Northern Michigan swimbait smackdown

[brg_bassmaster]

Went on leave for 6 days to be in a wedding. Of course had to fish for 4 of those days. It was an epic week of slammer, punker and gantarel fishing. Didn't bring the deps 250s or pizz baits cuz I'll be home again in 2 months and didn't have my swimbait rods. So 7/9" slammers 8" punkers and gantarel were the ticket. Final day we had some monsters attempting to crush our baits but they would blow up and completely miss. So can't blame ourselves. Other than that I believe every fish hooked came.to.the boat. Had some serious bass palm at the end of this trip.

[brg_bassmaster]

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[brg_bassmaster]

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[djkimmel]

Looks like you had fun! Must be some big bass - pike/muskie-free lakes you're fishing!?! I'd be too chicken to throw big fancy baits like that around any pike or muskie. I've already lost a bunch of lures this year to the toothy critters...

[brg_bassmaster]

Actually there are monster pike in these waters. I used to always lose jigs or conventional baits in here. But since I started throwing nothing but swimbaits I have yet to catch a pike lol kinda weird. Can't wait to get the deps and other glide baits in the water.

[Firefighter Jeff]

Holy crap !!!  Amazing fish !!!

[brg_bassmaster]

Thanks man!

[Big dreams]

Those are some big baits man!  I have a Spro 8 or 9" multi jointed swimbait that I haven't thrown yet.  I assumed it was too big.  If I went out today with it I don't think I would know how/where to throw that monster.  Thanks for posting the picts.  Very nice

[Mojo]

Actually there are monster pike in these waters. I used to always lose jigs or conventional baits in here. But since I started throwing nothing but swimbaits I have yet to catch a pike lol kinda weird. Can't wait to get the deps and other glide baits in the water.

Ohh don't jinx yourself !!! Great write up, hope to see more you guys !

[djkimmel]

Maybe I'm covering your pike 'quota' ??

Good luck with that (I would think pike would LOVE those things but maybe I should try them more myself??)!

[brg_bassmaster]

haha thanks guys! I started getting interested in these style baits once I saw a guy from rhode island absolutely crushing giant bass on them. His videos were so sick. So once I got the money and made some rank I decided to start throwing them. Really wanted to throw them in Michigan to find the bigger fish the 5+lbrs. My goal every time out is just searching for one giant bite. But so far every time out we hammer the big fish. From my experience comparing my time so far in Arizona a known swimbait state and one of the pioneers of swimbait fishing. I have a lot more bites in Michigan than Arizona. Ya I get 8+lbrs following my glides to my boats in Arizona but they are hard to get bit.  but everyone throws these baits in Arizona. In Michigan these fish have never seen these baits or extremely rare occasion because there are others that do throw these in Michigan. So the goal normally is not numbers its to get that big bite that isn't considered "normal" in yoru state., Even though ik now that there are plenty of bass over 6 and 7lbs. Wake baits are killer in michgian the 7-10 inch wake baits such as the MS slammer or rats such as the NEZ xl get smashed. Nighttime, overcast or sprinkly days are prime times. Glide baits work good and baits such as the gantarel which is a great started bluegill style bait.

[djkimmel]

I have some slightly similar lures though mostly smaller (other than some actual muskie baits I own but haven't use much). I have had some luck on big soft/hollow swimbaits. I may have to check out these lures you're throwing. I get bored easy and love to experiment!

[djkimmel]

I still have an aversion to buying lures that cost more than $15 (a lot more I see with some of these!!!) and especially to throwing them around toothy critters! I seem to attract them like I have a pike/muskie divining rod!!

[brg_bassmaster]

Hahaha well slammers 9" will run u 60$. Punkers aren't bad at about 25-30 for the new ones. The wood ones are over a hundred usually. And for glides yaaaaa deps 250 $150-180 for new style and that is with most of the higher end glide baits lol. Way i see it tho I got about 12 swimbaits various styles that I can catch fish on any time of year. Spend about 1k. I know people with well over that much with conventional gear and their personal best still isn't near just 1 of my swimbait fish. But yes it sucks majority to lose one. I have been very fortunate.

[djkimmel]

I would probably cry if I lost a $30 lure!?!  As far as lures over $100... I will probably never be owning those. Maybe someone will loan me one some day, but I sure wouldn't expect someone to risk a lure like that by loaning it!

For now, I have a number of large lures that are more in my price range I'll keep experimenting with.