Swimbait rods...

[brackshooter]

As a guy who is starting to fish swimbaits, I was wondering why the tendency to use longer rods? Are they only used for the heavier hard swimbaits? Is a shorter stiff rod just as good for the unrigged soft baits (yum money minnow, for example)?

thanks

[Basshound]

I find that it is much easier the throw the bigger baits with the longer rod. I personally use a Quantum coldwater salmon rod 8'6" heavy. 1 piece. Yes you can get away with a smaller rod than i use, but a spro bbz-1 is a hair under 5oz.

[OregonBassTeam]

I like a 7'6 rod they control and cast the baits well. The extra length of the rod helps to pickup the slack in the line as the fish eats the bait. Anything over 8ft just seems to be a little too long and makes it hard to set the hook...

[phil strader]

Just like the rods you are fishing with, all swimbaits are not created equally.....one rod is not suited for all swimbaits. I use Dobyns rods, and can give you a few tips on which rods I use for different styles of baits, you can translate these lengths and actions to the rods you are using:

Basstrix, money minnow, hollowbelly type baits are very versatile and one of the most productive swimbaits on the market right now. A "heavy" rod is not always the most effiective tool to throw these with. I use a 733 or 734, (7'3" 3 or 4 power...first two numbers are length feet and inches, third number is power rating, 1-6, with 6 being the heaviest). Hollowbellies are similar to fishing a spinnerbait, you want a rod with a light enough tip to feel the bait "working" for you. You need to be able to feel it coming over a stick, through some grass, feel the tail working, etc. Too stiff a rod won't allow you to feel subtle differences. You also want the fish to load the rod before setting the hook, a softer rod will catch more fish when fishing these baits.
Mid size baits I use a 764 or 765. 6" Ospreys, mikey, baitsmith... A little longer rod to throw the bait farther with accuracy. Again, the rod is not too heavy to feel the bait, but heavy enough to handle repitious casting of a big lure. You don't want a rod that is too stout for the bait you are fishing with because you can't get a feel for the action.
Big baits I use a 785 or a 805. Huddlestons, punkers, big Mikeys, big hard baits like BBZ, kongs, etc. Longer, stouter, takes the punishement of heavy baits.
I almost always use mono with swimbaits, I will go as light as 12lb with hollowbodies, and up to 25lb with big baits. I will make an exception sometimes with wakebaits and use braid....depending on the conditions and circumstances. What you will find with mono, is it is forgiving, you won't pull the bait away from as many fish as you will with braid, and you can adjust line size to get your bait deeper, or keep it higher in the water.
I throw a lot of swimbaits, and these are just some of my concepts.....

Phil Strader

Originally Posted by brackshooter

As a guy who is starting to fish swimbaits, I was wondering why the tendency to use longer rods? Are they only used for the heavier hard swimbaits? Is a shorter stiff rod just as good for the unrigged soft baits (yum money minnow, for example)?

thanks

[brackshooter]

Great replys guys, thanks alot....BTW, was out throwing a five inch hollow swimbait for a couple hours this afternoon, no hits but it sure was a beautiful afternoon...

[raptorschild]

Hey Phil,

What type of hooks do you recommend for fishing the 3.5 inch Yum money minnow.

And are there any smaller sized swimbaits that you think are better for Columbia SMB?

Your tips are great....keep em comin!

[phil strader]

I don't throw the 3.5s much, but when I do, I usually rig them on a darter head...either slide them on just like you would a worm or a grum, or work the head inside, poke the eye of the hook out between the baits eyes, and expose the hook centered out the back. I typically use 5-6 inch baits for smallies on the river...i am partial to basstrix jsut because I have used them for so long, but i have caught plenty on money minnows (pre YUM), and top shelf hollowbodies. with the 5 and 6 inch baits, I still prefer to use a darter type jig head, or tube jig head and work the head inside the bait with the hook exposed high out of the back of the bait. you may find this a bit awkward to rig, but it is durable and very effective. Try making a clean straight slit about 1/4 inch long directly down the cente of the back where the hook is going to be exposed, then slide the jig head through, press it as far into the nose as possible, then push the eye out of the plastic...should be slightly in front of the eyes on the bait. Having the hook eye and the exposed hook centered, plus having a little room for the hook to work in the slit you made will help insure the bait to run straight and true. If fishing around heavy grass, i will rig the 6 inch hollowbodies on a bellyweighted hook, my preference is a 1/8 to 1/4 oz in a 6/0 hook. I always expose the hook out the top of the bait, at most I will skin hook it back into the bait, but usually will leave a slight gap between the bait and the hook point....increases hook up percentage. When ever i can get away with it, i will add a #4 treble hook stinger to the the hook, cutting the bottom point off, leaving two points up, and using a piece of plastic tubing over the eye of the treble hook to keep in on the main hook.

