Swimbait/Glidebait Fishing Chronicles (2020)

caddyjoe77 · December 22, 2019, 09:44:02 PM

Quote from: Bassinlou on December 22, 2019, 07:13:32 AM
Glidebaits and Swimbaits all fall under the same category to me... Very big baits aimed to catch big bass, but I now realize that they are two different baits. I appreciate you bringing this up, I need to change my thread title, and clarify my intention with this thread.

Also... this thread was created with you in mind as well Joe. I remember those big glide baits you showed me at your house on the Guntersville trip. I would really like if you utilized this thread as your platform to share your Guntersville swimbait adventures with us.

To me, I think a reaction bite is really the cold water technique. When I say cold I mean 50 or lower.
-- A-Rig, Jerkbait, Chatterbait, jig, or trap. Doesnt mean I wont throw the big baits it just means i wont throw them as much as I normally might. I could see them eating one, as you have seen some of the shad that live here but since shad generally are looking for the temp they are not going to die off -- around 50 -- hence the "not as often".

Now, does that mean i wont throw one in stained shallow water(which might be a few degrees warmer on the north bank :D)? As long as there is GREEN grass -- which there is, you just have to know where it is (hint you have it in Florida :D)

And, I might throw a magdraft now versus a glide whereas in the warmer water i might lean towards a glide initially.

caddyjoe77 · December 22, 2019, 09:45:22 PM

Quote from: Bassinlou on December 22, 2019, 07:27:23 AM
Joe, in regards to your quote above, what are the ideal fishing water temps for SB's/GB's ?

Still figuring that out -- have lots of thoughts but none proven yet.

Champriderz · December 23, 2019, 08:36:36 PM

Swimbaits in general aren't very kind to me. That being said, I bought a couple of glide baits last winter and prespawn had three hits but none caught the hook. One in Eufaula was about a two pound spot that hit a Jackal Garantal glide bait beside a bridge piling while I was looking at the bait. Another in Seminole hit a fairly large Savage glide bait but i barely got a glimpse of him. Crazy thing that day was I just saw something out of the corner of my eye and barely jerked the bait from under an osprey. I had to put it in the rod box because he kept circling and making false dives at the boat so long as he could see it on the deck.

I'm glad to see this thread and will be following it closely because it seems I'm not the only one curious about swimbaits and swimbait specific forums are worlds ahead of what I need to know.

I do have a suggestion and I need to take my own advice and that is to pick a day you think fish will bite then go with nothing but swimbaits so you are forced to stick with it.

Capt. BassinLou · December 24, 2019, 05:51:57 AM

I managed to fish with my new setup yesterday for a little bit, while my kids were fishing. Its definitely a different feel handling and casting such a long rod and heavier bait. I did observe and quickly learned, utilizing the longer rod handle as a lever really helps in casting. My next challenge and I don't know if its possible, is controlling the entry of the bait. I'm used to making entries as quiet as possible, but with a big swimbait, all bets might be off the table.

I used the Ninja glider as my lure. First time ever using a glide bait. I have seen the swimming action of these lures in videos, better never live. Interesting movement. No surprise catch or followers for that matter, but when the conditions are just right, I believe this lure can be productive.

Cuervo Jones · December 24, 2019, 10:43:38 AM

In case you haven't already, I recommend getting a copy of Bill Siemantel's book "The Big Bass Zone." You can usually find it cheap on Amazon. Parts of it read like a self-help pep talk (he IS from California after all), but there's a lot of good information on big bait fishing in there. It's a decade old and could be updated a bit, but it's still a great reference that I occasionally reread for a boost. It's a quick read too, so you should be able to get through it in an evening or two.

Capt. BassinLou · December 24, 2019, 10:54:23 AM

Quote from: Cuervo Jones on December 24, 2019, 10:43:38 AM
In case you haven't already, I recommend getting a copy of Bill Siemantel's book "The Big Bass Zone." You can usually find it cheap on Amazon. Parts of it read like a self-help pep talk (he IS from California after all), but there's a lot of good information on big bait fishing in there. It's a decade old and could be updated a bit, but it's still a great reference that I occasionally reread for a boost. It's a quick read too, so you should be able to get through it in an evening or two.

Thank you for the recommendation CJ.

Capt. BassinLou · December 24, 2019, 03:57:58 PM

Got gifted a BPS gift card for Christmas... spent it already.

Just ordered another Mega Bass Mag Draft, but in the 6" variety this time. I wasn't kidding when I said I'm all in learning this new technique...

Capt. BassinLou · December 25, 2019, 08:03:55 AM

.. another gift card, this one covered the Gigantarel Jr I ordered.

