Category: Swimbait Mayhem

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Swimbait Mayhem

FINESSE CASTING BIG SWIMBAITS

SWIMBAIT TIPS: FINESSE CASTING BIG BAITS

Finesse casting big swimbaits will not draw the attention of bass or the attention from other anglers and key in shallow water.

Let’s just say, that when most people see an angler throwing a big swimbait, they tend to over react. I’ve heard people say, “you can’t use live bait”, “is that real”, “are you shark fishing”, and other crazy things. My response, have you ever seen the mouth of a 5lb plus Largemouth Bass? Usually, the answer is no….

One of my favorite lakes that I fish is crystal clear and you can only use trolling motors. Bass are routinely cruising the banks as the structure is pretty limited. I handful of laydowns, builders, and points. There is very little weed growth in the shallows. In the early spring, the bass bed up and remain stationary. However, throughout the rest of the year, they cruise the banks. This provides an opportunity for me to target fish in the lake. Due to pressure, water clarity, and electric motor only limitation these fish spook easily.

I quickly learned that the big baits splashing set all fish in the close area running, and probably put the rest of the fish in the area on high alert. Finesse casting will be key in these environments and conditions if I’m going to be successful. While I’m still on the hunt for my first big bass on a big swimbait. I’m confident that this technique will prove successful for anyone who wants to implement it. 

Make sure you check out my article HERE or YouTube video HERE for info on how to adjust your reel for finesse casting big swimbaits. 

Let me know what you use in the comments section below. If you have any questions, this is a great area for that as well.

Semper Fish!

 

Joe, The National Angler

 

Check out the video for this article HERE

 

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Fishing Tips & Tricks Swimbait Mayhem The National Angler

Lure Retrievers, they work!

LURE RETRIEVERS

Lure Retrievers, they work!

Lure retrievers are a necessity that every angler needs. On the boat or the bank, from cheap to expensive lures, this is a must have. If you have one, use it! Lure retrievers can be a pain to use, but will save your gear in damage and complete loss.

I look back at fishing since I was a kid and think about all the lures I could have saved from being lost to snags on the bottom, or how many hooks could have not been bent from me pulling hard. I remember fishing as a kid on my boat. The lake was crystal clear and I lost one of my favorite lures on a log. The lure was in 15 plus feet of water and there was nothing I could do to get it back. Snap! My line broke and the lure will be part of that log for a long time.

It wasn’t till I recently got into throwing big swimbaits that I realized that I needed a lure retriever. When I started buying some of the more expensive lures, I was really hesitant on using them for the fear of losing one or snagging. I watch several people talk about lure retrievers on Facebook groups. I knew I needed one. I just wished I would have remember when I snagged one of my custom swimbaits.

Check out my video on YouTube here 

I want to hear your story, tell me when you should have used one or the big bait you lost! Or, are you still on the fence about getting one? Actually, show everyone your favorite store bought or custom made lure retrievers below or on my Facebook group “SWIMBAIT MAYHEM” 

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Anglerlure retriever in action

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Swimbait Mayhem

Swimbaits Staying Committed

Swimbaits Staying Committed

Swimbaits Staying Committed

Being frustrated is just one aspect of learning the art of throwing big swimbaits, staying committed is the key to becoming successful with these huge and detailed baits. This has hands down been the most frustrating fishing adventure I have been on.

Staying committed is a long term and short term thing in the swimbait world. The short term is staying committed to the individual cast. This video is dedicated to that frustration. More importantly, this leads to staying committed to swimbait fishing in general. If you get frustrated with just one day or one cast, you will eventually become frustrated and may just completely give up.

I absolutely refuse to give up on things that I start and I’m committed to becoming a proficient swimbait angler.  Don’t ever give up on learning how to throw swimbaits. If you have been in this situation before, how did you get through the hard parts? Are you going through the same frustrations? Are you just getting started or thinking about getting started? Let everyone know below and share your experiences.

Please take a moment to watch the video and let me know your thoughts. I have also started a Facebook Group: Swimbait Mayhem – Beginners Group, head over and join the conversation.

Let me know what you think! Click Here for the video

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

 

Categories
Swimbait Mayhem

ADJUSTING YOUR REEL FOR SWIMBAITS

Adjusting your reel for swimbaits

Throwing big baits brings a new set of problems, especially the combination of big swimbaits and bait casting reels. Adjusting your reel properly will save you a lot of grief and problems with backlashes. These are the simple steps that I follow to keep me fishing and avoiding problems on the water. Adjusting your reel for swimbaits is getting the proper setting of brakes and spool tension.  

The first step is the brakes. I set the brakes at a ¾ setting and this helps with the control of the spool once your lure hits the water. The spool brake is the next part of your reel that needs to be adjusted and the most important step, due to the heavy nature of big baits. I set the brake at the point, that when you release the spool the lure doesn’t move. I then slowly adjust the brake to a slow controlled fall. In this fall the spool should stop spinning when the lure reaches the water or the ground. At that point, I release the brake just a little more to fairly quick fall. This is the ideal fall rate for me when throwing big baits.

ADJUSTING YOUR REEL FOR SWIMBAITSADJUSTING YOUR REEL FOR SWIMBAITSThis is by far not the only way to do adjust your reel for swimbaits or big baits, but it is one that works for me. Comment below if it helps or not. Also, if you have a different way, please share so we can all learn! As always, if you ever have any questions ask below.

 

 

 

Check out my Youtube Video! Click Here

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler.

Categories
Swimbait Mayhem

$50 Beginner Swimbait Rod

$50 Beginner Swimbait Rod

hem

 

 $50 Beginner Swimbait Rod 

Beginner Swimbait Rod

Just this year I got started back into big baits. Especially swimbaits, and I’ve seen so much discussion on getting a starter rod that won’t break the bank. This is really hard for the hardcore swimbait throwers out there. I get the idea, “you get, what you pay for”, but for people on a limited budget and trying to figure out if this is something for you. Well, this rod is the cheapest I could find and it’s really growing on me. I’m also going to use this rod for catfishing as well. So, if you buy this rod and don’t like it for big baits or throwing big baits is not for you…well then you have a perfectly good catfishing rod to use!

This is also a part of my series Swimbait and Big bait Mayhem. Follow along with me as I learn a new fishing technique. Have ideas for new articles or videos, please comment below!

Check out the YouTube video. Click Here

Here is the link to the rod. This is also not an affiliate link as well, and I’m not associated with Bass Pro Shops.

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Graphite-Series-Muskie-Casting-Rod/product/2232466/

Bass Pro Shops Musky Graphite Series, 7’6” X Heavy, Fast Action, Line 30-80lbs, Lure Weight 4-10oz.

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler