Are Fish Caught On A Swimbait Special, Like A Right Of Passage? 2025
airborne_angler reply :
Ive never focused exclusively on throwing swimbaits, and when I speak of them, im talking about larger baits (6" and up, weighing 1oz or more requiring special equipment).
Is there some sort of right of passage (Fraternity) you attain/enter into when you stick a Fish on a large swimbait as mentioned above? Id imagine so, as its likely when you stick a fish on a larger swimbait, its likely to be a toad...and most people just wont put forth the efgort to dedicate themselves to throwing a swimbait exclusively.
What are everyones thoughts on this?
Master Bait'r reply :
Yes, you instantly become part of Phi Bait'a Kappa- or the fraternal order of those who spend thousands of dollars to specifically eliminate catching 99% of the fish in the lake.
1234567 reply :
While big swimbaits catch big fish(bass) and little ones, they are not conducive for me in a lot of areas I fish. I have caught bass on eight inch hudds and while exciting at first I realized most of the big fish were where I could not effectively fish them in my area. IMO opinion small swimbaits are not much different than throwing crankbaits or jerkbaits, still targeting the same fish. Guys get pumped up because everyone talks about how hard it is to catch them on swimbaits and they get surprised once they realize a three pounder will absolutely choke an 8 inch hudd and the shock factor starts setting in! Also the drawing power of some swimbaits are phenominal....they'll reveal size fish that you hadn't realized were there.
ClackerBuzz reply :
I hear bass will follow a Hudd up to the boat just to give you a fin bump respect 
719BassFishing reply :
I have yet to catch a fish on a big swimbait, mainly because I haven't thrown one much. This year I am going to dedicate myself to catching a bass on one of these big swim baits. I believe it is more of a personal "right of passage" when finally hooking up with a bass on a big swim bait.
Jrob78 reply :
Yeah for sure, you get to go on the swimbait forums and use pretend curse words and act like a tough guy because you fish swimbaits. That's what I've noticed anyway.
basshole8190 reply :
On 3/25/2014 at 10:47 AM, Jrob78 said:Yeah for sure, you get to go on the swimbait forums and use pretend curse words and act like a tough guy because you fish swimbaits. That's what I've noticed anyway.
very accurate. been my experience also.
i don't know about a fraternity or group or right of passage. i have let a few friends of mine get in the know about big baits but they don't really wanna pay the price of admission to get into the swimbait world. i tend to keep it pretty quiet at the local bait shop and ill hide my big baits when other boats are near.
J Francho reply :
I throw them, and have caught on them. It's as satisfying as any other catch. Not really on any swim bait forums, so I have no clue about any fraternity. I dislike cliques anyway.
Jrob78 reply :
In all seriousness, when you fish large swimbaits you're generally fishing for the largest fish in the lake. You go into it knowing you might only get one or two bites a day and you might go several trips without catching anything. The flip side of that is knowing you have a better chance of catching the largest fish of your life. Like all other fishing though, it boils down to fishing the right locations at the right times. It's still just a bait/technique, nothing special besides that.
1234567 reply :
I get what Jrob is saying......to SOME swimbaiters it's all about the swimbait and the image of chucking these huge baits . If you catch a DD on a "fairy wand" it doesn't qualify for SOME as a great catch because it wasn't a swimbait....if you catch that same DD on a swimbait all of a sudden for SOME you've attained instant respect. Jrob is spot on, it's a technique/tool that can be utilized and at the right time and location it can produce big results!
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 3/25/2014 at 2:18 AM, 1234567 said:While big swimbaits catch big fish(bass) and little ones, they are not conducive for me in a lot of areas I fish. I have caught bass on eight inch hudds and while exciting at first I realized most of the big fish were where I could not effectively fish them in my area. IMO opinion small swimbaits are not much different than throwing crankbaits or jerkbaits, still targeting the same fish. Guys get pumped up because everyone talks about how hard it is to catch them on swimbaits and they get surprised once they realize a three pounder will absolutely choke an 8 inch hudd and the shock factor starts setting in! Also the drawing power of some swimbaits are phenominal....they'll reveal size fish that you hadn't realized were there.
Like this?
I get excited when I catch a fish on a big swimbait because it takes discipline and commitment to catch fish on a big bait like that, but I don't think I'm any better than someone who chooses not to fish one, but I enjoy it and will continue to fish them.
SirSnookalot reply :
The right of passage is big fish, not what they are caught on. I have nothing against larger swimbaits, probably will eliminate catching some of the smaller fish. I know I may have to go thru quite a few little ones until that bigger fish strikes, but it will. I'm not going use them as I don't care to use heavier rods and reels when I have good shot at some really nice bass on med spinning, which I've done many times. The only thing that matters is the fish.
