Todd
First off sometimes there is some confusion between swimbaits and trout plugs. I generally consider trout plugs to be lures with a bill or a lip of some sort. Anything that's all one piece of rubber I call a swimbait. Among swimbaits there are two main kinds, those that look like trout (basstrix,optimum etc) and the more saltwater style swimbaits (fishtrap,bighammer, etc). Whatever ones you are fishing I always use a steady retrieve. Use a crankbait type rod for the saltwater swimbaits and xx heavy rod for the trout plugs and trout type swimbaits.
You might be able to find the article I did on swimbaits online pretty soon at
http://www.insideline.net (although it isn't up yet)

My trout plug article is at
http://www.calfishing.com/freshwater/troutplug01.html