Swimbait Rigging: The Truth

This video is going to completely change how you approach stinger hooks! Have you ever heard of a haywire twist? If not you're completely missing the boat and its time to listen to this "tell all" on swimbaits! Swimbait rigging doesn't have to be difficult so forget everything you think you know and come along for the ride. 

In the interest of being fair, Matt explains the advantages and disadvantages of Crimps, 7 strand, braid, mono, etc before blowing them all away with the use of single strand wire. Neither Matt nor Tim has been able to figure out why the industry is virtually silent about single strand wire and the haywire twist. 

Unless you're a saltwater angler we'd be willing to bet "haywire twist" is a new phrase to you. Ironically we shot a video on this very subject more than 5 years ago and despite getting 25,000+ views, its still a virtual secret. Today is the day we set the record straight and explain what we believe to be the hands down, best method for rigging stinger hooks on swimbaits. 

Products Shown In This Video:

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Huddleston Deluxe 8" Swimbait
JSJ 6" Hitch Swimbait
Baitsmith Magnum: Ebay Only
Osprey Tournament Talon
Keitech Fat Swing Impact

Huddleston and Osprey Stinger Hooks...
Owner 3X Treble (Size 1)
Gamakatsu 4X Treble (Size 1 or 1/0)

JSJ Stinger Hooks...
Owner 3x Treble (Size 2)
Gamakatsu 4X Treble (Size 2)
Owner STX-58 Size 4

Baitsmith magnum Hooks...
Gamakatsu 4X Treble (Size 1/0)
Owner 3X Treble (Size 1)

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Stinger Materials:
7 Strand Wire
Crimps
Heavy Monofilament: Amazon
80-100 lb Braid
Single Strand Wire: Amazon 

Matt's Preferred Big Baits Equipment:
Rod- G Loomis 957
Rod- Dobyns 807
Reel- Calcutta 400B
Line- 80 lb Braided

Huddleston Swimbait Retrieves

Are you trying to catch a big bass on a swimbait this year? These 3 retrieves are all you'll need to make it happen. Swimbait fishing is very simple it just takes a solid foundation and some dedication. 

The 3 retrieves are as follows:

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1) Steady Retrieve: Think of the Swimbait as nothing more than a spinnerbait. Simply chuck and wind, mid-column. 

2) Bottom Creeping: As the name suggests this retrieve is all about going slow, and then slowing down some more. 

3) The hop: This retrieve doesn't work often but in a pinch, it catches the giants! It involves burning the reel handle then killing the bait, much like fishing a hair jig. 

Use the following links to the products we're using and support Tacticalbassin at the same time...

-Huddleston 8" Swimbait
-Huddleston 68 Special

Other Swimbaits we highly Recommend...

-JSJ Hitch 6
-Osprey Tournament Talon
-S-Waver Glidebait
-JSJ Siren Glidebait

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Swimbait Rods...

-Loomis 956 and 957
-Economical Option: 795

Swimbait Reels...

-Reel #1 (Round Option)
-Reel #2 (Low Profile Option)

-Line- 65 or 80 lb Braided

-Leader- 30 lb 

Best Swimbaits for New Anglers

The Swimbait market has exploded the last few years. We've gone from a handful of choices to hundreds of nearly identical baits flooding the market. So what is a guy to do? Are you supposed to buy them all and hope there is a winner in the mix? 

We'll make it simple for you! Tim recommends the 3 most consistent paddle tail swimbaits we've been able to find. We aren't saying the others don't work great, we're just saying that if you need a starting place, these are sure fire producers. 

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Baits Shown in this video...

1) 6" Basstrix Swimbait
2) 4.3 or 4.8 Keitech Fat Swing Impact
3) Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper

Best Rigging Methods...

1) Matt Allen Swimbait Head
2) Owner Beast Hook (1/8 oz 4/0)
3) Owner Flashy Swimmer

Paddle Tails Swimbaits for Big Fall Bites!

Its that time of year again! Its time to pull out the paddletails and hollow bellies in search of big bass! The bite is just beginning and will continue to improve over the coming months. 

Whether you prefer a Basstrix or a Keitech, a swimbait head or an underspin, its prime time to pull out your confidence bait and begin loading the boat! 

In this video Matt and Tim show how to rig swimbaits and paddle tails a variety of different ways. They even show how to make your own underspin with a swimbait head or weedless swimbait hook! 

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If you're planning to creep the bait through heavy cover we recommend using the Beast Hook. If you're fishing around docks, wood, or other isolated cover the Matt Allen Swimbait Head is the way to go! If there are large schools of baitfish present you should either use the Spintrix Head or the Matt Allen head with the added belly blade.  

Hook options and baits shown in this video are as follows... 

-Matt Allen Swimbait Head
-Owner Beast Hook
-BladeRunner Spintrix Underspin
-Small Spinner Blades

-Keitech Fat Swing Impact

-Basstrix Hollow Belly Swimbait

We hope you find these tips useful this Fall as the bass begin corralling the baitfish and feeding heavily before Winter arrives.