Swimbait tackle

[griz01]

New to the swimbait craze, I would like some info from all those that throw them regularly. I recently won a ABT SS Wagtail 6in 2 oz, ROF-12 in per sec bait and was wondering what the right type line and size would be, reel, rod all that stuff. Suggestions, recommendations please.

[185vsfrog]

Here is my setup for that type of bait. Dobyn's Mike long swimbait rod model 795ML 7'9" with Curado 300 Reel spooled with 20 lb P line Flourocarbon. It has the length to make bomb casts, yet still sensitive enough to feel grabs on your swimbait, and has enough backbone and crankin power to land double digit fish, no problem. To me that is the perfect setup for what you are talking about whether you fish Clearlake, Shasta, Berryessa or the Delta. I dont like braid for this as there is no stretch and no give. I like the small amount of strech and play in the flouro. I am interested in seeing how other people fish these downsized swimbaits.

[griz01]

I have heard alot of different opinions about braid vs. flouro vs. mono. How do you know which is best?

[big bass beckstrom]

If you are new to swimbaits I would suggest starting out with a good all around swimbait rod. My suggestion would be either a Powell 711MH or 711H swimbait rod. The 711MH is small swimbait/wakebait rod and I completely love it. If you are going to throw the hudd alot and some of the other heavier swimbaits I would go with the 711H. For the reel I would get a Daiwa Luna 300, it is powerful and cast extremely well, and it has a huge line capacity. For the line I would strongly suggest 25lb Snakeline, it is a 5 strand copolymer that is really soft for casting and has less stretch than mono. The line diameter is also smaller than most other lines. I used to use braid and it made me miss alot of fish. Flouro is alright if you arent going to throw any wakebaits.

here is the snakeline link http://shop.venomline.com/product.sc?ca ... roductId=8

Elliott

[201Pro]

I have heard alot of different opinions about braid vs. flouro vs. mono. How do you know which is best?

Concerning this issue, you have to consider this ... you have this loooong rod making this loooong casts ... what if you get bit waaay out there? With mono or with fluorocarbon, there's some stretch to a lot of stretch. If you're bit way out there, you may not move the bait enough to get a good hookset.

Most lines (other than braid) have around 15-30% stretch, call it 20% for discussion. If you throw your bait 100' (not hard to do), that means you will have to move your rod tip 20' before you can take out all of the line stretch before you can solidly penetrate the hook into the fish. If it's 15%, then move your rod tip 15' ... still a very daunting task.

There are tradeoffs with braid as well. So ... fish what you are comfortable with!!

[Chaozu]

You're gonna lose baits if you're using braid all the time. One bird's nest and bye bye bait. Yes there is stretch in mono and fluoro but if you lube your bait (scents) and have sharp hooks (owner super needle point), you should be okay. I would only use braid for topwater.

[185vsfrog]

This is to reply to 201 Pro. I am no expert by any means, but I know what works in the field for me. I have hooked a 10+ lb fish at the end of my cast and landed him on a hudd (single top hook). I was using a Dobyns 806 25 lb pline cxx (20% stretch?), and a Calcutta 300 TE (about 5:1 gear ratio). I had the fish hooked solid deep in the roof of the mouth. I am not sure about your 20' theory about setting the hook with 100 ft of line out. All I know is how it works for me. Many times I get bit on the end of my cast after the first couple of turns of the handle. Fish come up and splash, then proceed to get surfed and dragged to the boat. I only see benefit of braid when u are around tullies or matts, or need to really power a fish out of cover. If you throw hudds with braid and make super casts with a conventional reel, you will lose hudds, no doubt about it (on backlashes). About the smaller baits (baitsmith, ABT, 6" hudd, mission fish, osprey etc.) they all can be fished with 15lb mono or 20 lb flouro. As long as you have a long rod with some backbone, you can really bury the hook, even at the end of a cast (which happens alot). Just my two cents.

[J.B.]

I agree 25lb big game mono and a lot of Lube (Scent). I like my Okuma 7'11" and Cardiff reel.

[bassindon69]

I use no scent and cast a long ..way (with Mono) and still boat plenty of big bags of fish. Use Scent if you think it will help. I do not.
As far as your bait being way...out there and not getting um.
I get um

Keep it simple, If the fish are there and feeding you will catch them with or with out sent and with or with out braid. You get to pick

Best of luck to you.

Don.

[Tin Can]

I think the length of the rods we're all throwing these baits on is enough to offset any line stretch. A 7' 11" rod moves a lot of line on the hookset.

[ScottyJ]

The 20 percent stretch on 100' of line is the max amount of stretch that line will stretch if it is being pulled on each end (or pulled at one end and attached to an immovable object on the other). So with 100' of line out it could stretch 20' if you hooked a rock or a whale, but it doesn't need to stretch 20' before your swimbait on the end will move. So when you hook a 10lb LM 100' out your hookset will have enough force to set the hooks as long as there is no slack in the line. Granted, there may not be as much power at the end of 100' of mono as there is at the end of 10' of mono per say, but it will still generate enough umph to set the hooks. Hope that makes a little sense.

Scott

[BMX Bassin]

There was a line test somewhere( I got the link off of here) and Flouro has more stretch than people think. I like because it get my swimmer down when I want to run it a little deeper and its less visible than mono or braid and more sensitive than mono. Top water swimbaits and wakebaits I use Mono. It floats better.

[brambo0311]

Throw whatever you won that wagtail on, and forget about the swimbaits. They will ruin ya.

[L Dub]

Its a 2oz bait. Couldn't you get away with throwing it on a frog rod? I would think that a SWB rod would be too much and would wear you out pretty quick for a smaller bait.

[brambo0311]

I throw the ABT 6" and 6" hudds all on a powell 735, with a currado 25# seagar flourocarbon.

BIG SWIMBAIT SECRET : Here is how you will catch the most swim bait fish. When you are tying on your 10th 40-115 dollar swimbait that isnt gunna work. Drag a jig, you will get bit on that.

[mark poulson]

I agree 25lb big game mono and a lot of Lube (Scent). I like my Okuma 7'11" and Cardiff reel.

Good choice. $200+ out the door, and you're set. Check them out on Tacklewarehouse (banner on this site).
I'm 5'9", so this might be different for other guys. I use the Okuma 7'6" med heavy swimbait rod for 2-3 oz lures, and it's great. Kind of a parabolic action, so it loads well for easy casting, but not too soft. And the Cardiff holds plenty of 25lb mono, and casts really well.
A 7'6" rod is easier for me to use when I work the lure, making it turn and accerate, or when I throw a Punker, and work it back to the boat, as opposed to an 8' rod. I have 8' rods for Huds and other, bigger (heavier) lures, but the 7'6" is what I use when I'm paralleling the shore and don't want to introduce my lure to the rocks. Much easier to cast underhanded or pitch into pockets and tight to the rocks without the "oops". Swimbaits don't like to meet rocks on the fly.

[bassindon69]

I have said it for years now, don't worry about the rod maching the bait.
Go more with the rod maching the fish you are fishing for.
If you think I am full of it then so is the master of flipping Mr. Dee

I use my 7'6" and 7'11" XH Okuma's with baby wakes, Mission fish, 6" huds, deep cranks and even jigs. When a big girl hits, I will be ready

Don.