A $150 swimbait combo is possible and it will work just like the rest! If you are set on spending money on premium gear then go for it. If you are not sure big swimbaits is for you yet, or you don’t have the money, it’s really ok. I promise the fish won’t care that you don’t have the most expensive custom swimbait rod and a $400 Shimano reel.

This rod I have already introduced to, it’s the Bass Pro Muskie Graphite Series. If you have not, below are links to my article and video giving details of the rod.

The rod was always just ok, I defiantly didn’t like the reel that I originally had on this rod, which was an older Bass Pro Nitro reel. So, this winter I checked out and purchased the Bass Pro Revolution reel, and my first impression when I put the reel on the rod, was great.

The Bass Pro Revolution is an aluminum frame that has the perfect large spool for pilling on 20+ pound test on your reel. It weighs about 11 oz. and is slightly heavy. However, the weight really balances out this combo and makes slinging big baits an ease. I don’t think this was ever supposed to be a matching combo. However, this rod and reel combo is perfect. It is heave, but if you are taking it easy and just lobbing big swimbaits and want to save money this $150 combo is for you!

Here is the link to the Bass Pro rod review: https://www.thenationalangler.com/50-beginner-swimbait-rod/ 

Check out my video review of this combo: https://youtu.be/iOjqo2D34M8

If you have any questions about this combo, please ask below!

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

Be sure to check out my other related articles.

DRT KLASH JOKER – CLICK HERE!

DRT KLASH JOKER PART 2 – CLICK HERE!

BIG BAITS SMALL REEL – WILL IT WORK? – CLICK HERE!

SWIMBAIT SPINNING ROD – CLICK HERE!

SWIMBAIT STORAGE SOLUTIONS – CLICK HERE!

CABELAS SWIMBAIT ROD – CABELAS PREDATOR MUSKY ROD – CLICK HER

Swimbait Mayhem

A fishing technique that has been around for over two decades has now boomed thanks to social media. While some people may have wished its stayed secret, it has exploded. It’s an industry dominated by high dollar custom baits and even bigger attitudes to go with those baits. The allure of throwing a bait sized for a musky, attempting to lure the bite of a giant bass of a lifetime. Most anglers are instantly hooked on these big baits as if they came off a bad infomercial promising you a fish on every cast no matter what. I bet someone reading this is currently thinking about buying the Mighty Bite since it close to a swimbait or a Banjo Minnow with a paddle tail.

This industry is dominated by names like Huddleston, Deps, DRT, Working Class Zero, Hiroshima, and Hinkle to name a few. Personalities also dominate this industry and they are powerful ones. So powerful, that one person could swindle an entire following. Starting to sound like a cult almost. Kids who catch fish on conventional baits then stick swimbaits in the mouth for a quick Instagram photo… People who have no idea how to use google to search for “cheap swimbait” or “swimbait rod”. You can search Facebook for info also!!

How do you define a swimbait angler?

In the motorcycle world, the 1 percenter is considered the outlaws, while the other 99 percent are law abiding citizens. In the financial world, the 1 percent is the rich, the super-rich is actually classified as the .01 percent. In the fishing world, most people fall into that 99 percent category. While I would place musky anglers in the 1 percent category. Swimbait anglers now make up the .01 percent of the fishing world.

Fish of 1000 casts is a common term in the musky angling world. In the swimbait world, it’s now a fish of 10,000 casts. It will be the 10,000 casts that prevent most people from sticking with swimbait fishing. Dedicated swimbait anglers are few and far between, and even fewer are successful year-round with strictly big swimbaits. This is what separates the 99.99 percent from the last .01 percent.

What is SWIMBAIT MAYHEM?

Swimbait Mayhem is state of mind, its dedication, a huge ego, and its bravery. You carry the mindset of “GO BIG, or GO HOME” and throwing big baits becomes an obsession. You have to have an ego to go along with this to counter the other anglers or the 99 percent. You have heard things like “look, daddy, he caught a fish”, “you can’t use that type of live bait”, “what are you fishing for, a whale”, “you are never going to catch something with that”. The list of crazy things people will say to you goes on, and on. You brave because you are willing to lose a bait that costs that could cost upwards of $200. The result of the state of mind, the comments, egos, and bravery create MAYHEM, SWIMBAIT MAYHEM.

So are you part of the .01 percent and has Swimbait Mayhem consumed you?

