Preytorien Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 Someone bought me a swim jig for Christmas, and to be honest I keep wondering how to use it. I've read some articles, but they're kind of vague, saying you really just fish it any ole' way you want, but I have to believe there is actual technique to it. What techniques do you use for it? It's a black/blue color. Do I need a trailer, and if so, what kind/color? Thanks! Quote
BenBassmaster Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I fish mine like a spinnerbait. I use different retrieves such as stop and go, slow rolling it, burning, and varying the speed. Take your time to figuire what the Bass want. A Swim Jig is like a Spinnerbait, but a Swim Jig can go where a spinnerbait can't through thicker cover. I like pitching to cover and reeling back to the shore/boat, or open water; but they can be fished basically anywhere. I like Swimbait type trails for open water and sometimes cover, but I use craw trailers around cover mostly. You can fish it without a trailer, but I prefer to have it on. You can match the hatch or mix colors, whichever you prefer. Black & blue imitates a bluegill so a Swimbait trailer is what I would use. 1 Quote
AMAC Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I love swim jigs and will choose them over a spinnerbait. Some simply cast out and have a slow retrieve back to the boat. Most of the time I like to cast out and hold the rod at about a 10 or 11 o'clock position, during the retrieve I'll pop the rod time during the duration of my retrieve to give the jig a kicking action. This is know as power swimming a jig. For trailers I like the Strike king rage tail menace, grub, and cut r worm. I also like the swimming caffeine shad in a 4 inch version. I normally throw a strike swim jig hack attack version or the hack attack jig due to the stout hook. Just experiment with different retrieves, depths, cover, and speeds and you will find out what you like and don't like. There are a few videos on you tubes about set ups and retrieves as well. As for now I'm throwing mine on a 7 ft med Hvy or Hvy action rod with 15 lb seaguar florocarbon or 65 lb power pro braid. Tight lines Quote
jiggz125 Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I too will be fishing swim jig for the first time this spring. I have been reading and watching videos. Currently I have SK Pro Jig blk/blu, Outkast Jig bold gill and All Terrain shiner. All 1/4oz to start. Will be using grubs, craws and swimbaits for trailers 3"-5". Black/blue seems to be popular color and then 30lb braid or higher possibly a flouro line on 6'6" or 7' setup. I cannot wait to try them out. Good luck. Quote
Super User Montanaro Posted January 13, 2014 Super User Posted January 13, 2014 You can literally fish them anyway you want. I do suggest you throw them into thick cover. Also, try to use smaller profile trailers as larger ones can impact skirt flair. I've caught bass with swimjigs by simply reeling them in, reeling them in with quick pops (makes skirt flair), dragging them over thick vegetation like a frog, and hopping them off the bottom like a standard jig. Dare I say it's the most versatile lure available? Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted January 13, 2014 Super User Posted January 13, 2014 3 years ago I don't think I even owned one, now they are one of my favorite baits. They are pretty idiot proof. Put a trailer that moves a little on the back (grub, swimbait, craw with flapping pinchers, etc) cast to cover, and swim it out, over and around it. Several types of retreives work. You have to see what they want that day. Day in day out for me, a nice steady retreive with brief pauses catches me more fish than any other, followed by running it into cover and killing it. Quote
jbw252 Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 bassresource has some great videos on using jigs in the video section of this site. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/jig-fishing.html Quote
jiggz125 Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 You can literally fish them anyway you want. I do suggest you throw them into thick cover. Also, try to use smaller profile trailers as larger ones can impact skirt flair. I've caught bass with swimjigs by simply reeling them in, reeling them in with quick pops (makes skirt flair), dragging them over thick vegetation like a frog, and hopping them off the bottom like a standard jig. Dare I say it's the most versatile lure available? What color have you had the most success with? Do you use braid or flourocarbon. What rig do you usually throw the swim jig with; rod/reel? Quote
Super User Felix77 Posted January 13, 2014 Super User Posted January 13, 2014 I throw my Swim Jigs on the same rod/reel line combo which I throw my spinnerbait on. I would suggest a 6'6" - 7" MH F. Reel at least a 6.4:1 some prefer faster. As for line I am a 12lb Fluoro guy myself. On occasion I will throw a 1/2oz Swim Jig on my Jig Rod. I end up using it both as a swim jig and a regular jig at the same time. I need to do more with it next season. A very fun bait to catch fish with. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 13, 2014 Super User Posted January 13, 2014 I like both a bluegill pattern and shad. Rage Tail Menace and Shellcraker are my main trailers. The set-up is Loomis MBR842C/ Core 50MG/ Tatsu #12. I generally fish the swim jig with a steady retrieve over structure or next to cover. As AMAC stated, let it drop on slack line when you hit something. Strikes are generally vicious! 1 Quote
Super User Montanaro Posted January 13, 2014 Super User Posted January 13, 2014 7' mh with 6.4 ratio reel. I use braid as it allows me to rip through grass easier. I use revenge's bluegill pattern but have caught them on shad too. I want to try their crawdad color sometime Quote
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