Swimbaits 101

Spent an hour or so this evening at Backwaters Outfitters in Lexington listening to Bill Lowen (nice guy) explain swimbaits and the rigging of these baits. I really didn't realize how many rigging options there are with these.
He also cleared up another question I had and that was where are all the large weighted hooks? 6/0 and 7/0 hooks have been tough to come by and we were told that since the soft body swimbaits are coming out so quick that the hook supply can't keep up. Some of the larger companies are buying up huge amounts of the hooks so we will have to be patient. I bought some since they had a few packs but I believe they sold out for now. Great seminar and it's awesome that the guys at Backwaters keep giving back to the local anglers....major kudos to them!:)

Swimbaits are GREAT. I have only used them a couple of times but caught some really nice Smallies at night fishing the deep flats next to the river channels. Mark Zona said it best on his El Salto show with Swindle and Hackney, the question to Zona was how do you fish the Swimbait and his answer was very simple "Throw It". That is just about it, throw it let is hit the bottom and slow roll to the boat keeping contact with the bottom and a few pauses and jerks to imitate a fleeing shad or crayfish off the bottom and wait for the rod to load up. I was using the 3" and 5" Storm Wild Eyes and taking a glass rattle and shoving it into the bait just behind the hook to give a little noise. Only used it once at the Dale this year but it produced some really good ones. Planning on having one tied on a bunch when I hit the water again, especially for the deeper ledge fishing that I do after the spawn. These fish see so many C Rigs, T Rigs, Jigs that the Swimbait bite will be something a little different and I think it will be a success. Swimbaits - Throw It, Let it sink to the bottom, reel it slow and erratic and wait for the rod to LOAD UP. The few bites that I got are not like any bite on any other bait. It is not the jolting bite like the big night spinner bait or the hit and swim off like soft plastics the rod simply loads up and she is there. Good Luck

Seen Jason Quinn fishing Swimbaits on TV yesterday and bought me 4 packs. Tried them in a pool man they look great.Now I just need to go fishing.

Tight Lines
Jerry Cole

Elnut,
That's what Mr. Bill Lowen talked about as well. It's just another approach or technique to present to the bass. It seems that some smaller profile jointed swimbaits are about to hit the market and I'll buy a few just to try it around here.
It was good to have a local Pro spend time with us little guy's!:)

I just bought some of the 4" swim baits made by Reaction Strike----I bought them at a place here in town that's name will get blocked out, so I will say it rhyme's with BRICKS Sporting Goods. LOL!!!!
They look very simliar to the Basstrix ones that everybody wants.
I was wondering the same thing about the weighted hooks---I saw VMC makes some weighted in 4/0,5/0 and 6/0
I was going to try these swimbaits on one of those Swimming Hornets jig head and little spinner combo.
Can't wait to give them a try.