Is a swimbait rod worth it? 2024

EGbassing reply :

Well, I managed to save up more than I probably ever have before from pet sitting jobs around the neighborhood. (not quite old enough to get a real job yet) So I'm thinking about getting the 13 fishing Defy Black swimbait rod and a River2Sea S-Waver. Is it worth it to buy a rod just for a swimbait? Right now I only have two main rods (M/F, MH/F) so I wonder if I would be better off just buying a good heavy jig rod, or a finesse setup. Thoughts?

MN Fisher reply :

I would go with a finesse rig before a swimbait one. More techniques available with a ML finesse rig.

EGbassing reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 10:31 PM, MN Fisher said:

I would go with a finesse rig before a swimbait one. More techniques available with a ML finesse rig.

I came pretty close to buying one of those, but the pond I fish is filled with 5+ pounders, so that made me wonder if a rod I can throw huge lures on would be better. Plus you don't get to drop $50 at a time on ten inch lures. ????

MN Fisher reply :

The finesse rig I have, I load with 8# test. It'll handle those 5 lbrs, though you'll have to work them in rather than horse them in. Lots of larger fish have been caught on the smaller lures you use on a finesse rig.

Added benefit - makes a pretty good panfish rig if you want something different.

EGbassing reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 10:51 PM, MN Fisher said:

The finesse rig I have, I load with 8# test. It'll handle those 5 lbrs, though you'll have to work them in rather than horse them in. Lots of larger fish have been caught on the smaller lures you use on a finesse rig.

Added benefit - makes a pretty good panfish rig if you want something different.

Well, I was thinking more about the size of the lure I'm throwing. I use to finesse fish that pond a lot and I never caught anything over four pounds or so. There are just so many huge bass in there, plus the main forage is enormous gizzard shad. (I've seen 12" shad on the bank before) Anyway, I'll still consider a finesse rig. Despite only catching 1~ pounders during the time I used to throw ned rigs I still enjoyed it because I caught so many of them.

J Francho reply :

Do you want to throw swimbaits or jigs?

the reel ess reply :

S Waver is not that heavy. You can get by with the MH/F for that particular lure. The two other setups you mentioned were more useful, IMO. You can even use the jig rod for the swimbait. I have a few big swimbaits and the only one I've gotten much action on is the SPRO rat. I just use my basic MH rod for it. Swimbaits are a niche and I wouldn't buy a dedicated combo for for them until I had all the other bases covered. Besides, monster bass will bite a jig or spinnerbait.

Google "6 bass rod system" and that will give you the basics. Just my $0.02, FWIW.

EGbassing reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 10:59 PM, J Francho said:

Do you want to throw swimbaits or jigs?

Tough question, because if I had to choose one I would say jigs, but I can still get by pitching jigs with my MH. I can't horse them in or set the hook too hard, but it works.

J Francho reply :

This rod will do both, and I believe they are on clearance.

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/mat-daddy-helios-review.html

EGbassing reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:00 PM, the reel ess said:

S Waver is not that heavy. You can get by with the MH/F for that particular lure. The two other setups you mentioned were more useful, IMO. You can even use the jig rod for the swimbait. I have a few big swimbaits and the only one I've gotten much action on is the SPRO rat. I just use my basic MH rod for it. Swimbaits are a niche and I wouldn't buy a dedicated combo for for them until I had all the other bases covered. Besides, monster bass will bite a jig or spinnerbait.

Google "6 bass rod system" and that will give you the basics. Just my $0.02, FWIW.

My MH is rated up to 7/8 ounce and the 168 S-Waver is almost two ounces. I think I would be too worried about breaking/damaging my MH with it.

the reel ess reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:16 PM, EGbassing said:

My MH is rated up to 7/8 ounce and the 168 S-Waver is almost two ounces. I think I would be too worried about breaking/damaging my MH with it.

Ah, I was looking at the 120 size. Even so, if given the choice between a jig combo and a dedicated swimbait combo I'd take the jig. You can dabble in swimbaits with the jig combo. The swimbait combo is less versatile. If you look around enough, you can probably get a frog combo that's capable of all three techniques, though not specifically tailored to swimbaits.

There will probably be complete days in a row nothing will bite the heavy swimbait.

Largies4Life reply :

Here's my two cents. Instead of getting a rod dedicated for swimbaits, what about a Heavy action rod in the 7'3"-7'6" range that will be able to handle an S-Waver or your "smaller" sized swimbaits. This rod can also be a frogging rod and a pitching/flipping jig rod as well. Since money can be an issue, my vote would be go towards a rod that can handle multiple techniques rather than just one, if at all possible!

