Finally Caught Some Fish On A Jig But.......

[tcbass]

So I've been trying to expand my repertoire and become a more well-rounded bass angler. I've caught a few fish on my Hack Attack jig and Zoom Super Chunk but haven't had much success in the last few years and really haven't tried.

So today I went to some standing marsh reed which makes up a long island. On the 1st cast with a Senko caught a nice 1lbs bass. So, I put on my new KVD Swim Jig with black Zoom Super Chunk and made a long cast down the island. I let the jig sink and as I took up the slack I had a fish. I reeled it in and it was another nice 1lbs bass. I was pumped. 2 fish on the 1st cast with 2 different lures and both nice fish. I did lose my Zoom Super Chunk though and it was my last one.

So I switched to KVD Rodents. I caught about 6 more bass and it seemed I lost a rodent or it's legs on every fish. I was letting it fall to the bottom, giving it a sweeping swing back, reel in some slack, let it fall, give it another big jerk, let it fall back, rinse and repeat. So now I am out of Zoom Super Chunks and KVD Rodents. The problems is the price of plastics adds up and I'm no richie-rich.

I was wondering if a different plastic might be more durable and if a different jig may do a better job of holding onto the bait.

I also caught all of my fish on the initial splashdown except 1 which I caught basically right after that. I thought I should be catching more fish on the swim retrieve back as that is what a swim jig is supposed to do. My bro used it and did catch one right at the boat though after reeling it all the way in.

Do most of you catch your swim jig fish on the swim retrieve back?

[papajoe222]

Quality soft plastics aren't cheap and are rarely durable. If your concern is saving money, you could try Uncle Josh pork baits. They aren't plastic and can last a long time if you don't allow them to dry out.  That, or start using bargin bin plastics. Adding a drop of Gorilla Glue where the nose of the plastic meets the jighead will give you a few more bites before the bait tears.

The reason you were catching fish on the initial fall and not while swimming the jig is because you were fishing a situation that didn't call for a swim jig, but because it so closely resembles a regular skirted jig, it produced bites for you. Most bites on a jig occur when the jig is falling and seeing as the only time your swim jig was falling was after it first landed, that's when you were getting bit. Then, I'm assuming, you began to swim it and a swimming presentation isn't what was working that day.

[BassCats]

You can try the Zman plastic baits. They are almost impossible to tear off. Budget minded anglers love them.

[Mccallister25]

Quality plastics aren't all that durable. You gotta pay to play. If you want a really great jig trailer the Rage Tail craws/chunks are for you. If you want a pretty good jig trailer, that is more durable, but has less action try the Netbait paca craws/chunks.

Nothing compares to Rage Tail though

[smalljaw67]

What you experienced rarely happens 2 times in a row and yet you caught all of your fish that way. What happened is you were lucky enough to find spots where the fish were active and wanting to feed and your bait splashed right on top of them. I like to use a small 3.5" to 4" soft plastic swim bait on the back of a swim jig and even good quality, super soft plastics seem a little more durable than what you experienced. Perhaps Z-Man plastics will help you but what you had happen isn't common.

[ww2farmer]

This notion that quality soft plastics cannot be had at affordable prices is ridiculous. Berkley Havoc, Big bite baits, Netbait all produce top notch stuff for generally less than $4 a pack. If your looking for a quality jig trailer that won't break the bank, give them a try.

[F14A-B]

I buy late winter locally and I ALWAYS get plastics at .98 cents a bag, pit bosses 2 bags for 3$ just different plastics, they are not always jig trailers per se, but nonetheless save where you can, buy full price when you need to.

[FrogFreak]

I go to the Cabelas bargain cave and can usually find cheap plastics. Yes, the Cabelas brand works. But if I can afford Ragetail products, I buy them. Not only do they support this forum, they flat out work.

[David D.]

While you had a swim jig tied on, you weren't actually using it like a swim jig.

A swim jig is designed to be retrieved similar to a spinnerbait-just without the spinners. You were fishing it like a brush jig or something similar hopping it back to the boat.

Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it caught you some fish and showed that each type of jig is pretty versatile. But if you want to work a swim jig the way they are designed then you should change up your presentation a little.

[Diggy]

Aside from claws missing a bottle of mend it may help save you money repairing baits

[Zach P]

This notion that quality soft plastics cannot be had at affordable prices is ridiculous. Berkley Havoc, Big bite baits, Netbait all produce top notch stuff for generally less than $4 a pack. If your looking for a quality jig trailer that won't break the bank, give them a try.

 

I couldn't agree with the statement more. Don't get me wrong I love Rage plastics just as much as the next guy but for durability they are terrible. With that said I would also add that Zoom plastics are some of the best on the market in addition to the ones you have listed for price.

[tcbass]

While you had a swim jig tied on, you weren't actually using it like a swim jig.

A swim jig is designed to be retrieved similar to a spinnerbait-just without the spinners. You were fishing it like a brush jig or something similar hopping it back to the boat.

Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it caught you some fish and showed that each type of jig is pretty versatile. But if you want to work a swim jig the way they are designed then you should change up your presentation a little.

 

 

 

Interesting. That's how I fish a spinnerbait too. lol. Apparently I've been doing it wrong most of the time.

 

 

 

I'll try changing it up. So, just a straight retrieve back to the boat with a swim jig?

[nascar2428]

I never straight retrieve a swim jig or spinnerbait. Swim jigs can be flipped, pitched, swam, hopped on the bottom, whatever you want to do. That's way Hackney loves em so much because of the versatility.

[jigabooyah]

There is no wrong way to fish any bait if its getting you a bite. 

[dam0007]

Big bite baits are usually 5 for 5 at DSG. If you have quality jigs then these could be a great alternative. The jig itself is doing most of the work, most trailers provide the same result, for me anyways.

[GoRavens]

i just wanted to second (or third) berkley havoc pit bosses .theyre a good meaty bait

[TheSmilingSwordsman]

Berkley pit boss, chigger craws or Zoom baby brush hogs.

[David D.]

Interesting. That's how I fish a spinnerbait too. lol. Apparently I've been doing it wrong most of the time.

 

 

 

I'll try changing it up. So, just a straight retrieve back to the boat with a swim jig?

You aren't doing it "wrong". There isn't a wrong way to fish a lure if it gets bites. But yes, sometimes swim it straight back. Or give it a straight retrieve with some rod twitches to give it a more erratic movement - just switch things up.

Simply hopping a jig (or a spinnerbait) without using other retrieves is like only getting one mix-in at Marble Slab. Sure, it tastes good with just gummy bears.... But look at what you're missing

[tcbass]

I've read people using Double Tail Grubs on here. Who uses those and what ones are good?
 

[ThurmanMerman]

I've read people using Double Tail Grubs on here. Who uses those and what ones are good?

I've used Missile Baits twin turbo. Mojito and white/pearl. I've used them as jig trailers and rage tail rigged them and caught plenty of fish!