Favorite swimbait memory and Why?

[BittyRanger]

Hey guys so as the post says I was curious as to what moments or memories stand out to you the most since you began targeting bass or any species with Swimbaits. I’ll go first,

my most memorable moment was when I caught a fish on my code name bass that my girlfriend got me for a birthday gift after I mentioned how cool it was in a YouTube video I had seen. I had 0 knowledge about the proper gear to throw such a massive bait, and swimbait fishing tk be honest. Just a massive bait. So I tied it on my 4–8 oz rod with straight 60lb braid and caught my first to me, giant bass. On a completely underrated setup and it will always stick w me. Nothing any smart ass could say about my gear would knock this achievement down for me and that’s why it’s my favorite memory. It sparked this determination and love I have now. Thanks for reading guys can’t wait to hear your stories. 

[Bud95]

Catching my first swimbait fish and pb at the most pressured lake in my area. I’d never seen a bass this big before and had no confidence in getting but on an 8” + bait. Over four years ago and still haven’t broken this pb haha.

Edited April 26, 2023 by Bud95

[Payton Rehm]

I think the most memorable time for me so far was when I was able to catch 2 giant bass one morning with my Fiancé!  No matter how much I time and money spend on my fishing “habit”she’s always supporting and encouraging me to keep pushing!  Seeing her reaction when I caught my PB 8.20 lbs then a 6.30 lbs studs on swimbaits and her helping me net them both was a memory I won’t forget!

[BPayne]

My favorite memory was when I first got my hands on my OD XL rat (affectionately named “Odie”).  I took Odie to my local neighborhood water hole for a test swim one morning and this old timer that I see and talk to there all the time was hanging out near the parking area enjoying his morning coffee.  He saw Odie tied on and started laughing and asked me just what in tarnation (I’m embellishing a bit here) I think I’m gonna do with that big thing.  I told him I’m taking him for a test swim and he told me to go on and that he would be watching from his truck.  I got about half way around the lake and made a risky, long bomb cast closer than comfort and parallel to a rocky bank.  About 3 feet into the retrieve, a 4 pounder came up and smoked Odie and the fight was on.  I could hear that old timer hooping and hollering from across the lake and I could barely reel the fish in I was laughing so hard.  As I headed back to my vehicle, he stopped me again and wanted to know what aisle in BassPro had those rats and stated that Odie must have been one of those super expensive $25 lures.  I again laughed and told him it was a bit more than than and he shook his head and called me crazy.  We parted ways, but every time I’ve seen him since, he asks where that “big a$$ squirrel lure is.” 

[riverrat_84]

Probably when I was fishing an S Waver, still fairly new to the swim bait game. I made a long cast fishing this small pond. It was a somewhat windy day. The glide was probably in the water for maybe 5 seconds and I had the hardest hit I’ve ever experienced. Of course I couldn’t set the hook fast enough.

I’d like to think that is the PB that got away. Oh well, another fishing story!

[LowSpinner]

My first swimbait fish for me, '21 fall feed.

I had messed around with swimbaits that year leading up to it. Always bringing a couple swimbait setups, throw them for a 5-10 casts and then resort to 1 of the other 8 conventional rods I brought with me because my buddy was catching them on something.. 

I committed one evening 2 hour bank session to bringing one rod with me, with a Toxic Micro Mink tied on. Cast after cast nothing..

Getting late, debating the last cast announcement in my head was coming up soon, I made a cast across a channel point and decided to check my phone to see what time it was. 

*Boom*

I hear this massive explosion and feel the rod load up, swing into her a bit, it's on.  I'm grinding her, drags slipping, get her to the bank and the amount of adrenaline is so overwhelming you remember why we do this in a major way.

She wasn't the largest but she was the first.

No measuring board, scale batteries dying before a final weight. It said 3-15, I have had fish that size in my hand before, this one felt bigger. 

That first one brought me here, to see how everyone else was doing it. I have learned a lot and haven't even scratched the surface.

Thank you everyone that contributes to this community.

 

[mjs90]

Bass exploding on my Rago D3 at one of the regional parks. I was just practicing with different retrieves before an outing to DVL and a 2lber smoked it on the surface. 

So fun  

 

[BensBaits]

I started my swimbait journey not too long ago and was finding it hard to keep at it. I ended up getting really lucky and @Jim137a kindly sold me a hinkle shad at a broke college student price point. I was infatuated by its stability and glide. It was my first really nice bait and I sure as hell wasn’t just gonna let it collect dust. Fished it for months with more followers than I can count, (I’m not great at counting) but finally stuck one. Just a 3 pounder but it was one of my most exhilarating fishing experiences as I saw the fish dart out and hammer it. I still love fishing the bait to this day and although I don’t catch them all, it sure is fun. Now I use a more diverse lineup of swimbaits but that bait got me invested and determined to continue throwing big baits for even bigger fish. Shoutout to @Jim137a for getting me addicted to swimbait fishing, best way to escape my college stress. 

