What are your thoughts on $100+ swimbaits? 2024
BigBassCatcher reply :
Personally, I've never fished with a lure worth more than 20 bucks. I wouldn't even think of buying a lure if it crosses the $30 mark. I have combos that are cheaper than some swimbaits out there. Is there even any point to buying such an expensive lure?
I mean, bass don't really care if your lure is worth 10 dollars or 200 dollars. How much better will an action get on a 200 dollar swimbait than a regular 20 dollar swimbait?
Not to mention, just the fear of losing that lure will drive me nuts, to the point of me never even using it when I'm out on the water. It's like buying a supercar just to park it in your garage.
MIbassyaker reply :
Bass may or may not care whether my lure is worth $10 or $200. Maybe they do! I don't know.
But what I do know is that pike and musky make me care an awful lot whether my lure is worth $10 or $200.
InFishingWeTrust reply :
If its hand made and you are paying for the craftsmanship of the lure maker I can understand the high price. Would I buy and fish one no I personally wouldnt.
BigBassCatcher reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 10:15 AM, InFishingWeTrust said:If its hand made and you are paying for the craftsmanship of the lure maker I can understand the high price. Would I buy and fish one no I personally wouldnt.
Yeah I understand why they are expensive, but is using them really practical? And it's not even the ones that are $400+, those are usually only fished by pro fishermen who are chasing world records and such, but I've seen some instances where a regular angler like you and me are using $100+ swimbaits and I just wonder what the thought process is behind that.
Angry John reply :
Value and cost and performance are not all directly related in swimbaits. There are some garage baits like a hinkle shad and trout, or phoney that I would say are worth the asking price and the value you getting is quality products that work. Each bait is hand crafted and individual paint jobs are applied with great care. Then you have the deps 250. It is a nice bait it works but it's just mass manufacturered plastic. These are premium baits there is zero question about if there good or not. My money goes mostly to hand crafted baits, to support the sport, grow the Hobbie and give appreciation to their hard work. The value is always in the eyes of the buyer. The good guys like Matt servant design and test for years and improve their product over time. I know where I stand but ask questions and gain knowledge before judgment.
On 4/4/2018 at 10:25 AM, BigBassCatcher said:Yeah I understand why they are expensive, but is using them really practical? And it's not even the ones that are $400+, those are usually only fished by pro fishermen who are chasing world records and such, but I've seen some instances where a regular angler like you and me are using $100+ swimbaits and I just wonder what the thought process is behind that.
No and no. There are kids less than 18 that are fishing mothers. They got money and good for them. Please don't make statements about baits that are just not true. It's not for everyone, just like megabass products are not everyone''s cup of tea. Get in where you fit in and don't assume.
OCdockskipper reply :
Defining "average angler" as a person who makes under $200K per year, I would say they aren't practical for the average angler. Along the same lines, a $5 crankbait isn't practical for a person in North Korea who makes $200 a year (or some other ridiculously low amount).
If you are worth hundreds of millions, a $500 bait is no different than a bag of TRD's for the rest of us.
InFishingWeTrust reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 10:25 AM, BigBassCatcher said:Yeah I understand why they are expensive, but is using them really practical? And it's not even the ones that are $400+, those are usually only fished by pro fishermen who are chasing world records and such, but I've seen some instances where a regular angler like you and me are using $100+ swimbaits and I just wonder what the thought process is behind that.
Is it practical to me no. I don't think anyone can convince me enough that its that much better bait than lets say a senko or a square bill. If I just only fished swimbaits and was a guy that threw nothing but then I would make it happen to own one but there is so many cheap baits that work and catch pigs. Cheap being below $30. We all chasing world records when it comes down to it to. We are always hunting for the biggest.
Angry John reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 11:11 AM, InFishingWeTrust said:Is it practical to me no. I don't think anyone can convince me enough that its that much better bait than lets say a senko or a square bill. If I just only fished swimbaits and was a guy that threw nothing but then I would make it happen to own one but there is so many cheap baits that work and catch pigs. Cheap being below $30. We all chasing world records when it comes down to it to. We are always hunting for the biggest.
Swim baits are just a different tool to acomplish the goal of catching fish. No one way of catching them is better or worse than another. I find it refreshing to have so many choices in how we chase our little green friends. I like all ways of fishing. This type of discussion comes up now and again and the flavor is the same. Why 400 dollar rods. Why 600 dollar reels. No one can justify to another value and worth. Fish what you want and don't fish what you don't want.
WRB reply :
When look at the history of expensive hand made swimbaits in very limited numbers that were catching numbers of big bass a $100 each wasn't too expensive. It was and still is for some swimbaits a supply and demand market. Hand made swimbaits started in the west coast where big bass were being caught on swimbaits and the supply was extremely limited, more buyers than lures.
What would you sell a lure that took you 10-15 hours each to make and paint and buyers begging for them?
