I will admit that I had never really thrown a swimjig until i moved down here to Gunt.
Started throwing them recently, man what a ton of fun. Purpose of this is to talk about more techniques.
To start, i usually throw white or shad white ish, a green pumpkin, bluegill and blue black in that order. Trailers range from a 3.8 size, to a blade swimbait, to a craw.
Usually I burn them the majority of the time through grass. Havent really caught them with a swimjig on the bottom. What is the right time and place? What are some of the other ways everyone fishes a swimjig?
I didn't start really fishing Swim jigs till I became a UB member. The Swim jig I fish the most is a 3/8 > 1/2 oz Strike King Hack Attack Model. In a "woops"y Shad Color.
Strike King Hack Attack Swim Jig with a Swimbait trailer
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/320x240q90/922/hi6bs2.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmhi6bs2j)
Strike King Hack Attack Swim Jig with a Sweetbeaver trailer
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/320x240q90/923/t1R5EV.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnt1R5EVj)
Most of the time I will fish it like a Spinner Bait using a slow to medium strait retrieve. I will vary the depth at times depending on the structure I'm fishing. If I'm fishing standing timber its mostly a strait retrieve. Gravel / Riprap I'll fish it to where I'm feeling the gravel bottom or bumping it of the top of the rocks. Fishing it in grass and the waters clear to where I can see it . I run it just on top of the grass and let it fall into open pockets and jerk it up out of the hole.
I generally fish this bait year round here in Texas.
Dirty jig Alabama craw with a copperfield ez swimmer is a main stay in Florida for me. In Maine I use a menace craw, blue craw, as a trailer. Weeds are important for me to deflect off. I watch Dustin Connell and others vigorously working the retrieve all the way back. I am good for 1 or 2 casts.
Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Last spring I discovered a way to fish them that seemed to work on most the waters I fish in my area which are pretty thick vegetation most of the year with lots of milfoil, coontail and cabbage. It involves a 3/8 ounce swimjig, the pointier the head the better, I've come to like outcast brand of swimjigs in bluegillish colors. I cast it out and let it sink into the vegetation, I will then point my rod directly at the lure (rod tip low), and use only the reel to retrieve it slowly (6.3:1 usually), if it hangs I just keep cranking and grinding with the reel and it frees clean over 90% of the time, short pauses are randomly interspersed during the retieve which is when the majority of the bites come. This worked for me well with twin tail grubs and 3.75" rage swimmers in about the 3-6 foot range.
Swim jigs are something that I have NEVER thrown before, but have always thought about trying. I'm going to follow this thread for the motivation :)
I swim jigs both over and through weeds and grass. I start by running a jig high over the vegetation and if that doesn't produce I fishing it deeper, pulling it through the grass. If neither of those techniques produce, I start dropping them in pockets like Don mentioned. I only use NuTech Grass Jigs with either paddle tail swimbaits, craw trailers, and sometimes just the ribbon tail from a long ribbontail worm.
Walmart has the SK Hack Attacks in 2 models (or they do down here anyways) they have a really affordable one that includes a menace grub, but this jig has a light wire hook and they get bent out real easy if using braid. They also have the heavy cover model that has the stronger flipping hook, but does not include any trailers in the package. The thin wire model is a great price purchase and it's good if you're prone to snagging them and having to break them off. I can catch about 20-25 bass on one of the thin wire models and then I'll throw it away, due to the hook getting weak. If you are new to swim jigs or don't want to spend a lot, the combo package is a great buy. I think it's like $2-$3 and again, includes 2 menace grubs in the package.
I use the SK Hack Attack swim jig when I use one. I pull it through the pad stems.
I use a heavy rod with 40 or 50lb braid. Mostly a 6 or low 7 speed reel. Its the one with the heavy wire hook.
For me almost any jig trailer will work. Swimbaits like a Keitech or a craw like a SK rage craw or even the Twin Tail Menace Grub. The Menace Grub can be mounted vertical if you want more of a swimming imitation or horizontal if you want a slower fall or are trying to keep it shallow.
I don't fish swim jigs real often but hey work well pulled through the cover usually.