Edited April 26, 2023 by BensBaits

[AsaProch]

Started swimbait fishing a few years ago but I almost never just went out to fish em. This changed last year when I decided to try and craft a bow glide that might trick the stripers in my area. Worked for a couple weeks to produce a sad looking 11" badly painted bass wood glide that blows out every couple pulls. But decided to try and fish it. First morning out I stuck my best striper and I havnt been back to conventional for around 11 months haha. A big part of that is the community here on the underground and the thrill of truly fooling a fish. 

[PKNNH]

Just like everyone else, my PB is my favorite memory. I still remember everything. Chucked it out past a little rock, a few twitches and a pause. Then this huge mouth just comes out of nowhere and the fight is on. Lower my rod tip and grind the fish in. Panicked a bit and almost slipped into the water while trying lip it. I just remember my wife's words of "Dude you actually caught something. And it's freaking huge". The fish wasn't a DD but for Colorado standards, it was pretty big. I've never seen a LMB of that size before here. Never got the weight but I'll go with 4lbs. Still have yet to beat it but hopefully I find a 5lber out here somewhere...

[EL_ED51]

I don't have any awesome catch pics..Yet. 

but rescue missions, oh yes. 

Fist 

First of many in Lake pyramid

Going home for my daughter inflatable. 86 doomrider rescued. I can swim well, but its a "no touch lake." 

 

Line caught my hook holder. Ripped my rod out my hand, Pg went flying into the tullies..

Thought I lost it. Anyone use another bait to toss at a bait you lost in tullies? i have a bait that has brought back several after getting them hung up in tullies. 

Good times. Ill come back and post a good fish memory pic one day. 

[SumoNinja]

My most memorable besides my pb is the day I got 6 fish on swimbaits. Not around any spawning panfish or baitfish. 4 was on the sneaky rat, 2 on the bgc crankdown. 

U might say 6 only? Well where I'm from is super pressured, and 6 in one trip FROM SHORE on swimbaits, on a big public lake (no pond) is not easy to do. 1 is a great day, 2 to 4 would he exceptional. But 6 is something that happens only once in a bluemoon if your timing is right. In 6 yrs this has only happened to me one time. 

[aphaneuf16]

Mine was probably in September 2020 right before I joined SU. Had some big baits didn’t fish them a crazy amount but was trying to build confidence. Decided one day when I was going to a local spot I’d bring a big bait(jackal gantarel) hoping to get a few fish. Caught a few 1-2lbers. Tried this last spot and thought to myself, I never catch anything here but what the heck. Little pinch point between 2 ponds. Took one crank of the gantarel and let it glide out. As I’m standing above this spot I see an absolute giant levitate out of this dirty water right under it, it opened its mouth and ate it like a trout taking a dry fly. I was freaking out, coolest looking east I’ve had.

Fish was pretty skinny and just under 6. Filled out would’ve wrecked my 6.35 pb. 

[Jim137a]

8 hours ago, BensBaits said:

I started my swimbait journey not too long ago and was finding it hard to keep at it. I ended up getting really lucky and @Jim137a kindly sold me a hinkle shad at a broke college student price point. I was infatuated by its stability and glide. It was my first really nice bait and I sure as hell wasn’t just gonna let it collect dust. Fished it for months with more followers than I can count, (I’m not great at counting) but finally stuck one. Just a 3 pounder but it was one of my most exhilarating fishing experiences as I saw the fish dart out and hammer it. I still love fishing the bait to this day and although I don’t catch them all, it sure is fun. Now I use a more diverse lineup of swimbaits but that bait got me invested and determined to continue throwing big baits for even bigger fish. Shoutout to @Jim137a for getting me addicted to swimbait fishing, best way to escape my college stress. 

I was happy to sell it to someone like you who would appreciate it and fish with it - btw you still owe me 2 packs of top ramen LOL

[aphaneuf16]

9 hours ago, AsaProch said:

Started swimbait fishing a few years ago but I almost never just went out to fish em. This changed last year when I decided to try and craft a bow glide that might trick the stripers in my area. Worked for a couple weeks to produce a sad looking 11" badly painted bass wood glide that blows out every couple pulls. But decided to try and fish it. First morning out I stuck my best striper and I havnt been back to conventional for around 11 months haha. A big part of that is the community here on the underground and the thrill of truly fooling a fish. 

That’s sick asf dude