Mass produced injection molded soft or hard plastic that are now on the market don't sell for $100 or more with a few exceptions that are limited in availability like Deps.
What is a bass of a lifetime worth?
Tom
InFishingWeTrust reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 11:24 AM, Angry John said:Swim baits are just a different tool to acomplish the goal of catching fish. No one way of catching them is better or worse than another. I find it refreshing to have so many choices in how we chase our little green friends. I like all ways of fishing. This type of discussion comes up now and again and the flavor is the same. Why 400 dollar rods. Why 600 dollar reels. No one can justify to another value and worth. Fish what you want and don't fish what you don't want.
I agree
BigBassCatcher reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 10:31 AM, Angry John said:No and no. There are kids less than 18 that are fishing mothers. They got money and good for them. Please don't make statements about baits that are just not true. It's not for everyone, just like megabass products are not everyone''s cup of tea. Get in where you fit in and don't assume.
Well I was generalizing. Most kids less than 18 don't have the money to go out and buy a $400 dollar lure. There are definitely exceptions though.
QuoteI know where I stand but ask questions and gain knowledge before judgment.
I'm sorry if it sounded like I was judging. I just meant to ask you guys why you would buy such a bait, not that buying such a lure is a bad thing.
On 4/4/2018 at 10:57 AM, OCdockskipper said:Defining "average angler" as a person who makes under $200K per year, I would say they aren't practical for the average angler. Along the same lines, a $5 crankbait isn't practical for a person in North Korea who makes $200 a year (or some other ridiculously low amount).
If you are worth hundreds of millions, a $500 bait is no different than a bag of TRD's for the rest of us.
Yeah by average angler I meant a person who just fishes for fun and isn't some multi-millionaire CEO. Just your regular fisherman you might meen at the local bass pro shops.
BigBassCatcher reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 11:24 AM, WRB said:When look at the history of expensive hand made swimbaits in very limited numbers that were catching numbers of big bass a $100 each wasn't too expensive. It was and still is for some swimbaits a supply and demand market. Hand made swimbaits started in the west coast where big bass were being caught on swimbaits and the supply was extremely limited, more buyers than lures.
What would you sell a lure that took you 10-15 hours each to make and paint and buyers begging for them?
Mass produced injection molded soft or hard plastic that are now on the market don't sell for $100 or more with a few exceptions that are limited in availability like Deps.
What is a bass of a lifetime worth?
Tom
Yeah I see the reasoning behind why these swimbaits are exclusive.
I would definitely pay $400 for the amount of work the guy who made it put into the lure, but would me paying $400 for that lure give me a significantly better chance of catching a trophy bass than if I paid $5 for a 10 inch senko?
On 4/4/2018 at 11:24 AM, Angry John said:Swim baits are just a different tool to acomplish the goal of catching fish. No one way of catching them is better or worse than another. I find it refreshing to have so many choices in how we chase our little green friends. I like all ways of fishing. This type of discussion comes up now and again and the flavor is the same. Why 400 dollar rods. Why 600 dollar reels. No one can justify to another value and worth. Fish what you want and don't fish what you don't want.
I definitely agree with fishing with what you want.
I started this discussion because I personally didn't see the advantage of buying a higher priced swimbait over a lower priced one, but I was hoping to learn some reasons behind why a higher priced one might actually be beneficial to my fishing experience, so that I could possibly convince myself to buy one myself in the future.
I know my first post kinda made it seem like I was bashing someone who would buy an expensive swimbait, but rather I was trying to find out the reasoning behind buying any expensive lures so I can possibly look into it in the future.
Really, the only thing that has me hesitant of such a purchase is the prospects of losing it. With an expensive rod or reel, you won't lose it. It could break, but if you take good care of it then it shouldn't break. Whereas with a lure, it could get snagged and such and you lose it and it's out of your control. How would I get rid of that fear?
WRB reply :
No lure can catch bass if it's not put close enough to a active bass willing to strike it.
I catch more big bass on my custom hair jigs then all other lures combined because I fish them more often then all my other lures combined.
The right lure at the right place and time, presented properly will catch bass....the question is how much would you pay for that right lure to catch a bass of a lifetime? You can't buy my hair jigs, you can buy a custom hand painted swimbait or a bag of Senko's, your choice.
Tom
Bluebasser86 reply :
I have some and enjoy fishing them. I also have some $25 swimbaits that I really enjoy fishing. They're really kind of a thing that you either understand the appeal or you don't. I enjoy targeting big fish with big baits, just something about it that appeals to me.
