Willduhhbeast

I hear you and can completely relate on the point of not wanting to fish something for a certain reason. I more clearly understand where you are coming from. I cant stand bed fishing, no matter the size of fish potential. In my last post, I never really considered that aspect. I'm wondering if there would even be a market for a glide style bait if it wasnt inspired by Japan. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Im sure it flows both ways and inspiration for new baits comes from anywhere. But through my eyes, I see the American bait market being WAY more influenced by whats happening out east. I read and agree to the point that bass fishing has really be sensationalized and the media and advertising are KILLING the grassroots bait world. Thats where all the awesome new ideas are coming from and catching BEASTS. Honestly though, how is their any more a crazy for the JDM baits than our own USA made baits? Hell it's easier to get most of the deps baits than it is to get a freakin 3:16 these days. Supply and demand(or lack there of) sells baits to fisherman. It's up to the fisherman to sell the baits to the fish. Some people may think its crazy to spend so much or put so much effort in trying to hit a release on these exclusive baits. For me, its fun, its exciting, and the baits work, so i enjoy it. Im excited specifically about the deps 250 because its done things i havent seen yet from a bait. I had 50+ followers and a 7 lber last trip alone. I'm also excited about the american made HUDD. That thing is a beast, and absolutely doesnt get credit it deserves. It out fishes swimbaits valued WAY more than it. For me.. sometimes its a challenge to catch something on a different bait. I hope there arent people out there trading and selling away their proven fish catching swimbaits, whatever they may be, to try and snag some JDM baits and the HOPES they can produce. Now that would be crazy

Im just not catching your drift. With all due respect for your opinion, im not sure there is a "craziness" over the JDM baits. Now on the other hand, there is definitely a craziness over the 3:16 baits, which I totally endear. Hinkle is months out on his bait too, if you plan to order, and he is currently only offering me ONE type of bait. Having the ability/patience/knowledge/time to make your own bait the way you want is a gift. Definitely takes a talent, one many would be jealous of. But as far as craziness over the JDM baits.. I think we should look in our own back yard for craziness. We have all seen the design on the slide swimmer by now. That thing is just a technical marvel in the bait world in my opinion. A soft shell cover, with wings at the joints to promote the glide. Is there anything close to that kind of innovation out west(USA)? They are trailblazers of the bait industry these days. If anything, the "craziness" is equal between JDM baits, and those USA baits we all covet. My personal position is give me the bait to catch fish. I dont care if its made by the dude down the street or in a factory in Indonesia. It's not like we're trying to rally the nation to purchase all their swimbaits from the USA to help our local government. Hypothetically speaking.. If someone threw a bunch of baits out on a table and had numbers in lbs of fish youd catch in the future by them, and where the were made, who in their right mind would choose by where it was made? We are all in the pursuit of FISH, and if we think its from a JDM bait, we should fish the heck out of it without hesitation, and visa versa with USA products. In my opinion, its absurd to even consider where a bait is from BEFORE or AFTER considering will this bait catch the biggest fish of my life.

This is irritating, and the people know who they are. I hope they arent fooling anyone. You could start a whole new thread on this.

Ive gone on 3 trips (Georgia) and dedicated 75% of the time fishing to the BB colored, untuned dep 250 slide swimmer. Combining the three trips, I had an absurd amount of followers.. I'd say somewhere around 100 over a total of 10 days fished, possibly more. A stock slide swimmer 250 fishes from deepest, about 10 feet, all the way to the surface. It's sweet spot is definitely around 2-5 feet IMO. I fished the bait in 45-65 degree water. In the colder water, the only bite I had was a pickerel that came off. In the warmer water, I had two bites and one fish landed. The bite that I did not land, I saw the whole thing happen and it was a very half hearted attempt, and she got the back hook and came off. She was a somewhat agressive follower, big, definitely 8+. She followed and as the bait got closer to the boat, I ripped it three times. Each time she sped up and the last time she nipped at the back of the bait. I tried many many different "finishing' moves including the reeling it in normally, nothing seemed to trigger them. There were different kind of followers. Some follow in the S fashion the bait was moving, 2-3 feet behind. Some followed the S pattern but were TIGHT to the bait's tail. Other would hang about 2-5 feet below the bait and just watch it. Some came in packs, most were loaners. I changed the hooks out to st 36 owner stingers, in a 2/0(back) and 3/0(front). The one fish I managed to land was a FIERCE hit. It was definitely a full commitment. It was hooked really well all the way into the net. It was a normal steady retrieve in about 7 feet of water. I feel like there is a lot more work I can put in to learn and understand why they are following so much. Maybe I can convert some of those followers to biters.

This is an exciting bait for me. Love the size.