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

CHEAP SWIMBAITS – Bass Pro Shops XPS Boss Glide Swimbait

Cheap Swimbaits is kind of misleading because most people using big swimbaits know that they are usually expensive and you get what you pay for. There are several options for those who don’t want to spend a ton of money but still want to learn the art of big swimbaits.

The Bass Pro Shops XPS Boss Glide Swimbait is a similar replica to the River 2 Sea S-waver, which is a proven big fish swimbait. The Bass pro version looks the same and has a similar swim to the s-waver. Colors are slightly different. This swimbait doesn’t have the mesmerizing swim of the s-waver, but it still has a great glide. Check out the reviews as they are not bad on Basspro.com.

For the people who are new the game of big swimbaits, these are the type of baits you can start with that won’t break the bank. I’m 100% confident that this will catch fish. People who say that these types of baits don’t catch fish, probably don’t buy them because they think they are too cheap. They might also be one of the believers who think you have to spend big money on big baits to catch fish. Probably not, and I firmly believe that some of these high-end big dollar baits catch, they catch the anglers who buy them also!!

This is just one bait for starting out, what you have you found for starter baits? Comment below!

Here is the link to the YouTube video to showing how this lure swims! Click Here!

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

 

Be sure to check out one of my other “Project” SWIMBAIT MAYHEM articles!

SMASH-TECH CUSTOM SWIMBAITS GIZZARD SHAD WEEDLESS SWIMBAIT – CLICK HERE!

DRT KLASH JOKER – CLICK HERE!

DRT KLASH JOKER PART 2 – CLICK HERE!

BIG BAITS SMALL REEL – WILL IT WORK? – CLICK HERE!

SWIMBAIT SPINNING ROD – CLICK HERE!

SWIMBAIT STORAGE SOLUTIONS – CLICK HERE!

CABELAS SWIMBAIT ROD – CABELAS PREDATOR MUSKY ROD – CLICK HERE!

SMASH TECH CUSTOM BAITS GIZZARD SHAD WEEDLESS SWIMBAIT

SMASH-TECH Custom Swimbaits and especially the Gizzard Shad Weedless Swimbait seemed to be a potential front-runner for the hard to get Battles Shad. The style and the look of this bait showed so much potential. However, the durability of the bait, for me, has made this a no-go.

The 7in bait must be rigged on an Owner Beast 12/0 hook, and this is not an easy thing to accomplish.  Promise you will create the famous stretch face the first time you try. Trying to get the hook line up is also difficult as well. I believe you might have to bend the hook out a little. This might allow the hook to sit properly in the bait.

The first cast, the screw lock ripped out of the bait and within the first few cast, the area where the hook comes through was completely ripped. At this point even with glue, I’m doubtful this bait will handle much fish. I emailed the company, got an immediate response with a new bait in the mail the next day. The owner also gave me some suggestions on how to rig and handle the bait.

Recommendations from the owner included, not using too stiff of a rod…, delicately casting the bait… and proper rigging. I asked for any rigging tips or videos, other than just being told to use the Beast 12/0 hook. I got no response to multiple emails to the owner and company in general. Oh well, figure it out myself. When it comes to the casting and rod recommendations, I was a little shocked. These are big heavy baits requiring heavier than normal equipment and I’m supposed to be gentle when casting the SMASH-TECH Custom Swimbait ????

Conclusion: There is a line through model that might be better and more durable due to the way it’s rigged, but this is a no-go in my book. For $15 I’ll take my money someplace else or just be patient and get more Battles Shads.

If you have any questions, please comment below and let me know what you think!

Be sure to check out the video review on YouTube; CLICK HERE!

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

Be sure to check out one of my other “Project” SWIMBAIT MAYHEM articles!

DRT KLASH JOKER – CLICK HERE!

DRT KLASH JOKER PART 2 – CLICK HERE!

BIG BAITS SMALL REEL – WILL IT WORK? – CLICK HERE!

SWIMBAIT SPINNING ROD – CLICK HERE!

SWIMBAIT STORAGE SOLUTIONS – CLICK HERE!

CABELAS SWIMBAIT ROD – CABELAS PREDATOR MUSKY ROD – CLICK HERE!

DRT KLASH JOKER PART 2 “Project” Swimbait Mayhem

The Division Rebel Tackles (DRT) KLASH JOKER is noted as a Mystery Wake Bait, with a trashing noise, violent vortex, surface nightmare. This topwater wake bait also has a removable lip to allow it to walk side to side as well. Amazing tail rattles and a submarine effect, this is sure to elicit some explosive topwater bites.

