Buyer's Guide: Swimbaits and Glide Baits!

Today’s Buyer’s Guide is all about big swimbaits! There are so many options between Glide Baits, Multi-Joints, Boot Tails, Wedge Tails, Wakes, Crankdowns, and so many more… How do you know where to start?! Swimbaits aren’t cheap so making the right choices the first time is very important. Come along as we take a look at some of our favorites! 

We break our swimbaits into 3 primary categories: Trout/Kokanee,  Baitfish, and Bluegill Imitators. Trout baits are typically open water baits while baitfish and bluegill imitators are cover oriented, shallow water baits. Knowing how to use each style of bait effectively is an entirely different video. Luckily, we shot an in-depth video on this subject last month and have linked it below. 

In this video we’ve broken 9 baits down into these 3 categories and added 2 bonus baits. You’ll find all of the baits we discussed linked below. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We’ve also included our favorite colors with each bait, hook recommendations for rigging where applicable, as well as links to some of our favorite swimbait rods and reels. 

In-depth Swimbait Video: https://youtu.be/oIck1onpMNs

Previous Buyer’s Guides… 

-High End Combos: https://bit.ly/35PNOeu

-$500 Combos: https://bit.ly/3lW1o5I

-$400 Combos: https://bit.ly/3lSfwwz

-$200 Combos: https://bit.ly/2USSCJv

-$100 Combos: https://bit.ly/37aupED

Trout/Kokanee/Open Water Baits…  

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide: http://bit.ly/33bQyxY

Favorite Colors: Raw, Rainbow, Kokanee

-Huddleston 8” ROF 5: http://bit.ly/2UVHiuQ

Favorite Colors: Trout, Hitch

-Huddleston 8” ROF 12: http://bit.ly/2azFTon

Favorite Colors: Trout, Hitch

Baitfish/Cover Baits… 

-G Ratt Sneaky Pete: http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Favorite Colors: Hitch, Gizzard Shad, Bone

-R2S S Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Favorite Colors: Bluegill, TW Phantom, Light Trout

-Megabass Magdraft 8”: http://bit.ly/2mc8bfK

Favorite Colors: MB Shad, MB Gizzard, White Back Shad

-Scottsboro 6” Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2Oy7CKH

-Owner 8/0 Beast Hook 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2ancP66

Favorite Colors: Mullins Madness, Natural Light, Ol Smakey

-Savage Gear Shiner Pulse Tail 7”: https://bit.ly/2SDD0Zl

Favorite Colors: Green Back, White, Shad

Bluegill Baits… 

-Savage Gear Pulse Tail RTF Bluegill: https://bit.ly/2xx1zjH

Favorite Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Bluegill

-Jackall Gantarel: http://bit.ly/2adZI3R

Favorite Colors: Ghost Gill, Spawn Gill

Bonus Baits… 

-Madness Balam 245: https://bit.ly/36T1epg

Favorite Colors: Laser Hasu, Clear Hasu

-Fish Arrow Riser Jack: https://bit.ly/30FMOqw

Favorite Colors: Biwasagi, Lemonade, Pro Blue

Rods… 

-G Loomis IMX Pro 966: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

-Dobyns Fury 806H: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

-Megabass Orochi XX Leviathan: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Reels…

-Shimano Tranx 300 HG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

-Shimano Curado 300K: https://bit.ly/2HbZ3E4

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Hat: https://bit.ly/31EYB8W

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

How To Catch Your PB Bass Right Now!

Want to catch bigger bass? This is prime time to do it! Catching a new PB is achievable and we want to help you do it! There are a handful of proven baits that produce consistent success once you understand HOW and WHEN to fish them. Come along as we dive into the mindset behind targeting trophy bass in the Fall and Winter. 

Trophy bass are caught consistently using a two-part method. You'll need to dial in two different patterns to work at different times. You'll want a bait that imitates the bass' favorite forage during "prime time" to fool them into biting, but you'll also need to identify a bait that can trigger a feed response during lower percentage times of day. 

