Line-Through Swimbaits

[Painter1]

Just thought It worth an update here regarding recent experience with LTSB's.

I don't know anyone throwing these things regularly so they are either not popular or are a well kept secret around here. But an old friend who fished all over the country at a very high level tells stories about big bass on these - back in the day.

Seeing the opportunity, I bought some pre-owned 5" molds and ordered some brass inserts from BTS, but since there is no description of the weight it was a mystery to see what I would get. I could find no other source and wanted to try them. http://www.btsmolds.com/inserts/inserts?rq=Inserts

The inserts finally came (speed and communication are not the best) and they weigh 1/4 oz. I painted them and used some as designed - with the bait poured around them. Then I went fishing. Call me unimpressed and wiser about maybe why these inserts are not widely available.

By placing a lightly oiled cocktail straw through the hole, after removing the rod from the cooled baits, they were ready to store without committing to a specific weight.

At the lake, I ran the line through, removed the straw, and slid on 1/2 oz and a 1 oz painted tungsten bullet weight (2 seperate baits) that then was inserted back into the cavity. The weight holds well with a split ring and a #2 hook under it, one tine in the bait.

The baits cast well and look great in the water but, woe is me, I caught no fish. In fairness, I did not fish them all that long because there was a jig bite on and .... well .....you know.

After cutting the baits off it was very difficult to get the weight to back out of the cavity and , in fact, I did not get them out. They are pretty secure in there. The plastic used is MF Medium Sinking. I think it serves this purpose well.

BTW, I threw one for a bit, unweighted. It swims great as a wake bait and I plan to try it out when opportunity arises. It looks like a great follow-up bait if a Bass misses my whopper-Plopper?