Swim Jigs?

[Jack44]

I have never used a swim jig and don't quite get the concept either. When do you use it and why? What situations is it best used. It seems you would have much more success using other techniques like a spinnerbait or RatlTrap? Does anyone actually live by these things like many live by other techniques?

[PersicoTrotaVA]

You could use it in the same instance as a spinnerbait but a swim jig is a smaller profile and its less noisy.  My brother throws them into fallen trees and swims them out, almost always gets a strike.

[WIGuide]

Think of it as a more natural version of a spinnerbait. They excel in clearer water and or higher skies, although there's some days they just eat them better. I suggest you give them a try, because there are days they can be deadly. Let the fish tell you which they prefer.

[Jig Man]

You can use one anytime.  My favorite time is at night.

[gulfcaptain]

Agree with WIGuide, some high pressured waters they seem to prefer a swimjig instead of a spinnerbait.  Gives a more stealthy approach to spooky fish.  This is a presentation I'm working on using more this year and so far it's had good success.  

[smalljaw67]

Listen to WIGuide, I like to think of them as a finesse spinnerbait. I use them in the same places as a spinnerbait but when the sky is high or if there is a lot of pressure or anytime the fish aren't responding to a spinnerbait.

[mmrivera86]

As mentioned before, they work real well in clear water. Another good thing about them is you can throw it in most areas and not be afraid of getting it stuck.

[A-Jay]

Swim jigs are very effective; much of it comes from their extreme versatility.

 

The name is a bit of a misnomer in that they are not fished like a standard "Jig".

 

They are for the most part, moving baits.

 

When combined with a grub or swim bait trailer, the subtle slow rolling swimming action can be a big time trigger for both largemouth & smallies.

 

Fished low, middle or high in the water column, through wood, weeds, rocks and even open water, the swim jig does it all.

 

I have one tied on all season.

 

A-Jay

[Montanaro]

As others said...spinnerbait is loud and flashy and everyone throws em.

Swimjig is like a ninja, stealthy and dangerous. Plus you can use it like a flipping jig

[Rivers Edge]

A-jay is spot on. Don't leave home with out one.

[NathanW]

The swimjig changed my largemouth game. Not going to tell you that I don't throw a spinnerbait anymore, but I am catching a lot more fish on a swimjig during most conditions. Using a couple different sizes and types to match depth and type of cover. You want a stiffer weedgaurd for stalky vegetation and heavy brush but the lighter weedgaurd that is available on most products works for everything else. Basically a 1/4 ounce and 3/8 ounce are all you need. Any matching boot or curl tailed grub as a trailer and you are set.

 

A little tip, I wont buy a swimjig that doesnt use a wire keeper. The barbed lead keepers just dont keep the trailer pinned on swimming lures.

[NJBasstard]

In the past year the swim jig has become one of my go-to baits. I love fishing them in shallow moving water where most would throw something loud like a spinner or rattling squarebill. I swim them fast or slow bumping into trees or ripping thru grass, but my best luck has come from slamming them into rocks & concrete. I carry 1/4oz, 3/8oz & 1/2oz for when I want a different sink rate or want to vary my retrieve speed while maintaining the same depth. That being said I've probably caught more big fish swimming those little 1/4oz bitsy bug jigs in black/blue with a paca chunk trailer than any other jig in my box. If you wanted one jig to try the bitsy bug is what I'd recommend as it's very versatile and can be fished however you want. They're also cheap and sold all over including Walmart.  I personally always use a trailer & recommend trying a few to see what works best for you.

[illinifan4152]

Not to sound like a broken record, but I fish them in the same places I would fish a spinnerbait, usually around grass and submerged timber. I prefer them in the spring, to immitated blue gills/bream right around the spawn.

[SirSnookalot]

This time of the year I use them a lot mainly for peacock bass but all species including bass hit them, caught a pretty hefty gar on one last week.  I make my own and prefer using maribou, I'm not a great tier but the fish haven't reprimanded me.  I can work these jigs in a number of different ways, they work really well in Florida ponds and canals.

[skeeter1980]

Back in the 80's when I was in a club and fished tournaments,my go to bait was a spinner bait.Since getting back into fishing last year,and learning about swimjigs.I haven't used a spinner bait.In Delaware most of our ponds  have fields of lilly pads.I love throwing a swimjig in those pads,and hold on.

[Catt]

While the swim jig is productive in all those scenarios where I find it really shows its effectiveness is in vegetation.

I like throwing a swim jig in areas where the "grass" is a couple months away from being matted but to dense to run a spinner bait cleanly through it.

Bass seem to get ticked off at it

[Grant Schuen]

do you guys have any swim jig tips and techniques? also what is your favorite brand for swim jigs? thanks for the replys!

[roadwarrior]

Swim jigs are very effective; much of it comes from their extreme versatility.

 

The name is a bit of a misnomer in that they are not fished like a standard "Jig".

 

They are for the most part, moving baits.

 

When combined with a grub or swim bait trailer, the subtle slow rolling swimming action can be a big time trigger for both largemouth & smallies.

 

Fished low, middle or high in the water column, through wood, weeds, rocks and even open water, the swim jig does it all.

 

I have one tied on all season.

 

A-Jay

 

The only swim jigs I fish are NorthStar Original Swim Jig and Seibert Outdoors.

Fish them anywhere you would fish a spinnerbait. The Rage Menace is a GREAT

trailer!

[Jollygreens]

I might have missed it, but what is the technique when using a swim jig? Sorry for the new guy question?

Just getting into jig fishing and would like to try swim jigs. Just bought a few jigs from Siebert and may try some swim jigs. Just looking for help on how to fish them. Thanks.sorry to threadjack.

[roadwarrior]

Cast and retrieve on, over and around cover or structure. The trailer provides all the action, you just vary

your retrieve speed and depth. For example, if you find fish at 8', try to fish that depth consistantly.

[Jollygreens]

How do you vary depth?

Thanks for helping a new angler... Been watching and reading and searching to get it all

In.

[SirSnookalot]

How do you vary depth?

Thanks for helping a new angler... Been watching and reading and searching to get it all

In.

Hold you rod tip high or low and vary the speed, it will affect the depth of the jig.  Keeping a high tip and bit faster speed can keep the jig just above weed tops in shallower water, I catch both bass and peacocks that way.

[Jollygreens]

Awesome. Thanks for the video and the help choosing some jigs. I will be checking out NorthStar to fil my tackle box. Thanks