Understanding which baits to throw at what time of day makes all the difference. In previous videos we've discussed exactly where these big bass are located this time of year but the missing piece of the puzzle until today was understanding WHEN to target those fish. 

Below you'll find links to our favorite baits to "fool" the bass along with our favorite baits to trigger a "feed response". The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you'll see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Trout/Kokanee Eaters... 

Soft Swimbait- Huddleston 8" Trout: http://bit.ly/2azFTon

Glide Bait- S Waver 200 (Light Trout/Rainbow Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Crankbait- Tactical DD 75 (Mirrored Minnow): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Jig- Dirty Jigs Football Jig 1/2 oz (Go to): http://bit.ly/2d0iJbd

Jig Trailer- Yamamoto 5" Grub (Green Pump purp/cop): http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Shallow Shad/Panfish Eaters... 

Crank- Spro Baby Fat John 50 (Matte Shad): http://bit.ly/2V03giW

Jerkbait- Megabass Vision 110 (M Shad): http://bit.ly/2j31TKb

Lipless- Lucky Craft LV-500 (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

Topwater- Evergreen Shower Blows 125 (American Shad): http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Glide Bait- S Waver 168 (Bluegill): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Soft Swimbait- Savage Gear Pulse Tail Bluegill: https://bit.ly/2Kd6qct

Deep Shad/Baitfish Eaters... 

Deep Crank- Tactical DD 75 (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Spoon- Blade Runner 1 3/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2aKVLlG

Deep Jerkbait- Megabass 110+2 (Ito Tennessee Shad): http://bit.ly/2BLQIBA

Blade Bait- Damiki Vault 1/2 oz (Spot Black): http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Alabama Rig- Hog Farmer Flex BFL: https://bit.ly/2WtLCVK

A-Rig Heads- Matt Allen Swimbait Head (1/8 oz): http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

A-Rig Baits- Keitech 4.8" Fat (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Budget Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 806H: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano Cardiff 300A: http://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 80 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC100 35 lb Shock Leader: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

High-End Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Megabass Destroyer Onager: http://bit.ly/2wVOSbY

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300 A HG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 80 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC100 35 lb Shock Leader: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Hat: https://bit.ly/31EYB8W

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Swimbait Fishing For Bass | Full Seminar | Best Baits, Gear, and Tricks

20 years of swimbait knowledge in one video! How to fish swimbaits, which swimbaits work best, when to crawl a softbait, when to twitch a glide bait, and a whole lot more! Matt shows his favorite baits, gives rigging tricks, shows cadences and retrieves, and gives away some of the long kept secrets of getting fish to bite instead of follow!

Matt spent years learning how to throw swimbaits and today he's sharing all of his hard-earned knowledge. All of the baits and equipment discussed in the video are linked below. Every link goes to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Soft Bluegill Baits... 

-Savage Gear Bluegill (Jig Hook): https://bit.ly/2xx1zjH

Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Gill, Black Gill

-Savage Gear Bluegill (Weedless): https://bit.ly/2Kd6qct

Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Gill, Black Gill

Hard Bluegill Baits... 

-River2Sea S Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Color: Bluegill

-Jackall Gantarel: http://bit.ly/2adZI3R

Color: Ghost Gill, Spawn Gill

-Bull Gill: http://bit.ly/2f1ASHn

Color: Bluegill

-Megabass Vatalion: http://bit.ly/367AOxD

Colors: GG Gill, GG Wild Gill

Fast Multi-Joint Baits... 

-Bull Shad Slow Sink (6" and 7"): http://bit.ly/2eJ8gWM

Colors: Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad

-Triple Trout (7" and 8"): http://bit.ly/2E8Up5P

Colors: Blue Violet Shad, Bone, Trout

Open Water Glide Baits... 

