Swimbait Basics - Top 10 List
Swim Baits...what started off sounding like “western bass fishing hype” has proven to be one of the hottest big bass techniques for several years now! In the early days, many viewed Swim Bait fishing as a few “Oversized” baits being fished by a few die-hard big bass hunters in the west. Swim Baits are now main stream and they have turned into one of the most productive lure categories across the nation and around the world! Put simply, swim baits have become one of the most productive techniques anywhere in the world...period! The goal of this “Outdoor List” is to bring you solid basics to get you started in understanding the world of Swimbaits. While there are too many baits to list all that's available, I wanted to bring you a comprehensive list to get you started in your Swim Bait fishing. To complete this list I went to one of the most respected and knowledgeable people on this subject, Matt Paino. Matt is the president of Optimum Bait Company. Matt has been in the swim bait business for many years. With Matt’s help, here is our list of basics for understanding and choosing the right swim baits for your needs.
Here is our top 10 list for Swim Bait Basics (in no particular order).
1) 9” Thumper Tail
9” Thumper Tail
Length: 9′′ Weight: 5.2oz
Style: Soft Plastic, Swimming Boot Tail, sinking swimbait
Rigging: -Pre-rigged with VMC Size 1 top treble hook crimped with fishing wire
Water Type: All water temperature, water clarity and depths of 4-16 feet
Method -Moderate to fast retrieve on a 7’6-8’ Heavy/XH Swimbait Rod with a 6.5:1 reel loaded with 20-25lb fluorocarbon
Colors: 10 Colors
2) 6”Boom Boom - Weedless: 1.4oz, Rigged: 1.8oz
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PRERIGGED BOOM BOOM
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WEEDLESS BOOM BOOM
6”Boom Boom - Weedless: 1.4oz, Rigged: 1.8oz
Style: 2 Variations - Soft Plastic, Panicked boot tail swimbait
Length: Weedless Length 6" Weight 1.4oz, Rigged: Length 6" 1.8oz,
Rigging: -Pre-rigged with bottom treble hook. Also available in weedless which requires wide gap screw lock weighted swimbait hook 8/0 or larger
Water Type: Best in Clear to stained
Method: The Fred Roumbanis’ Boom Boom swimbait is designed to fish with a slow retrieve speed. It features a quivering head action, tight body roll and thumping tail kick. This panic action entices lurking fish into committing to strike the bait. Hold the rod up to keep it shallow, or down to reach deeper depths.
Line/Equipment: 10-20lb Flouro; Use 50-70lb braid for weedless type Rod: 7ft - 7/11 Med Heavy Action Reel: 6.5:1 Gear ratio or slower
Colors: Weedless has 15 offerings: Rigged has 12 Colors
3) 5” Original Optimum
5” Original Optimum
Style -Soft, swimming boottail, sinking swimbait
Rigging -Bait is rigged with a single top-hook
Water Type/Method: low 60’s-low 70’s, Clearer water and depth range from 5-40 ft Retrieve -Slow to medium retrieve Rod:-7’-8’ Medium Heavy rod Reel: 6.5:1 reel Line: 14lb Flurobarbon
Colors: 8 Natural Baitfish patterns
4) 6” Line-Thru
6” Line-Thru
Style -Soft, swimming boottail, slow sinking swimbait
Rigging: Bait is rigged with a bottom treble hook that pulls free.
Water Type/Method: low 60’s-low 70’s, Clearer water and depth range from 5-20 ft Retrieve -Slow to medium retrieve Rod:-7’-8’ Medium Heavy rod Reel: 6.5:1 reel Line: 14lb Flurobarbon
Colors: 21 offerings
5) 4” Double Diamond
4” Double Diamond
Style: Soft, swimming, Unrigged sinking swimbait
Rigging: The Swimmer`s body features a slot so it can be fished weedless with a weighted (or not) offset hook, or it can be rigged with an open hook bullet/type jighead when fishing open water. Perfect for Swimjig and Chatter Bait Trailer!!
