Poll question: What is your favorite big bait?

Yet another poll. Vote your choice or post others(Optimum Swimbait, BassTrix, Castaic Swimbait, etc)
Also post which attributes you like best about the bait ie: hook arrangement, use of color, swimming action.
There are several new designs on the horizon, Rob's seen some, Brian's seen some, it should be an interesting fall for big bait sales. I am planning a big bait only promotion in October with new baits, speakers, and such. Would love your guys' feedback on this. Thanks.

My vote went to the slammer just because I have the most confidence in it. I think just about any type of plug will catch fish for you if you stick with it, and then once you catch a few fish on a plug you build confidence, so you keep throwing it and you catch more fish and build more confidence.
-Brian

The Eagle

I prefer live trout!

The opinions expressed by calfishing users (kevin) are not necessarily those of its owners or contributors... hahaha.

The taste test I offered up to 5 larger fish the other day was 1 for the M. S. Slammer and none for the Generic. So I sold the bait to Matt so he can poll the bass in San Diego on the issue. I whole heartedly belive that the Generic is meant only as a trolling lure and cannot "With Much sucess" be used as I use the Slammer. I must be getting old because I am still applying Ben Gay to my shoulder after tossing the Generic for 40 minutes on Saturday! While I do believe in Going Big or Going Home. I just haven't had the desired results with the Generic so she's been retired while she's still in good condition.

Kelly

GOOD LUCK MATT!! I HOPE YOU CACTH LARGE MARGE ON IT!!!!

Hummm,

I had no idea those Generic Trouts would be for trolling applications only. I don't troll, so we'll see! I fished with Rob one time and he casted and cranked it in without much trouble (I think). Whatever, I'll make something work. The Generic Trout I did see Rob fish had such a killer swim! It's gotta get bit, even if I have to have the Shimano crew hook me up on a 3:1 gear ratio reel!!!!

Yeah Kelly, I'll see how the fish down here like the Generic Trout! Thank you for hooking me up. I hope to post some whales this year with that bait.

Matt

Generic Trout is a little awkward to cast but it's not that bad. I have been trying to throw the 12" castaic softbait trout and that thing is a beast by comparison. When the generic gets up in the air it kind of catches the wind on the flat side of the bait. You just have to throw it so that it's not tumbling through the air.

The most important thing though is the rod. There is no plug I can't throw on the 800L. A flipping stick will kick your butt with a big lure. The 800L, you can just use it like a big lever and hoist that puppy out there.

In any case, the 12" generic is a big bait for Northern strain fish. I'm not saying they won't hit it, because they will, but I'd feel more confidence that I could get bit on the 12" by a big florida fish, than a 5 or 6lb northern.

My biggest problem right now is that I have too many lures to try when I'm out there :-) Gotta figure out a way to cast and retrieve two trouts at a time LOL. I'll post some pics, hopefully this weekend before I leave for another week of vaction of some new Generic trouts I picked up from Jerry last week. Big ones and little ones, they're pretty cool.

the Castaic trout (9" hard head, soft body) because I have caught so many of my trophy bass on it. But I totally agree with Brian. I really believe that any of these lures will work. I really believe that the time and place has so much more to do with sticking a pig, than the exact size, style, or color of the lure. If the fish are keying on trout, and you are throwing a large lure which "superficially" resembles one, you stand a good shot at bringing that fish into the boat.

One other consideration though, might be hooking percentages. I think that some of the "pro-rigged" sinking swimbaits help to keep a fish on better once you have hooked it....... but I just can't seem to get bit on one of those in the first place. Also maybe some of the "two-hooked" models (like the MS Slammer) might stick fish a little more often too. Just got one of those...... am anxious to try it. Anyway, I keep considering different arangements for trailer / stinger hooks on my Castaic trout, but every time I get ready to do it, I will stick one or two good bass on it which just inhale it, or hook solid in the corner of the mouth without a stinger...... Hmmmmm.

Just my .03 cents,
Fish

I like the fresh stuff too. Pin a 7/0 through the head and fly line it out on 20lb Maxima. Man those cats just love it. San V and Otay, can't beat it. That's where I'll be tomorrow night.

Do you think a 10- or 11-inch bait would be a happy medium? I'm just curious, cuz they all seem to jump up from 9" right up to 12". Are you (or any of the rest of you guys on the board) aware of anyone making a plug *between* 9-12 inches?