Written By: Larrry Heron (from http://www.swimbait.com/)

1) The rods

I prefer a 7-9ft rod, moderate to extra fast action rod, graphite is best, composites are ok, But don't let lack of proper gear keep you from trying!

2) The reels

A revolving spool bait casting type reel is best, Shimano, Abu, Daiwa, etc. Line wise go with 12-15lb and use some thing with low stretch, P-line, Izorline, Berkley big game, Stren high impact.

3) The swimbaits

Go with 4-5in baits shad style bodies, I use swimbaits made by Big Hammer Lures, but there are lots of other manufactures that make good products, colors wise, browns, greens, reds, sparkles, darks. Fish the darker stuff early and late. Fish the greens and browns in off colored water and deeper waters as well, but throw in the reds deep too. Fish the flashy stuff in clear water and around the kelp, also been playing with skirted twin tails, work pretty good when there's no current.

4) The Jig Heads

I fish anywhere from 1/2oz-11/2oz depending on time of year, depth of water, current, and size of the swimbait but ¾-1oz is what I use mostly. I like eyeballs, and fish non-painted heads on baitfish patterns and redheads on brown bait and reef forage patterns (octopus, shrimp, small rockfish, etc). If you want to color match your heads to you baits go for it! As far as the hooks are concerned whether they are cheaper galvanized hooks or a premium hook, make sure they are Sharp! Big Hammer makes an array of different sizes of heads in lots of different colors with the premium hooks.

5) Scents

I use scents made by Procure, my favorites are calico cocktail, saltwater formula, predator, shrimp, and believe it or not crawdad.

You have nothing to loose by using some type of scent, at the very least it covers up non-fishy odors such as sun block, gasoline, etc. Scent also seems to really help during the cold water months and in the dirtier water.

B. Five things that dictate where to fish:

1) Time of year

Late spring through early fall, fish can be caught shallow and around the kelp, and in the colder months they tend to congregate on hard bottom and deepwater structure.

2) Water temp

What's the water temp? Warmer water usually means more active fish that can be caught throughout the water column. Cooler water causes the fish to slow way down and become structure huggers that's when I look to the deeper structure and hard bottom areas in 40-100ft of water and slow the presentation Way Down! Too quick of water temp drop screws everything up! See finesse fishing!

3) Water color

Watercolor can play a major part in successful swimbait fishing. Too clean of water is usually the kiss of death for swimbait fishing once the sun comes out. This is when I look for kelp with lots of current, or better yet look for off color water, I like green to blue /green water, although I've had great success in green/brown water especially when fishing shallow water and around boilers.

4) Current

Current can make or break a potential spot, fish like lots of current for it stirs up food for them, and will also bring outside food sources into the strike zone, so generally lack of current results in lack of bites! Also another thing about finding a spot with good current, even if you don't meter a lot of fish try the spot anyway, "remember" the fish are roaming around the water column looking for food in the current!

5) Signs of life

If you get to a spot and you see boiling fish there's a pretty good chance they will bite, if you see birds crashing around the kelp or a reefy area, Get over there! If you see bait fish flipping around that's a good thing, and obviously if you meter lots of fish that's a good sign! Now if there's no current but lots of fish on the meter try it anyway, this is also a good time to try the skirted twin tails.

C. Five things about presentation:

1) Fishing the water column

Learn to work the water column. The biting fish can be anywhere. When casting in an open area vary the depth of your retrieve. Try mentally breaking the water column up into three zones, bottom, mid water, and surface, or what we call "up high." Work each area in sections, for the lower third make a long cast and only give the lure 12-15 cranks, then free spool it back down to the bottom then repeat this back to the boat. Pay attention for bites as your lure sinks back down. Some times you just feel a "tick", and your lure stops sinking, other times your spool speeds up real fast, in either event put the reel back in gear and wind, wind, wind! For mid water, cast and only let sink half way down and do a medium retrieve back to the boat. And for the up high area cast and only let it sink a little ways, this is especially effective when the fish are boiling on the surface. Also try varying your retrieve on mid and high parts of the water column. Bites while on the retrieve usually come as a vicious hit or might be as subtle as your lure just gets heavy, when you get a bite wind! wind!, Wind!, till your line gets tight, then swing! Remember swings are free!

2) Finesse fishing

Finesse fishing is usually used when water temps are cold (low to mid fifties), after the water temp drops dramatically, no current, or when the fish just don't wanna bite! This is when I drop down to the smaller 4 in baits, or even smaller. The presentation is SLOOOW! definitely fish that bottom part of that water column, and even try dragging the bait across the bottom, pause, drag, pause, drag most bites you will feel a tick, tick then your rod will load up, see above "when you get a bite".

3) Fishing kelp stringers

While fishing the kelp edges try to cast as close to the kelp as possible, if your not getting stuck once and while your not getting close enough! I like to give the lure a little slack by raising my rod tip to a 12 o-clock position in free spool after the lure hits the water then follow the lure down as it sinks most bites on the edge of the kelp come on the sink! Now drifting through the stringers is another story. Always cast with the stringers, do the sink thing, then do a medium to fast retrieve back to the boat. Also try to retrieve your swimbait in the same direction the kelp is laying, for the fish are usually waiting in ambush that way.

4) Fishing the web

Fishing the web is a little unorthodox, but it works really well when there's decent drift and your fishing larger reefs or hard bottom areas. This requires two rods, make a long cast and put the rod in a rod holder with the reel in free spool, then take a second rod and do the same thing, I know this goes against almost everything we have been taught, but trust me on this one! Now once the first rod hits the bottom, do a medium to slow retrieve for the lower part of the water column then put the rod back in the holder in free spool. Then pick up the other rod and do the same thing till you get down to about half a spool on your reel or you get a bite! Remember what to do if you get a bite? No bites by ½ spool? ok then do a medium retrieve back to the boat and start over again.

5) Pop out fishing

This mostly applies to web fishing. A lot of the time your swimbait will get stuck on the bottom while your drifting, so instead of trying to jerk it out of the snag try winding through till your line gets real tight, and if your lure "pops out" do a real slow wind for 10-20 cranks. If your successful in the pop out you will get nailed right after the lure shoots out of the rocks. My thought is the lure shooting out of the rocks represents potential prey making a break for it ! This technique can be a little costly but it works very well at times.

Anyway have fun. I am confident if you give these things a try you will catch more fish on swimbaits. Just remember two things:
			Confidence is everything! If don't think your going to catch something you wont! Make every cast with the attitude I am going to get bit!
			Please don't use this info to be a better killer of bass! With knowledge comes responsibility! Remember catch and release of calico bass, slow to grow so let em go!