MaineBassin

Haven't been able to fish much this year, but finally got out on Friday (took day off from work). I went to a pond I have done well in the past, biggest being 5lbs. Had a pretty good day. Caught a 5.5 on an a rig, 5lber on a perch bbz Jr slow sink and a 5lber on the 9" slammer. Also caught a 3.5 and 3 on the slammer and a 2 on the dowz swimmer glide. Felt good to finally hook up with decent fish. Nothing like the adrenaline rush from a 5lber jumping. All were fat healthy fish. Not the best pics. Hard to take from my kayak.

The 9" is my one and only. After reading over and over to go with the 9" that's the way I went. I personally will never buy a 7". I will buy more 9". Like i said, after catching 14" LM on the 9", i see no reason to go smaller. There are people out there that love the 7". That's the great thing about swimbait fishing. Different baits work for different people.

The whole "scare a fish with the big splash" is so far from the truth. The first two slammer fish i caught (a 14" and 16") were on an evening with a light wind and wave/ripple on the surface (perfect conditions). I cast it out and let if sit for a bit. This dead sticking of the bait showed me in that instance how powerful of a bait it is. The way it moved and undulated with the waves, basically bringing the bait to life was unreal. Hard to explain until you see it. Both of those fish bit with it moving from the waves. I did nothing but cast and then set the hook and bring them in. You can get great results messing with the retrieve, but the amount of action sitting on the surface with some waves is crazy good.

This is my first year fishing big swimbaits. First baits were a hud and big glide (baitsanity). I didnt have much luck. Like you, i questioned myself, the baits etc. I traded the baitsanity for a 9" slammer, and this one bait has changed my perspective. I have tons of confidence in it. I love it's action. And fish love it. I have yet to catch anything big on it, but at night I'm catching 10 plus fish 14" up. I would recommend doing whatever you can to get a 9" slammer (any color). Or pick up a 50 size spro bbz rat. They flat out catch them and are affordable. Fish them at dusk or night and hold on. Plus with the limited visibility of your waters it may give them the extra commotion they are looking for. Good luck

Nice work Jesse!

Newbie question; how often does Caesar release new wade hoggs? This bait has landed atop my want list. I know once in a great while one pops up on the market.

Purchased a dowz swimmer off Josh. Very quick and painless transaction. Will definitely buy from him again.

I agree, esp with the slammer. This is the first big bait (not that i have a lot) that i have fell in love with and see myself owning many. I have not caught anything of size yet, but plenty in the 14 and 15" range. Most of my success has come at night but i have caught them during the day. i have a 9" slammer. I have found that a slow retrieve, just getting it wagging and clacking works best. I have also had great success on windy days of just casting it and letting it sit. The movement these things have with some wave movement is unreal. I have also had luck with a slightly faster crank just below the surface. I guess what im saying is that if there are fish around and you are not spooking them with your presence, you will get bit.

I love the support and it's a great idea. But I'm sorry (and this is just my opinion), we have thousands of our own in this country that need help. Veterans that fought for our freedom starving and homeless. The fires out west that ruined homes etc. I'm all about helping. But I'm going to help out my own country first. Sorry to derail the subject of this thread.

I'm a hudd rookie, but I believe the 68 and 8 have the same tail, so they should move the same water. I will give it a try at vary depths and see what I can find.

First night out at this lake i fished the 3rd night of the full moon. Didnt need a light that night. Fish were extremely active on top (all small ones though). I basically fished the slammer all night. Second time out (last friday) moon was half and still pretty bright. Fish were very similar as the first night just more spotty for location. maybe less spread out. But basically same size fish. maybe slightly bigger. I caught a decent 2.5lb smallie on the Spro 50 rat. That night the rat was the ticket. This is making me think i need to go about it different. some say you got to weed through the small ones. but to me, having similar behavior two times out and all being relatively small fish, the big ones are somewhere else. I could go out there next time and hammer big fish. as bass fishermen we all know how it can change in a hurry.

I have read/watched most all of matt and tim's stuff on swimbaits. I agree that the consensus is slow roll a hudd in cold water (or even fall and spring). I was a little surprised when i was told by a very successful swimbaiter to put the hudds away in the summer. I know they do not move a lot of water, especially when slow rolled, but i would think if you speed them up they move a decent amount. Pair that with some clear water and i would think they would work well. Im def going to give this a try. I havent thrown the arig at night but ill have to give that a go too.

