Swim jig tips and tricks

[badgerboyng]

This year, I would like to focus on mastering swim jigs. I feel like not many people throw this bait, but it seems effective for those who do. Plus it's versatile. 

 

I'm going to use them for smallmouth in WI, both in rivers and on Lake Michigan. I might use them for largemouth too. I'm planning on using 1/4oz - 3/8oz swim jigs with rage menace trailers or Keitechs. So, do I cast it out and burn it back immediately? Let it sink and reel it back very slowly? What's the best retrieve? 

 

Any tips or tricks on how to use a swim jig most effectively would be greatly appreciated. 

[NorthwestBasser]

Well, like most techniques, you should let the fish tell you what they want. Although, I rarely burn a swimjig. Slow to medium slow works best for me on my lakes, just nicking the tops of grass or about a foot off the bottom. I did watch a video of a guy who said to swim them more toward a the top of the water column. He didn't catch any fish on the video, haha

And don't be afraid to give it some cadence, vary the speed, give a few jerks here and there to let that skirt flare out and do its magic!

[roadwarrior]

Retrieve effectiveness varies, but I find this to be generally proficient:

Cast and let the jig fall on slack line. Let it sit for a moment on the bottom

then pop it once and slow retrieve just off the bottom. The perfect scenario 

is ticking rocks or vegetation during the retrieve.

 

I like the Menace as a trailer, but I also use the Structure Bug and Shellcracker,

 

[NHBull]

I fish my swim jigs similarly to my chatterbaits

[Montanaro]

1.  Dont go too heavy (i use 1/4oz)

2.  Make contact with anything you can

 

Pretty simple honestly

[WIGuide]

If you think of it as a spinnerbait without blades and fish them in a similar manner to a spinnerbait you'll catch fish on them. They tend to excel in the clearer waters when fish will still chase, but not commit to a spinnerbait. They can work in off colored water too. 

[MNGeorge]

I sometimes rig the Menace Grub sideways to make the flapping tails appear more like a baitfish tail. Also, I tie my own jigs and have found swim jigs tied with natural rubber skirts have more action than ones tied with silicone skirts. In addition, make sure your skirt is not too full or too long as that can impede the action of the trailer. Swim jigs are definitely something you should have in your arsenal...good luck.

[scaleface]

I have swam Arkie jigs along bluffs but I have never fished a swim jig . Is there really a difference ? 

[primetime]

Make sure they have a good quality hook, I learned alot about swim Jigs from watching You Tube videos from some of the guys who are best known for swimming jigs.

 

I really like the Strike King Swinging Swim jig since I can fish it anywhere and fish it like a swim jig or hop it or drag it on the bottom, or swim it on top with a paddle tail trailer.

 

You can swim any jig, all about line tie angles alot of the time. The Main page will have good articles on Jigs. The Trailer is really important. Rage Menace and Grubs are my favorites along with cutting down ribbon tail worms.

 

Ripping them off weeds or bouncing off cover like using a Rattle trap is often when you often get the best strikes. 

[Paul Roberts]

Man... not much you can't do with a swim jig. I have one tied on almost all the time -a dedicated rig.

 

Most basically, it's chuck-n-wind. But being a jig you can fall, crawl, hop, rip... in a pinch.

 

Bass eat them. That's the main thing to know.

 

17 minutes ago, primetime said:

You can swim any jig, all about line tie angles alot of the time. The Main page will have good articles on Jigs. The Trailer is really important.

Ditto.

[bowhunter63]

I like a swimbait for a trailer,Like the Rage Swimmer.With a northeren style swim jig, a little thinner skirt. The swimbait gives the jig a crankbait wobble and makes the skirt pulsate.I fish it just like a crankbait .

[Mr Swim Jig]

There really is no wrong way to fish a swim jig.  I fish them anywhere and anytime, clear water, dingy water etc...in the grass, open water, etc...as for retrieve I mainly use a nice steady retrieve, but I will speed up and slow down, I will give it a pop occasionally and have been known to let it fall to the bottom and fish like a normal jig and then go back to my retrieve.  Just experiment and you will find what works well for you.  I prefer the Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper for a trailer, but will also use single tail and dual tail grubs as well.  I also use a 5/16oz swim jig from North Star Baits.

 

For equipment I use a 7' 2" MH/R action Daiwa Tatula rod and a Tatula Type-R high speed reel with 10lbs fluorocarbon line.

 

But honestly you can't go wrong with a swim jig, they are a great producing bait and you can fish them anywhere and anytime...

[Quarry Man]

I fish swim jigs a lot. I use a 7' Medium Moderate Fast rod for 1/4 oz swim jigs like the Strike King Tour Grade one. Light wire hooks and medium rods do great. For trailers i use paddle tail swimbaits. I sometimes use wacky bands one the bait and hook shank for durability. I pitch this lure near docks and brush.

 

My second rod is for large swim jigs.7'3" MH Fast rod and 30 lb braid. I cast in and near the vegetables.  Same trailer as above.

 

I also use swim jigs when I'm not getting bit on the chatter bait. its like a shaky head compared to a wobble head. A more finesse version of something similar.

[riverbasser]

I will swim any jig I have tied on. I'm not sure why people assume you only swim the pointed head versions. The head design is made to come through vegetation but if I'm not fishing grass. My brush jigs do it all. Hopping, dragging, and swimming.

[GreenGhostMan]

Swim jigs are one of my confidence baits.  I normally cast a swim jig out and let it sink to the bottom.  Hop it a few times like you would while pitching and then vary your retrieve back.  Sometimes a straight line retrieve, sometimes stop and go.  I throw some jerks in there sometimes too.  A variation of the yo-yo has worked for me as well.  Experiment and see what the fish want.  It's a very versatile lure IMO.

[Deleted account]

My best swim jig tip is throw one. 

 

If you have a swim jig and 2 or 3 different trailers, you can cover a lot of situations. Fish it like a spinnerbait, a jig, a wakebait, or any other way you can come up with, you can even pitch it into cover, if its not too gnarly, (or even if it is, you only live once). It excels when you need a subtle presentation in clear water, but it so much more. You can fish it to cover, or cover water searching with it. I really like snaking it around pads or tules, sometimes they come from a ways to crush it.

[RoLo]

 

Can you think of any lure that is less 'technique-specific' than a swim jig?

The skirt is optional, and when you remove the skirt you've got a hook, a weight and a fiberguard.

A swim jig gets its distinction from the trailer, a lure that can be fished anyway your heart desires.

 

Roger