Another thing to consider other than the initial cost, is the cost per fish ratio of a bait. I have an MS Slammer that has caught a few hundred fish for sure. Initial cost was $50, so let's say I've caught 200 fish on it, each fish I've caught on it cost me $.25. Now let's say you're fishing your favorite color 5" GYCB senko that cost $.50 apiece and only last on average for 1 fish (we've all fished senkos and I think can probably agree that each fish you catch after the first one is a bonus fish), those fish cost you $.50 apiece. My Slammer is still going strong, and as long as I don't do anything silly with it, could last for hundreds more fish, while the senko fisherman has to keep going back to the store and buying more baits.
So if you look at it that way, swimbaits aren't that expensive at all. Of course, there's also the chance you do like I did this winter and cast off an $80 glide that can't be recovered after catching about 20 fish on it, then those fish cost me $4 apiece. It's the risk I'm willing to take to try to get a bite from the biggest fish in the lake, or at the very least bigger than average sized fish. I'm positive that I catch fish on them that ignore all other offerings.
No price tag on this one.
puddlepuncher reply :
I would never buy a $400 dollar swimbait, not in a million years.
Then again if I knew for sure it caught double digit fish...put me down for a dozen.
portiabrat reply :
When you put things into perspective, $100 isn't that expensive for a lure, especially if you don't have to worry about losing it to toothy critters. I'd bet that many people on this forum spend more than $300/year on senkos, keitechs, and other short-lived soft plastics.
N Florida Mike reply :
No thank you.
It seems the fisherman would be caught more than the fish.
Mike L reply :
Last week I caught my new PB on a 7" ribbon tail worm.
Would she have hit it if a 200.00 swim bait came by?
We'll never know.
One thing I do know is no matter what you throw it better be in waters where they live.
Do you need one?
Me and thousands of other anglers are proof you don't. But @Bluebasser86 and @WRB make excellent points that need to be considered if you specifically go big girl hunting and what to lower your odds.
Was my PB just pure dumb luck then that she hit a cheap ribbon tail? Probably
Would an ever bigger one have hit a 200.00 swim bait if it came by? Maybe, maybe not.
Just use what you have confidence in and fish where they live and the world will turn.
Mike
BassWhole! reply :
I think that if someone makes/sells a product for a particular price and some folks are willing to buy it at that price, then it's all good. Personally, I wouldn't buy or use one, but that's just cause there are similar things just as effective to be had from other segments of fishing. If a $100 (or more expensive) lure produced better and had no substitute, I might indulge.
thinkingredneck reply :
Watch some of the you tube videos of guys using those baits. That is a different world. I understand the obsession however, compared to the cost of powerpoles, a $50k boat,etc? None of this really makes sense. As Jimmy Buffet said, "do what you wanna do, do what you like..."
Koz reply :
If I ever bought a $100+ swimbait I'd also buy matching swim fins, mask, and snorkel.
Bluebasser86 reply :
While not one of the expensive baits, this was still a pretty good sized bait, and the reason why I fish them.
This one was on a Deps 175, which you could spend $100 on if you want to pay retail. I was catching fish at one of the hardest fished lakes around in sizes that even a really skilled fisherman might only see a handful of times a year, and I was catching multiple a day. That's one of the moments it really clicked for me.
Angry John reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 1:31 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I have some and enjoy fishing them. I also have some $25 swimbaits that I really enjoy fishing. They're really kind of a thing that you either understand the appeal or you don't. I enjoy targeting big fish with big baits, just something about it that appeals to me.
Another thing to consider other than the initial cost, is the cost per fish ratio of a bait. I have an MS Slammer that has caught a few hundred fish for sure. Initial cost was $50, so let's say I've caught 200 fish on it, each fish I've caught on it cost me $.25. Now let's say you're fishing your favorite color 5" GYCB senko that cost $.50 apiece and only last on average for 1 fish (we've all fished senkos and I think can probably agree that each fish you catch after the first one is a bonus fish), those fish cost you $.50 apiece. My Slammer is still going strong, and as long as I don't do anything silly with it, could last for hundreds more fish, while the senko fisherman has to keep going back to the store and buying more baits.
So if you look at it that way, swimbaits aren't that expensive at all. Of course, there's also the chance you do like I did this winter and cast off an $80 glide that can't be recovered after catching about 20 fish on it, then those fish cost me $4 apiece. It's the risk I'm willing to take to try to get a bite from the biggest fish in the lake, or at the very least bigger than average sized fish. I'm positive that I catch fish on them that ignore all other offerings.
No price tag on this one.
That phoney is sweeeeet.
Jaderose reply :
I have no thoughts about them. I don't own any and have no need to. If I was fishing water that were appropriate for that style of fishing I might think differently. How another person spends his money is of no concern to me
long island basser reply :
Not interested, thank you.
BigBassCatcher reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 1:31 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I have some and enjoy fishing them. I also have some $25 swimbaits that I really enjoy fishing. They're really kind of a thing that you either understand the appeal or you don't. I enjoy targeting big fish with big baits, just something about it that appeals to me.
