Swimbait Fishing

Soft Plastic technique

A soft paddle-tail on a jighead or weighted hook, or a hard multi-section swimbait, retrieved to imitate a swimming baitfish.

Gear

How to fish the Swimbait Fishing

1. Rig a paddle-tail on a jighead or weighted hook (or tie on a hard swimbait).
2. Cast past the target and let it sink to the desired depth.
3. Reel steadily so the tail thumps like a swimming shad.
4. Vary speed and depth until you find the fish.
5. Reel into the fish and let the rod load on the strike.

Retrieve: Steady wind at the depth fish are feeding; slow-roll deep or wake it just under the surface.

Where it shines

Cover: open, grass; structure: points, flats, grass edges, bait schools; clarity: clear, stained.

When to use it

Best seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Best conditions: Shad Spawn, Wind

When Bryan reaches for it: When bass are keyed on shad — a big swimbait is my choice when I want to weed out the little ones and catch a giant.

Lakes where it works

Lake Buchanan · Lake Falcon · Lady Bird Lake · Lake O.H. Ivie

Lures to throw

Swimbait, Glide Bait, Underspin.

Common mistakes

• Wrong size for the forage
• Reeling too fast for cold water
• Setting the hook too early on a big swimbait — let them load up

Pro tips

• Match the swimbait size to the shad in the lake
• An underspin adds flash for stained water or low light

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