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide: http://bit.ly/33bQyxY

Colors: Trout, Kokanee, Shad

-Savage Gear Magnum Shine Glide: https://bit.ly/36LNEWj

Colors: Light Trout, Hitch, Bone

-River2Sea S-Waver 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Colors: Rainbow Trout, Light Trout, Warden Hitch

Cover Glide Baits... 

-G Ratt Sneaky Pete: http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Colors: Hitch, Gizzard Shad, Baby Trout

-Savage Gear Shine Glide 185 (7.25"): https://bit.ly/30O32xB

Colors: Hitch, Gizzard, Bone

-Baitsanity Antidote: http://bit.ly/2ztUk9z

Colors: Trout, Summer Shad, Shad

-River2Sea S-Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Colors: Light Trout, Warden Hitch

Boot Tail Soft Baits... 

-Megabass MagDraft (6", 8", 10"): http://bit.ly/2mc8bfK

Colors: MB Shad, MB Gizzard, White Back Shad

-Little Creeper 8" Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2hmXtg1

Colors: LC Hitch, Just Shad, Ghost Rainbow

Little Creeper 6" Fatty Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2ixaEw2

Colors: Just Shad, LC Hitch, Blueback Herring

-Keitech Fat Swing Impact (6.8 and 7.8): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad, Ghost Rainbow Trout

-Scottsboro Tackle (6" and 7"): http://bit.ly/2Oy7CKH

Colors: Mullins Madness, Natural Light, Ole Smokey

-Osprey 6" Tournament Talon: http://bit.ly/2bqsLS0

Colors: Chartreuse Shad, TW Shad, Gizzard

Wedge Tail Soft Baits... 

-Huddleston 4" Jig Hook Shad: https://bit.ly/2GC9Qrg

Colors: Mean Green, Money, Tequila

-Huddleston 8" Trout: http://bit.ly/2azFTon

Colors: Rainbow Trout, Holdover, Hitch

-Huddleston 68 Special: http://bit.ly/2dj5apG

Colors: Black Gizzard, Rainbow, Green Gizzard

-Savage Gear 4D Pulse Tail Trout: http://bit.ly/399bx97

Colors: Ghost Trout, Hitch, Trout

Savage Gear Pulse Tail Shiner: https://bit.ly/2SDD0Zl

Colors: White, Shad, Green Back

Pre-Order Soft Baits... 

-Savage Gear 8" Pulse Tail (Jig Hook): https://bit.ly/33GROg1

-Savage Gear 6" Pulse Tail (Jig Hook): https://bit.ly/2Ib674q

Hook/Split Ring Recommendations... 

-Owner ST-56 Treble Hooks (3X Strong): http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

-Owner HyperWire Split Rings 3X Strong (Size 4,5,6): http://bit.ly/2aTH3f1

-Owner UltraWire Split Rings 4X Strong (Size 5, 6,7): http://bit.ly/3bQgswL

Hook Sizes By Bait... 

Size 2 Trebles: S-Waver 168, Vatalion, MagDraft 6"

Size 1 Trebles: Shine Glide, Sneaky Pete, Antidote, Triple Trout, Bull Gill

Size 1/0 Trebles: Bull Shad, Sneaky Pete (Front), S Waver 200, Magdraft 8"

Size 2/0 Trebles: Shine Glide Magnum, Baitsanity Explorer

Matt's Line/Leader... 

Main Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro Braid 80 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC100 Shock Leader 35 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Line- Power Pro Braid 80 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Budget Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 30 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Matt's Favorite All-Around Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

High-End Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Megabass Destroyer Onager: http://bit.ly/2wVOSbY

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Budget Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 806H 8' Heavy Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano Cardiff 300A: http://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Related Videos... 

Underwater Swimbait Action: https://youtu.be/iye3hF1tCQo

Underwater Swimbait Strikes: https://youtu.be/OT06aiLojOI

S-Wavers: https://youtu.be/dgriRTYyqMM

Spring GlideBait Fishing: https://youtu.be/0CO7nvP7H4w

Our Baits And Apparel…

TacticalBassin Gear: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Swim Jigs and Swimbaits - Beginner To Advanced Tricks To Catch More Bass!

