Mission Fish Swimbaits - The Most Realistic Bass Lures

Introducing Mission Fish Swimbaits

For bass anglers looking to up their game, Mission Fish swimbaits are quickly becoming a go-to lure. Designed and manufactured by seasoned tournament anglers, Mission Fish baits are carefully crafted to look, feel and swim like the real deal in the water. Keep reading to learn all about Mission Fish's innovative swimbait designs and why they should have a spot in your tackle box this season.

What Are Swimbaits?

Swimbaits are a type of hard or soft plastic fishing lure designed to mimic small baitfish like shad, trout and bluegill. Unlike crankbaits that wobble from side to side, swimbaits are built to swim with a very natural "S" shaped motion as they're retrieved through the water. This life-like swimming action triggers reaction strikes from gamefish like bass, pike and musky.

These lures typically feature a dart-shaped hard plastic or soft plastic body on a weighted jig head. Some models have joints to enhance the swimming action. The length ranges from 3 to over 10 inches to mimic various sized baitfish. Most swimbaits come weedless or with some type of hookguard to prevent snags in heavy cover.

Mission Fish Swimbait Designs

The team at Mission Fish uses 3D scans of actual baitfish to create ultra-realistic swimbait body shapes and detailing. While some brands take generic approaches to swimbait designs, Mission Fish painstakingly replicates the silhouette, scale patterns and fin positions of real baitfish species.

Some of their most popular swimbaits include:

• Shad - Available in threadfin and gizzard shad shapes for matching local forage
• Rainbow Trout - Perfect for trout reservoirs and river smallmouth
• Bluegill - Complete with iconic vertical bars and dark "ear" flap on the gill plate
• Hitch - Features a wide profile and forked tail to mimic shad in the herring family

In addition to natural fish shapes, Mission Fish makes swimbaits modeled after panfish, worms, crawfish, leeches and eels. Their 3:16 Wake Minnow has a thin profile that creates excellent action and wake for schooling bass.

Unmatched Realism

In addition to premium body shapes, Mission Fish loads their swimbaits with lifelike details to fool even the wariest bass. These include:

• 3D eyes - Protruding eyes with pupil details add realism
• Scales - Individual foil or embossed scales reflect light and send off flash
• Gill plates - Distinct markings along the gill area like real baitfish
• Colored belly - Light colored underside mimics prey's lighter belly

Mission Fish even meticulously airbrushes color details onto their swimbait bodies. This includes natural looking fade, looser scales towards the belly, and color variations between body zones - just like real fish. Their attention to detail is unmatched in the swimbait market.

Advanced Swimbait Features

In addition to premium body design and detailing, Mission Fish packs their swimbaits with advanced features to enhance performance.

Some of these technical details include:

• Jointed bodies - Allows the lure to flex and swim more naturally
• Interchangeable diving lips - Lets you tune lure depth
• Hollow body cavity - Creates lifelike acoustic signature in the water
• 3D holographic foil - Adds incredible flash and flicker
• Mix and match components - Fully customizable configurations

Mission Fish also designed specialized hooks for their swimbaits. Options include exposed weighted hooks for long casts and stealthy weedless hooks that lightly hold the bait for improved action.

Superior Swimming Action

All of the meticulous design that goes into Mission Fish baits culminates in their incredible swimming action underwater. The body shape, foil, joint placements and weight balance allow their swimbaits to "glide" through the water just like real fish.

The smallest head shakes and body quivers trigger instinctual strikes from bass and other predators convinced they're ambushing helpless baitfish. Field tests consistently show Mission Fish baits outfishing all generic swimbaits on the market.

Another benefit of their premium swimming action is increased hookup ratios. Because the bait moves so naturally, bass tend to engulf the entire lure resulting in a better hookset. Anglers report significantly increased hookup ratios compared to other swimbaits.

Choosing Mission Fish Swimbaits

With so many swimbait options out there, it can be overwhelming deciding which models match your local fisheries and fishing situations. Here are some tips for selecting Mission Fish baits for your needs:

• Match the hatch - Pick shad, bluegill, or trout models that match the primary forage in your lake
• Consider water clarity - Translucent and white colors work best in clear water
• Pick visible colors - Bright hues like chartreuse and orange stand out in stained water
• Match size to species - Larger swimbaits for trophy bass, smaller for numbers
• Think conditions - Weedless options excel around heavy cover

The Mission Fish lineup covers sizes from just under 3 inches up to 6 inches and larger hitch or trout models over 10 inches. The 3-5 inch range works great for everyday bass fishing applications.

Gearing Up

To get the most out of Mission Fish swimbaits, you need the proper rod, reel, line and leader setup. Here are a few tips:

• Use a medium heavy or heavy power rod for casting leverage and solid hooksets
• Choose a reel with 6.3:1 or higher gear ratio for efficient retrieves
• Spool up with 15-20 lb fluorocarbon or monofilament line
• Tie direct or use a short fluorocarbon leader for low stretch

You'll also want wide gap hooks optimized for swimbaits along with tungsten bullet weights to add casting distance. Mission Fish has all the terminal tackle dialed in with their pro designed kits for each swimbait model.

Unlock Your Swimbait Potential

When it comes to fooling trophy bass, Mission Fish sets the standard for realistic swimbait design. Their 3D scanned shapes, precise detailing and fine-tuned actions outperform generic swimbaits hands down. Whether you're flipping pools or fishing open water, Mission Fish has the right swimbait to match your needs and trick those lunkers. Cast, reel and hold on for the victory catch!

FAQs

What types of fish will Mission Fish swimbaits catch?

Mission Fish swimbaits are most popular for bass fishing, but will catch any gamefish that feeds on small baitfish. They excel at catching largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike, musky, trout, stripers and even some panfish.

How deep do Mission Fish swimbaits dive?

Most Mission Fish swimbaits dive 1-3 feet on a steady retrieve. Models with jointed tails and diving lips can reach depths of 5-8 feet. Tungsten bullet weights allow anglers to fish swimbaits much deeper when needed.

What rod and reel works best for swimbaits?

A medium-heavy or heavy power rod in the 7-7’6” range paired with a reel that has a gear ratio over 6.3:1 works great. You need power to cast the lure and sweep hard on hooksets.

Should I use a leader with Mission Fish swimbaits?

Fluorocarbon leaders help with stealth and provide low stretch for solid hooksets. A shorter 12-24” leader works best so the swimbait retains maximum side-to-side action.

How do I work a Mission Fish swimbait for best action?

Use a slow, steady retrieve to allow the swimbait to display its natural swimming action. Occasional pauses make it look vulnerable. Avoid jerking rapidly like a crankbait as it will kill the natural presentation.