other good smallie swimbaits, in my opinion are 5 inch top shelf in line swimbaits, LA sliders (if you can find them), and the little huddlesten shad baits....all of witch are weighted.

phil strader

Originally Posted by raptorschild

Hey Phil,

What type of hooks do you recommend for fishing the 3.5 inch Yum money minnow.

And are there any smaller sized swimbaits that you think are better for Columbia SMB?

Your tips are great....keep em comin!

[raptorschild]

Wow....thats awsome information Phil.

Do you think you miss some smaller fish by going that big? for example....if you are down to the wire in a tournament and feel you can move up by putting a 2.5lber in the boat, and the swim bite is hot, would you downsize then, or do the 2lbers hit the 5 and 6" swimmers all the same?

I love catching trophy size smallies....but I like to catch my 2lbers too! hehe.

[T Dot]

Originally Posted by brackshooter

As a guy who is starting to fish swimbaits, I was wondering why the tendency to use longer rods? Are they only used for the heavier hard swimbaits? Is a shorter stiff rod just as good for the unrigged soft baits (yum money minnow, for example)?

Originally Posted by phil strader

Just like the rods you are fishing with, all swimbaits are not created equally.....one rod is not suited for all swimbaits.

leverage

if you want to throw these baits at a great distance, with the least amount of fatigue, or even lengthy amounts of time, the longer rods will suit you better. you body [wrist, elbow, arm and shoulder] will thank you later.

as you move up the weight ladder [for both fish and lure], the longer / stronger rod will allow you to move that lure / fish with ease. you will use every inch of that rod when a fish hits at the boat, or even from a great distance.

for swimbaits i honestly think all new gear is needed, the rod being the most important aspect. in this part of the game, you either man-handle the fish, or they man-handle you. if you get easily worked over, its definitely time for a new rod.

every bait, will react differently with each rod. it is up you to decide which suits your style the best. at this time i have 10+ rods and each have a specific job.

if you are looking to pickup a rod, i would suggest looking into:

- dobyns
- okuma
- powell
- shimano

[bad habit]

good stuff....

I see length of Rod mentioned, and now it needs some backbone to handle that lunker, but what about action of the tip?

[T Dot]

Originally Posted by bad habit

good stuff....

I see length of Rod mentioned, and now it needs some backbone to handle that lunker, but what about action of the tip?

im not sure i understand your question. are you looking to see how senstive the tip is so you can detect bites? if thats the case, all bites are easily detected. i have yet to feel a soft / light bite.

the action as i know it, is based on your lure. your rod selection is dependant on the lure weight. if you use a rod that doesnt load properly, you will have a tough time fishing all day without any fatigue.

for topwater / punker type baits, i would suggest a shorter rod and one that is capable of quick snaps of the rod --> dobyns 795 ML

[bad habit]

Originally Posted by T Dot

im not sure i understand your question. are you looking to see how senstive the tip is so you can detect bites? if thats the case, all bites are easily detected. i have yet to feel a soft / light bite.

the action as i know it, is based on your lure. your rod selection is dependant on the lure weight. if you use a rod that doesnt load properly, you will have a tough time fishing all day without any fatigue.

for topwater / punker type baits, i would suggest a shorter rod and one that is capable of quick snaps of the rod --> dobyns 795 ML

Yes I am reffering to the action of the tip. Which can affect the action of the bait right? The action/sensitivity of the tip can either give you maximum or minimum lure action, or am I way off here? IT sounds like it really does not matter. Thanks again

[T Dot]

Originally Posted by bad habit

Yes I am reffering to the action of the tip. Which can affect the action of the bait right? The action/sensitivity of the tip can either give you maximum or minimum lure action, or am I way off here? IT sounds like it really does not matter. Thanks again

in most cases it doesnt matter.

where it comes into play, is if you need a bait to do:
- a 180
- if you make long casts with a punker type lure
- if you are using a ripbait

most of the big name players have that type of action