Rod/Reel/Line Selection for Swimming Jigs

[Nepatizz]

Hey everyone! 

 

I'm looking to get into swimming jigs while bank fishing around cover. What is the best way to go in terms of rod action, reel ratio and line selection in your opinion? I have some money to spend at Dick's. 

 

Also, would a swimming jig set up work for spinnerbaits, since it's a similar retrieve? 

 

Thanks! 

[MrPeanut]

Swim jigs can be fished with any 7' MH rod.  I typically run 30 or 40 lb braid on swim jigs, and then adjust the floro leader based on if it's more open water or in cover.  At times I'll go down to 12 lb on the leader, or up to 17 lb.  Just make sure the hook fits with what leader your using - don't use a thick gauge hook designed for heavy cover with 12 lb and vice versa.

 

In really shallow water, or if there's a lot of pressure I often drop down to a finesse swim jig (1/4 oz) and throw it on a 7' Medium rod on 12 lb floro 

[Largies4Life]

I throw primarily 3/8 oz. and 1/4 oz. swim jigs. I use a 7'2" MH/F paired with a 7:1 gear ratio reel. I threw all my siwm jigs on 15 pound fluoro. I'm not fishing very thick cover, but do like to get down in the weeds and produce those reaction strikes in the summer. You can also throw your spinnerbaits on this setup as well, assuming same weights as your jigs. I might bump it down to a 6:1 for spinnerbaits because I like to vary my retrieve speed a lot with spinnerbaits, and I didn't like how a 7:1 reel felt when I would try to slow roll them in the spring.

 

Also, welcome to BR!  

 

Tight lines!

[Dens228]

I use a MH/Fast with a 6.8:1 ratio reel.  I have 30 lb braid on it, no leader.

I do also use it for spinnerbaits. 

 

[newyorktoiowa57]

Whatever rod you throw a spinnerbait on.  For me a 6'9''-7'0'' MHMF paired with a 6.2:1 reel.

[Smelter96]

7ft Mh/f Avid X, OG zillion in the 6 ratio, and straight 40lb braid. Almost always have a swim jig on this. I throw spinnerbaits on a similar setup, too. But I use a copoly/fluoro leader with them. Helps prevent the line from fouling in the blades, etc on the cast.

[long island basser]

For what you describe I use my 6’9” Abu Vendetta mh fast, paired with a Lews tournament MB 7.5:1 with 16 lb sunline sniper.

[ww2farmer]

704 Dobyns Fury, Daiwa Fuego CT 7.3:1, Power Pro 30lb original braid, 15-20lb Seaguar red label or Abras-X leaders.

 

1/4-1/2 oz swim jigs, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits.

 

That's what I used last fall , and will be using this year. It is a really good set up for these baits.

[kschultz76]

Like others generally a 7-7’3” MH F but I like a rod that’s a little bit on the slow side of fast. My two favorite swimjigs rods are my Gen 1 Orochi XX Diablo Spec R and my Kistler Helium 3 LMH F 7’0”. With both 40lb braid and a 12-15lb floro leader, and generally a 7.x:1 reel. 

 

I like that rod to be just a tad slower and have a nice tip so that when that fish hits that moving jig the rod loads up real nice and I don’t pull it away from them. Then reel down and sweep set without that braid taking the lure from them. 

[Ksam1234]

It all depends on cover you throw it around. I see everyone here suggest a MH/F rod but where I fish it has tons of weeds and lay downs etc. I throw it on a H/F rod with 16-20 pound fluoro 

[Columbia Craw]

7'3" MH Fast rod with a 7.3-1 reel spooled with #30 dark green braid.  The heavy cover and water clarity do not require a leader but I do color the last couple of feet with a black marker regardless.  I throw nothing lighter than 3/8 and adjust the ability to slow it down by the trailer type.  The rod a reel can double as a spinnerbait combo but I never use braid on my spinnerbait set ups.  

[Dan Bures]

I throw my jigs, worms, spinnerbaits all on a Loomis 873C paired with the Curado DC in 7.4:1. The rod is listed as a Med/Heavy designed for Carolina rigging. I may be missing something or using the wrong rig....but this setup works great for me.