Swimbaits are great fish catchers, but it takes a lot of work to wring out their potential. A swimbait is a long, soft plastic lure with a deep belly that tapers sharply to a wide, paddle-shaped tail.

From mid-spring through mid-fall, soft swimbaits — such as Z-Man’s Swimmin’ Trout Trick, Keitech’s Swing Impact, and Lake Fork Tackle’s Live Magic Shad — excel at catching bass, especially ...