launching hudds

[21farms]

yesterday, i went out to my local pond to practice casting my huddleston deluxe for the first time. i don't have a swimbait rod and don't want to spend the money for one until i'm sure that i like this style of fishing. so, in the interim, i was throwing it with my 7'6" lamiglas XH flippin' stick and a 6'3" XH graphite muskie rod (a veritable broomstick). anyway, i could launch the hudd pretty good with either and get decent distance too (although the musky rod consistentyly gave me an additional 15-20 feet). anyway, here are my questions:

1. when i make these long, long casts, the lure hits the water with a very loud "KER-SPLASH!!!!!!"...am i doing something wrong or is that the same for everyone else? (i know there will be lots of times when i'll just be pitchin' it but i was wondering about the long casts).

2. after just a dozen casts, my arms and shoulders were starting to feel a little tired. would a rod made specifically for large swimbaits reduce the fatigue?

3. when working a swimbait back to the boat, are you supposed to keep the rod tip down? how would you be able to do that with an 8' foot rod unless you're really tall?

thanks for any help.

[Joe W.]

When making long casts it's always going to splash down hard. The bait weighs what? Like 5-6oz ? It's a huge chunk of rubber. I don't think the fish care, infact a lot of guys say it draws attention to the bait when it splashes down hard. Fish jump and splash all the time. Bass hear the splash and then see a trout, nothing unnatural about that. At least not unnatural enough for me to care.

You will probably be able to throw the swimbaits a lot longer witout wearing out your arms with a swimbait rod. I have been tossing these things for a couple years now and I still don't have a swimbait rod. I use a huge 8' 6" inshore casting rod and it launches these giant baits a mile. I see no reason to change rods since it's worked fine for me and I've stuck some fish on it and I never get tired from tossing it.

[Jason Milligan]

The correct rod will make casting SO MUCH EASIER! The correct rod will also aid in your hookset with so much line out and help keep the fish buttoned up once hooked. Don't worry about the splash. There's no way around it. Some people think it's actually an attractant, just like the sound of a trout/large baitfish jumping. I hold the rod almost straight at the bait, just ever so slightly to one side and downward. Kind of like you would when fishing a spinnerbait. If you hold the rod too much to the side you will not get as good of a hookset. Big fish have hard mouths and you may have a lot of line out. Hold the rod near straight at the bait, when you get bit start reeling like a maniac at the same time you give her a banshee hookset!

[mvanguilder]

Cast your hudd like you are swingin a golf club, this will make easier on your shoulders. Use the momentum.

As for the splash, its ok. Its kind of like how rattles work or a buzzbait works. Noise. Next time you go out pay attention to what the trout sound like when they are jumping around. I am guide on the motherlode and most of our lakes are constantly stocked with trout. The other big key is to never give them any slack. www.fishwrangler.net

[Joe W.]

Cast your hudd like you are swingin a golf club, this will make easier on your shoulders. Use the momentum.

You cast them underhand?

[Bassin]

I have seen(an used) the under hand cast. It is what I would call a side arm-under hand cast. Doesn't go as far, but is perfect when running the shore line with specific targets in near.
"Cast your hudd like you are swingin a golf club, this will make easier on your shoulders. Use the momentum. "

Your using the momentum of the bait to cast underhand, like he said, "like you are swingin a golf club".....

[21farms]

thanks, guys. good info, especially about the noise factor. i had been thinking i'd be pretty embarrassed out on the lake making so much noise on my casts when most other fisherman are trying to be as stealthy as possible so it's nice to read that loud splashes can be a Good Thing

[Sacto John]

1) Don't worry about the splash

2) Get a swimbait rod. You will make longer casts and will be able to throw the baits all day long without getting tired. It will also make hooking and landing a fish easier. There is no half way with this style of fishing and you can get a good swimbait specific rod for around $100.00 (Okumas are great rods for $119.00) so I suggest you bite the bullet and buy a swimbait specific rod.

2) Keep your rod tip pointed at your bait during the retrieve with most swimbaits. I am not a tall guy (5'5" with shoes on) and have never felt uncomfortable with a 7'6 or 8' rod.

[Joe W.]

thanks, guys. good info, especially about the noise factor. i had been thinking i'd be pretty embarrassed out on the lake making so much noise on my casts when most other fisherman are trying to be as stealthy as possible so it's nice to read that loud splashes can be a Good Thing

Don't worry about what other guys are thinking, they may laugh when you're lobbing a giant rubber trout and making a huge splash but ask them how funny it is when you stick a pig.

