The Big Swimbait Debate 2025
Adleyfishes reply :
What are your thoughts on the differences of expensive swimbaits vs cheap swimbaits such as the S-waver? I really want to get into the "big" swimbait game (I live in Iowa). I have done the research I really like the Hudd 68 and S-waver prices and performance, but I was wondering what other swimbaits can do the job versus the $100+ swimbaits.
Angry John reply :
This is a get in where you fit in category. My best day has been on an swaiver 168 in you know it. I own baits up to 200 bucks. I have never had a hud fish but to be honest i dont like to fish the bait that much. If your getting in, grab a few of the larger keitech;s and just try them out.
Jelvas reply :
If you want to dip your toe in to the big bait world without taking a second mortgage check Savage Gear and Spro line ups, they have very good baits that cover all the basics...
Adleyfishes reply :
On 10/31/2018 at 9:40 AM, Jelvas said:If you want to dip your toe in to the big bait world without taking a second mortgage check Savage Gear and Spro line ups, they have very good baits that cover all the basics...
Savage gear has some great boot tails but I'm disappointed in their jointed baits mine didn't swim straight and I hooked into a 5 pounder and he pulled my line through swimbait through the line and all that came back was my treble hook.
MassYak85 reply :
S-Wavers are great baits, nothing wrong with them. Once you go above the 200 size s-waver you go up drastically in price as you go from large scale production lures to custom lures, or JDM baits (Deps 250 etc.). Other good swimbaits in that price range you have the gantarel, savage gear shine glide, spro BBZ (segmented trout and the rats) and some others. IMO the swimbait "sweet spot" is in that $50-$75 dollar range because you start getting into those custom makers like mattlures, bullgills, MS slammers, etc. that are amazing quality without going into that upper price range (200-300 plus for custom glide baits). As far as soft plastic there are lots of choices, even from custom guys, in those lower price ranges comparable with the Hudds. Real Prey swimbaits makes some silicon baits, 3:16 minnows and WRS are great. Look around though, there are good lures in just about every price range for swimbaits. You're generally getting what you pay for but when $30 is considered a "budget" lure in this category you are still paying a lot.
WRB reply :
Soft swimbaits;
3:16 9" Mission Fish
Basstrix 8" paddle tail
Little Crippers 8" Trash Fish
68 and 8" Huddleston Delux
Wake baits;
Mike Shaw MS Slammer
Srpo BBZ-1 50 Rat
Glide baits;
R2C S-Waver 168 & 200
Hard multi jointed:
Matt lures 5" Gil slow sink*
Black Dog 5" slow sink wooden Shell Cracker*
22nd Century 9" Triple Trout
BBZ 8" Trout.
Should get you started M but you will need a XHeavy swimbait rod.
Tom
*hard to find check Swimbait City
KickingFish reply :
On 10/31/2018 at 9:32 AM, Adleyfishes said:What are your thoughts on the differences of expensive swimbaits vs cheap swimbaits such as the S-waver? I really want to get into the "big" swimbait game (I live in Iowa). I have done the research I really like the Hudd 68 and S-waver prices and performance, but I was wondering what other swimbaits can do the job versus the $100+ swimbaits.
I fish Muskys a decent amount and all the lures we use for them are under $30. They are some of the most finicky fish and they still hit baits that are rubber with next to no detail. Go with a less expensive baits like the s waver it is all about presentation, if you can find out how the fish want the bait then it will not matter if you spend $100 or $20 you will catch fish.Just my 2 cents.
Scarborough817 reply :
some of the best i wont say an s-waver 200 or a shine glide are the same as say a 250 but i will say that they work
Bluebasser86 reply :
I've fished the lower end baits like the S Waver and Savage Gear baits, and I've fished the Deps, Phoneys, and customs. The Savage Gear Shine Glide and MS Slammer are by far my most productive baits, neither are what I'd consider expensive swimbaits. The initial investment might seem a little high on a bait like a Slammer, but it's a big topwater that will catch hundreds of fish and is hard to lose unless you do something careless or lazy with it.
ItsHardwick reply :
I want a Slammer so bad. Which model would you get for starting out? Also, my heaviest rod is a 7’3” heavy Dobyns Fury.
teethmarks reply :
that 7'3" heavy dobyns is rated up to 1oz lure and the 7" slammer comes in at 1.8oz. just a heads up.
maybe try the mini slammer starting out but have never tried that bait over here so cant speak to its performance.
Angry John reply :
The spro rat would be a better choice as far as cheaper works and in your weight range.
Primus reply :
another good budget priced swimbait would be the Evergreen ES Flat in addition to many that have been mentioned already .
soflabasser reply :
There are many proven swimbaits that are under $100 which you can get if you want but what is most important is that you spend enough time on the water with a particular swimbait to get comfortable with. No point in getting a couple hundred dollars of swimbaits if you do not know how to use them very well in the places you fish. You will probably be better off learning how to fish 1-5 different swimbaits than getting +10 different varieties that you barely fish with.
TnRiver46 reply :
I got a $5 chatterbait stuck in a thorny Rose bush yesterday and my trolling motor could barely keep up with the current to go get it . I was very concerned about this $5 bait, so that tells you if I have ever chucked a $100 lure into the river........
evilcatfish reply :
I've got $15 swimbaits and others that cost 15 times that. They all have their time and place. Otherwise, just buy what you can afford and get after it, most all work
N Florida Mike reply :
On 10/31/2018 at 9:38 AM, Angry John said:This is a get in where you fit in category. My best day has been on an swaiver 168 in you know it. I own baits up to 200 bucks. I have never had a hud fish but to be honest i dont like to fish the bait that much. If your getting in, grab a few of the larger keitech;s and just try them out.
200 bucks for 1 bait ? No wonder your angry , John. ????
Mr. Aquarium reply :
some good swimbaits are cheap because they are big companies but mass produced. like swaver, good swimbait made by a big company, mass produced. these expensive swimbaits are not mass produced and made by smaller companies
EGbassing reply :
Never tried this one but I'm thinking about it: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Spro_BBZ-1_Swimbait_8_Slow_Sink/descpage-SPBBZS.html It looks really good for $35.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 11/2/2018 at 11:00 PM, EGbassing said:Never tried this one but I'm thinking about it: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Spro_BBZ-1_Swimbait_8_Slow_Sink/descpage-SPBBZS.html It looks really good for $35.
They're a decent bait. Make sure you have the rod to throw it since they are nearly 5oz.
WRB reply :
The BBZ 8" swimbait is a wide body heavy lure and a mouth full for LMB under 7 lbs to get a hook set on. The lure moves a lot of water attracting bass. Unless you have DD size LMB in your lakes I wouldn't advise using it. Agree with Bluebasser, you need a XH swimbait to effectively fish this lure.
Tom
soflabasser reply :
I have caught big bass on Storm swimbaits so you can try those out if you want.
Mr. Aquarium reply :
On 11/4/2018 at 3:44 AM, WRB said:The BBZ 8" swimbait is a wide body heavy lure and a mouth full for LMB under 7 lbs to get a hook set on. The lure moves a lot of water attracting bass. Unless you have DD size LMB in your lakes I wouldn't advise using it. Agree with Bluebasser, you need a XH swimbait to effectively fish this lure.
Tom
not true my friend. ive caught crappies on 7inch swimbaits. this bass was caught on a 10inch swimbait. small fish will hit big lures. i live in MA and i can tell you most of our lakes dont have DDs but ive caught many many bass of all sizes. i fish baits to 15 inches
WRB reply :
Didn't say dinks wouldn't strike a swimbait, post a photo using BBZ-1 8" swimbait.
Nice crappie!
Tom
Mr. Aquarium reply :
i dont use it! actually broke it tying to modify it. its a big bait. it will 100% get bit. its a great looking lure though. ive caught some nice fish on the 6inch.
Primus reply :
I live in Michigan and I have caught a fair amount of largemouth on the 8" Spro BBZ , most are 2-4 lbs with the occasional outlier fish that are larger or even sometimes smaller than that. The wicked Perch color works well up here . Had a very good day a couple of years back on a mid summer day catching about 10 nice Bass in 1 outing on an inland lake with the wind blowing about 30 mph using the slow sink version targeting suspended fish in about 8' -10 ' of water on the outside edges as this lake has a combination of lily pads & milfoil along it's entire shore line . I think the rattle and the profile drew them out that day.
I would love to post pictures on this site from time to time, that said I can't seem to do it because maybe there are to many pixels. That said my computer skills are novice at best.????
I like to use a Dobyn's 867 with a Tranx 301 and 25 lb Sunline Floro. The 867 rod throws this bait with ease and would be a great option to throw baits in the 4 to 6-1/2 oz range if your budget allows.
Now , I'm going to throw you a curve. The 6" BBZ has caught me fish as big or bigger on average than the 8" and if you don't have the rod/ reel combo to throw an 8" bait I would start with that one first as it will give you more confidence if your new to swimbaits and they weigh around 2 ounces depending on sink rate which can be thrown on a wide variety of set-ups. The BBZ swimbaits are proven affordable option for those getting started in the hard swimbait game.
Mr. Aquarium reply :
On 11/6/2018 at 5:54 AM, Primus said:
I would love to post pictures on this site from time to time, that said I can't seem to do it because maybe there are to many pixels. That said my computer skills are novice at best.????
Copy and paste. Thats what I do from my facebook
related Fishing Tackle topic
previous topic
next topic
© 2025 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.