Swimbaits

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wade McNamar on April 1, 2012 at 5:19pm

Paul

3-ways I have found to be most help for myself 1st. slow down 2nd. rig straight 3rd. add weight to balance on bait inside or outside and the hook!   Sounds like you are addressing some of this..and then experiment different manufactures and Swimbaits

Then from there I had found this article couple years back here it is: http://www.thewiredangler.com/wiredangl ... o-rig.html

Hope you will find some help in this submission..Swimbaits are a wonderful technique, even the Alabama Rig also being so popular were legal..Good Fishing!

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on April 1, 2012 at 10:06pm

I think the easiest solution is just to rig them on a jig head.  I know that probably isn't a very good answer but like you said, rigging them on weighted hooks can be challenging and if you don't do it just right they don't swim well.  For fishing around cover, I have Texas rigged hollow bellies on the falcon weighted hooks without a lot of trouble.  Every bait I have used with these hooks has swum straight for me.  The only trick is sliding the bait over the lead on the hook.  Adding smelly jelly, spitting on the hook, or sticking the hook in the water to lubricate the weight helps (I recommend not pulling a Bill Dance and actually sticking the lead in your mouth).  This is about the only weighted hook I have used.  I have collected numerous variations where you can screw the bait to the eye, different weight shapes and placements etc. and they all just sit in my boat without getting use.  I find that in open water it is just so much easier to either thread one on a jig head or shove a jig head inside one.  Even in situations where I am fishing around grass or other cover I am leaning more and more towards rigging them on a swim jig with a weed guard. If you can rig it on a jig head, I think you will have a much easier time getting a swimbait to swim true!  Revenge jig heads are a bit pricey but a good product for swimbaits.  Another I really like is made by Elken Lures in Idaho.  They make a small jighead called Neil's Mini Swimbait Jig Head.  You can rig just about any 3.5-5" hollow belly or small swimbait on these and there are many days where little swimbaits will load the boat with bass!  I know I didn't exactly answer your question about weighted hooks but those are my thoughts and I hope they help!  

Permalink Reply by Paul Harmon on April 2, 2012 at 5:26am

thank you guys, this is very usefull

Permalink Reply by Ron Gayton on April 2, 2012 at 7:39pm

usually if it spins on those hooks it's either crooked or you are going too fast.Have to fish them very slow on those hooks.A lot more versitale on a led head.I like the Kalin heads.easier to rig straight too.

Permalink Reply by Tim Bartle on April 3, 2012 at 4:50pm

What specific baits and hook size/weights are you using?

Permalink Reply by Paul Harmon on April 4, 2012 at 5:57am

4/0 and 5/0, I believe I was using 1/16 and 1/8 oz

Tim Bartle said:

What specific baits and hook size/weights are you using?

Permalink Reply by Paul Harmon on April 4, 2012 at 6:49pm

using 4 and 6 in strikeking shadalious
 
Paul Harmon said:

4/0 and 5/0, I believe I was using 1/16 and 1/8 oz

Tim Bartle said:

What specific baits and hook size/weights are you using?

Permalink Reply by Chris Blandi on April 5, 2012 at 2:43pm

You need to use more weight, plain and simple !

 

And David, are you saying you are rigging the swimbait like a traditional worm, pulling the bait over the lead weight on the hook shank ?  You are supposed to pierce the end and go in 1/2" or whatever, and pull the hook back out.  Next slide the line tie through the holes you just made..  Simple.

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on April 9, 2012 at 3:31pm

Good call Chris! Very slick!  I would say "I can't believe I never thought of that" but actually it doesn't surprise me!  Thanks for sharing!

Chris Blandi said:

You need to use more weight, plain and simple !

 

And David, are you saying you are rigging the swimbait like a traditional worm, pulling the bait over the lead weight on the hook shank ?  You are supposed to pierce the end and go in 1/2" or whatever, and pull the hook back out.  Next slide the line tie through the holes you just made..  Simple.

Permalink Reply by Clark Hess on April 9, 2012 at 7:42pm

Lol I hadn't thought of this either! haha I think I've ruined a few swimbaits for no reason :P
 
Chris Blandi said:

You need to use more weight, plain and simple !

 

And David, are you saying you are rigging the swimbait like a traditional worm, pulling the bait over the lead weight on the hook shank ?  You are supposed to pierce the end and go in 1/2" or whatever, and pull the hook back out.  Next slide the line tie through the holes you just made..  Simple.

Permalink Reply by Rick Johnson on April 14, 2012 at 7:10pm

Make sure that the eye where you tie the line is straight. If you are tying the line straight to the eye make sure the knot is straight, finally depending on which way the lure is tracking Rt. or Lt. bend the eye the opposite direction until it tracks straight. Also like others said SLOW DOWN.