This is part 2, working off the first review that I made. Working this bait with no lip to produce a walk-the-dog action is relatively hard and I had some bad camera angles on the first video. Honestly, the right rod which the shorter the better and a fast retrieve reel is the way to go. Short jerks with line slacks to give way to the side to side action is key. It’s a cadence, and you just have to practice.

If you end up with a JOKER don’t give up if you can’t get this amazing bait to go back and forth. It will come with time and patience. Once you get the cadence down you will be amazed at how the KLASH JOKER dances on top of the water.  Please comment below and let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Here is the link to this video review! CLICK HERE

Here is the link to my first review! CLICK HERE

Here is the YouTube video of the first review! CLICK HERE

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE REST OF “PROJECT” SWIMBAIT MAYHEM. CLICK HERE

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Anger

A Swimbait Spinning Rod is probably the least sought-after rod in a big swimbaiters arsenal. A swimbait spinning rod is for those who are just getting started or may not know how to use a bait casting reel. When it comes to rods geared towards throwing big swimbaits, you have swimbait specific rods, mushy rods, and heavy saltwater rods. However, most of these are geared around casting rods, and not spinning rods.

The spinning rods that are offered are not generally offered in the heavy models that will handle monster baits. They are offered up to 4-5 oz. rods. The rod that I’m using is actually a surf rod form Tsunami, and it’s a great fit for smaller swimbaits. Cabela’s offers a spinning rod geared for musky and again it’s not rated past 4 oz. I do own two casting models of the Cabela’s Predator Musky rods and they are my favorite rods for big baits. So, I’m confident that the spinning models will work for anyone that wants to target fish with big baits. The saltwater rods, tend to be surf rods. If you want a super heavy surf rod for swimbaits, it’s going to be a 9-10ft plus.

If you are just getting started with big baits or not comfortable with baitcasting reels the above-mentioned spinning rods will work for throwing big swimbaits. Plus, should you decide that throwing big swimbaits is not for these rods will work for many more types of fishing. Your money will not be wasted on buying these rods. If you have any questions, I’m always here to help.

Check out my YouTube review https://youtu.be/Mv0ec5pPOkk

Semper Fish!
Joe, The National Angler

DRT KLASH JOKER

The Division Rebel Tackles (DRT) KLASH JOKER is noted as a Mystery Wake Bait, with a trashing noise, violent vortex, surface nightmare. This topwater wake bait also has a removable lip to allow it to walk side to side as well. Amazing tail rattles and a submarine effect, this is sure to elicit some explosive topwater bites.

I’m really looking forward to using this bait even more than I have. Right time, right place, I believe this will provoke some monster strikes from some monster fish. The one downside to the lure is with the lip out. You are supposed to be able to walk the dog with the lip out. However, I have yet to get a rhythm down for working the bait.

This bait does have some amazing action on the surface, it’s almost mesmerizing how it barely runs subsurface and that tail kicks water back and forth. More to come on this bait in the future. If you have any questions, please comment below!

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Anger

Swimbait Storage Solution

This is just one option for storing your big swimbaits. The is a great starter storage for your swimbaits. I will show a few more options for keeping swimbaits from getting scratched up during storage as well. Remember, this is just one option. 

 

Check out my YouTube Video – Click Here

Big Baits Small Reel – Will it work?

So, needing a new swimbait reel and having to wait was just killing me. I posed the question, will a regular size reel work for throwing big swimbaits. I asked several high-profile swimbait groups on Facebook and got responses from very high-profile followers to everyday people. I received responses all across the board. I was told it would and wouldn’t, not enough line capacity, gears would get destroyed, drag couldn’t handle the big baits. It was endless the amount of people who said it wouldn’t work.

However, I found several people that swore they would work and nothing would go wrong. I believed they knew something the others didn’t. I also suspect that most of the nay-sayers were just repeating what they had heard from someone else.

I chose the Ardent Pro in 7.3:1 gear ratio and ending up spooling up 17lb Cabela’s Professional Fluorocarbon on the reel. I started this adventure on August 20^th 2017. I will keep this post updated to tell all how everything went. If you have any questions or thoughts on the subject, please let me know below.

Check out my video here!

Semper Fish!