Swimbait Buyer's Guide: Glide Baits, Hardbaits, and Topwater

Today we're exploring big swimbaits! The buyer's guide series continues with an in-depth look at glide baits, multi-joint hardbaits, and even a few topwater options. You can go broke buying swimbaits and they're not all created equal so today we're sharing some of our favorite baits that consistently produce BIG bass!

If you're wondering which baits you should try or which baits to buy for a loved one, look no further. Today's focus is hard swimbaits but tomorrow we'll follow up with a BONUS video on soft swimbaits. From budget friendly to extreme, we're covering all the bases and making it as easy as possible for you.

Below you'll find a breakdown of the baits by category, recommended colors, as well as our rod and reel choices for various baits. If you have any questions be sure to leave them in the comment section and we'll help you make your selection.

Glide Baits...

-Gan Craft 230: http://bit.ly/2fLjSnm

(Dark Rainbow, Ghost Chart Shad, Se Ayu, Stocker Rainbow)

-S-Waver 168 and 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

(Lite Trout, Rainbow Trout, Warden Hitch, Bone)

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide: http://bit.ly/2DcI1yM

(Trout and Carp)

-Baitsanity Tails: http://bit.ly/2R0yP7x

(Holdover Trout Hard PVC, Dark Carp Hard PVC)

Topwater Baits...

-Spro BBZ 8" Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2cU1x5P

(Any color for topwater)

-Johnny Rat Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2q9CNA8

(Either color but overall we prefer the larger Johnny)

Multi-Joint Baits...

-Jackall DowzSwimmer 220: http://bit.ly/2OqDNMM

(RT Spawn Gill, RT Trout, Ghost Scale Minnow)

-Bucca's Bull Shad Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2eJ8gWM

(Prefer 5" and 6" Sizes)

-Bucca's Bull Gill: http://bit.ly/2f1ASHn

(Bluegill and Dirty Bone)

Big Glidebait Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300 AHG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- 80 lb Power Pro MaxCuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 30 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Small Bait Rod...

Rod- IMX Pro 904 SWBR: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Reel- Metanium MGL HG 150: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- 30 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 15 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Budget Friendly Combo...

Rod- Dobyns 795 Fury: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Cardiff 300: http://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Line- 65 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- 25 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

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Giant Midwest Bass Eat Swimbaits Too!

Tim traveled 2500 miles to throw swimbaits and topwater for BIG bass in the Midwest and it worked! The big Michigan Smallmouth fell victim to the the swimbait just like their cousins out West. Time after time we're reminded that a bass is a bass, no matter where they swim.

We get asked over and over again if our techniques will work in a particular state or on a particular lake. Anglers constantly overlook the simple truth that all bass are inherently the same. They live in different environments but their feeding activity, movements, behavior, etc... are all identical.

Swimbaits work from coast to coast. Topwater, finesse, reaction, etc... will catch bass EVERYWHERE when the conditions are right. In today's video Tim gives a detailed step-by-step look at a day on the water in Northern Michigan as he breaks down the lake, locates the giant bass, and uses a handful of key baits to consistently put them in the boat.

Below is a breakdown of the gear he used to accomplish this feat:

Baits...

S-Waver 168 Swimbait (Light Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Reaction Innovations Vixen (Bone): http://bit.ly/2rp11nr

Matt Allen Swimbait Head: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Keitech 4.3 Fat Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Strike King Dream Shot: http://bit.ly/2aAoUoR

Vixen Modifications...

Split Ring- Owner Hyperwire #3: http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Front Hooks- Owner ST-36 Size 4: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

Rear Treble- Owner Feather Treble Size 4: http://bit.ly/2dJH8V6

Sunglasses For Clear Water/Cloudy Skies (Copper Lenses): http://bit.ly/2glE3eN

Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ulterra: http://bit.ly/2PoYlTd

S Waver Combo...

Rod- G Loomis GLX 894C JWR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

Reel- Metanium MGL: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Sunline XPlasma 50 lb: http://bit.ly/2OR5i2j

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Vixen Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Chronarch MGL: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB

Line- Sufix 832 50 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

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How To Catch Striped Bass

From Topwater to Swimbaits, we show you how to target big striped bass! If you've ever wanted to catch Striper on artificial lures, this information will help you be more successful. Come along for an exciting day on the water!

We begin throwing big swimbaits in the early morning hours. As the day unfolds we transition to a combination of swimbaits, topwater both big and small, and swim jigs. This combination allowed us to maximize our time on the water, increase or shot a big bites, without catching too many smaller fish.

Traditional striper fishing involves cut bait, rattle traps, and small topwater lures. These are all incredibly effective ways to catch striped bass, but they're not great ways to consistently TARGET Big Striped Bass. We use a combination of swimbaits and topwater to eliminate the smaller bites and more effectively target the big bass that we're searching for.

The baits in order of appearance...

S-Waver 200 (Light Trout, Powder, Bone): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Evergreen Shower Blows Topwater (150): http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Jackall DowzSwimmer 220: http://bit.ly/2OqDNMM

R2S Rover 128 Topwater: http://bit.ly/2acSVea

California Swim Jig 3/4 oz (Dirty Shad, Crappie, Citrus Shad): http://bit.ly/2auXfmx

Keitech 4.8 Swimbait (French Pearl, Sight Flash): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Swimbait Setup...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Reel- Tranx 300: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- 80 lb Power Pro MaxCuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 30 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Budget Swimbait Combo...

Rod- Dobyns Fury 8' Heavy Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano Cardiff 300: http://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Line- 80 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Swim Jig/Large Topwater Combo...

Rod- Expride 7'6" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Curado 200K: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

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Topwater Challenge: He Called His Bites!

From the first cast to the last, these bass were chewing! When you hear guys talking about frog fishing, these are the bites they dream about! Throw in a variety of tips about adapting frog fishing to your style instead of trying to fit yourself into the frogging mold, and this video is sure to help your fishing!

Matt has been struggling with his hookset as he regains strength after his accident. Instead of fighting it and continuing to lose fish he switched to smaller frogs and softer rods and was able to executive much more efficiently. This method works for anyone of smaller stature or anglers that are young/old that struggles to get a strong enough hookset for frog fishing. 

Matt's Baits...

-Bully Wa 55 Frog (Ghost, Little Allen): http://bit.ly/2axyR2a
-Gavacho Frog (Red Frog, Chart Strike Gill): http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

Other great frogs for this method...

-Live Target 45T: http://bit.ly/29YiZHC
-Bobby's Perfect Frog 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2abpR40
-Spro BronzeEye Baby Popper Frog: http://bit.ly/2PoPH7L

Our Favorite Frog Rods...
-Dobyns Champion 7'3" XH (736): http://bit.ly/2abq8nl
-Shimano Expride 7'3" XH: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Budget Friendly Rod...
-Dobyns Fury 7'3" Extra Heavy: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Softer Frog Rod Alternatives...
-Zodias 7'2" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe
-Megabass Orochi XX 7' Tour Versatile: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Budget Friendly Softer Rod...
-Exage 7'2" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Frogging Reels...
High-End- Metanium MGL: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB
Matt's Choice- Shimano Curado 200K 7:1 Ratio: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh
Budget Friendly- Casitas 150: http://bit.ly/2geKxsp

Favorite Line- Power Pro MaxCuatro 65 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Great Alternative- Sufix 832 65 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
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