Types of Swimbaits
One of the tenets of bass fishing is to use lures that match the specific forage fish found in the fish habitat. Swimbaits are among the most realistic styles of bass fishing lures available to anglers today. While other lures may attempt to replicate some sort of forage, swimbaits offer an identical appearance with a realistic swimming action.
Hard Swimbaits
Hard swimbaits are typically constructed from wood or hard plastic from which they derive their rigidity. Swimbaits in this category include jointed swimbaits, topwater and glide style baits. Among the popular models found in this category are the River2Sea S-Waver 4 3/4", Megabass I-Slide 135 Swimbait and if you have the funds, the Gan Craft Jointed Claw 230 Magnum.
Hollow Belly Swimbaits
The hollow belly swimbait craze was ignited many years ago by the original
Basstrix hollow swimbaits which were responsible for a number of tournament victories and played a large role in the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament held on Clear Lake. The event was won by Steve Kennedy who used the hollow belly swimbait and another larger soft plastic swimbait to amass a total of 122lb 14oz of bass over four days! In the years to come, several other companies introduced their own versions of hollow belly swimbaits to satisfy increasing demand like the Jackall Grinch.
Hollow belly swimbaits continue to be a hot commodity due to the versatility they afford fishermen. This style of swimbait can be rigged weedless, with a jig head or used on umbrella rigs.
Soft Swimbaits
Soft swimbaits include models composed of full body, soft plastic. Soft plastic swimbaits include styles that mimic virtually every type of forage fish including: shad, bluegill, hitch, trout and bass. A vast array of styles are available including swimbaits that cover the entire water column from top to bottom. Additionally, lures in this category may include internal rigging or may come without any internal weight or hook. Popular swimbaits in this category include
Big Hammer, Savage Gear, Keitech and Optimum Baits.
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