Swim jig vs Spinnerbait

[Michael Green]

I’ll try to keep this short n sweet.. When would be the preferred time to throw one over the other. Specifically in clean/clear water. A spinnerbait with silver willow blades and a shad colored skirt would be for clearer water in theory. If a swim jig is more of a sight lure, then when/why would I choose the Spinnerbait over the swim jig in the clean/clear water? 

just trying to understand when to throw one over the other, also any tips for either lure would be much appreciated. Tight lines.  

[Bluebasser86]

To be clear, you're asking spinnerbait vs swim jig, or spinnerbait vs swim bait like the title says?

[Michael Green]

Shoot, swim jig. 

And while we are at it, the swimbait as well lol

i fixed the title just to clarify, thanks

[Bluebasser86]

I like the spinnerbait more in dirtier water and around wood cover, the swim jig more around weeds (no blades to foul).

 

When I say swimbait, I'm talking about a large bait, typically 6-7 or more inches and 2 or more ounces. I'm not sure if that's the type of swimbait you're comparing or if you mean something like a Keitech/hollow belly swimbait.

[Michael Green]

I meant like a keitech, I bank fish so I don’t ever really throw a giant swimbait. 

 

Okay so what’s the purpose of throwing a spinnerbait in clean water? (I prefer them in dirty water as well) I’ve always wondered that option. 

[Bluebasser86]

Big swimbaits work just fine from the bank, but they're certainly not for everyone.

 

I like Keitechs more on a jighead for fishing in deeper water than I do fishing shallow on a keel weighted hook. They work well in similar situations as a swim jig, maybe a little better when they're really keyed on baitfish though.

 

Spinnerbaits work well in clear water too in the right conditions. I've caught lots of fish on Table Rock on a spinnerbait. Low light conditions or windy days are good times to fish them. Clear water is a good time to use "burner" spinnerbaits. Strike King makes one called the Burner, my personal favorite is the War Eagle Screaming Eagle. They're usually natural colors with smaller blades and a compact frame and plenty of weight to keep them down during a fast retrieve.

[Michael Green]

Okay gotcha. Good advice. Low light and windy days. Which swim jigs do you like and what do you think of terminator spinnerbaits?

[Bluebasser86]

I use swim jigs that member @Munkin pours and ties. Best balanced and put together swim jigs I've used.

 

Terminator makes a good bait.

[Wizzlebiz]

What I have found is that a spinner is great when it is windy.

 

2 reasons I use a spinner

 

1: I throw along the bank hitting rocks on the way back to me. Mini spinners are freaking deadly used like this. Mini spinners also come through basically everything and if fouled you can snap your rod tip and it generally clears it. 

 

2: As a search bait from the bank. You can cover alot of water quickly while also gaining attention with the thump of the blades and the flash. 

 

[smalljaw67]

If I have wind or stained water then I'm throwing the spinnerbait. You also need to realize there is trial and error involved here as well. If the water is clear but I'm seeing swirls or minnows breaking the surface I'm going with a spinnerbait wind or no wind. For me the swim jig is a more subtle spinnerbait, the difference is it doesn't have flash and the vibration is different since it comes from a trailer rather than spinning blades. I like the swim jig for grass and if I'm in grass that is what I use first but be mindful of how fish are reacting to your bait. I've had perfect spinnerbait days and would get a follow or two or maybe some short strikers and then change up to a swim jig and immediately started catching the same fish that were following. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for why they will hit one and not the other so do your best to make an educated guess but if one doesn't work try the other. 

[fishballer06]

Like others have mentioned, if I'm throwing a spinnerbait in clearer water, there's likely wind involved where I want that flash and thump to help the fish sense the bait better. The swim jig shines in a more subtle presentation, or whenever the grass is nearly topped out on the surface. 

[Jig Rookie]

On 9/16/2019 at 11:12 PM, Michael Green said:

 I bank fish so I don’t ever really throw a giant swimbait...

