The Versatility Of A Swimbait

This guest post was written by Destin DeMarion, Bassmaster & FLW Professional AnglerFrom deep to shallow and everywhere in between a swimbait can be one of the most versatile tools in an angler’s arsenal. Historically, swimbaits have been known as a technique that produces the “big bite”. They're offered in sizes that would tempt the smallest bass, all the way up to the giant versions that we most commonly picture in California lakes. Countless numbers of companies carry them and carry products to present these offerings. Jig heads, weedless hooks, and umbrella rigs all have a place and time when rigging a soft plastic swimbait. A swimbait has even become a favorite as a vibrating jig or swim jig trailer (myself included).

Shallow Water

If I’m fishing around shallow grass, a weedless wide gap hook with a small Reins Tungsten pegged to the front is hard to beat. 1/16 ounce to 1/4 ounce are the sizes I most commonly use for this technique. As a rule of thumb, I will generally lean towards the lightest I can get away with. The reason being is I want the bait to stay up in the strike zone for as much of the retrieve as possible. If you use too heavy of a weight you will be more likely to spook the fish. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little, but this range is a good starting point. This is also where a swimbait used as a trailer on a vibrating jig or swim jig can really shine too. I’ve had a lot of success on places like the Potomac River where there are tons of shallow grass, using it that way and working it through the grass and ripping it free which is when most of your strikes will be.

Deeper Water

When fishing deeper water that is relatively debris free, I will go with an open jig head a majority of the time. The biggest reason for this is for hook ups. With the open jig head you will generally have a much better hook up ratio than fishing it with a weedless hook. This is because when texas rigging a plastic the hook has to penetrate through all of it, unlike with the open jig head where only a small amount of the hook is within the plastic. With this technique, the weight of your jig head(s) can vary anywhere from 1/8 ounce to 1 ounce. It all depends on how deep you are fishing, how much wind and current, and where the fish are positioned. A rule of thumb for me is to go as light as you can get away with, like with the pegged tungsten weight and texas rig. Like with the weedless rig, our main concern is keeping our bait(s) in the strike zone. However, another factor is the strain it puts on your body and on your equipment. This is especially true when throwing something like an umbrella rig which features multiple arms, jig heads, and swimbaits. Throwing a heavy umbrella rig can really wear you down, especially when fishing it all day in a tournament.

My Setup for Fishing a Swimbait

Rod: Powell 7’9” Med Hvy Umbrella Rig Rod or 7’6” Med Hvy Rod for single swimbaits. I like a rod between 7’6” and 8’ for either technique with some flex to absorb the shock of vicious strikes, but also has a lot of back bone to put the fight to the fish, instead of the other way around.Reel: High Speed Baitcaster (7:1 gear ratio or higher) because I want to be able to catch up with the fish. A lot of times you will be reeling and the fish will strike as it’s moving forward which can create slack in you line so you want to be able to pick up a lot of line quickly.Line: 17-25 lb Toray Superhard Upgrade fluorocarbon (clear water) or 66 lb Toray Bawo Braid (stained water or when fishing shallow grass and cover).Bait: The new Whip Em Baits Big Kahuna. With five proven fish catching colors, two great sizes (3.5” and 5”), and a hook slot for better hook ups when Texas rigging, it’s my go to.Jig head/Hook: For a jig head anything from a light 1/8 ounce head, all the way to 1 ounce for fishing deep. My common set up for an umbrella rig is two 1/8 ounce heads on the top two wires and three 1/4 ounce heads on the bottom three which helps keep it from rolling on the retrieve. For rigging weedless, I generally like a 3/0 to 7/0 wide gap hook with a heavier wire hook, especially when fishing it on braided line.Adding the swimbait to your angling arsenal will give you a versatile tool that will put more and bigger fish in the boat or on the bank. From largemouth to smallmouth and spotted bass, a swimbait catches all three in nearly any condition. Make sure you match the hatch for the best results. For more info on matching the hatch, check Lure Color Selection 101. Good luck on the water!For more fishing tips, recent news or to follow Destin DeMarion's tournament season, check out him out at DestinDeMarion.com or following on Facebook, Twitter, and his Youtube channel.