Swim Jig Differences

[catch anything]

Hey guys whats the difference between styles of swim jigs? Iv seen them called California swim jigs, Coosa river swim jigs, and stuff like that. Im just wondering what the differences are and when to use which one.

[Montanaro]

Different brands

[smalljaw67]

California style swim jigs are bigger, they have fuller skirts and heavy wire hooks, Coosa river style swim jigs use a slightly smaller skirt with a heavy wire hook, and the Northern style swim jigs tend to have a thinner skirt with a lighter wire hook than the other 2.

[dwtaylor]

My favorite, "Wisconsin Style" swim jigs have a more bullet like head with a lighter weedguard (not too light) and a medium to light wire hook (but not too light).  Most of them have thinner skirts than the normal swim jig.

 

I really like these jigs because of the hookup ratio and their ability to come through many different types of cover.

 

From what I understand, California style swim jigs are heavier with a heavier weed guard and a beefier hook.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but Coosa swim jigs appear to be like Wisconsin swim jigs with heavier hooks and weedguards.

[gnuisance]

The cali style swim jigs are often used with a large swimbait as a trailer and imitate a larger baitfish for anglers who are targeting some of the monsters that swim in castaic or shasta. 

 

Northern swim jigs have a more sparse skirt and are typically used with a curly tail or craw trailer to imitate a prey item with a smaller profile. 

 

I personally am a big fan of Sieberts swim jigs. Just ordered some new ones myself. I love being able to customize every aspect of the jig. 

[War Eagle 44]

dwtaylor has it absolutely correct on the "Coosa Swimjig", bullet shaped head with a nice strong hook and full weedgaurd. While it's possible to swim any jig I find the Dirty Jigs Coosa swimjig to be the easiest to get through the heavy grass we have here on the Coosa chain. Don't get me wrong it to gets "snagged" sometimes but it comes right through cleanly more times than not. I've tried their California swimjig in the same areas and it doesn't fish nearly as well, almost constant snagging. It's all in the head design, the bullet shaped head is the ticket for grass.  

 

We actually have the best of both down here, a couple of shops "special order" the Coosa Swimjig using the big No Jack hook from the California swimjig. They have a very hard time keeping these on the shelf. In fact most times the best colors will be sold out the very same day they get them in. You have to be lucky and be there on the right day to get any, lol.

 

I much prefer the No Jack hook just for the peace of mind it gives me. I haven't lost a fish or straightened the regular 3X Mustad that comes in the Coosa jig personally but I've heard numerous stories from guys who clam they have. I always fish my swimjigs on 50# braid so with the bigger hook I'm free to pull as hard as I want and not worry.

[iabass8]

My favorite, "Wisconsin Style" swim jigs have a more bullet like head with a lighter weedguard (not too light) and a medium to light wire hook (but not too light).  Most of them have thinner skirts than the normal swim jig.

 

I really like these jigs because of the hookup ratio and their ability to come through many different types of cover.

 

From what I understand, California style swim jigs are heavier with a heavier weed guard and a beefier hook.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but Coosa swim jigs appear to be like Wisconsin swim jigs with heavier hooks and weedguards.

 

this is correct.

 

I'm a huge fan of the northern style swim jig.

[catch anything]

sounds like the northern is more finesse maybe and the coosa is the best of booth worlds lol