Swimming jigs that aren't "swim jigs"

[Luke Barnes]

I get the head shape on a swim jig is more pointed to swim through cover better. But i have some Strike King Pro Model jigs that I do traditional jigging with, but would they be just as effective throwing a paddle tail soft swimbait on it and swimming it? 

 

What about bottom jigging with an actual swim jig? Better yet, bottom jigging with a chatterbait? 

 

I just hate fishing an area then retying a different lure and fishing the same section again. If one of them will do it all that would be so much easier. Like make a pass jigging, then make a pass swimming. 

[Black Hawk Basser]

I use an all-around jig that I make myself for all applications.  It may not be the best in every situation, but they are great for bassin' on a budget.

[RoLo]

 

I honestly can't help.

Now, if you were looking for swim jigs that are never swimmed,

I got lots of those.  

 

Roger

[Finessegenics]

It may not be ideal but there’s no real problem with it. A lot of us bass anglers are brainwashed into thinking we need very specific equipment (tackle or rod tapers) all the time when that isn’t the case. A pointed jig head will come through grass easier than the round head of pro model jig, but the pro model jig will still come through grass. 
 

And while I haven’t tried it much, I don’t see why a swimbait on a jig dragging bottom wouldn’t work. Would make a great sunfish imitation. I know some people who like to throw swimbaits on football heads and drag them over rocky points. Try it out and let us know about your results! 

[DitchPanda]

Sure...I swam jigs way before I had swim jigs. As stated above the swim jig head will come through grass much better..but if not fishing heavy grass id guess any jig would work okay

[MIbassyaker]

There are no jig police. 

 

Fish any jig you want any way you can.

[MGF]

Yes. I mostly fish a river that doesn't have too much in the way of weeds. My favorite "swim" jig is an archy head. I swim it, bounce it, drag it or whatever else seems like it will work. I don't know if it's better for swimming but it's more versatile.

 

 

[Luke Barnes]

EOk thanks for the input. I think I'm going to tie on a swim jig just because I like the color the best for where I'm going tomorrow. I dont have any shad colors in a non swim head jig. But if they dont like the color I'll go to a Pro Model with a Rage Craw and swim and drag that. 

 

Anyone popped or dragged a chatterbait? It's just a jig with a blade but I wonder if the blade interferes with bottom contact. 

[Born 2 fish]

I caught a few tonight on a 3/8 oz regular jig swimming it.

[Bluebasser86]

Swim jigs tend to have a thinner/softer weed guard and a lighter hook to go along with the different shaped head.

 

I've caught a lot of bass swimming a flipping jig.

[Dens228]

This is the same reasoning why I only have two types of jigs.  A swim jig and a pitching jig.  Three colors of swim jig, four colors of pitching jig.   They cover all my jig needs and I fish jigs more than any other lure. I did buy some football head jigs last fall but haven't used them yet. 

 

[fishwizzard]

I swim every jig back to me.  Most of the time I don't get hit enough dragging it back to make it worth the time, but I get hit swimming them back to make it worthwhile vs just skiing it back on top.  I also will used SK Shellcrakcers as a trailer on little 1/4oz Arkie jigs to make a really subtle dragging/swimming presentation with a near perfect panfish profile. 

[Teal]

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Swim jigs tend to have a thinner/softer weed guard and a lighter hook to go along with the different shaped head.

 

I've caught a lot of bass swimming a flipping jig.

Like BlueBasser, I have pitched to targets and then swam it back and got bit.  Do I stop and switch to a swim jig...no.   

 

I like the ones labeled swim and grass jigs mainly because the split through vegetation and cover.  

 

I've done ALOT OF SWIMMING with an ARKY jig.  (Probably my favorite style, it really is the Kordell Stewart of jigs, if can do alotnof things) 

[DitchPanda]

Ive watched an old video beyond the basics of swim jigs with Tom Monsoor..the guy many people consider the granddaddy of swim jigs. In the video he states that the first time he caught bass swimming a jig it was by accident just reeling in a flipping jig to recast. Saw Bill Lowen say the same thing about catching them on the Ohio River swimming a flipping style jig.

[Luke Barnes]

Today I made it out to beat the bank of a small lake with a buddy. I had my swim jig tied on and a squarebill, and of course i brought my ned rig setup along. Caught 8 bass! All on the swim jig im happy to say. After about 30 minutes i figured out a pattern they ambush it right before a grass line when reeled towards the surface. I'm a believer. It came through the grass really well. I think my flipping jigs would have gotten more gunk on them for sure. But still probably would have worked if i had the right colors in them. I dragged and popped it, but they wanted it swimming right at the edge of the grass line.