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The swimbait hype market died real quick with those gas prices

The Megabass Valkyrie VKC-78H-4 and Zillion TW HD 1000XH just landed for my SW swimbait setup.

From PA about 2 weeks ago. Had 30 min to burn before work. Got a 4+ and a possible pb but when i was looking through my bad for the scale turns out i forgot it. Possible maybe 6. Will forever remain a mystery. Picture doesnt really do it justice. Not bad for shore bangin for 30 min before work!

Last week I decided to take the day off today to get out fishing with my dad and son Liam. Between weddings, birthdays, baby showers, and graduations the last two months have been impossible to get a day on the water on a weekend. That being said we launched the 12’ tin can behind my sisters house at Whitehall and immediately saw and spooked a giant largemouth up shallow. She must have been chasing bluegill up shallow. I took a mental note of where we saw her and the direction she was heading and circled back to the same area about an hour later and started casting up tight to shore, focusing on the shadows where I couldn’t see. Second cast she crushed the 8” DS Custom glide. To my surprise there was two fish! Another one got spooked and jumped about 5’ away from the one I had hooked and was fighting. After a brief fight we got her in the net and took a quick measurement and a few quick photos and let her go. we made a move to the other end of the lake and I missed another fish that was just as big if not bigger. She followed to within 20’ of the boat and just nipped the bait and took off. I then casted off the bait on the very next cast which was probably a blessing in disguise because if I had hooked that fish I probably would have broke her off. Thankfully I found the bait in shallow clear water and it was a reminder to check my knots and leaders and re-tie after every big fish. IMG_0186.MOV

Just some decent catches from the past few weeks on the river. Been on a good freestyle bite. Thanks for looking

6" Dockrat gill! 20220625_104435.mp4

Dude everything is down. Guys still trying to resale used baits at or above retail in the black market and wondering why theyre not moving lmao, tbh it’s kinda funny to watch these guys that artificially inflated the market to begin with take an L. At the end of the day it’s just fishing gear

Dope man rolled through today!

I love mine, it’s an absolutely beautiful bait, but this bait is meant to be fished slowwww. There’s baits on the market that will swim in a straight line if you don’t feel it fast. At the end of the day, this bait is a tool in your arsenal.

Fear not, people. As soon as our great country bans guns, criminals won’t be able to get them anymore and we will all be safe I always carry when I’m shore banging, although I probably have to worry more about a rabid raccoon trying to chew my ankles off than anything else. But have still been in a few situations where I didn’t feel very comfortable and was glad to have it with me.

Awesome! I love seeing the less popular endemic species, great fish! Shoal Bass are at the top of my bucket list.

I personally don’t look at the gear ratio and I focus on the IPT instead. Take for instance the Zillion TW HD 1000XH 8.1:1 is 33ipt vs a Bantam A HG 7.1:1 at 31ipt. For soft baits I try to stay under 30ipt and for the smaller hard baits I toss I try to get in that 32-33ipt regardless the gear ratio.

This is why I have found that I like a faster (33"+ IPT) reel for glide bait fishing. I am really more comfortable with 1/3 or 1/2 handle rotations than with rod twitches. Also, I feel more in control of segmented baits like a Bullshad or Triple Trout that work well on a burn / pause retrieve. The rainy season just started here in Korea and I always end up fishing some higher current situations, and I definitely need that extra line pickup in the current.

Are you using mono, flourocarbon or copoly. All of my swimbait reels are Calcutta Conquests 6.2 :1 so pretty slow - I lost a few giants on glides in NC because I couldn’t take the slack up fast enough. i May try a faster reel for my glides.

Ok @BayAreaAngler. Here’s a list of names that to my knowledge have NOT had this particular rat yet. @Turdferguson @Loudsplashbassn_ @StriperAddict @NJSwimbatslinger @ThatKidInNY (Just sent him the other rat so might want to wait) I left out you and others on the list that I know have had this one. Hope this helps man.

Good fish for CO! She attacked about 10 feet from me. I don't throw these very often, but it was on a deps 175. 5 pounds 2 ounces.

Got a nice one tonight on the big Jackal. She shamooed the bait clear out of the water!!

While I was waiting for silicone mold making materials, and wore out from 7 days a week working I came up with this simple little bait. Clean lines, 4.5" with no tail but a solid profile it could be a gill or a shad bait fish. My Dremel broke today so need to get another one to clean up the joints, working with a razor blade and files isn't the same. I used the Oomoo 30 for the mold it's way better than the alumilte in my opinion, but I don't have undercuts. Lines came out perfect in the mold. Next one I pour I will change the joints I don't really like the look being able to see the hardware through the side. What you guys think.

Got some chunks today cranking the K9 today slow to medium retrieves bouncing it off the rocks love how they hit the drts when cranking em they just smoke it!

I finally scored a couple of slammers. Try the yum houdini shad. I might to my self. My slammers have the rat tails

Great fish, bucket listers for sure

Great fish

Solid fish for our area.

Spro King Daddy for the "big bait only" guys.

Just a few more Glides

Late post, but had two trips in March back to back Fridays where I caught an 11.8 on one trip and then a 13.01 on the following Friday. The 13.01 was caught a custom glide that Marling Baits made for me. Both big fat healthy prespawners. Keep grinding fellas...

Might as well follow Chef's lead. Yes, they are big baits. My Zombie Double XL #5 Whiskey.

Great NY fish. I’m in upstate ny 20 mins from Albany

Finally was able to make the drive out to one of my favorite lakes. Felt good to stick a solid one even though it was post spawn. Massive head but no body and short, went 4-10.

is it karma if it was on purpose?

There’s no one more annoying than me with my thread lol. I just keep posting progress and videos and I think it’s cool and wish other would share more progression of their baits. The good bad and ugly. That baits looks good and one thing I have learned is that it’s not always the fanciest or realistic baits that get it done. You get the profile and right action to achieve what you are trying to do then fish it in the right situations you might catch on to something and now your confidence bait is your own and that’s really cool.