Swim jig ???

[slonezp]

So I just got my baitmonkey TW order which included a few swimjigs. Swimming a jig will be new to me this season. I have paired them up with Poorboys kickin' darter jr trailers to give a little more bulk and action.  Looking at the bait with the trailer, it looks more versitile than a spinnerbait. Should I fish it the same as a chatterbait or spinnerbait as far as the retrieve? MH fast tip rod ok? Anything I'm missing?

[soccplayer07]

I use a MH Fast action. I fish it just like a spinner bait to start. If that's not working I'll mix it up and swim it then kill it near cover. Hope this helps.

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

I like to try and swim jigs in water willows or thick-stalked shallow cover where spinnerbaits normally get hung up. A lot of the time, my "swim" jigs get hit on entry and not while I'm swimming it...so I guess I was pitching it? LOL! And I'll throw them 6'6" MHF with 17#mono.

[Vinny Chase]

I use a MH fast action for most of my moving baits that have a single hook (swin jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc.) This rod will give you a little extra power to penetrate the fish.

I can't wait for swim jigs in spring   

[Munkin]

To me a swim jig is just a bladeless spinnerbait. Just swim as the name implies the jig anywhere you normally fish a spinnerbait. Swim jigs work some for me in spring but fall is when the rock! As for rods anything MH with 10-20lb line works for me. One thing I plan on trying this year as a trailer is a small paddletail like the 3.5" RI dipper. Last spring I wrecked fish on a swimming fluke with a weighted hook so this year I plan on combining it with a swim jig.

Allen

[Bryce C]

I fish swim jigs in the same situations that I would fish a spinnerbait in most of the time.....this year swim jigs basically replaced spinnerbaits for me.  I caught a lot of fish that I don't think a spinnerbait would have gotten me...I don't know if it's because most of the places that I fish get a fair amount of pressure and a swim jig is a different look to the fish or what.  I fished mine on a 7' MF Premeir with 12-15lb flourocarbon.   I also found that I get get fish to bite a swim jig by burning it in clearer water where other moving presentations would get ignored.

[soccplayer07]

The Strike King Rage Tail Chunk was by far my best trailer.

[MNGeorge]

The Strike King Rage Tail Chunk was by far my best trailer.

X2...nothing else even came close to producing like the Rage Tail Chunk.  My rod for swim jigs is 6'6" MH fast action casting.

[River Rat316]

For me swim jigs do best in and around cover, bouncing off of stuff, I have caught fish on deep weedlines on them, but have more confidence in other presentations there. For a rod I am a little different than most, on my single hook moving baits I prefer a 7" MH mf, with 14lb Mono for more open water or wood cover, and braid for heavier weed cover. I feel the softer tip on the slower rod lets the fish take the bait more. I have always fished a slower rod on moving baits, and it works for me.  I don't know if you got original style swim jigs or heavy cover style swim jigs, but remember with the original swim jigs one of the bonuses of the lighter wire hook is slashing fish basically hook themselves, so a huge hookset is generally not needed.

[SausageFingers23]

I use a MH fast action for most of my moving baits that have a single hook (swin jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc.) This rod will give you a little extra power to penetrate the fish.

I can't wait for swim jigs in spring

x2.  I cant wait for the Spring either.  Everything is frozen SOLID here.  The way we're going, soft water may not happen until June.

[soccplayer07]

For me swim jigs do best in and around cover, bouncing off of stuff, I have caught fish on deep weedlines on them, but have more confidence in other presentations there. For a rod I am a little different than most, on my single hook moving baits I prefer a 7" MH mf, with 14lb Mono for more open water or wood cover, and braid for heavier weed cover. I feel the softer tip on the slower rod lets the fish take the bait more. I have always fished a slower rod on moving baits, and it works for me. I don't know if you got original style swim jigs or heavy cover style swim jigs, but remember with the original swim jigs one of the bonuses of the lighter wire hook is slashing fish basically hook themselves, so a huge hookset is generally not needed.

from the jig master!!!

[slonezp]

Another ???

Is 3/8oz ok or too heavy to fish in less than 6fow? I know the trailer will also have an effect on fall/swim rates. The trailer should slow the fall rate even though it adds weight to the bait, right? I'm just wondering if  should pick up some 1/4oz jigs also.

[bilgerat]

I'm no jig master, but it would be good to have smaller jigs. 1/4 is a decent size, especially for 6' of water. If you're using braid, that may slow the fall somewhat because of it's tendency to float.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I ALWAYS use braid for swimming a jig.  Yes, it has a thin wire hook and yes the weedgaurd is thin, but most bites on a swimming jig are subtle.  Most of the time a fish will hit it while swimming towards you, therefore you feel nothing.  It takes alot of practice to feel these hits and without braid, your going to be missing alot of bites you dont even know you have.