The Hunt For Big Fish with Larry Dahlberg

Larry,

I recently bought a Shimano Cruado 300 and a St. Croix 7'9" Swimbait rod to use for trophy largemouth bass. Any tips you may have as to bait size, retrieve speed, lure recommndations would be greatly appreciated.
I live in CT, but fish all over the northeast, an area where swimbaits are just starting to become popular.

Thanks in advance.

HI HB,
The california bass for whom these baits were designed are used to eating planted trout, in environments with very little cover, and as such seem to prefer a more steady retrieve in open water where they'd be really vulnerable to attack.
In other places I'd use more erratic retrieves and focus on the best available cover.
As far as lures, try em all and let the fish decide!!
best,
L