If you can fish a jig in grass/cover you can swim it through the same. They work well around docks with grass and shallow grass beds, around and through wood and along drops. Change up the speed until you find what the fish want, might be fast one day and slow the next, also try a retrieve that looks like you're nervous and jerky, you'll be surprised how well it works. Trailer is up you, I like twin tail grubs, ribbon tail grubs, as far as color, I try to match the color of the cover, in open water the color of the forage.
Rodney
I love a good swimjig bite as well, especially in the grass. I build my own and they work pretty well for me. I really like using the Rage Tail Menace Grubs for a trailer. The GYCB Zako's and the Lake Fork Magic Shads make a good trailer as well.
I tied a bunch of skirts on Siebert Shot Caller jig heads. All some variation of white or bluegill colors. My new favorite trailer for them are the Lockett Lures swim minnows. Perfect size for trailers on 1/4 or 3/8 heads with good tail action. My wife and I both killed them this past weekend on them. I haven't had to do the Alabama shake with them yet, they get bit without it plenty.
Great stuff! I prefer Dirty Jigs when it comes to a swim jig. Blue Craw, Blugill and Black Blue cover most of my needs but I have some white on board. I run Keitech, Xzone and SK paddle tails frequently but also run some craw trailers. This is one technique where braid gets the duty. I "slither " the bait through any vegetation I can find. The more I can imitate a panicked bluegill the better.
I had ONE Swim Jig in my tackle and had never used it.
Our First Ever Classic for the FBRC I was not catching anything using what I normally used, so figured what the heck give it a try. 1st or 2nd cast got a hit and lost a good fish. Next cast to same area put my first fish in the boat.
I went on to use it for much of the day and ended up winning the Classic.
I tend to fish them much like Don mentioned above like a Spinnerbait. Slow to Medium retrieve on a steady pull. I have tried to do that jerk method I've seen Jordan Lee and others using on MLF but I haven't quite figured that rhythm out yet.
I've caught fish from 1 lb to 7 lbs using one. I now prefer the SK Hack Attack Heavy Cover Swim Jig.
For what it's worth the Jigs that have two Brush Guards, such as Nu Tech, do not work well for me as a swim jig. They tend to catch on way to much stuff, where a pointed head with 1 Guard slides right through.
I do think Jigs like the Nu Tech work very well for slipping through Brush, Wood and Rock-- but not for swimming.
For trailers I've used from a zoom Flipping Chunk, Swimming Chunk to a Swimbait, to a Menace Grub turned Sideways. The Sideways turn makes it work and look more like a Fish and not a Craw.
I use dirty jigs with the chin facing up forget what model that's called with a kietech to match the color love a rod with stiff spine and soft tip for the slow / medium retrieve works well
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
lovin all the info. Keep it coming!!
Swimjig will be my main lure tomorrow. ;)
Santone Lures Chris McCall Rayburn Swim Jig 5/16oz
Strike King Rage Bug Arm appendages and two ribs trimmed off - threaded vertical
These swimjigs are especially nice due to the head design and eyelet position that isn't flush with the chin which makes it especially effective at splitting dense vegetation. Other offerings like a Megabass Uoze swimjig that's twice the price doesn't split vegetation as well due to what I feel is a flawed eyelet position. Also, these Santone offerings require absolutely no skirt trimming out of package.
(https://i.imgur.com/tefVxzE.jpg)
Quote from: hydrillagorillahunter on April 27, 2021, 07:45:31 PM
Santone Lures Chris McCall Rayburn Swim Jig 5/16oz
Strike King Rage Bug Arm appendages and two ribs trimmed off - threaded vertical
These swimjigs are especially nice due to the head design and eyelet position that isn't flush with the chin which makes it especially effective at splitting dense vegetation. Other offerings like a Megabass Uoze swimjig that's twice the price doesn't split vegetation as well due to what I feel is a flawed eyelet position. Also, these Santone offerings require absolutely no skirt trimming out of package.