Another thing to consider other than the initial cost, is the cost per fish ratio of a bait. I have an MS Slammer that has caught a few hundred fish for sure. Initial cost was $50, so let's say I've caught 200 fish on it, each fish I've caught on it cost me $.25. Now let's say you're fishing your favorite color 5" GYCB senko that cost $.50 apiece and only last on average for 1 fish (we've all fished senkos and I think can probably agree that each fish you catch after the first one is a bonus fish), those fish cost you $.50 apiece. My Slammer is still going strong, and as long as I don't do anything silly with it, could last for hundreds more fish, while the senko fisherman has to keep going back to the store and buying more baits.
So if you look at it that way, swimbaits aren't that expensive at all. Of course, there's also the chance you do like I did this winter and cast off an $80 glide that can't be recovered after catching about 20 fish on it, then those fish cost me $4 apiece. It's the risk I'm willing to take to try to get a bite from the biggest fish in the lake, or at the very least bigger than average sized fish. I'm positive that I catch fish on them that ignore all other offerings.
No price tag on this one.
That's a very good point! These lures are pretty durable, so as long as you don't lose it it should actually be more cost effective than senkos.
MassYak85 reply :
You generally pay for quality with swimbaits and along with the shear size (increased material and production costs per bait) you are usually looking at baits that are handmade out of some dude's basement or garage. And these guys aren't killing it financially, they charge these prices, sure because people pay them, but also because they have to if they want to actually run a business. My bigger gripe with swimbait costs are when injection molded baits like a new style Deps 250 is priced the way it is. But I have no issue paying 70 bucks for something like a Mattlures or MS Slammer. And like BlueBasser said, you can general fish these things until any vague idea of the original paint scheme is a distant memory.
LxVE Bassin reply :
With $100 I’m buying a new rod, no way I would pay that for a swimbait. I gets snagged a lot and lose a lot of lures.
BigBassCatcher reply :
Honestly, listening to your guys' opinion has really changed my mind on these swimbaits! At first I couldn't even fathom the idea of spending even 60 dollars on a lure, but now I can actually see the purpose in owning one, and also why it might actually be worth it.
I might even purchase one in the future, probably not a 500 dollar high end one, but maybe a $60-100 very high quality one. Personally I've never fished with swimbaits much, but it would be fun to try out. I'll definitely invest in a lure retriever or something of the sorts as well.
Angry John reply :
On 4/5/2018 at 8:33 AM, LxVE Bassin said:With $100 I’m buying a new rod, no way I would pay that for a swimbait. I gets snagged a lot and lose a lot of lures.
But do you own a mask and snorkel because no way am I leaving that bait behind.
DogBone_384 reply :
$100+ swimbaits? I’ll pass. I have a hard time paying $9 for a bag of Senkos.
Good on those that do. I read thay catch BIG fish.
LxVE Bassin reply :
On 4/5/2018 at 9:53 AM, Angry John said:But do you own a mask and snorkel because no way am I leaving that bait behind.
I’m too reckless to have a bait that cost that much.
Bluebasser86 reply :
If you want to dip your toes into the big bait world without breaking the bank, look no further. Get the big one though, the size is where the drawing power of the bait comes from.
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Savage_Gear_3D_Shine_Glide_Bait/descpage-SG3DG.html
Sam reply :
First, if you do purchase a $100 bait of any type you will be a general in the Bait Monkey army.
Second, if you have the funds to purchase a $100 bait of any type go for it.
Third, don't get upset when you lose your $100 bait of any type.
Just go out there and see what you can catch and let us know along with some pictures. 
DINK WHISPERER reply :
It's all personal preference like a lot of life is. Why do some of us spend thousands on bass boats and modifying the trucks we tow them with? Or on a race car just to beat the next guy at the track that weekend. Or on insanely priced rods and reels. Because we can, we like to and it brings us satisfaction in some way.
I have some of those very expensive hand made lures myself. Why, because I think they're beautiful works of art. And I know that when I decide I don't need them anymore and sale them, I will get my money back and then some. Do I use them, not really. I throw the "cheaper", under $100 ones with great success. I believe big baits (not expensive baits) target big fish more so then most baits. The fishing game is no different then anything else in life. We use what we like and can afford. Nothing wrong with either side of the fence.
Bankbeater reply :
Nope. Not for me. Maybe in a few years when I'm retired and fishing more, but not now.
smithy97 reply :
I got my first swimbait to try this year, an s-waver 168. I suppose this is the gateway drug to $100+ baits for a lot of folks. Up here in Ontario big swimbaits and glidebaits aren't too popular. If I can prove that these things work in our pressured lakes, I might have to start saving my money to buy more. I don't think I'd spend over $60 for a swimbait, only because our pike and musky will love them too much.
In my opinion if you have the funds, go for it. If it boosts your confidence, more power to ya.
