Swing Jig/hard Head First Impressions

[Megastink]

Yesterday I tried a swing jig for the first time. I paired a 3/8oz Mustad Fastlatch head with a 4/0 Gammy Superline EWG work hook and a baby brush hog. After watching Biffle on Youtube for half an hour, I felt that I had enough of an idea and was ready. I chose a small pond with a nice rocky stretch and no grass as my test zone. I used a 7' MH Duckett Micro Magic, Lews Tournament Pro 6.4:1, 20lb Seaguar Abrazx. Making a long cast parallel to the bank, I let it sink before reeling it fast enough to keep it bumping the rocks, my rod at about 8 o'clock pointing towards the bait. I got a ton of bites, but just couldnt hook more than two, and only landed one.

 

I think, in retrospect, I should have used a stiffer rod. I basically used my spinnerbait/swim jig rod, which I had a feeling wouldnt set the hook as needed. I'm gonna try again today, but with my 7' H Duckett Frog rod. Biffle also preached at least a 7.1:1, which I understand considering he likes a 3/4oz. But I was fishing shallow and had only a 3/8oz, so I think the 6.4 was sufficient.

 

Round 2 today. If any of you have any tips for me, please share them here. I'm trying to learn this technique. Thanks! Tight Lines!

 

-Mega

[A-Jay]

A Heavy action frog rod would be too stout for my liking.

 

For me, that rig fishes like a spinner bait, a small swim bait or even a heavy swim jig - so I'll select my rod, reel & line accordingly.

 

I feel that deal doesn't really require any "Specialize" tackle to present and / or fish the bait effectively.

 

Let us know how it goes.

 

A-Jay

[deaknh03]

I use a m/h for my swim jigging, sometimes a med for smaller jigs..I think setting the hook on a swim jig is a learned feel, but once you figure it out, it will become second nature. I typically use a 6:4 reel, shimano 50 sized, and my preference is a 1/4 to at most a 1/2 oz jig, tipped with a rage bait, craw, lobster, menace, shellcracker, baby craw..depends on the size of the jig and depth.

[Megastink]

I use a m/h for my swim jigging, sometimes a med for smaller jigs..I think setting the hook on a swim jig is a learned feel, but once you figure it out, it will become second nature. I typically use a 6:4 reel, shimano 50 sized, and my preference is a 1/4 to at most a 1/2 oz jig, tipped with a rage bait, craw, lobster, menace, shellcracker, baby craw..depends on the size of the jig and depth.

I appreciate the tips, but I was writing about SWING jigs (like Biffle Hard Heads), not SWIM jigs... DO you fish swing jigs?

[smalljaw67]

Yesterday I tried a swing jig for the first time. I paired a 3/8oz Mustad Fastlatch head with a 4/0 Gammy Superline EWG work hook and a baby brush hog. After watching Biffle on Youtube for half an hour, I felt that I had enough of an idea and was ready. I chose a small pond with a nice rocky stretch and no grass as my test zone. I used a 7' MH Duckett Micro Magic, Lews Tournament Pro 6.4:1, 20lb Seaguar Abrazx. Making a long cast parallel to the bank, I let it sink before reeling it fast enough to keep it bumping the rocks, my rod at about 8 o'clock pointing towards the bait. I got a ton of bites, but just couldnt hook more than two, and only landed one.

 

I think, in retrospect, I should have used a stiffer rod. I basically used my spinnerbait/swim jig rod, which I had a feeling wouldnt set the hook as needed. I'm gonna try again today, but with my 7' H Duckett Frog rod. Biffle also preached at least a 7.1:1, which I understand considering he likes a 3/4oz. But I was fishing shallow and had only a 3/8oz, so I think the 6.4 was sufficient.

 

Round 2 today. If any of you have any tips for me, please share them here. I'm trying to learn this technique. Thanks! Tight Lines!

 

-Mega

 

I had the same thing happen when I tried it out and I even went and got a Quantum Tour Edition 6'10" H-F Biffle Bug rod just for the swing jig. I noticed that that rod is really stiff and because it is short you can have the rod pointing almost straight down which helps keep the jig on the bottom. The deal with it though is the rod is super stiff so when it hits a rock it doesn't load much instead it just deflects off the rock and keeps going and when a fish hits it the hook penetrates almost by itself, you simply lean on it a little. I think 7' is fine, just a heavier power rod and you are fine.

[Crankinstein]

I actually just started learning the same technique. Pretty cool technique and its fun to fish. I've only caught a few so far but I really like it. Biffle bug has a pretty strong plastic too, the fish I've caught have all been on one bait. Tight lines!

[deaknh03]

I appreciate the tips, but I was writing about SWING jigs (like Biffle Hard Heads), not SWIM jigs... DO you fish swing jigs?

Wow, I really need to read a little slower! Yes, I have used swing jigs, for years now. I bought an entire sleeve of some pretty old ones off of ebay around 5 years ago. I tend to fish them similar to a football jig, dragging with an occasional hop. I also use a m/h for them, but it's a little stiffer m/h, leaning slightly more towards the heavy. I also make some killer "chatterbait" style jigs with the swing arm, as well as buzzbaits.