EGbassing reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:24 PM, the reel ess said:

Ah, I was looking at the 120 size. Even so, if given the choice between a jig combo and a dedicated swimbait combo I'd take the jig. You can dabble in swimbaits with the jig combo. The swimbait combo is less versatile. If you look around enough, you can probably get a frog combo that's capable of all three techniques, though not specifically tailored to swimbaits.

There will probably be complete days in a row nothing will bite the heavy swimbait.

Thanks! If I don't go with the swimbait rod I'll probably go with the 13 Fishing Defy Heavy.

Edit: It looks like the only Heavy option is a 7'11". Does that sound too long to you?

NittyGrittyBoy reply :

Here my 2 pennies worth.

You bank fish. You don't know the depth/structure of your pond.

Are you willing to lose $50 swimbaits? Only you can answer that question. If you are, swimbait might right for you!

EWREX reply :

unless you're fishing on a boat with big swimbaits, i wouldn't personally invest in a dedicated swimbait setup. you can spend your money on more useful setups that compliment your water availability.

J Francho reply :

What's a boat have to do with fishing swimbaits?

EGbassing reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:34 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Here my 2 pennies worth.

You bank fish. You don't know the depth/structure of your pond.

Are you willing to lose $50 swimbaits?

Well, I wouldn't be willing to lose $50 swimbaits, but this pond just doesn't have much cover aside of the laydowns on the bank. I've not lost many lures at all to deep cover. I've snagged plenty of jigs in shallow cover though. I don't really plan to try to skip these glide baits up under cover though.

EGbassing reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:43 PM, EWREX said:

unless you're fishing on a boat with big swimbaits, i wouldn't personally invest in a dedicated swimbait setup. you can spend your money on more useful setups that compliment your water availability.

Thanks. I just feel like I have mostly what I need right now though. The only real gap I have is a finesse setup, seeing that I can get by fishing jigs/frogs on my MH. Maybe I should just get a swimbait rod, jig rod, and finesse rod... ????

On 4/4/2019 at 11:50 PM, ResoKP said:

whats up with all these noob answers

bottom line is, if you want to throw 2oz + swimbaits, you'd much rather have a swimbait rod that can handle those lure sizes

otherwise, be prepared to snap some rods

Yeah, I tried fishing the only glide bait I have, a $5 one from Academy Sports that actually has surprisingly good action, on my MH the other day and even with those soft lob casts I was getting worried about my rod. I was definitely exceeding it's oz. ratings.

EWREX reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:50 PM, EGbassing said:

Thanks. I just feel like I have mostly what I need right now though. The only real gap I have is a finesse setup, seeing that I can get by fishing jigs/frogs on my MH. Maybe I should just get a swimbait rod, jig rod, and finesse rod... ????

i'm not knocking big swimbait fishing at all, but i've caught some of my biggest fish on a 7' medium light throwing small baits! learn your gear and use it properly and the big fish will come. tight lines bro!

NittyGrittyBoy reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:46 PM, J Francho said:

What's a boat have to do with fishing swimbaits?

Easy, your on the bank and hang one up your swimming.

EGbassing reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:53 PM, EWREX said:

i'm not knocking big swimbait fishing at all, but i've caught some of my biggest fish on a 7' medium light throwing small baits! learn your gear and use it properly and the big fish will come. tight lines bro!

Yeah I know; thanks for the help man. Tight lines!

ResoKP reply :

never knew having a boat was a requirement to swimbait fishing

i should probably read the labels more carefully on these lures, maybe it says "do not use unless you have a boat"

Joshua van Wyk reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:57 PM, ResoKP said:

never knew having a boat was a requirement to swimbait fishing

i should probably read the labels more carefully on these lures, maybe it says "do not use unless you have a boat"

Not a requirement but definetly a recommendation. If you get hung up from the bank you can kiss $50 goodbye unless you're willing to go for a swim. On a boat you have a much better chance of retrieving your lure in case of a hang up.

gilkeybr reply :

I have used a 7' MH/F to sling an S-Waver 168 plenty. But, of course, not every MH/F is the same. So maybe yours are a bit softer than mine.

I think the suggestions of getting a 7'-7'6" H/F rod are wise. Will give you the ability to throw medium sized glide baits as well as other heavier rigs when it suits your fancy. When you go up to a full blown swimbait rod, they're a more "single-use", IMO

NittyGrittyBoy reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 10:48 PM, EGbassing said:

Plus you don't get to drop $50 at a time on ten inch lures. ????

