Must-have swimbaits 2025

Hornytoad 10 reply :

I am just starting to get into swimbaits, so witch swimbaits do you consider essential? (4-6 inches in length)

fourbizz reply :

Between 4-6, there is only one that is essential. Mattlures Hardgill.

Hammer 4 reply :

And for a soft swimbait...the 6" Huddelston.

There are others, but imho, the hardgill, and the hudd are "must" haves..

Then you have to figure out which sink rates you want/need..

unageo09 reply :

Been having a lot of luck on Storm Wild Eye Swim Shad around here lately. 2 or 3 inch. LM and SM like em pretty well. My only complaint is they don't hold up to well. The eyes commonly come off and today even part of the head was was torn off in a battle with a LM.

justinl8688 reply :

TABU Tackle Tiny Tim Swimbait if you are looking for something a little smaller to throw...

Big Bait Fishing reply :

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TABU Tackle Tiny Tim Swimbait if you are looking for something a little smaller to throw...

that is not a swimbait , that's a tiny paddletail , come on now , enough with the advertising :

Big Bait Fishing reply :

1. 6" hudd (top hook and weedless)

2. Mattlures hardgill

3. Mattlures ultimate soft gill

4. 6" Spro BBZ

5. Tylures Kicker Sunfish

6. CL8 bait 5" swimbait

that's a good start

soccplayer07 reply :

Quote
1. 6" hudd (top hook and weedless)
2. Mattlures hardgill

3. Mattlures ultimate soft gill

4. 6" Spro BBZ

5. Tylures Kicker Sunfish

6. CL8 bait 5" swimbait

that's a good start

BigBrotherThunda reply :

My Favorites

Hard Swimbiats-

Sebile Magic Swimmer

River 2 Sea Jointed V-Wake Shad

Soft Swimbaits-

LFT-Live Magic Shad

Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper

Hornytoad 10 reply :

I already own a magic swimmer, ultimate bluegill, black dog mini shellcracker, and 2 osprey tournament talons.

Hammer 4 reply :

Quote
1. 6" hudd (top hook and weedless)
2. Mattlures hardgill

3. Mattlures ultimate soft gill

4. 6" Spro BBZ

5. Tylures Kicker Sunfish

6. CL8 bait 5" swimbait

that's a good start

I would also agree.

8assh0le reply :

Reaction strike revolution swim Shad 3" to 5"(hard bait)

AV8TOR reply :

Quote
Been having a lot of luck on Storm Wild Eye Swim Shad around here lately. 2 or 3 inch. LM and SM like em pretty well. My only complaint is they don't hold up to well. The eyes commonly come off and today even part of the head was was torn off in a battle with a LM.

I too have had amazing success with these. I found a nice private pond that I have been fishing and the water was clear. I could pass everything in my bag in front of the large bass but no interest. I observed them taking several Blue Gill so I tried these and was not disappointed. Good thing these are affordable because as mentioned don't hold up. My problem with them is the tails. They just don't swim right after the tail is gone.

Big Bait Fishing reply :

another bait that is pretty sick is the 3:16 freestyle shad !!!

NewAngler reply :

Quote
another bait that is pretty sick is the 3:16 freestyle shad !!!

I can't wait.

midnighthrasher reply :

The tru tungsten 4" is awesome. Alot of people dont like them but they catch alot of fish for me. I love them. I also have a spro bbz 4" but when i open that box i always reach for the TT

Hornytoad 10 reply :

I used to have a tru-tungsten, but when i went to cast it the first hinge-pin fell out and, now i only have the head. >

Big Bait Fishing reply :

Quote

Quote
another bait that is pretty sick is the 3:16 freestyle shad !!!

keep checking the 3:16 website daily cause they should be for sale any day now !!!!

I can't wait.

scrutch reply :

Quote
1. 6" hudd (top hook and weedless)
2. Mattlures hardgill

3. Mattlures ultimate soft gill

4. 6" Spro BBZ

5. Tylures Kicker Sunfish

6. CL8 bait 5" swimbait

that's a good start

The day I start buying $55 swimbaits is the same day I'll take up scuba diving!

Big Bait Fishing reply :

Quote

Quote
1. 6" hudd (top hook and weedless)
2. Mattlures hardgill

3. Mattlures ultimate soft gill

4. 6" Spro BBZ

5. Tylures Kicker Sunfish

6. CL8 bait 5" swimbait

that's a good start

The day I start buying $55 swimbaits is the same day I'll take up scuba diving!

your missing out then , they are not for everyone ....

grimlin reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote
another bait that is pretty sick is the 3:16 freestyle shad !!!

keep checking the 3:16 website daily cause they should be for sale any day now !!!!

I can't wait.

Already sold out...Holy cow.....