This swimbait will be my last one for a while until I familiarize and become comfortable throwing this new to me technique. But this Gigantarel Jr is too good loooking of a lure to pass up on.

caddyjoe77 · December 25, 2019, 09:35:33 AM

Quote from: Bassinlou on December 24, 2019, 03:57:58 PM
Got gifted a BPS gift card for Christmas... spent it already. Just ordered another Mega Bass Mag Draft, but in the 6" variety this time. I wasn't kidding when I said I'm all in learning this new technique...

White back Shad and brownie are my favorite colors. Don't forget they make the mag drafts in freestyle too. An owner beast 8/0 is perfect

Capt. BassinLou · December 25, 2019, 09:49:01 AM

Quote from: caddyjoe77 on December 25, 2019, 09:35:33 AM
White back Shad and brownie are my favorite colors. Don't forget they make the mag drafts in freestyle too. An owner beast 8/0 is perfect

I will consider the freestyle models a little bit down the road.

Capt. BassinLou · December 25, 2019, 03:53:04 PM

Took the 4" bullshad out bank fishing for about an hour. Had 2 nice followers, but this Jaguar smoked it. Lol!!

znate80 · December 26, 2019, 03:28:09 AM

Caught on S-waver 168 this year. I have a hard time making a commitment to throw it all the time. I have had days where I have caught 20-25 spotted bass on it everywhere from 1lb-3lbers. If you count Kietech's as swimbaits I have caught lots on those slow rolling them on the bottom. I want to try throwing a Huddleston.

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Capt. BassinLou · December 26, 2019, 04:48:34 AM

Very nice bass!! Thank you for sharing.

Capt. BassinLou · December 28, 2019, 08:52:24 AM

I took out my new swimbait outfit and a few of my new swimbaits out to the Everglades yesterday.

I will confess however. I threw these baits for over 2 hours, with 0 followers and/or strikes, and made the mistake of taking out my frog setup, and the rest was history. But!! I will not give up.

Capt. BassinLou · December 28, 2019, 09:26:46 AM

Just delivered!!

Beauty!!

Lipripper · December 28, 2019, 09:52:59 AM

Keep throwing them Lou sooner or later your going to get one of the BIG girls to bite them.

but it is hard to not throw a frog once you know that frog is on the menu.

Capt. BassinLou · December 28, 2019, 09:55:52 AM

This bait is a nice sized morsel.

Capt. BassinLou · December 28, 2019, 10:08:11 AM

Quote from: Lipripper on December 28, 2019, 09:52:59 AM
Keep throwing them Lou sooner or later your going to get one of the BIG girls to bite them. but it is hard to not throw a frog once you know that frog is on the menu.

Yes, it's really hard, especially when the bass were relating to thicker cover yesterday.

bucketmouth 87 · December 28, 2019, 10:16:40 AM

Quote from: Bassinlou on December 28, 2019, 09:55:52 AM
This bait is a nice sized morsel.

What's the height on that bait Lou ? Looks to good not to work

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Capt. BassinLou · December 28, 2019, 10:21:14 AM

Quote from: bucketmouth 87 on December 28, 2019, 10:16:40 AM
What's the height on that bait Lou ? Looks to good not to work

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Here are the specs

bucketmouth 87 · December 28, 2019, 10:22:28 AM

Quote from: Bassinlou on December 28, 2019, 10:21:14 AM
Here are the specs

Would you say it's about 1.5-2 inches tall?

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Capt. BassinLou · December 28, 2019, 10:26:09 AM

Quote from: bucketmouth 87 on December 28, 2019, 10:22:28 AM
Would you say it's about 1.5-2 inches tall?

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Here you go.

bucketmouth 87 · December 28, 2019, 10:28:38 AM

Quote from: Bassinlou on December 28, 2019, 10:26:09 AM
Here you go.

Awesome. I fish a crystal clear limestone quarry that has great numbers but is hard to get a bigger bite out there. I'm thinking swimbaits might be the ticket to draw bigger bites. This bait looks perfect !

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Capt. BassinLou · December 28, 2019, 10:35:49 AM

Quote from: bucketmouth 87 on December 28, 2019, 10:28:38 AM
Awesome. I fish a crystal clear limestone quarry that has great numbers but is hard to get a bigger bite out there. I'm thinking swimbaits might be the ticket to draw bigger bites. This bait looks perfect !

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From the looks alone, its great, obviously I just got it, so it hasn't touched the water.... yet.

Capt. BassinLou · December 28, 2019, 04:26:36 PM

Threw the Gantarel Jr for about 15 minutes before a rain shower chased me off. First impressions, interesting bait. It swims with a wide wobble, and you have the ability to suddenly turn the bait 180 degrees from a quick jerk of the rod tip. This feature almost provoked a strike from the little follower I did manage to attract. The quick 180 turn did not illicit a strike, but the bass body language did ramp up with the sudden change of direction.