Jigs Or Swimbaits

[Joel S]

I'm was looking to try out swimbaits but I'm trying to decide between swimbaits or flipping jigs. Either one I choose I will have to get a new rod and reseller. The lakes I fish have no weeds in them. One has rocks around the edge and the other has stumps in it. My question is which setup should I go for? I've never flipped with anything except a spinning rod. Any advice will help. Thanks. Which setup produces more? I'm wanting to start out with the 4" floating bbz1 shad ifalso i choose swimbaits.

[BrianinMD]

Hard to say as both have their moments, however I would go with jigs. At least in my experiences jigs are a more consistent bait.

[outdoorsman110]

In my experience. Swimbaits, you'll get more strikes however all sizes of bass will bite it, 2lb to 8lb. A jig is not a numbers bait, if you're wanting to catch more fish, I'd go with the swimbait, but If you want to catch monster bass, go with the jig. Remember that you won't catch one every cast with the jig.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

Both have their applications, and between the two I would say you have the best trophy bass lures around. There are times when a swimbait will get bit often, and there are times a jig will too. To say one is good for _____ and the other is good for ______ I think is over simplifying it.

I'm a swimbait fiend, so Im going to say go swimbaits

If you want to go for numbers as well as big fish then I would say go ahead and shoot for ~6" baits. You can get by with a flippin stick for alot of diff 6" baits. I prefer to throw 6" hudds and some of my gill baits on a flippin stick as compared to a SB rod. I wouldn't go for the 4" shad as they arn't that well made from my experience. Dont be afraid of throwing 6" baits, youll catch alot more >6" bass thank you would ever imagine.

NGaHB

[Diggy]

confuses things with...

swimjig

[deep]

Tough question. Those are pretty much the only 2 types of baits I fish! I don't flip though; mostly casting jigs, and a little pitching,,,

P.S. Hillbilly is a fiend all right. He can catch an 8" bass on an 8" bait.

[Vinny Chase]

Why are you limiting yourself? You should start out by purchasing a setup that you can throw both applications on - 7' MH Moderate/Fast. Granted, this isn't ideal for swimbaits, but is the most versitile rod that you can buy, and once you figure out your confidence baits, you can purchase more setups from there.

Just my two cents!

[1234567]

NGaHillbilly and Vinny have it right imo. A 4 inch bbz 1 shad is a small swimbait and the right rod could handle both jigs and that swimbait pretty well. I believe imo you'll catch more fish on a jig than a swimbait, but something about bigger swimbaits has some serious drawing power on those bass. Get them both and fish them both and I know it's cliche, but let the fish tell you what they want! Active fish, maybe the swimbait will be better, if there inactive/active the jig may work better. Only one way to find out! Good luck!

Sorry for the underline.

[shimmy]

Swimbaits, you'll get more strikes however all sizes of bass will bite it, 2lb to 8lb. A jig is not a numbers bait, if you're wanting to catch more fish, I'd go with the swimbait, but If you want to catch monster bass, go with the jig. Remember that you won't catch one every cast with the jig.

???? No.

I think it is important to differentiate the size of the jig or the size of the swimbait. To say the swimbait catches more fish makes no sense.

[outdoorsman110]

???? No.

I think it is important to differentiate the size of the jig or the size of the swimbait. To say the swimbait catches more fish makes no sense.

Just going by experience and listening to the pros

[Vinny Chase]

Swimbaits, you'll get more strikes however all sizes of bass will bite it, 2lb to 8lb. A jig is not a numbers bait, if you're wanting to catch more fish, I'd go with the swimbait, but If you want to catch monster bass, go with the jig. Remember that you won't catch one every cast with the jig.

I would strongly disagree with that statement. This goes without saying, but that is my opinion.

I do want to preface the following statement by saying this is based off what bait the original poster was asking about - 4" hard body swimbaits.

I not consider this a "numbers" bait whatsoever. In my own experience, I use hard body swimbaits when the fish are active and I am looking for a kicker. The spring is a perfect time to throw this bait, along with a jig to get big bites. Granted there are always certain times throughout the year where a particular bait will clean up on the bass, but when I think of baits that are CONSISTANT numbers baits, I think of the following before hard body swimbaits, or swimbaits in general: senkos, ring fries, flick shakes, flukes, etc.

[roadwarrior]

Try this, it has been working for me:

3/8 oz black swimjig with a LFT Live Magic Shad for the trailer.

Thread the Shad on the hook as you would rig a grub, not nose

hooked.

