Swimbait fishing is my favorite way to fish. Primarily because they produce big bass, but also because of the incredible strikes, visual and non visual, and because it is still a relatively new technique for me. After 35 years of fishing spinnerbaits, worms, spooks, rip baits, etc. it only makes sense that I like bass fishing with new lures/techniques when I hear of them. A few years ago, okay 8 or 9 years ago, I added drop shotting and swimbait fishing to my arsenal. 90% of the time I throw lures proven for big bass. The other 10% of the time I throw something that I think will get some strikes and therefore may be just the ticket for that particular time.

Every fishing day I have at least two types of swimbaits tied on when I head out. I always have a jig and a spinnerbait on also. The rest of my rods change depending on the lake/season.

If I can get the swimbait bite going, or if I feel I am about to get it going, I'll keep fishing it. If not, I'll try my jig and spinnerbait in and around cover, points, etc. I may even decide a senko or dropshot would actually give me the best shot at a hawg at that time, depending on the feedback I am getting from the fish, weather conditions, etc. But I NEVER give up on the swimbait, I always pick it up from time to time during the day.

Looking back on the last 10 years of my fishing this has worked okay for me. I'm not in Cali now but even when I was I caught a good number of hawgs on techniques besides swimbaits. I believe there are times when other techniques/lures give you the best chance of catching a big 'un.