Swimbaits or swimmers are a loosely defined class of that are designed to primarily imitate the fish locomotion of .
History
Swimbaits originated in the late 1980s as lures designed to imitate
rainbow trout in Southern California
that
largemouth bass and
striped bass fed on.
They were larger and more lifelike imitations than most available mass-produced lures at the time.
Types
Swimbaits are mainly broken down into 2 categories: hard body and soft body swimbaits.
Hard-body
Hard-body swimbaits are often made of either
wood or
plastic.
These baits are designed to mimic baitfish that predatory fish—such as
largemouth bass,
smallmouth bass,
spotted bass,
northern pike, and
trout—would eat.
Hard-body swimbaits are built to produce a swimming action that provokes a predatory instinct, causing fish to strike. The lure's movement depends on the number of joints in its design.
Glide Baits (Single-Joint Swimbaits)
A single-jointed hard-body swimbait, commonly known as a glide bait, moves with a serpentine or "gliding" action in the water.
This bait can be retrieved at different speeds and with various techniques to create erratic movements that mimic injured fish.
Multi-Jointed Swimbaits
Due to their segmented body design, multi-jointed hard-body swimbaits offer a more natural swimming motion. These baits can also create unique movements based on retrieve styles and speeds.
The versatility of hard-body swimbaits makes them effective in various fishing conditions, from clear open water to heavy cover, depending on how they are retrieved.
Soft-body
Soft-body swimbaits are almost exclusively made out of
rubber or soft plastic, similar to artificial worms. Some soft-body swimbaits are designed to trigger strikes based on movement, while highly detailed baits (usually top-hook) rely more on realism than action.
Soft-body swimbaits have several subcategories, including paddle tails, line-through swimbaits, and top-hook swimbaits.
Paddle Tail Swimbait
Paddle tail swimbaits are the most common type used by many
angling. These baits come in various sizes:
-
Smaller paddle tails are often used as trailers for a spinnerbait, chatterbait, or underspin.
-
Larger paddle tails are commonly fished on a swimbait jig head or a weighted extra-wide gap (EWG) hook.
Paddle tail swimbaits come in two styles:
- Solid-body paddle tails provide durability and are often paired with jig heads.
- Hollow-body paddle tails allow different rigging options and internal weight systems.
Line-Through Swimbaits
Line-through swimbaits are large swimbaits that allow the fishing line to run through the body. This design helps prevent fish from using the bait as leverage to throw the hook.
Top-Hook Swimbaits
Top-hook swimbaits have a large, strong, jig-style hook that protrudes from the top of the swimbait. These swimbaits are often used in deep water or rocky environments where bottom-dwelling fish are present.
The top-hook swimbait typically has a wedge-style tail, which is designed for colder water conditions, providing a more subtle swimming action.
== Gallery ==
.]]
caught with a swimbait.]]
External links
