There are a lot of swimbaits out there and ‘large’ can mean a lot of things to a lot of people so let’s take a second to clarify what I mean what I say ‘large swimbait’. In this case, when I say ‘large swimbait’ I’m specifically referring to a 5″ paddle tail swimbait with an exposed hook like the one pictured in this article. I typically like to throw this type of a lure on a heavy rod when the fish are feeding on shad and there isn’t too much grass or cover around.
As far as specific lures go, I currently like the Bass Mafia Daingerous Loaded right now. They offer a shallow and a deep model in the 5″ size, and I use both of them. As far as colors go I like a more natural shad looking color if the visibility is good, and a white color (in this case ‘violet albino’) if the water isn’t as clear and the visibility is lower.
This particular lure is a line-through swimbait, which means that when you get a bit the hook will actually come out of the bait. This (and the fact that it’s an exposed hook) can help with your hookup ratio and will also help the lure last longer since it won’t get as damaged since it usually gets tossed away from the fish and slides down the line after they bite it. If the fish are feeding on larger shad and there isn’t a lot of cover for you to get stuck on, this can be a great option.
Lure Summary – Large Swimbait
Suggested Rod Length: 7’2″ – 7’6″
Suggested Rod Power: Heavy
Suggested Rod Action: Fast
Suggested Reel Type: Casting Reel
Suggested Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Lure Weight (est.): 1oz
Tackle Required
- 17lb Fluorocarbon Line
Suggested Soft Plastic Baits
- 5″ Bass Mafia Daingerous Loaded (Shallow)
- 5″ Bass Mafia Daingerous Loaded (Deep)