Thanks guys. I'm going to have to take you up on that Travis!

I dont know about the ponds where you guys live, but I'm not eating a single thing out of the ponds where I'm from. As far as exploited water goes, it's up to you to try and keep it how you want it. Exploited waters can be frustrating, but it's also an interesting challenge. Pressure stinks, but its a fun competition. As far as bodies of water being over run with ignorant fisherman, not following the rules, here in florida I know all too well. This mostly relates to shore saltwater fisherman. There isnt a dock on the river that isnt breaking the law RIGHT NOW, and its a shame. The kind of money that would need to be invested to get poaching under control would be nuts. But Florida is spending it. We have drones that search for illegal activity going on offshore. Protect the waters to care about most, and inspire your friends and peers to do the same. Just do you part and thats the best you can do. As far as the beef between bhud and speedbead, take that ish to private message or something. I dont want to have to read through the BS to get to the topic.

This rig is MONEY. I havent has a single failure yet. I have also done the palmar knot thing using braid, and it works. You can also try what my buddy Jeremy does. I've never done it but he says it always holds.

Yeah, a little trip north. Im having a really hard time up here in NorFla with swimbaits. I think part of it is lack of confidence.

Hudd fish rigged STE style. ROF 12 Rainbow. Slide swimmer BB flash with st-36's And here is an interesting one. Can you guys tell me what the heck is up with this fish. You cant tell from the picture but the eyes are red. Im guessing its a spot/largemouth hybrid. I really dont know though, something is fishy.

Really? Mine is like a ROF 4 or 5. I'm with you. I have a BB 250 untuned with st 36's and its about a rof 5. Interesting that they may vary.

Good topic. This is a tactic I really like to use when I'm fishing with a buddy. On a recent trip, I fished a glide, and he fished a hudd. I feel like either one or the other would get them excited to the point it triggered some bites. There were times where we would cast exactly at the same spot and retrieve together, ones triggering a bite. The glide seems to get them moving, and paying attention. I don't know if its hunger, or a territory thing or what. Im not sure how it would work, or even if it will work, but has anyone tried a tandem rig with a slide swimmer? You know the tactic with the rof 5 hudd and the rof 12 hudd. If you can manage the ROF's for a slide swimmer 250 and possibly a 12 or 5 hudd, you could essentially just reel. Of course this thing would be impossible to cast, and youd need a monster rod. I know the slide swimmer loves to tornado on a cast. Maybe a 175 size slide and hudd would be just as good, or better.

Did you guys see that post on the other site where "Not Allowed" showed a technique on how to get followers to commit on the deps 250? It mostly applies to those in a boat. He basically just picked the bait up out of the water as the fish and bait approached the boat, then dropped it around 5-10 in the direction the retrieve was headed, sort of like a fleeing baitfish. It make not be something we could use from the bank, but it's with trying at some point.

Ive been thinking about posting this. I also bent a hook out and lost something I never saw. The split ring appeared fine in my case. I think I replaced with st 36's which seemed a touch heavier than stock so it made the bait sink a tad quicker. The motion appears the same to me. It is quite disappointing for the price these baits are going for.

Enjoyed reading this one Travis, great job. Every time I hear you talk about this damn mother, I get closer and closer to seeing what it's all about.

Nice one man. I like the video a lot.

I had all sorts of issues when I ordered. After filling out my information and my payment information and completing the order, the bait was set to ship to someone I dont even know is Sylmar CA. I emailed Ken and he promised to make it right several weeks ago. I logged into my account to see that the bait shipped to said person, who I dont even know. Ugh.. Hoping Ken will get this straightened out.

None of my friends get it either. I'm glad you posted this. Sometimes I go a month without a fish, and I always see these pictures from my friends with there 3 lbers and I wonder to myself why they even care. I'd rather fish for a month straight a not have a single looker, just for the chance that the biggest fish in the lake may bite my swimbait, instead of catching 20 fish in a trip all <5lbs. The wait can suck for sure, especially for your ego and confidence. But just keep slinging it man. Every reel turn could be that moment. In the down periods, or slumps, I think of all kinds of things related to the swimbait world. I try to think of outside the box approaches to what I'm doing, and why it hasnt been working, while also keeping in mind what I've already done, and what has already worked. I simply love it man, for it's ups and downs. Just keep slinging.

to recap, butch pretty much caught monsters and said IM BUTCH BROWN about 30 times.

I havent caught a slide swimmer fish yet so take this for what its worth. But I think slides are perfect for cold water. You can work them slow enough and youre able to change up the retrieve if need be. I had 10+ followers, some of them huge, in 47 degree water. I feel like there is definitely a time and a place for the slide swimmers in the cold water.

Butch is such a strange guy, but he's a beast.