Venture Lures' Essential Swimmer

May 19, 2020 By Ned Kehde

During the winter of 2019-20, we corresponded regularly with Michael Simonton of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

He is the proprietor of Venture Lures and the creator of all of its baits. Our correspondences focused around publishing gear guides about his Dropper, Essential Swimmer, Finesse Worm, Heckler, Steady Swimmer, Supervisor, and Skinny Minnie.

Simonton is an inveterate drop-shot enthusiast, and except for the Steady Swimmer, all of them were designed primarily for drop-shot applications. But for years on end, Midwest finesse anglers have discovered in the waterways that they traditionally fish that most drop-shot creations are more effective when they affix them to a small mushroom-style jig with an exposed hook than they are on a drop-shot rig.

To assist us in composing gear guides about his baits, he mailed us some of them for us to work with, thoroughly examine, and publish a gear guide about Steady Swimmer.

Here is what we discovered about his 2.75- and 3.75-inch Essential Swimmer.

In the eyes of veteran Midwest finesse anglers, the Essential Swimmer is a unique stick-style bait that abstractly replicates the anatomical characteristics of a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate creatures that abide in our waterways.

According to our measurements, the 2.75-incher is 2 13/16 inches long.

The tip of its head is somewhat domed shaped. The head’s dorsal in convex, and its ventral is flat. It has a width of three-sixteenths of an inch, a height of one-quarter of an inch, and a circumference of 1 1/16 inches. Its epidermis is smooth.

The first 1 5/8 inches of its body’s dorsal section is convex and endowed with six significant segments or ribs. Simonton says these segments allow the Essential Swimmer to look like it is swimming when anglers shake the tip of their rods. Its ventral is flat, and its epidermis is smooth and almost glassy.

The first rib or segment is slightly less than one-quarter of an inch long. The second one is one-quarter of an inch long, and the depth of the second one is greater than the others. The third one is one-eighth of an inch long. The fourth one is slightly more than one-sixteenth of an inch long. The fifth one is slightly more than one-sixteenth of an inch long. The sixth one is about one-eighth of an inch long. Except for the gaps between the six ribs, the dorsal’s epidermis is smooth.

The largest portion of its body occurs at seven-eighths of an inch from the tip of its head. It has a width of three-eighths of an inch with a circumference of 1 1/4 inches and a height of five-sixteenths of an inch.

The last 1¼ inches of its body’s dorsal area is not segmented, but it is adorned with a knob-like tail that is radically segmented from the Essential Swimmer’s torso. The epidermis of this entire section is smooth. The ventral is flat, and the dorsal is convex. Near this section’s junction with the sixth rib, it has a width of three-sixteenths of an inch, a circumference of fifteenth-sixteenths of an inch, and a height of one-quarter of an inch. At five-eighths of an inch from the tip of its tail, this section of its body has a width of one-quarter of an inch, a circumference of one inch, and a height of one-quarter of an inch. At the junction with its tail, the width is one-eighth of an inch, a circumference of eleven-sixteenths of an inch, and height of three-sixteenths of an inch.

The first rib or segment is five-sixteenths of an inch long. The second one is five-sixteenths of an inch long, and the depth of the second one is greater than the others. The third one is one-eighth of an inch long. The fourth one is one-eighth of an inch long. The fifth one is one-eighth of an inch long. The sixth one is about one-eighth of an inch long.

Except for the gaps between the six ribs, the dorsal’s epidermis is smooth. Its ventral is flat with a smooth epidermis.

The largest portion of its body is situated in the middle of the first rib, which is thirteen-sixteenths of an inch from the tip of its head. It has a width of seven-sixteenths of an inch with a circumference of 1 3/8 inches and a height of three-eighths of an inch.

The last 1 13/16 inches of its body’s dorsal area is not segmented, but it is adorned with a knob-like tail that is radically segmented from the rest of the body. The epidermis of this entire section is smooth. The ventral is flat, and the dorsal is convex. Near this section’s junction with the sixth rib, it has a width of five-sixteenths of an inch, a circumference of one inch, and a height of slightly more than one-quarter of an inch. At three-quarters of an inch from the tip of its tail, this section of its body has a width of three-eighths of an inch, circumference of one inch, and height of one-quarter of an inch. Near its junction with its tail, the width is five-sixteenths of an inch with a circumference of about seven-eighths of an inch and a height of one-quarter of an inch.

The tail is about one-quarter of an inch long. The ventral is flat. The dorsal is convex. The tail’s cusp is flat, and it’s five-sixteenths of an inch wide with a height of one-quarter of an inch.

They are available in the following hues: Green Pumpkin Clutch, Green Pumpkin PBC, Smallie Money, and Smoke PB.

They are described as being hand poured from what is called super-soft-floating plastic.

They are buoyant and enhanced with salt and a garlic scent.

A package of ten 2.75-inchers costs $4.50, and a package of eight 3.75-inchers costs $4.50.

Endnotes:

Here is a link to Venture Lures' website: https://venturelures.com/. It provides information about its baits, and it is also a retail venue.
When Midwest Finesse anglers affix the Essential Swimmer to a mushroom-style jig with an exposed hook, they will work with all six of the standard Midwest finesse retrieves or slight variations of those retrieves. And these will be what we call no-feel presentations.

The Essential Swimmer’s flat ventral section will enhance Midwest finesse anglers’ abilities to employ the swim-glide-and-shake presentation and several of their other presentations.

To properly execute those six retrieves with a no-feel presentation, it is essential that anglers use a lightweight jig, ranging in size from 1/64- to 1/32- to 1/20- to 1/16- to 1/15-ounces.

