Swimbaits were originally created as a novelty, but eventually grew into an effective way to reel in any predatory fish, any time of year. They excel in catching fish of any size, from small to fish over 10lbs! There are so many different types of swimbaits, ways to use them, and fish you can catch with them, that it can be overwhelming to even the most experienced anglers. We’re going to take a deep dive into small swimbaits, and how you can most effectively use them.
What Is A Swimbait
Swimbaits are a loosely defined type of fishing lure that are used to mimic the swimming movements of a fish used as bait. Swimbaits can be anywhere from 2 to 10 inches. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Swimbaits can mostly be separated into two main categories.
Hard Body Swimbaits
Hard bodied swimbaits are typically made out of wood or plastic. Their movements depend on the amount of joints they contain. Single joint swimbaits, also called glide-baits, can be used in a variety of situations. Multi-jointed swimbaits have more realistic motion and have their own pros and cons.
Soft Body Swimbaits
Soft bodied swimbaits are almost exclusively made of soft plastic or rubber. Soft bodied baits are designed to look much more realistic compared to hard bodied baits. They also come in many different subcategories, each with their own unique purposes.
What Types Of Fish Are Swimbaits Good For
Swimbaits are primarily used to catch all different types of bass. However, the sheer amount of possible combinations of size, shape, and material allows for swimbait to be effective at catching any fish that eats other smaller fish.
What Size Swimbait Is Best
Longer swimbaits, that are 8 to 10 inches long, work well for catching very large fish. Meanwhile, the smaller soft bodied bait, measuring 2 to 6 inches, can be used for almost any size predatory fish. In fact, besides being more versatile, smaller soft bodied swimbait can even work better than larger bait in certain situations.
How Do You Use A Small Swimbait
Swimbait is most effective in clear water, so try to pick a spot to fish where the water has decent visibility. Small swimbaits, measuring 2 to 4 inches, can actually be more effective at catching fish on sunny days or in extreme temperatures when big bass are ignoring larger swimbaits.
What Is The Best Swimbait Setup
The best way to rig swimbaits is with a treble hook. The treble hook has multiple possible points of contact versus a lead head hook which only has one. Additionally, there are a few other things to consider if your swimbait setup like line type, gear ratio, and rod action.
What Type Of Line Is Best For Small Swimbaits
A small swimbait doesn’t require a very heavy weight line to be effective. A braided mainline in the range of 8 to 15 lbs will be the best choice. You can accompany that with a 6 to 10 lb fluorocarbon leader for the best results. Of course, the weight of your line will depend on the size of the fish you are trying to reel in.
What Is The Best Gear Ratio For Swimbaits
Gear ratio can have a direct impact on the ease of difficulty of retrieving your reel. Swimbaits with little resistance can be used with a faster reel. Swimbaits with bills and thus more pull are best suited for a 5-to-1 gear ratio. However, if you’re looking for one rod to work with just about any swimbait, then pick one with a 6-to-1 gear ratio and a good drag that you can lock down.
What Is The Best Rod Action For Small Swimbaits
When using a hard-bodied swimbait, a rod with a parabolic, moderate action will typically be the best fit. Meanwhile, if you are using a soft bodied swimbait, you may want to pick a rod with faster action.
What Is The Best Time Of Year To Use Small Swimbaits
The best part about swimbaits is their year round effectiveness. You can use swimbait in just about any location, under any temperature or weather conditions. However, one of the advantages of small swimbaits is their extra effectiveness in extreme temperatures. Additionally, in the summer when you may not want to chase fish all day, a small swimbait could be a perfect solution.
Get Swimbaits At Lucky Lure Tackle
Small swimbaits are a perfect way to catch any predatory fish, any time of year. It should be a staple of any angler’s tacklebox. If you’re looking for a huge selection of all types of swimbaits, look no further than Lucky Lure Tackle. We have a wide variety of soft bodied and hard bodied baits that come in a plethora of designs, colors, and sizes. Our experienced staff would be happy to help you find the perfect lure for a perfect day out on the water. Start filling up your tackle box today by shopping online or visiting us in person!
Make sure to check out all our fishing gear including boat accessories, chatterbaits, crappie baits, fly tying, and other fishing accessories. Also visit our website to view all the upcoming fishing tournaments and fishing events in the area. Lastly, be sure to check out all our blogs to stay informed about the latest fishing tips and tricks.
Contact Lucky Lure Tackle
Address: 9427 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK, 73120
Phone: 405-749-1808