Go Fish

GO FISH STEVE CHACONAS

Two Heads are Better Than One

Swimbaits have been used in saltwater for decades and now bass shing has brought them to the top tacklebox drawer. From tiny 2.5 inch Sassy Shads to 16 inch Roman Mother Chaser Swimbait, ranging in price from 40 cents for small so plastics to $1200 for handmade wooden baits, there are various sizes, colors, weights, and materials being tossed around the country. e old Sassy Shad was more of a limit catcher, not a lunker lander. Swimbaits are growing in size and popularity and are being manufactured and hand poured.

Bass Cat/Yamaha Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mike “Ike” Iaconelli says they’re a yearround lure and work everywhere, matching the hatch in size and color for all seasons, water temperatures, cover, and sheries. However he says sh need to see it, so it’s better in moderately stained to ultra-clear water. Ike says these lures have drawing power, that is, usually the biggest sh in the area will come a long way and out of heavy cover to eat it. “When sh see it from a long way, they’ll come to eat it regardless if they’re hungry or not.” Noting the size of prey, Ike’s expectations and con dence rise when knowing stocked trout or larger bait sh are present. Preferring the solid body Berkley Powerbait Power Swimmer with Powerbait scent in various sizes, Ike says slits on the top and bottom allow for several rigging options. e boot tail thumps and wiggles, and the body rolls side to side. When seeking minimal tail movement, he goes to the smaller 3.5” Missile Bait Shockwave swimbait. is bait will run deeper and is very e ective in the clearest water.

Open hooks aren’t weedless but hook up percentages are higher. Ike uses two heads. One has a 90 degree line tie, the other 60. In open water, the Ike Approved VMC 90 keeps baits horizontal in the water column and has lifelike 3D eyes, gill plates, and a ared head design with two barbs to keep baits in place, eliminating the need for super glue. Around wood, boulders, or weeds, a 60 degree wider gapped hook with a hybrid bend for strength, the HSBJ Hybrid Swimbait jig comes over cover better. A wide diameter spring keeper secures baits. With both, head sizes

GO FISH > PAGE 43

John CrouCh

TobacconisT

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