Hollow Body Swimbaits-The HOT Pick
by
Steve Quinn
When it comes to testing new lures, I’m a lucky guy.
I often receive new lures from top manufacturers and completely
unknown entities, wanting me to try them out, evaluate their
potential, and write about them in the pages of
In-Fisherman Magazine and
our other publications and media outlets.
I know; it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it!
Many of these new items quickly become top sellers, winning
tournaments and treasured spots in tackle boxes everywhere. Others
never are heard from again. While there are lots of outstanding new
cranks, craws, jigs, jerks, and more coming out this year, a new
category, hollow-body swimbaits truly stands out.
Hollow Body Origins
Credit for starting this trend goes to Bruce Porter, head honcho at
BASSTRIX Lures in California. Bruce had long been an innovator in
solid-body swimbaits, offering lures of several sizes, up to
9-inchers used primarily for the biggest California bass. Beginning
a little more than a year ago, his Fat Minnow Paddle Tail was
offered in limited numbers. Since Porter hand-pours his lures,
production is finely done but low in output. He offered Fat Minnows
in lengths of 2 1/2 to 6 inches. But the key new feature was the
hollow body of this realistic-looking lure. The cavity is to both
sink slowly and swim naturally. The realistic translucent colors of
these thin-body swimbait added to their realistic effect. And when
bass eat it, it squishes like a real preyfish.
The kicker came in the fact that the baits can be Texas-rigged to
make a nearly snagless set-up, while also allowing solid hookups.
Among the array of swimbaits on the market, weighted models have
been highly effective. But they are notorious for losing bass. I
have watched one 6- to 8-pound after another jump and throw these
lures. When you stick one with a hollow belly, it stays on as well
as a worm-hooked fish.
For bringing this lure category to light, credit goes to legendary
pro Jay Yelas. Jay, it seems, was well aware of all the California
swimbaits from his time fishing western waters before moving to
Texas. He visualized the magic of this new BASSTRIX lure, and in his
own words, “It got me the FLW Angler of the Year Award.” Nuff said.
Yelas utilized larger editions of this lure in clear waters of the
southeast, catching largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass on his
way to the crown. He fished them in open water, through wood cover,
and skipped them under docks. Wherever presented, these lures caught
fish. His rigging was simple — a weighted Gamakatsu EWG Superline
Hook, specifically the Falcon Bait Jerker, which is offered
in sizes up to 6/0 and with weights to 3/32-ounce.
Although Yelas managed to keep his technique under wraps to some
extent, word got out. Mr. Porter was completely overwhelmed with
orders for his Fat Minnow, even at a cost of $9.99 for a 3-pack of
the larger sizes.
Hollow Body Swimbaits Swarm
Sensing the trend, several companies moved into production on lures
with similar features. Berkley released the Powerbait 5-inch
Hollow Belly Minnow after Christmas while Arizona pro and
luremaker Fred Ward beat them to the punch with the Money Minnow,
made by Money Lures, his new soft plastics enterprise. Berkley
blister-packs their bait, combining three Hollow Bellies with a
weighted hook, as well as a treble hook, weight, and split ring that
can be used to rig the bait with a belly hook for open-water
fishing. That kit costs $9.95 while the Money Minnow retails for
$9.49 for a 4-pack.
Next into the fray was venerable soft plastic maker Luck “E” Strike
of Missouri. Their Bass Magic comes in 5 sizes:
2 1/2”-, 3 1/2”-, 4”-, 5 1/2”-, and 6 1/2". All packs cost $7.99 but
you get 7 of the smallest baits in a pack and four of the largest
edition. Still, that makes them the least expensive of the lot.
Dave Pook of Kamakazee Bait Company, previously a little-known
plastics maker in Emmett, Idaho, jumped into full production with
the Treats Swimbait (4, 5 1/2, and 6 inches), in great colors
including the hot tilapia hue. They’re $11.99 for a 3- or 4-pack,
depending on size. Big Bite Baits of Eufaula, Alabama, added the
Swim Minnow in 4- and 5-inch sizes, retailing for $7.99 for a
4-pack. The latest will be the Shadalicious from Strike King
that’s supposed to be out soon. You can bet there will be more.
Along with the baits themselves, there are new options in weighted
hooks for Texas rigging. Falcon’s Bait Jerker has been
replicated by Gamakatsu with their Weighted Superline EWG,
available in sizes to 5/0 and 1/8 ounce. Northland Tackle’s
Lip-Stick Worm Hooks are a red-hued Mustand Ultra Point in sizes
up to 4/0 with 3/32-ounce of weight on the shank. And Venom has
added lead to Matzuo’s Sickle Hook in their Weighted Death Grip
Hooks. (Count on ol’ Dave Maurice to come up with a good name!)
When using all these styles of weighted hook, avoid rigging in
normal fashion — running the point, shank, and lead through the nose
of your spendy swimbait. That tears them up badly, particularly the
heavier weights that you want to get deeper than 3 or 4 feet.
Instead, shove the hook eye into the nose of the lure, so it barely
sticks out enough to tie onto. When you want a new bait, you must
retie. A great new alternative is Owner’s TwistLOCK hook,
model 5132W-024, which incorporates a springlike piece of metal on
the eye, which screws into the nose of the bait and holds it very
securely. It’s a XXX strong hook, so you can carry this one with you
to California or Lake Fork.
For deeper fishing, rig these baits on leadheads like Owner’s
Saltwater Bullet, available in weights to an ounce. The big hook
sticks out the back for sure hookups, but it will snag in wood or
vegetation far more easily than when using a Texas-rig. Berkley’s
exposed treble and weight is another option, which I haven’t tried
yet.
Fishing Hollow Bodies
Along with a bunch of Berkley’s pro staff, I tested out these baits
in Florida this winter. Their action and appeal is amazing. Despite
a major cold front, bass boiled out of deep hydrilla beds to eat
these things. We found, however, that you’ve got to get used to the
way bass eat them and set the hook accordingly. As you wind it
along, you feel like you’re cranking a diver or rattlebait or a
weighted swimbait like the Storm WildEye. When you feel a
pause, tick, or weight, you tend to swing slowly back to set the
hook. And you’re usually hooked up.
When using a hollow body, however, this usually results in a missed
fish. Instead, focus on the fact that this is a softbait. When you
feel a fish, feed it to them a bit, like a worm or Senko. Then wind
out your slack and whack ‘em. This will take a bit of getting used
to. But the results promise to be excellent.
Hollow bodies will be killer dock baits, as their flat sides skip
beyond belief. Across weedy flats, they’ll take bass that refuse
cranks, rattlebaits, or blades. I guarantee you that a major portion
of the field at the inaugural FLW Tour event at Toho in Florida will
have them tied on. At the Bassmasters Classic in February, most of
the larger bass were deeper than the normal operating range of the
hollow bellies. But several top-10 finishers at the Classic used
these lures to score key keepers in the murkier upriver sections of
Lake Hartwell.
But I really can’t wait until the Postspawn Period and wind these
things along inside grasslines. Look out!
For more on these baits, check out information from the
manufacturers. Contact: BASSTRIX, 818/982-9802; Berkley,
berkley-fishing.com;
Big Bite Baits,
bigbitebaits.com; Falcon Lures,
falconlures.com;
Gamakatsu, gamakatsu.com;
Kamakazee Bait Company,
kamakazeebaitco.com; Luck “E” Strike, 417/847-3158; Money Lures,
moneylures.com; Northland
Tackle,
northlandtackle.com; Owner American,
ownerhooks.com; Venom
Lures, 800/446-7510.
Steve Quinn
classicbass.com Pro Staff
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