Because he's the one that said he was gonna buy a 50$ lure. I was just trying to warn him of what "could" happen

EGbassing reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 12:15 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Because he's the one that said he was gonna buy a 50$ lure. I was just trying to warn him of what "could" happen

I was half joking about the $50 ones. I probably would spend $20~ on one though.

ResoKP reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 12:17 AM, EGbassing said:

I was kind of joking about the $50 ones. I probably would spend $20~ on one though.

spend your money the way you want man. you're young, you can spend that money and enjoy and figure out what you like, don't like, what works for you and what doesn't and learn a whole lot

what i don't understand is people advising you to spend your money in something you don't even have any interest in

the reel ess reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:33 PM, EGbassing said:

Thanks! If I don't go with the swimbait rod I'll probably go with the 13 Fishing Defy Heavy.

Edit: It looks like the only Heavy option is a 7'11". Does that sound too long to you?

It sounds too long for me. But maybe not for you. It would lend itself well to the big swimbaits with that extra length.

Choporoz reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:06 PM, J Francho said:

This rod will do both, and I believe they are on clearance.

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/mat-daddy-helios-review.html

I have this and its surprisingly versatile. 7 11 is long, but not too long for swimbaits, Carolina rigs, heavy flipping and A-rigs.....all of which launch from that rod just fine.

That said, I use finesse rods much more often than that rod.

J Francho reply :

I have four SB rods, and they are all over 7'9". One is 8', and is a pain to bring in the house. The S-waver is slow sinking and under 2 oz., and they way you fish it, it is unlikely you'd lose it, unless you hung on a log. They are less than $20, and highly effective. I fish them, along with the similar SG Glide Swimmer from shore all the time, with good luck. The Glide sinks a little slower than the S-waver.

CrankFate reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:59 PM, Joshua van Wyk said:

Not a requirement but definetly a recommendation. If you get hung up from the bank you can kiss $50 goodbye unless you're willing to go for a swim. On a boat you have a much better chance of retrieving your lure in case of a hang up.

You also get the advantage of fishing your bait away from the shoreline structure and probably right over the strike zone the bass are hanging around waiting for things to come over. Instead of unnaturally pulling your bait from no structure up over the structure in the opposite to what the bass are waiting for.....

J.Vincent reply :

If the SwimBaits you fish are over 1.5 ounces , then consider a dedicated SwimBait Rod ; otherwise a Flipping Rod or Heavy Cover Punch Rod can serve double duty !

J Francho reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 2:22 AM, CrankFate said:

You also get the advantage of fishing your bait away from the shoreline structure and probably right over the strike zone the bass are hanging around waiting for things to come over. Instead of unnaturally pulling your bait from no structure up over the structure in the opposite to what the bass are waiting for.....

This often is EXACTLY what bass are waiting for. Many call it "fishing up hill." Ask @Catt about it. It's a mistake, especially with swimbaits to write it off. Also, often when fishing from shore, you aren't usually casting straight out, unless you're following some underwater element. And how can there be no structure? What's holding the water in? Structure is the bottom of the lake. We describe structure with words like break, hump, point, drop off, ledge, break line, and many others.

LionHeart reply :

Buying a specialty item like a swim bait rod wouldn't be my recommendation if you only own 2 other rods. With 3 rods total, each rod needs to be pretty dang versatile.

I'd also consider a Heavy power rod in the same category (exclude Dobyns). Unless you really fish in some thick stuff, I wouldn't go with a Heavy power rod even for jigs. A good Medium Heavy can do the job, and is more versatile IME.

Having said that, if you know for sure that tossing swim baits is something you'll do enough to require a dedicated rod for, sure, do it. Just ask about my experience buying a dedicated 10XD rod.

Glaucus reply :

MH/F casting

M/MF-F casting

M-ML/F-XF spinning

Those should be the first rods you own, imo. Meaning get the finesse setup.

Fishin Dad reply :

On 4/4/2019 at 11:06 PM, J Francho said:

This rod will do both, and I believe they are on clearance.

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/mat-daddy-helios-review.html

JFrancho, do you know where these are on clearance? Thanks

J Francho reply :

Probably anywhere you can find them. They've been disco'd.

Angry John reply :

I got a 74hf st croix and it's a triple duty rod. Punching, frog and small SB up to 2oz. The s-waiver 168 is great on that rod along with all sizes of mattlures hard gills. Heavier than 2oz get a dedicated rod.

WRB reply :

New swimbait rod needs a swimbait reel, what reel and line are you planning to use with medium size swimbaits like the S Waver?

Tom

EGbassing reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 5:00 AM, WRB said:

New swimbait rod needs a swimbait reel, what reel and line are you planning to use with medium size swimbaits like the S Waver?

Tom

Daiwa Fuego CT with 50lb. braid

Angry John reply :

Any heavy duty reel with 15lb yhb will get the job done. I use a sv103 but any zillion or tatula should do just fine.

EGbassing reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 5:18 AM, Angry John said:

Any heavy duty reel with 15lb yhb will get the job done. I use a sv103 but any zillion or tatula should do just fine.

Thanks. Will 50 lb. braid work for that?

MN Fisher reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 5:57 AM, EGbassing said:

Thanks. Will 50 lb. braid work for that?

50# should be fine for it.

WRB reply :

Don't be mislead by anglers who don't fish 2 oz+ med size swimbaits. Your reel isn't well suited for casting S-Wavers swimbaits because of the small diameter spool and line capacity to make 50-60 yard casts. Braid doesn't work well with treble hook lures, it does increase line capacity.

If you ever plan to use soft swimbaits like Hudd 68 braid without a leader can cut the soft plastic severely if you backlash a cast. Braid with a leader is problematic due to 2 knots to fail.

I would suggest you pass on swimbaits until your working and have enough income to afford losing expensive lures and can afford proper rod and reel.

I suggest you use 9" to 12" soft plastic worms where you fish with the tackle you currently have.

Tom

Angry John reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 5:57 AM, EGbassing said:

Thanks. Will 50 lb. braid work for that?

Braid is not my first choice due to cast offs. Matt Allen loves braid to leader and it's hard to argue his success. I use copolly and have no issues with treble baits. Braid to leader might be a better combo when trying to set large heavy guage jig hooks. Most 6" baits with those hooks will exceed any weight limit on a rod not designed for swimbaits.

EGbassing reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 7:42 AM, WRB said:

Don't be mislead by anglers who don't fish 2 oz+ med size swimbaits. Your reel isn't well suited for casting S-Wavers swimbaits because of the small diameter spool and line capacity to make 50-60 yard casts. Braid doesn't work well with treble hook lures, it does increase line capacity.

If you ever plan to use soft swimbaits like Hudd 68 braid without a leader can cut the soft plastic severely if you backlash a cast. Braid with a leader is problematic due to 2 knots to fail.

I would suggest you pass on swimbaits until your working and have enough income to afford losing expensive lures and can afford proper rod and reel.

I suggest you use 9" to 12" soft plastic worms where you fish with the tackle you currently have.

Tom

My Fuego CT holds ~140 yards of 12 lb. line. (50 lb. braid is 12 lb. diameter) Do swimbaits ever cast that far?

fishwizzard reply :

In your situation I would look for a double-duty frog/swimbait rod. A heavier and more moderate frog rod will be great for an S-waver 168 and I have to assume that you have some good frogging opportunities in Alabama. The 168 only weighs like an ounce and a half, so it's very doable on a non-swimbait rod.

I didn't see you mention a budget, but if you can do around $150 an iRod Fred's Magic Stick is worth looking into. I have had one for a year or three now and I love it for both frogs and smaller glidebaits. It's got a lot of power but will still cast a frog very well. The handle is bit long for my tastes when it comes to walking a frog but it's well suited for it other then that.

blckshirt98 reply :

I would pass on a dedicated swimbait rod and instead go with a heavier multi-purpose rod that'll let you throw small/medium sized swimbaits. Lots of small/medium swimbait options like Keitechs, G2 Shellcrackers, Little Creepers, 3:16 Rising Sons, etc that you can throw and not have to put money into expensive gear that'll only have one purpose.

NorthernBasser reply :

If you're set on getting a swimbait rod, the Dobyns Fury 795SB is recommended by many and at a very fair price point. It's 7'9" and rated up to 5oz baits. You can get 10% at TW within a few weeks or wait for their Memorial Day Sale (15% off).

Smalls reply :

If money is tight, maybe check out the Lew’s laser SG1 rod. My wife bought one for large crankbaits/small swimbaits, and I’m impressed with it, for $50. Comes in a 7’4 heavy, moderate action (which you want for treble hook baits) and is good for 2 oz’s. I’ve thrown a few a little over 2 oz, and it didn’t seem to mind

J Francho reply :

I know you're looking for rod recommendations, but you might want to rethink your line choice. I use 20# CXX. There's many other that go this route. You can get away with lighter line, or the braid, but as your bait collection grows, you want to use an extremely tough line. Speaking of growing your collection of baits. Go slow. I made the mistake of buying everything I could afford. I now use just a handful of baits that suit my fishing and my waters.

EGbassing reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 9:37 PM, J Francho said:

I know you're looking for rod recommendations, but you might want to rethink your line choice. I use 20# CXX. There's many other that go this route. You can get away with lighter line, or the braid, but as your bait collection grows, you want to use an extremely tough line. Speaking of growing your collection of baits. Go slow. I made the mistake of buying everything I could afford. I now use just a handful of baits that suit my fishing and my waters.

Thanks. Yeah, what do you think of braid to leader? I go through expensive flourocarbon insanely fast but a spool of braid lasts me for months.

J Francho reply :

I don't like the leader idea at all for swimbaits. CXX is pretty economical. 600 yd. spool is less than $15.

Jcj90 reply :

Berkeley big game $8 a spool. I use 20lb for my swimbaitS

EGbassing reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 10:26 PM, J Francho said:

I don't like the leader idea at all for swimbaits. CXX is pretty economical. 600 yd. spool is less than $15.

Ok, I may try CXX but I should probably never buy something like Tatsu because I would probably end up spending around ~$1000 a year on it ????

J Francho reply :

I don't recommend any fluorocarbon for swimbaits.

WRB reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 8:31 AM, EGbassing said:

My Fuego CT holds ~140 yards of 12 lb. line. (50 lb. braid is 12 lb. diameter) Do swimbaits ever cast that far?

Reel mfr's rate line capacity at full spool, most anglers fill spools to about 1/8" under full spool level and that reduces yardage. Swimbait rods are long for the purpose of casting longer distances with heavy lures, 50 yard casts are normal. A 50 yard cast with small diameter spool is about 1/2 the line and that reduces the spooled line diameter significantly. Do the math; circumference ( length of line around the spool ) = Pi times diameter (3.14 X diameter). If the spooled line dia starts at 1.375 and ends at .75 the circumference changes from 4.3 to 2.3 dropping the reels IPT by 50%, you must reel twice as fast to move the lure the same distance. The problem is you can't get a good hook set or control the bass if a strike occurs within the first 10 yards of a long cast, the high % zone.

Tom

blckshirt98 reply :

One more thing before you get into swimbaits, it's a rabbit hole that can go pretty deep on your wallet very quickly, and the money might be better spent learning other techniques/presentations first at a fraction of the cost.

WRB reply :

On 4/5/2019 at 10:29 PM, J Francho said:

I don't recommend any fluorocarbon for swimbaits.

Butch Brown uses 20 lb AbrazX FC line for his swimbaits. Butch also buys in big bulk spools, changes it often, is a expert knot tier and caster.

I'am in your camp preferring mono or copolymer line,I use 25 lb Sunline Armillo Defier Nylon for swimbaits.

If you ever back lashed braid making a long cast with a heavy swimbait it will become obvious why braid with leaders is a bad choice.

Tom

fishwizzard reply :

I wanted to use 50lb PP to throw 68Specials and decided to test it with some equlivent weight Big GZs on weighted hooks and boy am I glad I did. After littering the pond bottom with three of them in a single day I gave up using braid.

After the first one I was really trying to be mindfull of dig-in but it’s so easy to get a single loose loop that ends up in a cast-off. I didn’t really believe it would be such an issue until it happed.

J Francho reply :

On 4/6/2019 at 1:47 AM, WRB said:

Butch Brown uses 20 lb AbrazX FC line for his swimbaits.

Butch is on another level. We're talking about a beginner swimbaiter. I want the margin of error to be high.

Mr. Bassin II reply :

I would throw that bait all day long on a Kistler KLX X-heavy Grass Puncher Stump Grinder, especially if the reel is spooled up with 50# or 65# smackdown braid. This is the rod I use for large jointed swimbaits, heavy slop frogging, small A-rigs, and big jigs in a pinch. Whether I am fishing from a bank, dock, or deck of my boat this is the rod I am using for these techniques. It will handle all the duties you are mentioning.

Well, it is the rod would use if I was not sidelined with a broken elbow.

GreenPig reply :

Really depends on which S-Waver. The 168 is 1 & 5/8oz the 200 is 3.5 oz. Many Mh & H bass will handle the 168, but that's not gonna work with 200 S Waver.

Fishes in trees reply :

The original question, "Is a swim bait rod worth it?"

Short answer - YES. All fishing rods are "worth it". Some are more "worth it" than others. You get to decide. You can't own too many fishing rods.

blckshirt98 reply :

On 4/7/2019 at 12:27 AM, Fishes in trees said:

You can't own too many fishing rods.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhh you might be surprised at what some people can amass over time.

1201vilbig reply :

I have a Spiralite Maverick 8' HF. I use it for swimbaits up to 3.5 oz, it's a great flipping/pitching/punching rod for big jigs/weights and is awesome with A-rigs which is something I would consider for your lake. And it's only $120.00.

2223

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