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
No one should throw swinbapes.
They are dumb, expensive and they hurt your back.
Drewski73 reply :
What are these swinbapes you speak of? Are they excluded in the TW memorial day sale?
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
Only the ones you can throw with the florisgarbens line.
All other swinbapes are fair game.
J Francho reply :
Somewhere, a Google web crawler just threw up some code.
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
On 3/25/2014 at 10:17 PM, J Francho said:Somewhere, a Google web crawler just threw up some code.
I don't know what that means but....
'Murica.
gripnrip reply :
It takes discipline for sure! I am on a mission this year to catch a fish off of a 6" swimbait or larger one. I have some Hudds on order. I check my email 4 times a day to see if they've shipped! 
I purchased some Mattlures U2's and a few new 6" baits that have just came into production this past September. I threw one of those Friday and man I'm impressed. Not that I have a d**n clue as to what I'm doing! LOL
I am just going to keep chuggin and a winding!
senko_77 reply :
On 3/25/2014 at 10:47 AM, Jrob78 said:Yeah for sure, you get to go on the swimbait forums and use pretend curse words and act like a tough guy because you fish swimbaits. That's what I've noticed anyway.
This is the funniest post I've seen on this forum since the MuddyMan, Tin2Win, LBH, and BL days!! I'm Lmao. The swimbait forum guys are some of the funniest, most entertaining group of people I've seen on the internets.
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
^ That's going back a aways. LOL
bartdude186 reply :
I like to catch fish too much to use them, maybe when i get tired of catching i will try them out.
Brian Needham reply :
I thought about doing the swimbait deal, and I bought most of the pre requisite gear, baits, ect ect.
and the more I thought about it, the more I realized I did not and will not have the patience to do it.
I still however will throw bullshads, hudd68, G2s, that kind of deal. The kind where you can throw on normal heavy tackle...... but the 8 punkers, 8in hudds just aren't for my style.
RoLo reply :
I'm assuming that you mean Large Hard Swimbaits, rather than Small Soft Swimbaits.
Either way, I'm not aware of any fraternity, clique or pomp surrounding swimbaits, but maybe I'm in the dark.
Living in Florida, my exposure to swimbaits is limited to soft swimbaits, which are weedless.
The only exception is the weedless Huddleston, but they simply don't stand up to the abuse
Perhaps the machismo evolves around SIZE, but swimbaits are available in all sizes. For instance you can fish a 5" swimbait,
a 7" Mag Fluke, 7" Senko and a 10" Grub with a 1-1/4" diameter that I showed Fishindaddy 
Roger
VolFan reply :
On 3/25/2014 at 10:47 AM, Jrob78 said:Yeah for sure, you get to go on the swimbait forums and use pretend curse words and act like a tough guy because you fish swimbaits. That's what I've noticed anyway.
I spit some milk on that one. Nailed. It.
mikeeasttn reply :
I love to throw the big hard swim baits and the big Hudds as I feel it gives me a chance to catch a large LM or SM. I also love to throw crankbaits, spinner baits and etc anything I can cover a large amount of water with quickly. Due to my work I do not get that many days off and on my off days I am on call.
I also like to throw the other baits such as jigs and etc. I visit the 2 swimbaits sites regularly and try to learn all I can. I do not feel this puts me in an exclusive fraternity but gives me insight on how amd when to fish them.
gulfcaptain reply :
It's just another tool to use. And it's a nice work out as well throwing them all day, waiting for that one bite, watching them follow the bait and then swim away. But it's a presentation that has a time and place. When all the pieces come together you're rewarded for you patience. And besides, it's fun to throw a big swimbait just to see the expressions on peoples face when that ask if that's what you're really fishing with. And once you do catch one on the "big baits" then it just shows you have the patience to stick with it till you do catch one and then you want another one. It's a vicious cycle.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 3/25/2014 at 10:40 PM, gripnrip said:It takes discipline for sure! I am on a mission this year to catch a fish off of a 6" swimbait or larger one. I have some Hudds on order. I check my email 4 times a day to see if they've shipped!
I am just going to keep chuggin and a winding!
Shouldn't be a problem for you to get bit on a 6 incher at Grand, just stick to it! 
gobig reply :
I hope everyone keeps believing that swimbait fishing is a painstaking process where your fishing for one big bite.
mjseverson24 reply :
I fish big swim baits quite a bit... When i am Muskie fishing... i have caught a few bass on them, the biggest was around 6, but i dont think i would use one in a tourney in MN unless i have a sack full of 5 lbers and need a kicker... out east, out west, down south i would give them a fair share in the rotation...
Mitch
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