PLEASE get this thinking out of your mind--@bluebasser86 is correct. I don't own a boat, fish only from the bank and have been slaying em on big swimbaits. Keep your options open.

[TnRiver46]

For me, swim jig in all situations over a spinnerbait. I get mad just thinking about spinnerbaits.........

[fin]

On 9/17/2019 at 9:03 AM, smalljaw67 said:

if one doesn't work try the other. 

Best advice in this thread.

 

 

[Bassattackr]

On 9/16/2019 at 10:11 PM, Michael Green said:

Specifically in clean/clear water. A spinnerbait with silver willow blades and a shad colored skirt would be for clearer water in theory. 

Correct.  The key is wind, bonus if you have cloud cover as well.  If you have wind a spinnerbait is great in clear water fisheries.

 

If no wind you need something more subtle.  This is where a swim jig shines.

 

If you have dirty water, typically a spinnerbait / chatterbait is a better option than a swim jig.

[Krux5506]

53 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

For me, swim jig in all situations over a spinnerbait. I get mad just thinking about spinnerbaits.........

This is the total opposite of myself, lol. I don't think I've landed more fish on any other lure than a spinner bait - from the time I was a little kid throwing small ones for rock bass to now throwing the usual 1/2 oz burners to cover water and picking up whatever is in the mood to chase it. Granted it's more of a cooler season technique for me, but I've caught some of my biggest bass on dead calm summer days throwing them, likely after getting bored of finesse fishing. If you just like covering water when the fish are active and chasing then it's hard to beat. 

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, Krux5506 said:

This is the total opposite of myself, lol. I don't think I've landed more fish on any other lure than a spinner bait - from the time I was a little kid throwing small ones for rock bass to now throwing the usual 1/2 oz burners to cover water and picking up whatever is in the mood to chase it. Granted it's more of a cooler season technique for me, but I've caught some of my biggest bass on dead calm summer days throwing them, likely after getting bored of finesse fishing. If you just like covering water when the fish are active and chasing then it's hard to beat. 

I know I know I know, heard it my whole life, still can't catch crap 

[Krux5506]

30 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I know I know I know, heard it my whole life, still can't catch crap 

I can't catch crap on swim jigs. 

[haggard]

I only recently started using a skirted swimbait with blades, and I like it in dirty water. In theory it's it's flashier and easier to see, and even if it's not seen as visible in dirty water, it vibrates pretty well as you swim it so it can still be detected.

[TnRiver46]

39 minutes ago, Krux5506 said:

I can't catch crap on swim jigs. 

I can. I'm not trying to say a spinnerbait doesnt work, im not that dumb. I've had 5 year olds out fish me with them from the back of my own boat. I just can't make them work, I've tried really hard for a minimum of 25 years

[Choporoz]

Funny, @TnRiver46...if you reverse 'swim jig' and 'spinnerbait' in each of your posts, I could have written them....lol.  I can count on one hand the number of fish that I've caught on a swim jig....and not for lack of trying

[TnRiver46]

44 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Funny, @TnRiver46...if you reverse 'swim jig' and 'spinnerbait' in each of your posts, I could have written them....lol.  I can count on one hand the number of fish that I've caught on a swim jig....and not for lack of trying

Well I don't think I've ever purchased a "swim jig", I just catch a lot of fish reeling in jigs especially through grass

[Munkin]

On 9/17/2019 at 12:47 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I use swim jigs that member @Munkin pours and ties. Best balanced and put together swim jigs I've used.

 

Terminator makes a good bait.

Thanks for the compliment! 

 

Allen

[RHuff]

I throw a spinnerbait 90 percent of the time over a swimjig. I only throw the swimjig if the cover is too thick to get a spinnerbait through, such as extremely thick lilly pads, etc.

[Munkin]

A swim jig is just a bladeless spinnerbait I fish them the same way.

 

Allen