By : Mike Frisch
Mike Frisch has been catching oversized bass on big swimbaits as of late. Here’s what he has been doing for his fishing successes:
Swimbaits have been multi-species fish producers for many years now. As these baits have evolved, different sized baits with different actions, colors, and more have appeared to target various fish species. Small swimbaits can be used to catch panfish, while on the other end of the spectrum muskie anglers use the baits to catch their giant favorites as well.
One trend that has really taken hold in the bass fishing game is the trend towards using oversized soft swimbaits to target some of the biggest fish a lake has to offer. This is a pattern that I have been spending a good bit of time with this season. Here is what I’ve been doing.
My home area in the Alexandria, MN region has some of the finest bass fishing waters any place in the Midwest and beyond. The region has lots of productive bassin’ lakes, some with shallow, off-colored waters and others with deep, clear waters.
My shallow off-colored swimbait plan started in late summer and has continued to produce into fall. It involves fishing over the top of shallow “junk weed” infested shoreline flats that are around 3- to 5-feet deep. During the middle of summer, these flats were weed choked and only fishable using some form of top water bait. During August and beyond, some of these weeds die and baits can now be worked over and through what’s left. This is a simple pattern; I make long casts and immediately engage the reel and start what I would call a mid-paced retrieve.
Shallow lakes are good for the shoreline related pattern. On some of the deeper lakes, I have been having success by targeting large flats around the 6 -to-10-foot depths that have scattered – and again dying – weed growth. Once again, I make long casts. However, in this scenario I count my lure down a couple seconds before starting the retrieve and use an occasional pause to keep the bait down in the water column.
Regardless of whether you are targeting shoreline flats or somewhat deeper areas, the strikes are usually aggressive, with the fish often being bigger than average!
I have been having very good success using a 6” swimbait called the Final Copy for both the fishing patterns detailed above. This bait has a realistic action and comes in “fishy” color patterns. The Sexy Shad and Phantom Bluegill patterns have been good producers for me.
Important to big swimbait success is the use of the right rod, reel, and fishing line. A 7’6” medium heavy power baitcast rod paired with a strong, large spool baitcast reel is best for big swimbaits. The Mark Rose Signature Series swimbait rod paired with a Super Duty baitcast reel with a 7:5:1 gear ratio is my choice. Some swimbait anglers prefer a slower speed reel to prevent overworking the bait. For me, however, I like a bit faster reel, particularly when working shoreline flats, as it seems hooked fish often make speedy runs for deeper water and a faster speed retrieve allows me to “catch up” to those fish and keep them hooked! I spool with fluorocarbon line which has low stretch for sure hooksets at the end of long casts, is invisible underwater, and is abrasion resistant as well. My choice is 20-pound CONTRA for big swimbait fishing.
If targeting big bass is your goal this fall, consider throwing big swimbaits using some of the techniques just described. Expect good numbers of bass, with some “bigs” mixed in as well!
As always, enjoy your time on the water and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure!