Santone Lures are very popular around here. They take a large portion of the area for jigs in the local tackle shop. Every weight and style in many many colors are on display. Just a few weeks ago I bought some of their braid specific buzzbaits to try. Wont be long Ill be trying them. ;)
Quote from: SteveTX on April 27, 2021, 10:06:58 PM
Quote from: hydrillagorillahunter on April 27, 2021, 07:45:31 PM
Santone Lures Chris McCall Rayburn Swim Jig 5/16oz
Strike King Rage Bug Arm appendages and two ribs trimmed off - threaded vertical
These swimjigs are especially nice due to the head design and eyelet position that isn't flush with the chin which makes it especially effective at splitting dense vegetation. Other offerings like a Megabass Uoze swimjig that's twice the price doesn't split vegetation as well due to what I feel is a flawed eyelet position. Also, these Santone offerings require absolutely no skirt trimming out of package.
Santone Lures are very popular around here. They take a large portion of the area for jigs in the local tackle shop. Every weight and style in many many colors are on display. Just a few weeks ago I bought some of their braid specific buzzbaits to try. Wont be long Ill be trying them. ;)
so many offerings on the market...you almost can't go wrong with whatever you choose when it comes to brand. i like santone because this bream pattern especially along with not having to trim the skirts. the standard dirty jigs swim jig is outstanding too...especially their hematoma color, but a lot of their offerings are sold out most of the time. 6thsense swimjigs are also outstanding and run very well. if i only had a few to choose from it would be santone, 6thsense, dirty jigs and OSP slipper.
Back in MY day (oh man here he goes again!) we didn't have "swim jigs". We had "jigs". Then Lonnie Stanley came up with "casting jigs" and Flippin' jigs". The biggest difference was the hook size, and the flippin' versions also came in a one size heavier head.
"Swimming" a jig was not a technique as much. But many of us did it. A lot of times it was a signal to get off the bottom and throw something else when a bass bit on the retrieve after you'd finished your presentation. Our number ONE technique for swimming a jig was and is to this day in presenting them to boat docks. A shad or bluegill colored jig thrown and skipped under, through and around the docks is still one of my all time favorite things to do.
To this day, I don't build a "Swim Jig". Not really. I use the same hooks and heads as all of my other jigs. I don't paint the heads. I might use a lighter weedguard because I bought a bunch of them by mistake. And I'll do different colors sometimes. But a bass will still bite a brown and orange jig with a crawdad trailer while being swum back to the boat. Huh.
Dale
How deep is a swim jig considered effective? Am I the only one that uses single tail grubs most of the time?
to answer how deep is swimming a jig effective, as deep as you want. i will often use either a 3/4 or 1 oz. GrassJig with either a big grub or something in the line of a turo craw for a trailer and swim them along the bottom out on flats 20 to 35 ft. deep in the summer, and in the winter use the head naked with a 3 or 4 inch swimmer. i caught several bass this past winter reeling this bait at or near the bottom in 80 ft. of water. hint, when doing this at winter depths i use 20 lb. braid for the thin diameter of the line, and no stretch for hook sets. i've caught lots of bass on fork using a 3/8 or 1/2 GrassJig swimming through hydrilla or lily pads, or sometimes stump fields. this technique has worked well on falcon swimming through the wishash(probably not spelled correctly). a jig constantly moving along anywhere in the water column can be effective about anytime. you just have to let the bass tell you what type of retrieve will draw strikes.
bo
Thanks
If you want lift and crazy action, try the Zoom Super Speed Craw.
I guess if I had to choose a top 3 it would be Dirty Jigs, 6thsense and Santone Rayburn swim jigs. But, I've recently stumbled onto Bill Lowen's offerings and they're up there with them. The jig heads come 3 to a pack and you choose your skirts as well. He has two styles...the one below and the other is called a super stroke swim jig.