Big Bait Fishing reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote

Quote
another bait that is pretty sick is the 3:16 freestyle shad !!!

keep checking the 3:16 website daily cause they should be for sale any day now !!!!

I can't wait.

Already sold out...Holy cow.....

that was the first run , Mickey should be stocked up with them some time this next week ....

http://www.316lurecompany.com/

Crestliner2008 reply :

Get a gander at these videos. They'll teach you a thing or two and are great entertainment to boot!

http://thebbz.com/video.html

scrutch reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote
1. 6" hudd (top hook and weedless)
2. Mattlures hardgill

3. Mattlures ultimate soft gill

4. 6" Spro BBZ

5. Tylures Kicker Sunfish

6. CL8 bait 5" swimbait

that's a good start

The day I start buying $55 swimbaits is the same day I'll take up scuba diving!

your missing out then , they are not for everyone ....

I'm sure (after reading all the positive comments about Matt's lures) that they're a great lure. However, you're right, They're not for everyone. Me included.

I fish lakes and rivers filled with snags. It's just not feasible at $55/per for me. I don't think they'd cast or swim to well tied to 80lb braid!

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

80lb braid is the same diameter equivalent of 20lb mono.

I point this out due to the fact that I throw my Hardgills on 20lb CXX.

Just sayin'...

scrutch reply :

Quote

80lb braid is the same diameter equivalent of 20lb mono.

I point this out due to the fact that I throw my Hardgills on 20lb CXX.

Just sayin'...

this brings up another question....

why wouldn't you use 80lb braid instead? It seems to me that it would be a lot less likely to break off a $55 lure. Just askin'...

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Quote

Quote

80lb braid is the same diameter equivalent of 20lb mono.

I point this out due to the fact that I throw my Hardgills on 20lb CXX.

Just sayin'...

this brings up another question....

why wouldn't you use 80lb braid instead? It seems to me that it would be a lot less likely to break off a $55 lure. Just askin'...

I fish from a boat. Not an issue to go get it unstuck. I use braid to throw some topwaters, but have seen no need for braid in sinking baits. I guess visibility and rocky structure make me shy away. 20lb CXX is some crazy strong stuff.

Trust me, I have gone wading for some of my stuff. I absolutely HATE to lose baits.

You will seriously like and catch fish with the Hardgill. If you throw it and don't like it, people will buy it from you very quickly.

As far as losing it, maybe on a backlash/line snap. The way I fish the SS gill, it is very unlikely to hang up. I usually burn and rip it over weeds or on the weed line.

Mattlures reply :

I honestly dont think I have ever lost a Hardgill. I have lost plenty of the soft ones though. I fish them in all kinds of bad stuff. I know this aint going to change any minds but If your worried about loosing an expensive bait get a floating one. They are a lot harder to loose.

pitchin1 reply :

Triton Mike Bull Shad

gobig reply :

These are baits that won't break the bank and they work. You will be able to work all of the water column with different types of presentations. Breaking in to swimbaiting is expensive. It would be easy to drop $600 on 10 baits. You can purchase all 10 of these baits for less than $250.

1. You should have a good wake bait that can be fished real slow and pushes a lot of water. I would go with a OP minnow.

2-3. Next you should have a good walk the dog bait. I would get 2 injected punkers one with rattles and one with out.

4-6. The BBZ 1 6" in all three sink rates. Because the OP minnow is kind of a one trick pony it is to your advantage to have a floater that can do more than just be slow rolled. Watch the BBZ videos. http://thebbz.com/video.html Bill explains how all three baits can be used.

7-8. Weedless hud in ROF 5 & 12. These baits have a much more subtle action then the BBZ's and can be fished in heavy cover.

9. Shell cracker G2 by black dog baits. This is a great bluegill bait. It can be fished on top or like a crank bait.

10. And last but not least Mattlures hardgill in slow sink.

Unless you have a fat bank roll this list should give you a good foundation to get started. You can always up grade as you go. Plus you should be able to throw all of these baits on standard tackle. Hope this helps.

gobig reply :

1. You should have a good wake bait that can be fished real slow and pushes a lot of water. I would go with a OP minnow.

2-3. Next you should have a good walk the dog bait. I would get 2 injected punkers one with rattles and one with out.

7-8. Weedless hud in ROF 5 & 12. These baits have a much more subtle action then the BBZ's and can be fished in heavy cover.

9. Shell cracker G2 by black dog baits. This is a great bluegill bait. It can be fished on top or like a crank bait.

10. And last but not least Mattlures hardgill in slow sink.

Hornytoad 10 reply :

Thank you guys for all of your suggestions, i really appreciate it!

scrutch reply :

yeah, an informative thread. I'm learning a lot, and you guys are changing my mind a little. I think I could see some slowsink hardgills in my future.

Ehh... what the heck... I love scuba diving anyway! ;D :

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