Rigging A Havoc Grass Pig

[Tiller]

Im not much of a swim bait fisherman but will be picking up some of these to try. How would you rig it for fishing shallow weed cover? Texas rigged with a bullet sinker or a weighted swim bait hook with a twist lock? What size weight for water less than 5ft? Thanks!

Joe

[BassThumb]

I see you're fishing the same types of lake as I am. Some prefer to fish these types of baits with heavy-gauge weighted hooks fished on heavy rods with heavy braided line, but I've had much better luck using lighter hooks and lighter tackle. I prefer using the same rods I would fish a spinnerbait or buzzbait, using 12# copolymer line (Hybrid or CXX) on a MH/F rod. I fish the lure in much the same way as I would fish a single colorado-blade spinner, just waking it under the surface near weeds beds, docks, and edges. The cover behind you in your avatar pic is perfect for fishing Grass Pigs on lighter tackle. Some times I fish these lures around heavier cover where I would normally fish texas-rigged toads and hollow-bodied frogs, so I'll use my standard frog fishing gear and a heavier-gauge hook with the Grass Pig. I'll list both of the hooks I use:

 

Owner Weighted Twistlock Light  5/0 - 3/32 oz.

http://www.***.com/Owner_Weighted_Twistlock_Light_3pk/descpage-OWTL.html

 

Owner Weighted Beast Hook  6/0 - 1/4 oz.

http://www.***.com/Owner_Weighted_Beast_Hook_w__Twistlock/descpage-OWBWT.html

[ww2farmer]

I have fished them since they came out. I like them a lot in shallow grass, what works best for me is T-rigging and pegging a small tungsten sinker to it's nose. I use 1/8th oz. most of the time with a 5/0 EWG superline hook. If I want to fish them a little deeper, and around a little sparser grass I go with the Gamakatsu 6/0 spring lock weighted swimbait hook in 1/4 oz. They have good action on moderate to fast retrieves, I usually don't fish them slow, I have other baits for that. I also fish them on a 7' MH/fast casting rod, with 30lb braid.

[Marty]

Never used any, but just bought some. I plan on using a weighted hook (1/8 oz.) or unweighted depending on the circumstances. It looks to me that hooks at least 5/0 extra wide gap will be needed.

[Bluebasser86]

If you have any open water areas to fish them in they fish really well on a football head also. I like to slow roll them along the bottom. 

[motodmast]

If you have any open water areas to fish them in they fish really well on a football head also. I like to slow roll them along the bottom.

Ive always though that would be a good idea, how do you fish them that way, rig it on a fb head, cast out and drag it back in?

[Hooligan]

Fish them just like you would a football jig around rock, too. They come through wood and grass extremely well. I fish them on a 5/0 Moaner 1/4 ounce weighted almost exclusively.

[Paul Roberts]

For fishing through shallow grass and slop, I've been using a Brewer wide-gap Slider Head jig head. Simple.

 

http://sliderfishing.com/Spider-Wide-Gap-Pro-Head3-0-Nickle-Hook-3-per-pack-SPHWG-U-3-SPHWG-U-3.htm

[Bluebasser86]

Ive always though that would be a good idea, how do you fish them that way, rig it on a fb head, cast out and drag it back in?

Basically just stoking them along the bottom. Let them sink to the bottom and pump the rod all the way back. You'll lift it a couple feet off the bottom and forward and let it sink back to the bottom with just enough tension to feel the bite. They really hammer it when they hit them on the fall fishing like this and sometimes they'll eat it as soon as you pop it off the bottom because they think it's a baitfish making a break for it. 

[Basspastor]

I prefer to fish them on a weighted swimbait hook in the thick stuff.  I've used Gammi's and Moaners.

 

I also fish them on a swim jig head when the cover isn't that thick.

 

I think I've used 1/4 and 1/8 weights for both.

[gallowaypt]

Are y'all referring to the 3.5 in or the 5 in? What size hook do you use for each?

[Hooligan]

I would say the vast majority of these responses are geared towards the 5". The little pig l, I've found runs extremely well on a 3/16 Bass Magic Shakey. Works incredibly well.

[Bluebasser86]

Are y'all referring to the 3.5 in or the 5 in? What size hook do you use for each?

I mainly use the 5" but the little one works well on a small scrounger head or just on a 1/8oz ball head. 

[gallowaypt]

Thanks guys