Angry John reply :
On 4/5/2018 at 7:46 PM, smithy97 said:I got my first swimbait to try this year, an s-waver 168. I suppose this is the gateway drug to $100+ baits for a lot of folks. Up here in Ontario big swimbaits and glidebaits aren't too popular. If I can prove that these things work in our pressured lakes, I might have to start saving my money to buy more. I don't think I'd spend over $60 for a swimbait, only because our pike and musky will love them too much.
In my opinion if you have the funds, go for it. If it boosts your confidence, more power to ya.
In your area I would be running braid to leader with 80 or 100 lb. I don't fish swim baits on braid but in shark infested waters I want some chance of getting the bait back.
jbmaine reply :
Swim baits like that are approaching works of art. If you have the money and want to spend it, more power to you. I don't, and never will, but that's just me.
EGbassing reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 10:04 AM, BigBassCatcher said:Personally, I've never fished with a lure worth more than 20 bucks. I wouldn't even think of buying a lure if it crosses the $30 mark. I have combos that are cheaper than some swimbaits out there. Is there even any point to buying such an expensive lure?
I mean, bass don't really care if your lure is worth 10 dollars or 200 dollars. How much better will an action get on a 200 dollar swimbait than a regular 20 dollar swimbait?
Not to mention, just the fear of losing that lure will drive me nuts, to the point of me never even using it when I'm out on the water. It's like buying a supercar just to park it in your garage.
The $100+ swimbaits probably have much better action and quality than a $10 kind, but I would rather just get a new rod if I have 200 bucks to spend. 
J Francho reply :
$100 is about my limit for a proven, hand made bait. I have a few. They work, some so well, that like BlueBasser, they've ended up costing me pennies per fish.
BassNJake reply :
What are your thoughts on $100+ swimbaits?
If you can afford one you've got a better paying job than me 
Goldstar225 reply :
I'll never spend that much for a bait. But for those who can afford them and want them, do it and enjoy. And for those craftsmen who can make them and command top dollar for their skills, my hat is off to them.
Cak920 reply :
Well it’s simple for me. I just can’t afford to spend that kind of money on a lure. Especially when a lot of my fishing is done in a rather treacherous river for lures. I lost 5 lures in 3 hours already. Can’t imagine losing one that cost hundreds of dollars
DomQ reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 11:24 AM, WRB said:What is a bass of a lifetime worth?
Being able to eat as many big macs and not have any of the horrible side effects that come along with them
BigBassCatcher reply :
On 4/5/2018 at 4:11 PM, Bluebasser86 said:If you want to dip your toes into the big bait world without breaking the bank, look no further. Get the big one though, the size is where the drawing power of the bait comes from.
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Savage_Gear_3D_Shine_Glide_Bait/descpage-SG3DG.html
Thanks for the option. That lure is definitely in my price range for right now!
On 4/5/2018 at 6:48 PM, Sam said:First, if you do purchase a $100 bait of any type you will be a general in the Bait Monkey army.
Second, if you have the funds to purchase a $100 bait of any type go for it.
Third, don't get upset when you lose your $100 bait of any type.
Just go out there and see what you can catch and let us know along with some pictures.
Yeah currently I'm not in the market for such an expensive lure, but maybe in the future I will definitely look into it. As BlueBasser said, the lure could end up costing you only pennies if used correctly and taken care of.
WRB reply :
When you get into high end swimbaits $100+ Or any big swimbait you also need to spend money for the tackle required to properly cast and retrieve these lures. Swimbait fishing, real swimbaits not jig trailers, takes dedication a willingness to spend both time and money to catch big bass.
I am not a dedicated swimbait fisherman and prefer using my hair jigs with pork rind.....however I own 4 swimbait rods & reels, dozens of highend wooden hand painted custom swimbaits and soft Huddleston no longer in production and fish them under the right conditions because I am a dedicated trophy bass angler. If you are worried about loosing a one of a kind swimbait don't consider using it.
Tom
Raul reply :
“Pros” don’t hunt big fish, seldomly a big fish hunter is a “pro”. I used to hunt for big fish, I was obsessed with catching big uns, traveled hundreds of miles to go hunting to different big momma lakes in order to get the big uns, nowdays I’m happy if I go and catch a few ones and size no longer matters ( can you believe it ?!?, yes, me saying size no longer matters ..... what the hell is wrong with me ? )
I can’t say much about toothy critters robbing you from your favorite bait, but down here there’s these wooden sobs called submerged mesquite trees and we deal with them with these things called plug knockers .....
everythingthatswims reply :
Before I started tournament fishing, I threw big swimbaits a fair amount. It was a blast and can be very effective at times. As others have stated it can (under the right circumstances, as with any bait) give you a much better shot at a high caliber fish.
