To Mr. Rob (swimbait) Belloni
I've bought a lot of swimbait specially castaic but I'm not having so much luck with it I don't know what I'm doing wrong any suggest on retreiving this lure any other techniques that can you possibly share with me thanks

Erwin Ocampo

I have a couple articles out there if you have not seen them already

http://www.calfishing.com/freshwater/saltwater_swimbaits/index.html
http://www.calfishing.com/freshwater/big_wood/index.html

If you're trying to get your confidence up, a slow and steady retrieve cannot be beat. Trout usually swim slow and steady so you can take some confidence in that. Set your goal to get 1 bite. The first bite is the hardest to get. It too me many many trips to get my first swimbait bite on a big lure. Fish your favorite spots on the lakes you know best and see what happens. Remember that now-days everyone and their mother is throwing a swmibait. It sure as hell isn't easy to get bit. I go many many trips between swimbait bites some times. It's just one piece of the pie.

Hey Erwin,

Swimbait is the man and his articles are terrific! Learn from THE expert!

To a similar point, most people actually give up on the swimbait waaaaayyy to early. Most guys in both clubs have them (along with every bass fisherman out there) but most will only make a few casts and be done. Don't let that be you.

I got lucky and stuck a 8.41 lber in a tournament on about my 5th cast. Of course, this was fall at Clear Lake which makes it easier as the fish were chewing! :9

This is the time of year to stick toads on swimbaits but if I were you, to get confidence, throw a little smaller swimbait (7" instead of a 9" for example) as more fish would be willing to eat it. Also, like Swimbait mentioned, fish your high percentage areas where you KNOW fish are. This was my case on my first swimbait fish. I already lost a huge one there and had already stuck a few smaller fish so I knew the place was ripe.

Also, I like the wood baits with multiple trebles (like the 4eyes). Hook percentage is much better!

Anyway, read up on Swimbaits articles as he is the expert and I am just a follower :+

Good luck and hope to see you join us!

Todd