[bruizer343]

When making long casts it's always going to splash down hard. The bait weighs what? Like 5-6oz ? It's a huge chunk of rubber. I don't think the fish care, infact a lot of guys say it draws attention to the bait when it splashes down hard. Fish jump and splash all the time. Bass hear the splash and then see a trout, nothing unnatural about that. At least not unnatural enough for me to care.

You will probably be able to throw the swimbaits a lot longer witout wearing out your arms with a swimbait rod. I have been tossing these things for a couple years now and I still don't have a swimbait rod. I use a huge 8' 6" inshore casting rod and it launches these giant baits a mile. I see no reason to change rods since it's worked fine for me and I've stuck some fish on it and I never get tired from tossing it.

Cast your hudd like you are swingin a golf club, this will make easier on your shoulders. Use the momentum.

You cast them underhand?

thanks, guys. good info, especially about the noise factor. i had been thinking i'd be pretty embarrassed out on the lake making so much noise on my casts when most other fisherman are trying to be as stealthy as possible so it's nice to read that loud splashes can be a Good Thing

Don't worry about what other guys are thinking, they may laugh when you're lobbing a giant rubber trout and making a huge splash but ask them how funny it is when you stick a pig.

thanks for the tricks, I can't wait to stick a big one on a hudd.

[Joe W.]

When making long casts it's always going to splash down hard. The bait weighs what? Like 5-6oz ? It's a huge chunk of rubber. I don't think the fish care, infact a lot of guys say it draws attention to the bait when it splashes down hard. Fish jump and splash all the time. Bass hear the splash and then see a trout, nothing unnatural about that. At least not unnatural enough for me to care.

You will probably be able to throw the swimbaits a lot longer witout wearing out your arms with a swimbait rod. I have been tossing these things for a couple years now and I still don't have a swimbait rod. I use a huge 8' 6" inshore casting rod and it launches these giant baits a mile. I see no reason to change rods since it's worked fine for me and I've stuck some fish on it and I never get tired from tossing it.

Cast your hudd like you are swingin a golf club, this will make easier on your shoulders. Use the momentum.

You cast them underhand?

thanks, guys. good info, especially about the noise factor. i had been thinking i'd be pretty embarrassed out on the lake making so much noise on my casts when most other fisherman are trying to be as stealthy as possible so it's nice to read that loud splashes can be a Good Thing

Don't worry about what other guys are thinking, they may laugh when you're lobbing a giant rubber trout and making a huge splash but ask them how funny it is when you stick a pig.

thanks for the tricks, I can't wait to stick a big one on a hudd.

There were no "tricks" in that post. Here is a trick though, why don't you PM Mike and Cooch and beg them to take you out and show you some spots, oh wait, you've done that already. Never mind. Keep at it though and one day your skills will be great enough to out fish Senko Guru. LMFAO!

[Phil Burgess]

JOE STICK WITH SURFING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Joe W.]

JOE STICK WITH SURFING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Don't even start with me Flipper. I don't surf, but if I did I'd run a fin into your dolphin ***.

[Phil Burgess]

I DO BELEIVE YOU COULD EAT A DOLPHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHOMP CHOMP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe W.]

I DO BELEIVE YOU COULD EAT A DOLPHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHOMP CHOMP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah hell, I thought we were cool Phil. Guess not.

[georgecopple]

Matt Newman's Fig Rid Swimbait rod is SICK!! Thats what i throw my swimbaits on, its only like $100 the okuma rods a good also.

george

[nipples]

There were no "tricks" in that post. Here is a trick though, why don't you PM Mike and Cooch and beg them to take you out and show you some spots, oh wait, you've done that already. Never mind. Keep at it though and one day your skills will be great enough to out fish Senko Guru. LMFAO!

Now why you gotta go get all PMS-y on us Joe??? There was nothing negative nor bad about Bruizers post.

Did your mom forget to pack a twinkie in yer lunch bag again?

You having a bad day???

[Mike]

You aint "cool" with anyone! Go away "swimbait expert"

[Brian]

You aint "cool" with anyone! Go away "swimbait expert"

Yea, what Mike said.

[Joe W.]

There were no "tricks" in that post. Here is a trick though, why don't you PM Mike and Cooch and beg them to take you out and show you some spots, oh wait, you've done that already. Never mind. Keep at it though and one day your skills will be great enough to out fish Senko Guru. LMFAO!

Now why you gotta go get all PMS-y on us Joe??? There was nothing negative nor bad about Bruizers post.