(https://i.imgur.com/QYbagZW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/68prKEE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sud7gPi.jpg)
hooksets. ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up.
i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize lo It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side. How are you all landing your swimjig fish?
joe it depends on my setup...rod and line being used. i only run two setups...a 6'10" medium expride with 30-40# sunline sx1 braid/maxcuatro 40# and a 6'11" medium+ adrena with 12-15# sniper/assassin fluoro. i never throw more than a 5/16oz swimjig. lately, i've been throwing the bill lowen 1/4oz swimjigs. the braid setup is really for when the grass is a just a bit much. the majority of the time i'm running on the fluoro setup. i'll run 14# sniper if I'm wanting to put a little more into the hooksets or if i'm around bigger fish. i do like to throw 12# assassin quite often but you're limited to reel sets instead of big sweeping hooksets. the heaviest i'll go is 15# assassin which has never failed me; i've never broken off with 15# assassin. assassin has less stretch than sniper to help with those fluoro hooksets.
regarding hooksets, i typically like for them to take it and wait a little bit as i feel them start to turn out. i probably hold my rod tip at the 9 o'clock position or if i'm running through grass i'll point it directly at the grass to allow for the swimjig to knife through. all my hooksets are side sweeps to some degree. rarely am i lifting abruptly upwards. missing with a swim jig happens, but if it's happening often for you the first couple of things i'd ask are you rod and line setups and type of swim jigs you're running.
also, i know many prefer 7-3 heavy action rods etc...but i kayak and bassraider quite a bit and really need 7' or just under and have had great success with the aforementioned setups above.
Quote from: caddyjoe77 on June 02, 2021, 10:48:26 PM
hooksets. ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up.
i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize lo It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side. How are you all landing your swimjig fish?
it is because of the design of the jig. by the design of what most are throwing, they are much more prone to try to come out of the mouth with the hook flat. simply mechanics of the design and nothing else.
bo
Quote from: merc1997 on June 03, 2021, 05:07:02 AM
Quote from: caddyjoe77 on June 02, 2021, 10:48:26 PM
hooksets. ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up.
i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize lo It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side. How are you all landing your swimjig fish?
it is because of the design of the jig. by the design of what most are throwing, they are much more prone to try to come out of the mouth with the hook flat. simply mechanics of the design and nothing else.
bo
I use the Pointed Head Jigs designed and built for swimming with a Single Weed Guard and I almost NEVER miss a fish that took a Swimjig.
The Key is like most any bait, you must wait until you feel the weight of the Fish before setting the hook.
If they are swimming at you after taking the Jig you need to take up the slack first. Sideways you need to make sure the line is tight or close to it. Swimming away, well that should be obvious.
Sometimes the Bite is a sudden stop, or added weight, or a THUMP or whatever. The more you fish with a Swimjig or ANY swimming bait the better you will get at knowing when the fish has taken the bait and when to set the hook.
I've used both Upward and Sideward Hooksets, it all DEPENDS on the How's and Where's of the Bite.
and like I started with, it is Rare to miss a Fish that has taken a Swimjig. If they want it, they want it and there is usually no doubt about it.
Those Bill Lowen heads are the best swimjig head I have found.
If you prefer going the production route, my nod goes to Dirty Jigs.
Quote from: merc1997 on June 03, 2021, 05:07:02 AM
Quote from: caddyjoe77 on June 02, 2021, 10:48:26 PM
hooksets. ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up.
i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize lo It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side. How are you all landing your swimjig fish?
it is because of the design of the jig. by the design of what most are throwing, they are much more prone to try to come out of the mouth with the hook flat. simply mechanics of the design and nothing else.
bo
thats what i was thinking in my peabrain mind lo
Quote from: Deadeye on June 03, 2021, 05:19:45 AM
Quote from: merc1997 on June 03, 2021, 05:07:02 AM
Quote from: caddyjoe77 on June 02, 2021, 10:48:26 PM
hooksets. ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up.
i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize lo It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side. How are you all landing your swimjig fish?
it is because of the design of the jig. by the design of what most are throwing, they are much more prone to try to come out of the mouth with the hook flat. simply mechanics of the design and nothing else.
bo
I use the Pointed Head Jigs designed and built for swimming with a Single Weed Guard and I almost NEVER miss a fish that took a Swimjig.
The Key is like most any bait, you must wait until you feel the weight of the Fish before setting the hook.
If they are swimming at you after taking the Jig you need to take up the slack first. Sideways you need to make sure the line is tight or close to it. Swimming away, well that should be obvious.
