The Megabass MAGDRAFT swimbait, revered in tournament and trophy bass fishing circles alike, is designed to deliver an unrivaled head-shaking, tail-thumping action right out of the package. And while a straight retrieve is often the ticket to bites of both quality and numbers, our Pro Staff have found three tips for MAGDRAFT swimbait success, namely: speed, color, and location triggers.
To capitalize on the MAGDRAFT’s potential, it’s first essential to dial in the optimal retrieve speed. This should be just fast enough to initiate the paddle tail movement and get the head shaking back-and-forth in tandem with a thump you can feel in the palm of your hand. However, the swimbait’s unique shaking-and-thumping swim is so strong that it will throw the MAGDRAFT off course if retrieved too quickly, so keep an eye on your swimbait the first few casts. If you see it start to roll, slow down, and you’ll be rewarded with a unique, high-frequency vibration that activates the lateral lines of predatory fish even in stained waters. For optimal performance, pair the MAGDRAFT with a moderately-geared reel around a 5.3:1 ratio, especially if it’s difficult to keep the target retrieve speed with a higher-ratio offerings.
Speed Trigger
The vast majority of your bites on the MAGDRAFT will come with a steady retrieve, relying on the swimbait’s unrivaled action and appeal to convert finicky feeders. However, with un-committed followers, there’s a critical strike-generating trick: the half-reel turn. Simply put, this is a speed-burst for a half-handle turn, after which you return to the normal speed. This ½ turn causes the MAGDRAFT to dart quickly for a short distance, triggering reaction bites.
Not limited to followers, this can also be an effective technique when the MAGDRAFT is swimming by high percentage targets, like dock and bridge pilings, etc. The speed trigger can also be incorporated into the retrieve to add a “pulse” to an otherwise steady swim. A simple starting point that has proven effective is a slow-and-steady retrieve for five full rotations, then adding a half-handle turn on the sixth rotation, repeat for the duration of the retrieve.
Color Choices
Selecting the right color based on visibility and light conditions is critical; from the vibrant Albino Pearl Shad or Pro Blue Chart for stained waters to the subtle MB Gizzard or White Back Shad for clearer waters, it pays to have the right color for the conditions.
But much like an unexpected speed change can act as a trigger, don’t forget that color can be a visual trigger as well. Don’t be afraid to try stained-water colors in gin-clear situations. Sometimes the heightened color contrast is the ticket to drawing predators close enough to be fully overwhelmed by the MAGDRAFT’s unique vibrating appeal.
Location, Location, Location
Start with cover, especially with defined shade lines. The majority of bites are quick and ferocious ambush feeders or followers, so it’s often best to start with the most obvious cover in your body of water, be they docks, laydowns, stumps, or other visible structure. The MAGDRAFT is a particularly deadly dock companion owing to how easily it skips and allows you to pick apart lines. Further, it’s unique ability to swim slowly while giving off the kind of vibration and thump you’d normally expect from a fast-swimming offering, extends the strike window with unmatched allure.
On days with a bit more wind, low light, and at least 3+ ft of water clarity, the MAGDRAFT is particularly deadly in open water. Points, riprap banks, bluffs and steeper banks tend to be the most productive areas. Don’t be afraid to make multiple casts along a good-looking bluff wall, and make sure to pick apart points with multiple cast angles. For those without forward facing sonar, remember that big baits will often pull bass off of their spots, so it’s often worth making follow-up casts with intercepting angles.
Equipment:
The optimal rod pairing is the MARK 56 swimbait rod in the DESTROYER P5 line, which was developed specifically for the MAGDRAFT and i-SLIDE series.
We recommend 15lb. test fluorocarbon line for the 6-inch MAGDRAFT, 20lb. fluorocarbon for the 8-inch model, and 25lb. test for the 10-inch size.
As you ready your tackle box, remember that the MAGDRAFT requires no modifications—it’s primed for action. Whether you’re casting in open waters or targeting hidden bass in underwater structures, the MAGDRAFT is engineered to deliver results with surprising consistency. Embrace these strategies, and you might just land your personal best this season.
Expand your MAGDRAFT technique even further by checking out this VIDEO!