Did your mom forget to pack a twinkie in yer lunch bag again?

You having a bad day???

You're smarter than that Nipples. Don't think for a second that Bruizer was not trying to provoke me with that post. It's obvious that Mike and Bruizer feel I have nothing to offer as far as fishing info in concered and that is fine with me. They should just avoid my posts and not say anything at all.

I have NEVER once on this site or any site claimed to be an expert in anything. I wil be the first to admit I have a ton to learn about bass fishing.

[mvanguilder]

Well if your not a golfer then maybe a low fastball hitter. It will not go as far but it will save your shoulders. I will throw it out and while its sinking I will back the boat off, letting it free spool. I don't do this all the time but sometimes they like it to sit on the bottom then reel in real slow. This works on the lakes.

[Joe W.]

You aint "cool" with anyone! Go away "swimbait expert"

Yea, what Mike said.

If you don't like me fine. Don't respond to any of my posts.

[Phil Burgess]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA SURFS UP DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!1

[nipples]

You're smarter than that Nipples. Don't think for a second that Bruizer was not trying to provoke me with that post. It's obvious that Mike and Bruizer feel I have nothing to offer as far as fishing info in concered and that is fine with me. They should just avoid my posts and not say anything at all.

I have NEVER once on this site or any site claimed to be an expert in anything. I wil be the first to admit I have a ton to learn about bass fishing.

Well Joe... When the vast majority of anglers read Bruiser’s post, it was not apparent to them that he was trying to provoke you.... If you read it from an outsider perspective, what he said was perfectly fine... In fact, it seemed like he was grateful for the advice you provided.

You ever hear the saying "Tis better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"? How bout "pick yer battles"?

It would have been far better to let the public portion ride and PM'd him directly if you felt the need.

Additionally, telling guys not to respond to your posts is not going to work. It's a forum, and posting thoughts, comments, etc is what it's all about... It would make more sense for me to say don't post anything if you can't take the feedback and potential ridicule.

Anyway... It's Friday and we could all use a little attitude adjustment this weekend... I'll be fishing Berryessa for the next two days so I'll be a tired and happy camper come Monday. I hope you can go get some quality time on the water Joe... refill the soul and find yer silly smile. I found mine last weekend on Folsom, gonna get a big booster shot at the Berry this weekend... lol


Good Fishing,

-Paul-

[StockOption]

blah...blah..blah... I found mine last weekend on Folsom, gonna get a big booster shot at the Berry this weekend.....

Sage advice just for you: leave the silly hat home.

[MIKE TREMONT]

I promised I wouldn't.

Good luck chucking those Hudd's. To aLL of you !

[nipples]

Sage advice just for you: leave the silly hat home.

There is nothing silly about a Stetson hat stocky... Chicks dig em and it keeps the sun off my ears and neck.

[bruizer343]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA SURFS UP DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!1

chomp chomp chomp....Rocks are yummy.......

[Guy Kelley]

I thought the post was about launching Hudds, were did all the other stuff come from??

[dockboy]

You need to get a true swimbait rod and find a casting stroke you like with the bigger baits. Today, you can get a great rod for less than $100. For a Hudd, you'll need a something that's at least a heavy, preferably a extra-heavy. Big rubber baits like that require a lot of backbone to throw effectively and set the hook on a long cast. You can usually get away with a heavy with wood swimbaits or smaller rubber baits like 7" Mission Fish or or something similiar. For stuff like the Mattsures and Baby E, you can use a heavy crankin' rod, or your flippin' stick, but you'll feel more comfortable with a light swimbait stick. Your Lami can probably throw everything up to a medium size Mission Fish or similiar sized bait well. The musky stick is not really an option, if you ask me. Too short. I often find fish hit a swimbait in the first half of a long cast. Try and set the hook on a medium-large sized plastic bait with a rod less than 7', and you'll find your hookup rate will be exceptionally low. What type of reel is on your musky rod? If its a big round reel with the capacity for at least 20lb. mono or flourocarbon, you are in business. That will save you money, at least until you find a reel to dedicate solely for swimbaits.
And don't worry about the splash from a big bait like a Hudd. We are always told that its always necessary to make as little splash as possible when the lure hits the water. With trout baits or bluegill baits, this often not true in a large portion of cases. The big prey fish bass eat make noise in many cases. A trout will splash around during the warmer months, and bluegill will break the water surface during the summer and spring. Even in the dead of winter, severely wounded fish will sit on the top of the water column or surface cause they have trouble getting deeper. A big splash makes bass curious, unless of course you land the bait right next to them.