Sometimes the Bite is a sudden stop, or added weight, or a THUMP or whatever. The more you fish with a Swimjig or ANY swimming bait the better you will get at knowing when the fish has taken the bait and when to set the hook.
I've used both Upward and Sideward Hooksets, it all DEPENDS on the How's and Where's of the Bite.
and like I started with, it is Rare to miss a Fish that has taken a Swimjig. If they want it, they want it and there is usually no doubt about it.
thank you. I guess i am too early sometimes. I feel the double tap or the one big thump and set the hook normally.
Quote from: hydrillagorillahunter on June 02, 2021, 11:25:47 PM
joe it depends on my setup...rod and line being used. i only run two setups...a 6'10" medium expride with 30-40# sunline sx1 braid/maxcuatro 40# and a 6'11" medium+ adrena with 12-15# sniper/assassin fluoro. i never throw more than a 5/16oz swimjig. lately, i've been throwing the bill lowen 1/4oz swimjigs. the braid setup is really for when the grass is a just a bit much. the majority of the time i'm running on the fluoro setup. i'll run 14# sniper if I'm wanting to put a little more into the hooksets or if i'm around bigger fish. i do like to throw 12# assassin quite often but you're limited to reel sets instead of big sweeping hooksets. the heaviest i'll go is 15# assassin which has never failed me; i've never broken off with 15# assassin. assassin has less stretch than sniper to help with those fluoro hooksets.
regarding hooksets, i typically like for them to take it and wait a little bit as i feel them start to turn out. i probably hold my rod tip at the 9 o'clock position or if i'm running through grass i'll point it directly at the grass to allow for the swimjig to knife through. all my hooksets are side sweeps to some degree. rarely am i lifting abruptly upwards. missing with a swim jig happens, but if it's happening often for you the first couple of things i'd ask are you rod and line setups and type of swim jigs you're running.
also, i know many prefer 7-3 heavy action rods etc...but i kayak and bassraider quite a bit and really need 7' or just under and have had great success with the aforementioned setups above.
I believe most of my swimjigs are 3/8 oz. I do have some 5/16
my setups are a couple. have a 7' med heavy fast with 8:1 reel and 50 pound braid. That normally is the one that is in the grass. I might need to consider a lighter jig until the grass gets really thick over the next month.
also throw a 6'10 with 17 pound flouro for around docks.
seems there is a theme of perhaps waiting just a little longer to set. the ones that really thump it, easy to catch. Its the ones that kinda do the double tap might need to wait just a split second longer.
Yup Joe...like another wrote above...waiting as you feel the fish commit and feeling the weight of the fish tells me it's committed plus I have this notion that the slight tension that allows the feedback acts as a fish trying to.break free which makes the fish commit and really clamp down on the bait.
*Do you throw 3/8th oz. or 1/4 oz. size swim jigs the most - or does it depend on the season / circumstances ?
Good thread ... For me a variety of 1/4 oz. to 3/8th oz. swim jigs in Pearl White , Bluegill , Black & Blue , or Green Pumpkin colors . I like a variety of matching trailers in paddle tail or craw styles ... The 1/4th oz. size is to "float" the swim jig to keep it over the strike zone longer and the 3/8th oz. when I want to speed the retrieve up . *Lastly , search : "Bill Lowen and Tom Monsoor who are absolute magicians with a swim jig !! ... *Greg Hackney is also very good to search - albeit his still of fishing swim jigs is akin to heavy the : "Mortal Kombat" or "Greco - Roman Wrestling school of swim jigs" !! (lol)
Almost always 3/8 oz for me. Just a "comfort" level weight that feels the same casting as other lures weighted the same. Chatterbaits/spinnerbaits/Texas rigs 3/8 just feels right.
Dirty jigs is my current favorite swim jig but I'll try almost any of em if it looks right. A smaller company I've bought from has a wide gap hook and that has really helped land some fish.
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Seems like most of mine are 3/8 or 1/2.
I like the Strike King Hack Attack Swim Jigs. They are built for fishing in more heavy cover, like the grass we have here in Florida. Heavier Hook with a Bigger Gap then some others.