Hollow Body Tube Swimbaits

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daniel on June 30, 2009 at 6:52pm

Ive been using the Wave Worm ones a lot this season. They are only 5" but are much bulkier than the berkley, basstrix and yum style. I generally only fish then with a weighted EWG in shallow water for largemouth. I rig them weedless and skip them under trees and docks. The size and weight of this specific hollow body is key for skipping with a 7'6" rod. I also fish them a lot in pads like a spinnerbait or any sub surface lure.

If I'm fishing more open water for shallow smallies then Ill use the basstrix or berkley ones with a weighted EWG but just nose hook it. Seems like an odd way to rig them but the action is really good and most of the time the fish hits it head first or just follows so the hook being so far up doesn't seem to miss a bunch of short strikes. Ive just recently stated fishing them this way so I'll have to see if the strike changes during the season.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on June 30, 2009 at 6:52pm

These are a couple my friend got on a Basstrix 5". They are his two biggest SM to date and he lost another 3lber.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on June 30, 2009 at 7:39pm

I love both the 6" and the 5" Basstrix for largemouth and smallmouths. My favorite rigging method is the BladeRunner swimbait hook which was designed specifically for hollow body swimbaits using a Basstrix for the model. I don't use a trailer hook because I seem to get more bites without it, and less snags and debris. The better bass totally engulf this lure.

I fish it down to about 15 feet, but mostly near the surface. I hope to get better at working it deeper this summer, but I have other swimbaits like the LA Slider that I use in deeper applications.

ciao,
Marc

Permalink Reply by Daniel on June 30, 2009 at 8:02pm

Marc, Do you have any original LA Sliders?

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on June 30, 2009 at 9:07pm

I have some blade runners but I haven't used them much and only in the 5" Basstrix. I just got my 6" ones and I hope they rig easier in the larger bait.

Marc Marcantonio said:

I love both the 6" and the 5" Basstrix for largemouth and smallmouths. My favorite rigging method is the BladeRunner swimbait hook which was designed specifically for hollow body swimbaits using a Basstrix for the model. I don't use a trailer hook because I seem to get more bites without it, and less snags and debris. The better bass totally engulf this lure.

I fish it down to about 15 feet, but mostly near the surface. I hope to get better at working it deeper this summer, but I have other swimbaits like the LA Slider that I use in deeper applications.

ciao,
Marc

Permalink Reply by Mike Matkowski on June 30, 2009 at 9:10pm

I will never forget the very first Basstrix swimbait smallie I hooked, a 5.7 lber before I finished my coffee, kind of made me a believer! I have also tried the 6 " Kamakazee which is a deeper bait and has great tail action, but I haven't tried the smaller Kamakazee that Neil Russell used to win the FLW.


Marc Marcantonio said:

I love both the 6" and the 5" Basstrix for largemouth and smallmouths. My favorite rigging method is the BladeRunner swimbait hook which was designed specifically for hollow body swimbaits using a Basstrix for the model. I don't use a trailer hook because I seem to get more bites without it, and less snags and debris. The better bass totally engulf this lure.

I fish it down to about 15 feet, but mostly near the surface. I hope to get better at working it deeper this summer, but I have other swimbaits like the LA Slider that I use in deeper applications.

ciao,
Marc

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on June 30, 2009 at 9:40pm

Here is that Basstrix smallie that Mike spoke about. I was going prefishing on the Columbia and Mike jumped in the boat for a few minutes on his way to work; as you can see it was still dark out! That bass crushed his Basstrix.

Eric, you have to use the smaller size BladeRunners on the 5" Basstrix, and moisten the weight before sliding it in. Then you won't split the bait. The 6" size have no problem at all with any size BladeRunner hook.

danielt: yes, I have a stash of original LA Sliders and lots of their hooks, and no, they aren't for sale! I also have some original Sliders in the larger sizes that I have never fished... Their new stuff looks good, but I have not used it yet.

ciao,
Marc

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• DSC00001.JPG, 1.9 MB

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on June 30, 2009 at 9:44pm

Oh, and I guess I should say that Basstrix Spintrix is a real sleeper; check out the largemouth it produced for me this year (below).

ciao,
Marc

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• CasitaswithMarcantonio007.jpg, 785 KB

Permalink Reply by Jerry on June 30, 2009 at 10:09pm

Great info. Time to get with the program and get some. What colors do guys recommend? Nice Casitas fish Marc. I miss that lake.

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on June 30, 2009 at 10:31pm

I did real well all March fishing Lake Terrell LM with Trout colored Money Minnows on 3/32 oz falcon hooks. The water was very cold and stained and these fish wouldn't touch much anything else. I have a feeling the Money Minnow wouldn't work as well in clear water though. Looks kind of cartoonish. It was pretty amazing though because these fish were almost swallowing the bait in low 40 degree water. I even had one take it off the surface in 43 degree water at the end of a cast! I have some basstrix I need to start using more and some Kamakazee Treats on the way. Can't wait to try these more!

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on July 1, 2009 at 1:24am

Was Russell using the 3.5 or 4 inch Kamakazee? How was he rigging it? Did he mention that I taught him how to fish?

Mike Matkowski said:

I will never forget the very first Basstrix swimbait smallie I hooked, a 5.7 lber before I finished my coffee, kind of made me a believer! I have also tried the 6 " Kamakazee which is a deeper bait and has great tail action, but I haven't tried the smaller Kamakazee that Neil Russell used to win the FLW.


Marc Marcantonio said:

I love both the 6" and the 5" Basstrix for largemouth and smallmouths. My favorite rigging method is the BladeRunner swimbait hook which was designed specifically for hollow body swimbaits using a Basstrix for the model. I don't use a trailer hook because I seem to get more bites without it, and less snags and debris. The better bass totally engulf this lure.

I fish it down to about 15 feet, but mostly near the surface. I hope to get better at working it deeper this summer, but I have other swimbaits like the LA Slider that I use in deeper applications.

ciao,
Marc

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on July 1, 2009 at 1:01pm

As finesse Top water. Its a little different way, I learned from Sean James a So Cal guide on Castaic about 4 Septembers ago. We threw clear lucky craft gunfish and would follow it with the Basstrix Flashtrix 3" and 4" to mimic the land locked smelt that are in huge schools on Castaic. Rig them with 1/8 ounce weighted falcon 2/0 hooks on 8lb braid. The hook gives them weight for casting but the hollow body and braid keeps them on top. Chuck them out there and start reeling. Adjust your speed to keep them on top making a nice V across the top of the water. The straight tail of the Flashtrix is required; the paddle tail versions don't have the same presentation. I have since tried it here on Tanwax in the late summer time and it works nicely. Just have to be a little more precise with the casting.

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