[outdoorsman110]

I would strongly disagree with that statement. This goes without saying, but that is my opinion.

I do want to preface the following statement by saying this is based off what bait the original poster was asking about - 4" hard body swimbaits.

I not consider this a "numbers" bait whatsoever. In my own experience, I use hard body swimbaits when the fish are active and I am looking for a kicker. The spring is a perfect time to throw this bait, along with a jig to get big bites. Granted there are always certain times throughout the year where a particular bait will clean up on the bass, but when I think of baits that are CONSISTANT numbers baits, I think of the following before hard body swimbaits, or swimbaits in general: senkos, ring fries, flick shakes, flukes, etc.

there is always two opinions.

[Vinny Chase]

there is always two opinions.

But you added in pros, and I don't think any pro would put swimbaits in the catagory of a numbers bait...big fish bait? Yes.

[outdoorsman110]

But you added in pros, and I don't think any pro would put swimbaits in the catagory of a numbers bait...big fish bait? Yes.

Chad and Denny!!

[Vinny Chase]

Chad and Denny!!

They've never thrown a swimbait though because...well it's not a jig...that's where the confusion is.

[outdoorsman110]

They've never thrown a swimbait though because...well it's not a jig...that's where the confusion is.

Oh... They always say it though.. That's funny..

[shimmy]

arguing with a 16 year old. Won't get anywhere with this one. Plus he did say "pro" so that should have told us we were wrong...

[Vinny Chase]

Just wanted to get some clarification for the original poster about what led you to the opinion that swimbaits are a numbers bait.

The consensus is going to be that a jig is more of a consistant numbers bait vs swimbaits, and can catch the big mommas as well.

[outdoorsman110]

arguing with a 16 year old. Won't get anywhere with this one. Plus he did say "pro" so that should have told us we were wrong...

Excuse me? I was not arguing with Vinny Chase whatsoever. I was clearly wrong on the subject. Although, in MY experience, my statement is true. The fact I mentioned a pro had ABSOULTELY nothing to do with being right. I simply added it into my statement. If you have nothing constructive to say, don't say it.

[shimmy]

Excuse me? I was not arguing with Vinny Chase whatsoever. I was clearly wrong on the subject. Although, in MY experience, my statement is true. The fact I mentioned a pro had ABSOULTELY nothing to do with being right. I simply added it into my statement. If you have nothing constructive to say, don't say it.

You mentioned it to support your firm conviction.

It was constructive, i didn't want someone on a budget reading your post with a desire to catch more fish and go out purchasing a huddleston for numbers. That's all i'll say about it.

Goodnight Irene

[outdoorsman110]

You mentioned it to support your firm conviction.

It was constructive, i didn't want someone on a budget reading your post with a desire to catch more fish and go out purchasing a huddleston for numbers. That's all i'll say about it.

Okay man, that's great. I stand by what I said, you have an opinion and so do I.

[RoLo]

We should really begin at the beginning.

What is your conception of a "jig"?

To my mind at least, a jig is nothing more than a "weighting system".

A jig is the coming together of a sinker and a hook, but is not the "lure" per se.

There are "skirted" jigs, "unskirted" jigs, "weedless" jigs and "non-weedless" jigs.

The sinker part of the jig is available in most any shape desired:

Ballhead, Pillhead, Football, Spire-point, Flat-bottomed, Arkansas (arky), ad nauseam.

The actual lure however is not the jig, but the Trailer &/or Dressing attached to the jig.

That said, I can't compare a "weighting system" to a swimbait which is a "lure",

But on countless occasions I've attached a swimbait to a jig which simply represented my lure choice.

Lure choice is subject to change without notice, and an hour later I might replace the swimbait

with a Rage Lobster. Yet, both lures were attached to the same jig (the same weighting system)

Roger

[PineappleWater]

Try a finnese jig around 1/4oz and a small paca chunk and it can do wonders around stumps. I actually use 1/2oz jigs with a 4-5" plastic swimbaits and it works too.

[gobig]

You can do both. There is no reason you can't get a rod that will work for fliping/pitching and Lighter swimbaits. I have rod that I use for these applications it is a Lamiglas XL735C paired with a currado 300. I run 65lb Izorline and a leader if needed. The heaviest bait I throw on this rod is a 8in triple trout. Handles 6in swimbaits and a few of the 8's. I also use this rod as one of my frog rods. I have other rods for flipping/pitching but this one would definitely work if needed. If you are going to get a BBZ swimbait I would suggest the 6in over the 4in any day.