Here is a link to the Midwest Finesse column that describes how to employ those six retrieves: https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/six-midwest-finesse-retrieves/153946.
Here are two links to Joe Balog’s BassFan columns about Simonton: http://www.bassfan.com/opinion_article/211/news.asp#.XlV9dUpMGUk; http://bassfan.com/opinion_article.asp ID=212#.XlV7iEpMGUk.
Here are links to a BassFan column about Simonton: http://bassfan.com/news_article/4116/simonton-to-transition-from-teacher-to-tour-pro#.XlV8pUpMGUk;
Here is a link to Siminton’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelSimonton10/.
Here is a link to our Midwest Finesse gear guide about Venture Lures' Essential Swimmer: https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/venture-lures-steady-swimmer/374139.
In the weeks to come, we will publish gear guides that feature Venture Lures’ Dropper, Finesse Worm, Heckler, Supervisor, and Skinny Minnie.

In-Fisherman Storyline AFTER HOURS: State of the Industry Going into Winter 2025

Learn

In-Fisherman Storyline AFTER HOURS: State of the Industry Going into Winter 2025

In-Fisherman Storyline host Thomas Allen is joined by good friends and local fishing experts to discuss the state of the fishing industry, boat prices and angler optimism as the new year begins. Mille Lacs guide Brad Hawthorne, Brainerd bass anglers Chad Foster and Brandon Cizek dig into the future of the sport we all love, with some laugh along the way. This is a fun discussion about where we're all headed no matter where you are in the fishing spectrum.

Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Giant Snake River Sturgeon with Al Lindner

Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Giant Snake River Sturgeon with Al Lindner

In this throwback feature, Al Lindner samples some of the finest sturgeon fishing on the plant with some of the largest sturgeon on the planet. The Snake River has long been regarded as the top destination for North America's largest game fish, and it's still regarded that way today. Check out how the guide tries to land the fish!

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Sturgeon on the Colombia River with Al Lindner

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Sturgeon on the Colombia River with Al Lindner

In this throwback video, In-Fisherman founder Al Lindner samples mega sturgeon from the legendary Colombia River. These enormous fish will wear you down, but the battle is an experience you'll never forget. Even back in the early days of discovery, catch-and-release was a top priority. Things have advanced quite a bit since then, but you can clearly see how the original regulations paved the way to modern day.

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Technical Carp Angling with Al Lindner

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Technical Carp Angling with Al Lindner

Why are carp so overlooked in North America? That's a good question. But in this throwback video, Al Lindner shares some insight on how to locate and catch these feisty giants. There's no doubt that catching carp is a great time, even by today's standards. How does this info stack up currently?

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Dan Sura Tackles GIANT Texas Alligator Gar

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Dan Sura Tackles GIANT Texas Alligator Gar

Longtime In-Fisherman contributor and personality Dan Sura makes s special trip to Texas to sample the incredible and abundant alligator gar. We've learned a lot since those days, how does the information in this video stack up to what we know today? Let us know!

Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: American Carp Tactics Vs. European

Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: American Carp Tactics Vs. European

In-Fisherman Editor in Chief Doug Stange catches carp with European carp legends, and the group discusses similarities and differences between techniques across the big pond. Even to this day, carp remain largely overlooked and underutilized. But few will argue to how tough these fish truly are.

Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Giant Fish of North America

Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Giant Fish of North America

In-Fisherman Editor in Chief Doug Stange goes wading for big carp, a critter he considers the toughest freshwater customer. Enjoy this throwback to when carp were king, perhaps they still are by a global perspective, what do you think?

Learn

Fishing Line Magical Management

Learn

Fishing Line Magical Management

Keeping enough line handy to re-spool often will keep you in control of the things you can control. If you fish more than a week per year, you need to consider fresh line on the regular. Our friend and regular contributor Ross Robertson of Bigwater Fishing shares some insight on how to be ready to re-spool at a moment's notice.

Learn

Downsize Crankbaits for Bigger Fall Walleyes with Capt. Ross Robertson

Learn

Downsize Crankbaits for Bigger Fall Walleyes with Capt. Ross Robertson

Our good friend and regular In-Fisherman contributor talks about how downsizing crankbaits can increase walleye dividends during the fall months. Match the hatch, as they say, but there's some very sound advice here that will put more bigger walleyes in your boat.

Learn

Rigged Right for Precision Walleye Trolling with Capt. Ross Robertson

Learn

Rigged Right for Precision Walleye Trolling with Capt. Ross Robertson

Bigwater Fishing owner/operator Ross Robertson talks about how to rig right to attain maximum control while trolling for walleyes. He goes through all the components and provides good explanations for each piece to the puzzle.

Destinations

In-Fisherman Storyline: Roadtrip Edition at Andy Myer's Lodge on Eagle Lake

Destinations

In-Fisherman Storyline: Roadtrip Edition at Andy Myer's Lodge on Eagle Lake

Some of the top muskie minds in the business come together at a legendary destination in Ontario—Andy Myer's Lodge. Renowned and lifetime muskie guide and fanatic Steve Jonesi joins legendary muskie angler Steve Herbeck along with Andy Myer's lodge owner/operator Julian Kalka hosted by In-Fisherman's Digital Content Manager Thomas Allen. The group talks about the history of AML and the unbelievable fishing available at this incredible destination. You'll love this episode and will likely put AML at the top of your bucket list, if it's not already there.

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Ice Fishing for Lake Winnipeg Walleyes

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Ice Fishing for Lake Winnipeg Walleyes

Focusing on population-dense portions of legendary Lake Winnipeg, huge walleyes are often caught with baits that were once considered only open-water options. The gang at In-Fisherman pioneered these techniques on one of the world's greatest walleye fishery during the winter months. Still relevant today? Let us know in the comments below.