Hard Swimbait

Hard Swimbaits are minimal contact lures known for their natural swim-like lure action as they are hard baits with multiple sections that come in a wide variety of sizes, weights and sink classifications. Some refer to hard swimbaits as a smaller version of a glide bait albeit with less pronounced lure action. 

Anatomy: Hard Swimbait lures are treble hook lures that have two, three, four or more sections and generally with two treble hooks.

Variants & Other Names: 

  • Segmented Swimbait: 
  • Jointed Swimbait: 
  • Multi-Jointed Swimbait: 
  • Glide Baits: Some suggest that the single jointed glidebaits are larger versions of hard swimbaits albeit they have a more pronounced (different) lure action. 

Lure Action: Natural swim lure action resulting from the multiple joints on the hard body lure.

Search Bait: Common.

Pros’ Choice: Not common

Figure 1: Catch Co. Bucca Baby Bull Shad Hard Body Swimbait
Manufacturer's Details
When to Fish Hard Swimbaits

Hard Swimbaits are minimal contact lures typically selected when:   

  • Targeted Depth is: 
    • Shallow: Common to fished shallow as the lure can be cast a long distance counted down to the desired depth and retrieved at a speed to which the lure’s weight will allow the lure to stay in the strike zone.
    • Deep(Offshore): Less common and with a fast sink classification with a slack line descent to the desired depth, then slow-rolled to keep the lure deep.
      • Suspended: Less common but the depth can be controlled as well as the speed.
  • Fishing Speed is:
    • Fast: Common, some suggest moving medium speed for a horizontal presentation lure to trigger a reaction bite. Some hard swimbaits will support a burn retrieve.
    • Slow: Less common, some suggest letting the lure get to the desired depth on a slack line than slow-roll the lure back the boat, with pauses to keep the lure in the strike zone.  
  • Lure Visibility is:
    • High Lure Visibility: Common, as the lure mimics a bait fish.
    • Low Lure Visibility: Less common, but its large profile, some would use a dark hard swimbait, and slow-roll retrieve.
  • Targeting Cover: Some suggest all lures are good near cover where hard swimbait lures are used when contacting:
Figure 2: SPRO Hard Swimbait Shad 25 4 inch Floating, Slow Sink, Fast Sink
Manufacturer's Details
Specific Hard Swimbait Lure Selection

Selecting the Hard Swimbait Lure Type, as a treble hook lure type, there are the following key decisions:

  • Shapes:
  • Sink Classification: A wide variety of sink classifications are available:
    • Floating:
    • Suspended:
    • Sinking or Slow Sink:
    • Medium – Slow Sink:
    • Medium Sink:
    • Fast Sink:
  • Size: Hard Swimbait lures come in a variety of sizes. Some suggest a large size lure is used to target large bass to even very large bass and as such have lower catch rate. Medium sized hard swimbaits for all size bass.
    • Small: 3″ to 4″
    • Common: 4″ to 7″
    • Large: 8″ to 12″ 
  • Lure Weight:
    • Light: 1/4 oz
    • Common: 1/2 oz to 1 oz
    • Heavy: 2oz, 3oz,..
  • Lure Color: As lure color selection is mostly tied to the lure visibility download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic.
Download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic
Rigging Decisions

As a treble hook lure type, the common rigging considerations includes:

  • Hook Size: Besides replacing any bent or rusted hooks some, albeit not common, look to upsize or downsize or upgrade the manufactured provided hooks.
      • Small: #1
      • Common: 1/O
      • Large: 2/O plus
  • Main Line: Some suggest fluorocarbon as it sinks which provides depth and in some cases better lure action.  Also, as many hard swimbaits can be a heavy lure presented on a baitcaster rod some suggest braid is more likely to break on a birds nest as there is no stretch to the line.
    • Light: 14 lb test to 16 lb test
    • Common: 16 lb test to 20 lb test
    • Heavy: 20 lb test plus.
  • Leader: If braid main line a fluorocarbon is common as hard swimbaits are typically fished in high lure visibility scenarios plus it will add some stretch to the line.  
  • Rod: Rod select can vary significantly based on the weight of the hard swimbaits.
Download Rod Infographic
Hard Swimbait Presentations

Presentations for hard swimbait are commonly considered a horizontal presentation and a tight line presentation with the following considerations:

Additional Considerations
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