When hungry bass are holding deeper than standard swimbaits dive, throw a Storm® 360GT Searchbait® Swimmer to reach the strikezone and trigger more bites. An lip built into its jighead provides depth control and crankbait-style action.
“This lip on the front of this swimbait head will help you keep this bait down in the depth range that you want it – where the fish are biting,” says Davy Hite, a Bassmaster Live co-host and champion Elite Series alumnus.
“It’s going to keep that bait down there in the strike zone,” agrees Jacob Wheeler, a young gun off to a blistering start to his Bassmaster career. “And no matter how hard I wind it, it’s not going to hinder the action.”
Creating the ultimate illusion of a live baitfish, a toe-in boot-tail gives the Searchbait Swimmer incredible fish-attracting action at any retrieve speed. “It’s got really good action,” says Hite, winner of nine Bassmaster tournaments, including the 1999 Bassmaster Classic. “It starts kicking the boot tail immediately.”
The Searchbait Swimmer’s body is made from phthalate-free soft plastic. A hook channel and well-marked hook-exit hole make it easy to rig. The Swimmer’s jighead features a small accessory hanger on its underside, behind the lip. “You can put a spinner on there, you can put a treble hook on there – whatever you want to hang on there,” Hite says.
Wheeler adds a blade to the accessory hanger when he targets schooling bass. “Adding a blade makes it look more like a school of baitfish, rather than just one single swimbait out there,” explains Wheeler, a Forrest Wood Cup Champion and two-time Bassmaster tournament winner.
Additional features of the Searchbait Swimmer’s jighead are a life-like design, 3D holographic eyes, a single-ball rattle, an exclusive 4/0 VMC Coastal Black hook and an extended, 60-degree line-tie leg. Rigged with a Searchbait body, a Swimmer measures 4 ½ inches and weighs ¼ oz. It’s available in 11 color patterns to perfectly match regional forage: Chartreuse Ice, Gaga, Herring, Houdini, Hot Olive, Marilyn, Pearl Ice, Smokin’ Ghost, Smelt, Tru Blue and Volunteer.
The Searchbait Swimmer is the newest offering in Storm’s popular and productive 360GT series. “GT” stands for “go to,” says Storm Product Development Director Mark Fisher, explaining the inspiration behind the name. Anglers can expect to catch bass, walleye and pike with 360GT Searchbaits. Ease of use makes them great for anglers of all skill levels.
“You can take somebody fishing for the first time and they can use this swimbait effectively and catch bass on it,” Hite says. “All you have to do is open the package, tie it on, and toss it out.”