Ideal Swim Jig Trailer Length ?

[ChrisD46]

What is your ideal swim jig trailer length ? First , my preferred swim jigs are  in the 1/4 oz. ~ 3/8th oz. range . In my experience when I try a grub , craw or swim bait trailer less than 3.5 inches  , the trailer action suffers unless I trim the skirt back to just past the bend of the swim jig hook . Even then I find more often than not the action of most grubs , craws and swim baits less than 3.5 inches to be so-so . At 3.5 inches there are good craw trailers such as the Zoom Ultravibe , Zoom X-Craw Jr. and Yum Christie Craw that have good action in 3.5 inch length . Grubs in my opinion such as the Kalin , Big Bite , Yamamoto , Strike King Menace Grub  , etc.  all perform well however  all are 4.0 inches in length (that extra 1/2 inch ~ 1 inch from other grub suppliers is a difference maker !) . Lastly , I find swim baits used as  trailers need to be at least 3.75 ~ 4.0 inches in length min. to perform properly  - less than that length and the action simply suffers too much without that roll and wobble that you expect from a swim bait used as a trailer . I tried the Baby Grass Pig , Cain Thumper Jr. , Missile Baits Shockwave Jr. and Reaction Innovations Little Dipper and they all suffer from the same thing in that you only get movement at the end of the tail (essentially the paddle only) . The Keitech Fat Swing Impact (3.8 inches)  and the Strike King Rage Swimmer at 3.75 inches are the two best at this length with the right girth as well to make excellent swim jig swimbait trailers as they have the best action at their length  .  As you go over 4 inches in these style swim baits (Keitech Fat Impact , Strike King Rage Swimmer) the rolling / wobble action only becomes greater . The added length however can sometimes be a hindrance when matching the hatch requires a shorter swim bait trailer (although you can always cut the head down) . . *So there is my take on ideal swim jig trailers and why I choose the various swim jig trailers that I do -  Your thoughts and experiences ?

[Munkin]

About 4" is the best overall for the reasons you described. The 3.8" Fat Impact and 4" Pline Kick-R minnow are the two I use most.

 

Allen

[MassYak85]

For lighter siwmjigs I prefer a 3.8 keitech, I'll step it up to the 4.3 or 4.8 for heavier ones. 

[frosty]

I use the swimming fluke jr or the Little Dipper, but I find it I leave to luck hanging off the back they will grab the tail and not slam the whole thing. I like it to be about an inch past the skirt, but if you guys are doing good with 4" ones maybe I'm doing something wrong?

[CroakHunter]

I throw 3/8 ounce swimjigs with a 5 inch grass pig on the back. I trim the skirt slightly and unevenly to make it pulsate more.

[RoLo]

 

The first thing I do is determine the ideal 'Overall Length' of the lure.

In this way, the trailer will supplement the length of the lure to satisfy the overall length.

Needless to say, overall length will hinge on the species and size of the fish being targeted.

 

Roger

[Catt]

Zoom Fat Albert 3" 

[smalljaw67]

3.5" to 4" is what I like on the smaller swim jigs. I like using swim baits and it seems like on a 1/4oz swim jig a 4.5" bait makes it unbalanced and I miss fish and a 3" bait just doesn't have the right bulk to really draw the fish, it works but not as well as something 3.5" or 4".