Come learn the secrets that fishermen use to consistently catch fish with swimbaits and swim jigs! Learn when its time to set the swimbait down and upsize to a swim jig. Watch as Matt explains the differences between swim jig trailers and how some create secondary action while others are virtually dead in the water. He’s giving up all the tricks from small finesse Swimbaits for clear water that will still get bit on the worst days, all the way to heavy swim jigs with huge hooks for busting hydrilla beds in search of giant largemouth!  

Finesse swimbaits are an incredible tool in every angler’s arsenal. The small keitechs have taken the industry by storm in recent years because of their incredible fish catching ability. Matt shows when to use the different styles and sizes and even shows how he and Tim rig the baits with micro hooks to maximize their bites on days when fish don’t want to bite. Color selection is key with these swimbaits as well so below in the description we’ve included color recommendations for every bait. 

Swim jigs are a huge category by themselves. We could go on for hours about how to pair trailers, modify skirts, and use each hook style to your advantage. But if you’re going to take away one piece of information its that for every weight/style of swim jig, there is a perfect trailer to make that bait rock and shimmy in the water. No matter what bait you choose, do not settle until you’ve found the perfect trailer that creates secondary action for you. 

Below are a breakdown of the baits, hooks, and even equipment we use when fishing swimbaits and swim jigs. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed descriptions and up close photos of each item. Matt has even included his favorite rods and reels for each bait category so you can really dial in your technique. 

Swimbaits… 

-Keitech Fat Swing Impact (3.8, 4.3, 4.8): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad, TW Ghost Shad

-Keitech Easy Shiner 4”: http://bit.ly/2bxJK6H 

Colors: Silver Flash Minnow, TW Ghost Shad, TW Pro Blue

Swimbait Heads… 

-TacticalBassin Finesse Head: http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n 

-Matt Allen Swimbait Head: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN 

-Dirty Jigs Guppy Head 1/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS 

Weedless Rigging and Bladed Heads… 

-Owner Flashy Swimmer: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7 

-Megabass Okashira Screw Head: http://bit.ly/2EpluSA 

-Coolbaits Down Under Underspin: http://bit.ly/2boS7QA 

Swim Jigs (Lightest Wire Hook To Heaviest)… 

-Finesse Swim Jigs: http://bit.ly/2dr2933 

Colors: Tactical Shad, Bluegill, Threadfin Shad

-Dirty Jigs Swim Jig: http://bit.ly/2dIVUMd

Colors: Chartreuse Shad, Dirty Shad, Bluegill

-No Jack Swim Jig: http://bit.ly/2d8qUCv 

Colors: Dirty Shad, Tactical Shad, Warmouth

-California Swim Jig: http://bit.ly/2auXfmx 

Colors: Alabama Bream, Citrus Shad, Tactical Shad

Swim Jig Trailers… 

Finesse- XZone Swammer 3.5: http://bit.ly/2PogV0q

Mid Size- River2Sea D Walker 100: http://bit.ly/2NwqBmz 

California- D Walker 120: http://bit.ly/2NwqBmz 

Lazy Method- Keitech 4.3” Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v 

Matt’s Favorite Tiny Swimbait Combo… 

Rod- Expride Spinning 6’10” Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q 

Reel- Stradic CI4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7 

Line- Power Pro Moss Green Braid 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b 

Leader- Sunline Assassin 8 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm 

All-Around Swim Jig Combo… 

Rod- G Loomis GLX 844C MBR 7’ Heavy: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT 

Reel- Shimano Curado 150 DC HG: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4 

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ 

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 15 lb Mono: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9 

Budget All-Around Swim Jig Combo… 

Rod- Shimano Intenza 7’4” Heavy: http://bit.ly/2QADLTq

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q 

Line- Sunline Assassin 17 lb fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm