Swimbaits are a favorite choice among bass fishermen who are targeting that big bite. However, just as important to choosing the right lure, is selecting the right equipment.
After all, if you get a fish to bite, but don’t have the right reel, rod or line, it might cost you a fish. And we all know that when fishing with big lures such as swimbaits, we are already limiting the number of bites we will get on a given trip.
For that reason, we need to be well equipped so that when a big bass takes the bait, he will stay pinned until we get him into the boat.
An essential piece of equipment when fishing with these lures is a good fishing rod. In this post, we are going to talk about what makes a fishing rod a good swimbait rod. Lastly, we are going to talk about a few of our favorites ( 6 to be exact) that are available on the market today.
So let’s begin…
What is the best swimbait rod?
Here is a quick preview of the rods that we are going to take a closer look at in this post. For more details, such as lure size, line size, power rating and action rating keep reading below.
- Dobyns Rods 806HSB-LH
- Okuma Guide Select
- Dobyns Rods FR 795SB
- G. Loomis 955c
- Wright and McGill Skeet Reese Swimbait
- Ardent Denny Brauer Swimbait Fishing Rod
For more information on each of these rods individually continue reading below…
One thing I like to do when talking about technique-specific fishing rods is to go over some specs to look for when shopping for a rod. Let’s consider a few…
What to look for in a good swimbait rod….
Power Rating: One of the most important factors to consider when choosing the correct power rating for your rod is the lure capacity.
Remember, we will be fishing with very large lures, much larger than normal. Swimbaits can weigh anywhere from 2 ounces to 8 ounces. It is important to always remain within these guidelines, failure to do so can result in breaking your fishing pole.
Of course, since we will be fishing with larger lures we can expect and hope to catch larger fish. This calls for a more powerful rod rating.
When fishing with swimbaits I would recommend a Medium-Heavy to Heavy power rating.
Action: Remember the action of the rod determines at what point the rod begins to flex and at one point it stops. This is important when fishing with swimbaits because there are so many different swimbaits on the market.
For example, your approach when fishing with a single hook swimbait or a soft swimbait would not be the same as fishing with a treble hook or a hard swimbait. Understanding the action of the rod is essential to catching and landing more fish.
Matt Allen from Tactical Bassin does a great job explaining the differences between the action on a few different swimbait rods. Please take a few minutes to check it out in the following video:
When fishing with small, medium size, and single hook swimbaits I would recommend an Extra Fast – Fast action.
The fast action will allow you to load up on the hook and really set the hook into their mouth.
If you choose to fish with very large swimbaits or swimbaits that have treble hooks, I would recommend a Moderate Fast Action.
The slower action, very similar to a crankbait rod, lowers the risk of your pulling the lure out of their mouth. The moderate tip will also help when casting much larger lures.
Length: The length of the rod isn’t a very essential aspect to consider when choosing a rod. However, longer rods are preferred as they allow for longer casts and allow you to put a lot of pressure on the fish.
Handle Length: Casting heavy lures with a very short handle can prove to be a challenge. For that reason, I think it is important to consider the handle length before purchasing your rod.
One thing to note is that a longer handle with giving you more leverage, allow you to use both hands when casting, and thus allow for longer casts.
I would recommend a handle length between 15 inches and up to 18 inches long.
The Best Swimbait Rods
Dobyns Rods 806HSB-LH
Power: Heavy
Action: Fast
Lure Size: 2-8oz.
Line: 20-40lb test
Length: 8′
If you are looking for the best swimbait rod on the market, the Dobyns Rods 806HSB-LH is your answer.
You are expecting to catch a big fish right? Isn’t that why you are fishing with a swimbait? Fishing for big fish calls for a powerful rod.
The Dobyns Rods 806HSB-LH is a powerful rod and was designed specifically for the swimbait fishermen.
I like to call it the 8 foot swimbait launcher because it will allow you to launch your favorite 8 inch swimbait (such as this one8″ Multi Jointed Swimbait ) with ease. The size of this rod will also help to load up on the fish giving you the control.
Another thing that sets this pole apart from other rods, as we saw in the video with Matt, is the flex. The entire rod flexes which means it works great especially with treble hooks. That means when you set the hook, that fish will have a very difficult time throwing the lure.
If you are tired of losing fish, I would definitely recommend the Dobyns Rods 806HSB-LH .
Okuma Guide Select
Power: Heavy
Action: Moderate Fast
Lure Size: 1-6oz.
Line: 15-30lb test
Length: 7’11”
Another great rod for fishing with medium size swimbaits is the Okuma Guide Select. This particular rod has everything you could ask for in a good all-around swimbait rod.
It has a powerful power rating, a moderate fast action (great with treble hooks) and a good length for launching your swimbait across the lake.
One of the best features that really sets these rods apart from other rods is that it has what is called UFR (Unidirectional Fiber Reinforcement) in the tip of the rod. In other words, the tip of the rod is reinforced so as to distribute the weight more evenly throughout the blank. This will give you more power in the tip and prevent breakage.
In fact, in this swimbait rod if you are like me and you don’t like to see your favorite rod crumble to pieces.
Learn more about the features this rod has to offer in the following video:
Dobyns Rods FR 795SB
Power: Medium Heavy
Action: Fast
Lure Size: 1-5 oz.
Line: 15-30lb test
Length: 7’9″
The second rod (also mentioned in the video) that I think is a great swimbait rod is the Dobyns Rods FR 795SB.
The biggest difference between this rod and the one mentioned earlier is that this one isn’t as powerful. Don’t get me wrong. This is a very powerful rod, but not as powerful as the aforementioned. We can see this in the fact that is it categorized as a medium heavy rod and has a little slower action.
You can also see the difference in the flex in the video. This rod was really designed for smaller swimbaits.
So if you like fishing with swimbaits, but you are not planning on using the huge swimbaits I would recommend you give this one a try.
This is the perfect rod for fishing with a swimbait like this Savage Gear 6 inch Bass Swimbait.
G. Loomis 955c
Power: Medium Heavy
Action: Moderate Fast
Lure Size: 2-6oz.
Line: 10-20lb test
Length: 7’11”
Of course no list of the best fishing rods would be complete without mentioning a G.Loomis Rod. The G. Loomis Series is also a great rod for fishing with swimbaits.
G.Loomis knows how to make a fishing rod and they don’t disappoint with this rod. This fishing pole is a medium-heavy, moderate fast action taper that is really designed for both medium-sized to even larger hard swimbaits.
It is super powerful but lightweight. Definitely a fishing pole I would recommend to have in the boat when throwing a swimbait.
Check out more, why this is a great rod when fishing with swimbaits.
Perhaps you are just starting out in swimbait fishing and you would rather not spend a ton of money investing in a single swimbait technique specific rod. There are several good rods on the market that won’t hurt the wallet as much, but still give you a taste of swimbait fishing.
Let’s take a look at some budget swimbait rods.
Wright and McGill Skeet Reese Swimbait
Power: Medium
Action: Fast
Lure Size: 1/4 – 1 oz.
Line: 10-15lb test
Length: 7’6″
The Wright and McGill Skeet Reese is a great rod for beginners.
It has good overall power and a fast action. It isn’t the biggest rod, but it will get the job done.
The best thing is if you invest in this rod and find out you don’t like swimbait fishing you can easily use this rod for something else such as crankbait fishing.
Ardent Denny Brauer
Power: Heavy
Action: Fast
Length: 7’6″
Length: 16 inches
Another great starter swimbait rod is the Ardent Denny Brauer Swimbait Fishing Rod.
This is a powerful rod with a fast taper. It has a nice long handle which allows you to cast your rod with both hands. It sits at a good length of 7 feet 6 inches.
If you are on the edge of whether or not to start fishing with swimbaits, I would give this one a try.
Learn what Denny Brauer has to say why this rod is a great option in the following video:
Final Thoughts…
There you have it! My list of some of the greatest options on the market.
What do you think is the best fishing rod for swimbaits Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Also, enjoy these resources on fishing with swimbaits:
Swimbaits, How and When to Use them.
Bass Fishing With Swimbaits
Fishing With Swimbaits
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