Jig Head Shape?

[Josh Smith]

Hi Folks,

 

I've been looking for a complete list of swim jig head shapes and their uses.  I cannot find anything along those lines, though there's plenty on traditional jigs.

 

Is there anything you're aware of?

 

Thank you,

 

Josh

[Ozark_Basser]

A traditional swim jig head would have a 30 degree line tie with a triangular head coming to a point at the line tie. There aren't too many different variations. The only thing that makes them different than some flipping or brush style heads is the degree of the line tie. Brush heads etc tend to have a 60 degree line tie. Also the hooks are sometimes thinner gauged on swim jig heads than flipping heads.

[papajoe222]

There are few variations of swim jig head shapes, but as stated, most are pointed with the line tie at the tip. You can swim just about any style jig, that style is just more suited to the task.

[SirSnookalot]

Different styles are created IMO to sell you more stuff.  The fish hit the bait attached to the jig head, not the jig head itself.

[smalljaw67]

There are 3 different swim jigs that I know of, a Northern style, the Coosa River style, and the California or Southern style. The Northern swim jig can go from 1/8oz to 3/8oz but the most popular size is 1/4oz, it sports a cone or bullet shaped head with a 30 degree light wire hook in a 3/0 or 4/0 size and a thinner 35 to 40 strand skirt. The Coosa River style, often called a regular swim jig is similar to the Northern only it uses a medium wire hook but it is still a 30 degree hook and the skirts are 40 to 50 strands with a cone, bullet or triangular shaped head. The California or Southern swim jig has a heavy wire hook and is often 1/2oz or more with hook sizes being 5/0 and 6/0 and they range from being 30 to 60 degrees with some even being flat eye hooks. They typically have 50 or more skirt strands and a head shape that is often wider and more rounded than the typical northern style as the northern style is made to slip through sparse grass and vegetation, the California style is designed to bang through brush and wood with heavy line and the broad head is better suited to come through that type of cover.

[Josh Smith]

What about the football jig style etc?  Aren't these classed in with swim jigs?

 

Back when I learned about all this stuff I don't recall us ever having swim jigs (by name, anyway).  I didn't fish for about 10 years, and there are things like this that I never did learn about.

 

Thanks!

 

Josh

[F14A-B]

Footballs are molded to stay upright at all times, they work well ( just slow dragging along the bottom, (rocky/ sandy bottoms seem best) swim jigs seem to have a more aerodynamic shape, aero is the wrong term but you get the point. They are just a different play on a jig.. Line tie angles, hook types/ sizes.. In a nut shell any jig can work as a swim jig... I wouldn't call swimming a football style ideal by any means but it will work.

[adam lancia]

Here's a good page on swim jigs: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CD8QFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.***%2Farticles%2Fjig-catalog-swimming.shtml&ei=KcQNVeStFoeOyATY34K4DA&usg=AFQjCNHD6qI67xzfRKfWA2I6utaOyymhig&sig2=AX_LDYqmR0eM8s0Hk_-bqg&bvm=bv.88528373,d.aWwandanother one covering the majority of jig types: http://www.***/articles/jig-fishing.shtml and another on shakey jigs http://www.***/articles/shaking_jigs.shtml

 

Edit: I'm not sure why the links aren't hyperlinking when I past them, any help there...?

[Josh Smith]

Thanks, guys!

I usually swim a football jig a few feet and let it rest, or shake it.

I'm imitating a bluegill colored crawdad and it works well.

I guess I class most large jigs as swim jigs (as opposed to traditional Malibou or curly-tailed jigs.)

Will read up on this.

Thanks again!

Josh

[CJ]

The most important thing about a swim jig is that it will swim with the hook pointing straight up at any speed. D&L's Bill Lowen swim jig has become a favorite of mine. It also has a bigger hook than most.

[Choporoz]

 

Edit: I'm not sure why the links aren't hyperlinking when I past them, any help there...?

Look at your links.  There's ***'s where there shouldn't be.  You're likely linking to a site that BR doesn't like for some reason.

[Siebert Outdoors]

A traditional swim jig head would have a 30 degree line tie with a triangular head coming to a point at the line tie. There aren't too many different variations. The only thing that makes them different than some flipping or brush style heads is the degree of the line tie. Brush heads etc tend to have a 60 degree line tie. Also the hooks are sometimes thinner gauged on swim jig heads than flipping heads.

 

Pretty much sums it up.  They could also have a cone shape to them.  The biggest thing to look for the 28-30 deg hook.  Some types are more straight then that but most are 28-30 deg bends.

[hatrix]

Any jig to me is a swim jig. The only thing I don't use is a football head. One thing about a swim jig design is they tend to have a longer shank. One of my favorite ones is a grass jig with that had a very short shank. That sucks only being able to get the hook so far back but they work awesome.I have a ton of swim jigs and hardly use them and end up using grass jigs mostly. I have for sure caught the most fish on a $2 black and blue 1/4 oz arkie jig from Walmart with a swimbait trailer.