Next time out im going to try deeper, just off drop offs, adjacent to flats etc. Being night, should i want something that puts off a ton of vibration/movement? would a faster retrieve with a hudd, RP golden shiner or 8" booty shaker move enough water? I know these are more clear water type fishing baits.

i would agree with the above. basically all the time, especially along weedlines and around cover. Really anywhere bass could be or close by. Those BBZ rats have a nice knock to them. Im sure they can be heard from quite a distance. I have also had really good luck fishing them when there is some surface disturbance (from ripples to light waves). The splashing helps the bait appear to be struggling. I have also read that rats really excel if you get a lot of rain and water levels rise. Primo rat time.

They definitely are aggressive. After nights like that I can't help to wonder if I'm fishing a whole lake for one big fish, which may or may not be still in there from last year. But there has got to be some good fish. Its a nice lake with plenty of food. I'll keep at it. I think night is the way to there. Gets a little pressure during light. I was the only one out once dark set in. Should I try subsurface at night?

Thanks for the response. yeah thats what im thinking. I feel im covering enough water to run into something decent. And the slammer is a known big fish catcher. I have had most luck just slowly working the bait. Ill have to try mixing things up. Both nights out were very clear, bright starts, bright moon (first night full, second half). Ill try to catch a night with cloud cover. Its crazy to think how many smaller fish (and how aggressive they are) will bite the 9" slammer.

Good morning SU. Looking for some pointers and suggestions. I'm having trouble finding big fish at night. My time is very limited and it's hard to get out and fish. What works when I can get out is fishing at night. I really enjoy it, its very tense yet relaxing at the same time. Anyway, the last two times out I've gone to the same small lake (around 300 acres). It has a few points and a small hump in the middle. Pretty clear water. I fish out of a kayak without electronics. Most depths are around 30 to 40. Hump is around 11. Everything from shore drops off pretty quickly. Very little vegetation, scattered at best. I've basically stuck to a 9" slammer and a spro 50 rat. I have done very well with these two, catching a good number of fish both times. Just nothing bigger than around 2.5lbs. Fish get very active at night. Last summer I saw around a 7 or 8lber swimming by the dam. So I want to think there are good fish in here. But I have yet to catch one 3lbs or bigger (fished here a total of 5 times). Any tips or suggestions? Do i keep grinding like i am? TIA

Good to hear. I'll add them to my list

Any of you guys that throw these fish around pickerel or pike? I'm very hesitant to throw an expensive soft swimbait in vegetation in fear of a pickerel biting the tail off.

This is my first year throwing big baits. I went with the okuma gs series a xxh. Range of 2 to 10oz baits. I was pleasantly surprised how well it threw some light baits (whopper plopper 130 and a couple other sub 2oz baits). I have thrown up to a 9.5" 5oz glide with no issues. I'm very happy with it, especially when I paid around $90 for it. I use a tatula 200hd reel. I love this reel. Also got it for around $90. As a beginner I'm very happy with my set up. Is a dobyns better? Maybe. They are great rods no doubt. Can't really go wrong with any of these. Comes down to budget and range of baits to be thrown.

This is my first year throwing big baits (6" plus). I have 3 hudds @ 8", a 9" slammer, a 6" perch bbz, a 50 spro rat, an a rig and a gantarel. So far I have only caught fish on the slammer and a rig. Biggest fish is around 15". It amazes me how small of fish will bite a 9" slammer. It is a grind sometimes when nothing will bite. But like everyone above has said, its a process. Gotta commit to it and keep at it. Results will eventually come. I dont know how many times i have questioned myself on the bait I had tied on, or whether it was the right body of water, etc. It's nice to come on here and read responses like above and get right mentally to get back out there and keep grinding.

Yeah months ago when I came across the dowz all there was was that video and a review by an Australian fishing team. Looked really good to me. Glad to see they are finally mass produced and guys in here have tried and reviewed them. Will definitely Be picking one up by fall.

Nice fish! The slammer has killed it for me at night. Nothing big tho. Plenty of 14" fish biting the 9" Slammer.

Small fish will bite the 9". I would go right to the 9. Slammer is over half length of this fish. I caught 3 that day between 14 and 16".

Choppy days for sure. Cast it out and let it be. The natural wave movement will bring it alive.