Carousing my WON paper today in the WON bass insert, I was reading about how Byron Velvick won the Western Classic a few months ago. It was kind of subtle but about mid-way through the article he says something along the lines of: "I was fishing around the marina area and throwing something the fish probably hadn't seen before. A very effective small swimbait." He doesn't say what bait he was using, but if you watch his swimbait video he actually shows some of the smaller saltwater type swimbaits. The same kind of swimbaits I wrote about in late 1999 in my "Using Saltwater Swimbaits for Freshwater Bass Article". Now Byron probably has some cool japanese swimbait or something, but just the fact that a small swimbait helped him win the Western Classic is just way too cool to me. This is the first time I have ever read anyone say that the did well in a tournament fishing a small swimbait. The guy has probably known about that stuff for years and I just am excited that what I discovered on my own at Margarita so many summer's ago is proving to be a great technique. I believe that you can catch swimbait fish using 5" swimbaits in almost every lake in the country. I've caught fish at Shasta on them, I know Chris Y. caught a fish at Berryessa on them, the fish at Clear Lake woof them every time I go up there with John, the fish at Calero eat them, they just plain work! So I just had to gloat for a bit there and I predict that using the 4 to 6" swimbaits is going to become much more popular over the next few years.

har. I remember the day you started throwing the swimbaits at margarita. I thought you were nuts. Turns out the things really do catch fish. I agree that the swimbaits are gonna take off in the next few years. You know I'll be packin some when I fish Florida in a couple weeks. That should be fun.
-Brian

no offense rob, but its not like its a miracle and no one belived you. its like when people started throwing swimbaits for albacore, who in their right mind would think of throwing a "plastic" to a "tuna?" All the skippers I know have been using swimbaits for halibut and bass since they came out.

if i had some i'm sure i would use them, as would everybody else, i'm sure soon it'll become as standard as a plastic worm or spinner bait.

once again, i don't mean this in a bad way, i'm just saying.
http://www.duhspot.com/users/smiley/s/otn/ez/ezpi_blueface.gif -leif- http://www.duhspot.com/users/smiley/s/otn/ez/ezpi_blueface.gif

Oh I agree it's no miracle to a saltwater guys who know that swimbaits catch fish, but you would not believe how many people just looked at me funny when I tried to tell them how good swimbaits are. Just got me excited to finally read about a big tourney being won and part of the win was small swimbaits.

in that case i totally agree with you, its definatly not on one's list of things to throw for bass, i know i probably never would have thought of it. have to admit, i'm sure you've boughten it to alot of people's attention (i'm sure that is grammatically correct). when can we expect belloni brand baits (BBBs hehe)...

I agree with you guys. When you think about it, swimbaits could be the most versatile lure out there. I think it's possible for them to become THE LURE when someone asks the question, If you could have only one lure for every lake during any season and all depths, what would it be? I really think we're going to hear alot more about them in the near future. It's cool Rob that you figured it out on your own. Now it's like "why didn't I think of that?". I realized their effectiveness last summer fishing for halibut and i'm still getting into using them for bass. By the way, I like them so much that i'm going tommorow to pick up my new swimbait blank that I ordered a week ago. It's an 8ft G-Loomis backbounce. Pete at Wilderness outfitters said it would be good rod for 'em. I'm stoked about building another rod, this will be my second one. I can't wait to get it done and start experimenting at Lopez. I have a feeling that those Lopez bass would just love to hammer a swimbait.-Phil

Well, I just had to say this.
The so-called swimbaits have been around a long long time, they have just change with new tech.
I've caught LM bass at many lakes using the ol' sassy shad, if this qualifies as a "swimbait", starting around 1967.
Don't get me wrong swimbait, you have what it takes to make it to the top, & I wish you great success.
It's probably the "I told you so" statement that got my attention. It's not new & it's not a magic lure that you turned the bass pros on to. The next tournament will be won by throwing what?

JMHO

RD

The sassy shad has been around a long time and has caught a lot of bass. As much as I would like to, I can't take credit for being the first, or even the hundredth guy to use a swimbait for largemouth :-) It is exciting though to see something that you have been preaching for some time begin to gain in popularity and acceptance. I just wish it was me out winning the Western Classic instead of kicking around in my kickboat. With patience and luck those things will come.

I was beaten to the punch with the Mister Twister Sassy Shad reference, the first swimbait I threw, but the crossover from the salt to fresh throwing the Fish Traps, or the old Worm Kings, is a great topic for discussion. These baits have been catching calicos for years, and the relationship between a calico and a LMB has been way underrated for years! Tossing spinnerbaits, cranks, and creature baits for calicos and spots or throwing swimbaits for the fresh water bass, they are the same type of predator. The more info the better, lots of similarities, except for the current and stuff for the calicos, but I bet guys back east that fish bass in large rivers could give some good advice on calicos without ever seeing a checkerboard. Any thoughts?

Bassnet,

I don't understand your point that Eastern bass guys who fish rivers would somehow inherently be able to catch Calico bass. Are there calico bass found in moving/brackish waters?

What does the river part have to do with catching calicos?

Matt

Patience & luck are great to hold on to, but don't forget perserverance.That's why I'm a contractor now instead of a pro fisherman, or working in the fishing industry in some way.
You know how it is, $$$$$$ talks.
If you set your mind to succeed in something you love, you can do it if you perservere.
Looking forward to seeing you holding the trophy over your head on stage.
Oh, & we can't forget that big fat check in your hand too.
Go get em' Brian.

RD

>Go get em' Brian.


So sorry, I thought your name was Brian.

GO GET EM' ROB!!!

RD

Good news! Hopefully swimbaits (the type we use here in CA - Big Hammers, etc.) will become a national thing instead of just a regional thing. I know I'm going to be throwing them quite a bit next year when I'm in the fresh.

I have been using them at irvine with great success over the past few years ( I think you were using concurrently at marg.) they sure eat the 4 and 5 inch ones well.