My favorite part about swimbait fishing was seeing how bass hunted them, it is unlike any of the normal baits we are used to. Now that I tournament fish a considerable amount, it makes sense for me to spend time using baits I will use during a tournament so I become proficient with them. I may throw a big swimbait during a tournament one day if the conditions are right, I have used a glide bait during practice to look for fish and it works well.
As @WRB said "what is the fish of a lifetime worth"
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 4/7/2018 at 12:57 PM, everythingthatswims said:My favorite part about swimbait fishing was seeing how bass hunted them, it is unlike any of the normal baits we are used to. Now that I tournament fish a considerable amount, it makes sense for me to spend time using baits I will use during a tournament so I become proficient with them. I may throw a big swimbait during a tournament one day if the conditions are right, I have used a glide bait during practice to look for fish and it works well.
The way they hunt down a big bait is almost as much of a thrill as actually landing a fish on one. If you like muskie fishing, you'll like fishing big swimbaits for bass.
Fred Roumbanis often talks about fishing swimbaits in tournament practice because so many fish will show themselves without striking so he can see what caliber of fish might live in an area.
MDBowHunter reply :
If you've never fished one you'll never understand, and you would be surprised at how many young guys fish them. The drawing power of a big glide bait is unmatched by any other lure, but they can be very costly along with the gear to throw them with. You will catch less fish with them, but the quality of the fish you catch will dramatically improve as long as you fish them correctly.
WRB reply :
I agree with Rual in general about pro's don't hunt big bass....during most tournaments.
Pro's do hunt big bass when fishing big bass lakes or the delta because they know you must catch them to win. Some Pro's also trophy bass fish on thier time when they have the opertunity.
Tom
blckshirt98 reply :
If you hold a $100+ swimbait in hand the quality and craftsmanship shines. In that price range it becomes a collectible/short term asset, and not "just a bait". Any swimbait posted up on SU at a reasonable price is usually bought/sold the same day of going up on sale.
Swimbaits are a specialized niche in bass fishing. The costs and patience to use them are not for everyone, and their passion is unique. If you're going out to fish all day hoping for 1-2 bites, it's all about using the bait that gives you the most confidence, and a handcrafted, hand-tuned, hand-painted finish helps. I like to compare swimbait guys to skateboarders who would rather jump a 20-foot ramp once instead of jumping a 1-foot ramp twenty times.
kenmitch reply :
If I lived about 4-500 miles more north I'd seriously consider throwing a high dollar swimbait for the chance of catching a world record class spotted bass. I'd be out there every possible moment....Just me, my kayak and a whole lot of hope and prayers. Fish of a lifetime outlays the risk too me at least.
nosdog2 reply :
My thoughts are I can't (don't want to) afford them.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 4/7/2018 at 12:21 AM, WRB said:If you are worried about loosing a one of a kind swimbait don't consider using it.
Tom
This sums it up for me.
The anxiety of losing it will destroy the peace I seek from fishing. It's a personality thing with me not a money issue.
evilcatfish reply :
The "is it worth the price" debate on swimbaits could go on for eternity and people still wouldn't agree. That said, I feel like a $100 handmade by one man swimbait is a much better value than a $12 crankbait made by machine or underpaid workers in Asia. Just my thoughts.
BassB8Caster reply :
2 years ago i was super reluctant to spend $10 on a bait. My first "big" splurge was $22 for a Spro BBZ 40 rat. That thing has caught bass for me day 1. Next was a whopper plopper at $18 or so. Fast forward to this winter, i came across swimbait underground forum. The rest is they say history. I made my biggest buy this winter, $70 for a Baitsanity 9.5" glide. I also upgraded to a $100 XH okuma swimbait rod as well as a Daiwa Tatula 200HD reel. I love swimbait fishing and decided to go all in for big bass. I have made a few replies to members on here in regards to spending more money than they wanted for a few baits. They decided to make the splurge and were extremely happy with the results. I have since traded that glide for a 9" ms slammer and have picked up a few other baits. I have yet to catch a bass on a big bait (been out 4 times), but i have high confidence in knowing the bait im throwing has a track record of catching big fish. But dont just go buy any and all expensive baits. You only need a few of different varieties to cover your bases. I will say that these more expensive baits are high quality.
I will admit apprehension of losing an expensive bait. The more i used it, the more confident i got in it. With the right gear a big bait will cast and handle like other baits. Dont push the limits. Use proper line, proper weighted rods etc. If you cannot cast within 5 feet of an object, well....good luck.
Its pretty hard to argue the success of Butch Brown and the deps 250, the history of the ms slammer etc. Quality of 3:16 hardbaits is top notch. Would i ever spend $400 on a roman made mother? Nope. But i would (and will) buy a $50 dowz swimmer, a $100 deps 250, a $100 mattlures mag gil, etc. Those baits produce and they are built to last.
Angry John reply :
On 6/14/2018 at 2:08 AM, BassB8Caster said:2 years ago i was super reluctant to spend $10 on a bait. My first "big" splurge was $22 for a Spro BBZ 40 rat. That thing has caught bass for me day 1. Next was a whopper plopper at $18 or so. Fast forward to this winter, i came across swimbait underground forum. The rest is they say history. I made my biggest buy this winter, $70 for a Baitsanity 9.5" glide. I also upgraded to a $100 XH okuma swimbait rod as well as a Daiwa Tatula 200HD reel. I love swimbait fishing and decided to go all in for big bass. I have made a few replies to members on here in regards to spending more money than they wanted for a few baits. They decided to make the splurge and were extremely happy with the results. I have since traded that glide for a 9" ms slammer and have picked up a few other baits. I have yet to catch a bass on a big bait (been out 4 times), but i have high confidence in knowing the bait im throwing has a track record of catching big fish. But dont just go buy any and all expensive baits. You only need a few of different varieties to cover your bases. I will say that these more expensive baits are high quality.
I will admit apprehension of losing an expensive bait. The more i used it, the more confident i got in it. With the right gear a big bait will cast and handle like other baits. Dont push the limits. Use proper line, proper weighted rods etc. If you cannot cast within 5 feet of an object, well....good luck.
Its pretty hard to argue the success of Butch Brown and the deps 250, the history of the ms slammer etc. Quality of 3:16 hardbaits is top notch. Would i ever spend $400 on a roman made mother? Nope. But i would (and will) buy a $50 dowz swimmer, a $100 deps 250, a $100 mattlures mag gil, etc. Those baits produce and they are built to last.
But do you own a donut yet. Get cracking
mwh33 reply :
I have never fished or owned $100 lure. I do have one Bull Shad that cost me $50. I will go swimming for it if I need to. Other than that the majority of my lures are less than $13. I have 2 hudds, but got both for around $20. I just can't justify throwing a lure that cost as much as decent rods and reels these days.
cgolf reply :
Right now the priciest bait I have is the SPRO 50 rat. I don’t see myself going anymore expensive than that because we have giant Muskie and not so giant bass. If we had a bunch of ten pound bass swimming around I would change my mind, but the chance of a Muskie either stealing or tearing up a pricey bait will keep me away.
Angry John reply :
On 6/14/2018 at 8:56 AM, cgolf said:Right now the priciest bait I have is the SPRO 50 rat. I don’t see myself going anymore expensive than that because we have giant Muskie and not so giant bass. If we had a bunch of ten pound bass swimming around I would change my mind, but the chance of a Muskie either stealing or tearing up a pricey bait will keep me away.
But you could change that 10k cast fish into a 3 cast fish. That's my luck at least. Having toothy critters is a game changer, in risk vs reward. Don't know if I would use them in gator country either.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 6/14/2018 at 7:02 AM, Angry John said:But do you own a donut yet. Get cracking
I did for about 4 hours lol, got to love them zebra mussels.
Catt reply :
To keep things in perspective this bass was caught on a Chicken McNugget!
They don't care how much your tackle cost!
.jpeg.1a12a62fc3d337302c647113e4a60321.jpeg)
BassB8Caster reply :
On 6/14/2018 at 7:02 AM, Angry John said:But do you own a donut yet. Get cracking
I do not. Having just gotten into big swimbaits, my collection is small right now.
Angry John reply :
On 6/14/2018 at 7:13 PM, BassB8Caster said:I do not. Having just gotten into big swimbaits, my collection is small right now.
To be fair I just got mine. The shape is rather simple and a little odd but the paint and finish is excellent. They just had a price increase but you would never know it's a wood bait buy looking at it. The glide is nice and I am still learning the bait with only two sessions so far. No fish yet so can't say it's amazing.
Tennessee Boy reply :
I waiting until Plano comes out with a steel lure safe that I can install on my boat. ????
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
Fish what you can afford or are willing to spend. If you're catching the fish you want to catch, keep doing your thing.
Personally, I get enjoyment out of catching fish on big lures, whether they cost $25 or $400. It's all personal preference. I will say my biggest fish have come on swimbaits, so there's that.
BassB8Caster reply :
On 6/14/2018 at 9:09 PM, Angry John said:To be fair I just got mine. The shape is rather simple and a little odd but the paint and finish is excellent. They just had a price increase but you would never know it's a wood bait buy looking at it. The glide is nice and I am still learning the bait with only two sessions so far. No fish yet so can't say it's amazing.
I have heard the name a few times over on the underground but never really looked into them. Wasn't a really common name thrown around (vs say 316 deps etc). After you commented to me I looked them up. Def a custom bait. Shapelooks rigid/stiff (maybe it has a wide glide, I have no idea) but I will agree, the paint jobs are stellar. Personally, I would be hesitant to throw $100 for one as there are more talked about glides for that money from what I have read. At the same time I know $100 isn't much for a custom bait either. If it swims half as good as the paint job it is a winner.
Angry John reply :
On 6/15/2018 at 7:56 AM, BassB8Caster said:I have heard the name a few times over on the underground but never really looked into them. Wasn't a really common name thrown around (vs say 316 deps etc). After you commented to me I looked them up. Def a custom bait. Shapelooks rigid/stiff (maybe it has a wide glide, I have no idea) but I will agree, the paint jobs are stellar. Personally, I would be hesitant to throw $100 for one as there are more talked about glides for that money from what I have read. At the same time I know $100 isn't much for a custom bait either. If it swims half as good as the paint job it is a winner.
All you have to do is see how long they are posted before being sold. That's the truth on su. My partner has a bunch of 316 and I have yet to see a fish caught. My deps 175 does though. Good bait to find used for 60 bucks or so. Got one almost nip for that price.
MassYak85 reply :
There are a ton of great swimbaits for under a hundred. That 40-80 range will get you a LOT of quality, and even custom baits that are some of the best in the market. Again it's all about what you can afford and what you are fishing. There are a lot of guys fishing swimbaits ONLY throw swimbaits. So dropping 200 on a bait that is going to get fished for 50 hours that season isn't really that crazy if you think about how much guys spend on soft plastics, jigs, and terminal tackle every year just as an example. Now if you own 10 roman made's than I can't defend that too much lol, but again it's all about what you can afford and what's still enjoyable.
BassB8Caster reply :
On 6/15/2018 at 10:05 AM, Angry John said:All you have to do is see how long they are posted before being sold. That's the truth on su. My partner has a bunch of 316 and I have yet to see a fish caught. My deps 175 does though. Good bait to find used for 60 bucks or so. Got one almost nip for that price.
Yes and no. Some of these swimbaits have a cult following. Just because they get top dollar doesn't mean they fish to their price tag. I have seen Roman made mother's sell as fast as they are posted at $400 a pop. I have also read some reviews saying they do not swim that great and paint doesn't last long (not from just one poster either). Go look and watch the market on SU. quite often expensive baits are sold brand new, never casted once. People will and do buy based on looks. I now do not mind spending decent money on quality stuff. But I spend a lot of time researching them before I buy. And even though I have some apprehension about losing an expensive bait, I still want to use it. And will. I'm not buying a new car to look at it in the garage.
Fishingmickey reply :
On 6/14/2018 at 6:17 PM, Catt said:To keep things in perspective this bass was caught on a Chicken McNugget!
They don't care how much your tackle cost!
Was it a wacky rigged or Texas rigged McNuggett Catt?
MDBowHunter reply :
On 6/15/2018 at 10:05 AM, Angry John said:All you have to do is see how long they are posted before being sold. That's the truth on su. My partner has a bunch of 316 and I have yet to see a fish caught. My deps 175 does though. Good bait to find used for 60 bucks or so. Got one almost nip for that price.
Dont always look at that though, a lot of times some of these baits are a bunch of hype and these kids buy them up. I've heard nothing but great things about the donuts though, but don't own one myself. I personally love my Phoney Shad and my Chad Shad, both are super nice gliding baits that flat out draw the fish in. The hinkles look amazing as well but I can justify spending $200 on one when the Chads and Phoneys are half that. Well I guess this won't be so true soon after the post that Jason St.Mary put up, I guess his baits will be up around the $200 mark here very soon. I'm glad I got on his list before this all went down.
whitwolf reply :
On 4/4/2018 at 6:44 PM, Mike L said:
Just use what you have confidence in and fish where they live and the world will turn.
Mike
This, and more this!
Angry John reply :
On 6/17/2018 at 10:20 PM, MDBowHunter said:Dont always look at that though, a lot of times some of these baits are a bunch of hype and these kids buy them up. I've heard nothing but great things about the donuts though, but don't own one myself. I personally love my Phoney Shad and my Chad Shad, both are super nice gliding baits that flat out draw the fish in. The hinkles look amazing as well but I can justify spending $200 on one when the Chads and Phoneys are half that. Well I guess this won't be so true soon after the post that Jason St.Mary put up, I guess his baits will be up around the $200 mark here very soon. I'm glad I got on his list before this all went down.
My thoughts exactly. The hinkle is nice but I feel as my phoney does the job. Might get one eventually but there now in the 225 and above range and I just cant. Not hating on those that do.
fishwizzard reply :
I am now up to two lost "swimbaits", a S-waver that an osprey stole and a huddgill that a snapping turtle ripped apart. Most of the places I fish are full of both of these jerks so the ~$30 range is about my limit.
The turtle really ticked me off, I had a nice little bit going on with that gill and when I set the hook into the turtle I was sure it was a new PB.
related Fishing Tackle topic
previous topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.