. I have only really started fishing SML the last couple of years. Still trying to get get all the help i can. Don't fish tournaments just fish for the fun of it. But it is nice to catch fish. Haven't really started using swim baits but Skeets success really was an eye opener. Thanks Kevin for the SML info too. Checked out The ones Jim80 and CamG mentioned also.

07-21-10, 04:02 PM	#1
syd BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rocky Mount Va Posts: 127	Swim bait question I fish mainly Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. It was well publicized that the Rago swim bait in color Hitch was what won the Blue Ridge Brawl for Skeet Reese there. Questions are this. Would this be a good bait to use year round? Plus, i don't really want to shell out $23.00 for one (but i will the bait monkey strikes again). Is there any other swim bait or plastic that resembles this in color and size. The only ones i currently use are Tennesse shad. Thanks for any input

07-23-10, 02:01 PM	#4
Jim80 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thomaston CT Posts: 3,862	Syd I use these http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Keite...page-KSIF.html with these hooks year round and they work great . They come in a five pack. The swimbaits that is http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamak...page-GSSL.html Jim __________________ In memory of Zooker 1/11/73-7/2/2010. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

07-23-10, 03:57 PM	#5
Kevin Administrator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 651	Hi Syd, I've been out on Smith Mountain in 90+ degree days numerous times, and swimbaits still work! It's tougher though, because many bass do go deep there, but when you are only looking for a handful of key big fish, then that doesn't matter. The great thing about Smith Mountain is the massive quantity of docks and points. There are sort-of two sides to Smith Mountain... the highland tree-laden side and the commercially developed side. The commercially developed side is much better for swimbaits because it can receive wind and intense sunlight. Target deeper docks that cast HEAVY shade. You need some wind for swimbaits to work really good there (or anywhere really). So find docks that are getting a lot of wind. The bass are going to be on the outer-ends of the docks so make long casts paralleling the pilings and shade line with your swimbait. Also find wind-blown points and target 10-20+ feet. This can be tough because the baitfish move so much it seems on that lake. I'd try the docks first. You don't need the Light Hitch color to catch fish. In fact, I think clear shad colors will do better. I think Skeet probably used Light Hitch because that was the only SKT Swimmer color came in (I think? - well other than 'Hitch'). But either shad or light hitch will work fine. While Rago makes decent swimbaits, I still like the Osprey Inline Tournament Talon best. My favorite color is "Shad" for clear water (which SML usually is), and "Chartruese Shad" when the water is a bit murky from recent rains or something. __________________ Kevin Scarselli

07-23-10, 01:51 PM	#3
geezer1 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lakehills, Tx Posts: 185	syd...I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to pay $23 for a swimbait either. I'm not a big swimbait fan, but I do own an exceptional swimbait thanks to a buddy who is a big swimbait fan. He owns many high dollar swimbaits & uses them all regularly. That's his thing. His favorite? It's not the $50 whatever, or even the $30 whatchamacallit. It's the $9 H2O Express 4.5" Jointed Shad. The action is incredible & he's caught some monster Bass with this thing. I bought one, "just in case" I feel the urge to throw a swimbait. Sold through Academy Sports & Outdoors, or can be ordered online.Good fishing.

07-23-10, 07:54 PM	#6
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	Those Osprey's are nice baits as well. I just got a blue gill and chartreuse shad in this week in 7". Kinda wish now after seeing them I would have picked up a couple 6" as well. I think the line through deal is going to be nice!

07-24-10, 09:00 PM	#7
syd BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rocky Mount Va Posts: 127	Thanks for the great feedback. I have only really started fishing SML the last couple of years. Still trying to get get all the help i can. Don't fish tournaments just fish for the fun of it. But it is nice to catch fish. Haven't really started using swim baits but Skeets success really was an eye opener. Thanks Kevin for the SML info too. Checked out The ones Jim80 and CamG mentioned also.

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