Water Type/Method: All water temperature, water clarity and depth Retrieve -Moderate to fast retrieve Rod -7’ MH rod with 6.5:1 reel loaded with 14-20lb fluorocarbon
Colors: Available in 10 colors
6) 6” Opti Shad
6” Opti Shad
Style: Soft, swimming, Unrigged sinking swimbait
Colors: 18color options
Rigging/Methods: Can be fished with a variety of techniques, including, weightless, Texas rigged, darter head, scrounger head, chatterbait trailer, A Rig -All water temperature, water clarity and depth -Ultra slow to fast retrieve -7’ MH rod, 6.5:1 reel loaded with 14-20lb fluorocarbon
7) AA Worms 5” Bad Bubba Shad
AA Worms 5” Bad Bubba Shad
Style: Soft, swimming, Unrigged swimbait
Rigging: 1/2oz to 3/4oz swimbait head with 6/0 Hook Size Type of water
Water Type: All water temperatures, water clarity and depth
Methods: Retrieve -Slow to fast retrieve Rod: -7’- 8’ Medium Heavy, 6.5:1 reel loaded with 14-20lb fluorocarbon
Color: 51 Color Options
8) Deps Bullshooter 160 (Sinking and Floating)
Deps Bullshooter 160 (Sinking and Floating)
Style: Hard, gliding sinking/floating swimbait
Size: 6.4inches – 3.5oz
Colors: Sinking: #01 Real Blue Gill, #02 Flash Baby Gill, #03 Pumpkin Seed, #09 Metallic Gill #10 Tropical Glitter Gill, #11 Spawning Gill, #12 Natural Ghost GillFloating: #01 Real Blue Gill, #11 Spawning Gill, #13 King Buna, #14 X Ray, #15 Scum Perch
Rigging: Pre-rigged with bottom trebles
Water Type: Warmer water, all clarity and various depths
Retrieve Speed: Slow to moderate retrieve
Rods: -7’6-8’ Heavy swimbait rod
Reels: 6.5:1 reel loaded with 20lb mono (floating), 20lb fluorocarbon (sinking)
9) Deps Slide Swimmer 175 & 250
Slide Swimmer 175
Slide Swimmer 250
Deps Slide Swimmer 175 & 250
Sizes: 175 – ( 7.5inches 2.8oz ) – 250 (10inches 6.2oz)
Style: Glide Bait, Hard ABS plastic Body with Silicon Skin Rigging
Prerigged with bottom trembles
Water Type: Clear to stained
Method: Slow to Medium steady retrieve speeds produces gliding action from 1.5 feet to 3 feet wide.
Recommended Rod: 8 Ft Heavy Recommended
Reel: 6.5:1 Line: 14-17lb Fluro for 175 size. 20lb Fluro for 250 size
10) Madness Japan – BALAM 300
Madness Japan – BALAM 300
Size: 12inches, 6.5ounces
Style: Sinking 4 jointed Swimbait with soft silicon Tail
Colors: Trout and Shad
Method: Action is very tight between joints. Produces a head body roll while tail kicks back and forth. It can be fished with multiple retrieve speeds. Creates reaction strikes when burned.
Water Type: Clearer warmer water.
Rod: Extra Heavy: 7-8ft Line: 25lb Flurocarbon
Reel: 6.5:1
You have probably realized by now, that there are many options when it comes to choosing swim baits. So, in additon to Matt Paino's top ten list, we are providing a list of other swim baits that may intertest you.
Outdoor Lists are a production of American Bass and authored/compiled by Craig Sutherland. American Bass has been the #1 bass fishing organization in the western U.S. since 1983. Craig Sutherland is the President of American Bass and has been the editor of American Bass Magazine and American Bass Fishing News, Co-Host of American Bass TV & Radio and many more activities in bass fishing. Outdoor Lists is a fun and informative collection of interests for everyone that enjoys bass fishing and the outdoors. If you would like to see a topic featured in Outdoor Lists, please send us an email with your suggestion. info@americanbass.com