Is it Possible???????

[Doug Hodel]

to win a tournament at Clearlake without throwing a swimbait.

It seems to me that most of the tournaments that I participate in, the winners are throwing swimbaits.

Any thoughts.

[Calistar]

Doug,
It is my opinion that its becoming more and more difficult to win ANY tournament ANYWHERE without throwing a swimbait. Simply said, swimbaits must be part of the arsenal of any tournament fisherman.

Doesn't matter if its Clearlake, the Delta, Pedro, Folsom, etc, etc...

Bigger baits generally catch bigger fish.

Greg.

[FISH2WIN55]

We won the rookie team at clearlake on Sunday with a swimbait. My partner and I are very new to it. I felt just like you after coming in the top ten about 5 times last year. What ever we did we could not win. We now have a second and first in two weeks throwing swimbaits. I agree with the post above that it does have to be in your arsenal. I do believe it is possible to win a tourney without them. Never count out jigs, cranks, or top water baits for big fish. Last year I had ten fish in the seven to eight pound range on LV500's. Just tie on the swimbait and start throwing, that is all we did and learn as you go. Talk to people and pick their brain. As a fisherman you can never stop learning.

[Cooch]

to win a tournament at Clearlake without throwing a swimbait. It seems to me that most of the tournaments that I participate in, the winners are throwing swimbaits. Any thoughts.

With the versatility of the various types of swimbaits, it's real simple, they are fish catchers. But I think ya gotta seperate the different types available. From the big Hudd type baits, to the multi body hard baits to the big wakers, each of these I have come to find are only effective in situation conditions. The plastic paddle tails are year round fish catchers.

For me, tossing the big plastic paddle tails in 4-7" variations on a lead head, have replaced tossing blades and cranks! The biggest factor in me making the decission ta do this, after two years or so playing with a variety of baits, I'm a lot more satisfied with the end results of tossing this type of swimbaits, than I ever was tossing both blades and cranks combined! Unfortunately, I'll prolly never have another 100 fish day when tossing these, but I know fer a fact, I'll have more 30-40 pound days than I ever could have dreamed of while tossing a blade or crank all day long.

It's a mindset, and level of confidence that must be fed with results. Much like jig fishing, the paddle tail swimbaits have convinced me they will catch fish 365 days a year on any pond fer any species of bass. I can't say that for a Hudd, SPRO, Shell Cracker, Kong, Slammer, Optimum or any of those I left out in this catagory. Yer average 5 bass caught on a swimbait, are typically gonna be better than the next guy. I truely never thought I'd run into a bait and build as much confidence in tossing it, as I have with a jig. I'm there with the swimbait, and it's all from personal experience in listening to what the bass are telling me. If three events in a row are won on the Delta tossing swimbaits, those bass are telling me something, even if I didn't personally catch them. Just look around, you been there, the bass are telling us they WILL eat these things.

Cool thing fer me is, this style swimbait, is just a jig really, so I'm STILL, a jig fisherman! YES, It is still possible! HAR! HAR! HAR!

[bassindon69]

I'll prolly never have another 100 fish day when tossing these, but I know fer a fact, I'll have more 30-40 pound days than I ever could have dreamed of while tossing a blade or crank all day long

Thats a fact jack! It took you long enough LOL!!!

For me I will stck to the big baits. But I don't do a bunch of tourneys LOL!!!

Don.

[Tom Proffitt]

What brands and colors would you recommend? How do you fish them for all of the seasons? Any web sites where I could find this info. I have never owned a swimbait.

Thanks for any help, Tom

[Gator]

SwimBaitNation.com

[RichThiel]

Tom,

Cooch and many of the above are totally correct in advice. You asked about colors to by. Shad, blue gill, ayu, and white for a start, add rainbow if you fish alot of lakes.

For some sites to look at

www.316lurecompany.com ,
www.baitsmith.com .
www.msslammer.com ,
www.river2seausa.com

Here is a start. The plastic's as cooch mentioned, most are made by reprepal companies here on the westcoast. Canyon Lures, AA Worms, Hammer, 316, money minnow, rainbow, and basstix are the most bought. Their of course more and everyone of them will work. Its a confidence subject in what company is best and of course your pocket book.

The above companies for plastics can be found thru your search engine

Good luck in your search for swimbaits (Hint) Stay with companies that are made in the USA.

Rich Thiel

[Tobe]

Not only is it possible, it is done a lot.

Jigs, crankbaits, and frogs are big money winners in Clear Lake, but when the swimbait bite is on it is tough to beat for sure.
One thing I can tell you with certainly is many tournaments are lost throwing swim baits.

I don’t consider the little 4’‘- 6’’ paddle tails a swimbait but I guess we call them that for the lack of a better name.

Cooch hit the nail on the head when he said throwing these small paddle tails are a substitute for blades.

Good luck Doug

[bassmike]

*NM*

[Bob Simard]

We weighed 38lbs and change last year on the Pond throwing 'a different bait.'

Also - I believe very few competitive fisherman that don't have a camera on them, i.e. most of us, don't give away our baits/techniques anyway. Particularly if you're on fish that you think will hold. There's to much preasure and to many bodies on boats.

For me, fishing with confidence based on knowledge and experience will get you farther than throwing today's 'hot bait.' On Clearlake once the water cools and the weeds die off, I'm going to get bit big, regardless of what I throw. It's a mindset I have. It doesn't always hold in tournaments but the confidence I have on the Pond when it's cold far surpases my confidence when it's hot. that makes a big difference on Derby Day.

I wish Wish WISH it would hold year round. But as soon as bed fishing starts I'm spun.

That to me - confidence - is more important than chasing today's hot bait - and you can spend a lot of money on swimbaits chasing that bite, particularly if you're competing. That's not to say they don't work. I've cashed enough checks on them. BUT - I throw them with confidence when I believe the conditions merit. Not just throw them all day.

my 02 cents

-Bob Simard