rustyman Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 I see most of the swimbaits are hollow instead of solid. What's the advantage of this? Is it for hiding weight? I bought some shadalicous hollows and the tore up quickly. I have some poor boys and they have caught me pike and are still intact. Just wondering. Thanks, Rusty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COBRA Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 when basstix first came around or designed the bait, it was dipped like a tube, thus making a hollow bait, which makes the lure soft and have good action. blah i say personally. there are a ton of knock offs of the basstrixs now. lots are solid. really only up to peoples personal prefference. the other issue is how well they run in the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Basstrix made thier baits hollow for dipping. They did this because they could creat their awsome finishes. Everybody else in the world made Basstrix knockoffs so they just followed suit. A solid bait with a hook slot will work just as good. The colapsability of a Basstrix is a slight advantage but I dont think its enough to matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Why not? Just kidding. A hollow bait will give a different action than a solid bait But I guess that could be compensated for somehow also. So I guess we are back to personal preference. You are right it may get tore up by a pike a bit faster but a pike is going to tear up any plastic bait. Thats the way it goes pike fishing. If its getting toer up it means your catching fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 I have done many tests with hollow vs hook slot baits and I agree with Matt....I prefer solid body with hook slot...and they are lots easier to pour. I don't think the hollow body has much of an advantage. The main reason I would not buy any of the hollow body Basstrix knockoffs like Shadalicious is they are all made in China!! Every one of them...and that just sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 I never made the hollow body type swimbaits and always wondered what all the fuss was about. A couple years back, I bought a few hollow swimbaits from Jim at Ghost Baits and I can tell you...... They are AMAZING! The colors are incredible and the action on them are insane! I can honestly say that I caught fish 3 to 1 over any swimbaits I ever poured. Again though........I think it's all about personal preference and confidence in your baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 I also bought Jim's swimbaits and caught a lot of fish on them. That's what inspired me to stop trying to dip the hollow baits. I wouldn't classify them as hollow body...they are solid body with a hook slot. I think of hollow body as the Basstrix that are dipped and the many Chinese clones that are following. I posted a field test a couple years ago where I tried a Basstrix and Jim's Phantom Shad with the same weighted hook...I preferred the swimming of the Phantom Shad. I'm still hooked on swimbaits and never go fishing without one rigged up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 (edited) I thought Jims Phantom Shad was a hollow bodied dipped bait. Edited March 30, 2009 by MTfishingrods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 I'm speaking of the Phantom Shad on Jim's website...the hook slot area is long so it is a hollow area but the baits are poured and are solid except the hook slot area. It is dipped in clear plastic to seal the colors and eyes so maybe that's where the confusion comes in. I'm sure Jim will comment but I believe I'm correct. Jim's are made from a two-piece aluminum mold. I pour my own designs from open molds with a hook slot and then dip most of the bait to seal it. When rigging the bait you open the hook slot anyway so it's not "hollow" for long. Not trying to be argumentative or negative at all...just trying to get the facts correct and I'm sure Jim will set us all straight. Have a great day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Well that would make some sense in how he gets some of his patterns. After thinking about it, its all starting to click in this slow brain of mine. Thanks Longhorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coosa Redeye Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Hollow or not hollow, I haven't been able to catch a thing on a swimbait. Even at Guntersville! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Finally got to this guys... Gary is right on. My baits are solid with a hook slot that is dipped over. Gives them a semi-hollow feel. I have started making the heads of the baits tougher to help hold the hook or screw in deal. I think the big companies made a mistake in making the baits from tougher harder plastic and killed the action of the bait. That and the nasty paint smell!! Like Shane said, if your bait is not getting torn up, you aren't getting bit!! Rather have them a little softer and get some bites! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Sorry posting from my phone again and my reply was lost.but I was trying to say your ears must have Been burning Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Hollow or not hollow, I haven't been able to catch a thing on a swimbait. Even at Guntersville! I'll take the challenge if you will throw some! Not sure what colors might be good that way but I can do almost anything within reason.. I like sexy chartreuse shad and watermelon red myself... Be glad to send you a box for some field trial!! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyman Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Jim, I checked your baits out and they look great. I love the red streak. And baby bass. Rusty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Hollow or not hollow, I haven't been able to catch a thing on a swimbait. Even at Guntersville! I'm going to Guntersville April 26 to fish a week and plan to use only swimbaits. I'll let you know how it comes out. Swimbaits are not magic and conditions have to be right...water temp, wind, etc but there is nothing quite like a swimbait bite. I caught my first swimbait fish on Jim's Phantom Shad and have been swimbait crazy ever since. Keep on throwing them at the big G and you'll get bit. I got some big bites last spring on swimmers...fishing out of a pontoon boat. http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/longhorn46/IMG_1172a.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Jim, I checked your baits out and they look great. I love the red streak. And baby bass. Rusty Thanks Rusty!! Gary is right again. A swimbait is just like any other bait in your arsenal. Use it in the right place at the right time and you'll get bit. This should be prime time for a lot of places as pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn are ideal. I use mine as search baits over flats and through grass. We have had some pigs this spring already!! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) The right place and right time certainly is right now on lake Okeechobee. For the last month and a half they've been killing them on swim baits. Thursday my buddy caught a 9.00 and placed 4th in the co angler last weekend. Edited March 31, 2009 by 152nd Street Baits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
