Cold water finesse swim jigs...

[DitchPanda]

Are these a thing? I normally throw a spinner bait or chatter bait after ice out but my water has been abnormally clear the last year from lack of rain and runoff...and from all indications it will likely be that way again this spring. Anybody throwing a finesse swim jig in cold water? What jigs? Trailers?

[A-Jay]

I'll say - Yes.

However when compared to casting, structure/flipping jigs, and Vibrating Jigs,

ALL my swim jig fishing sort of feels like a finesse type deal.

Regardless of the water temp.

Like a spinnerbait or vibrating jig with any blade involvement.

I use the bait's weight, line type & size as well as the trailer selection,

to assist / enable me to fish the bait at the necessary pace.

Whether that be high up, in the middle or at the bottom of the water column,

it's still almost always 'around' some type of cover.

IMO, a grub is the 'subtlest' trailer and my choice for the coolest/coldest conditions.

(that's a relative term)

A small paddle tail comes in next followed by higher action trailers like craws. 

Which are often reserved for when the bass seem more willing to chase;

usually somewhat warmer water, but not always.  

Matching hook size/gauge to the condition and my tackle can help 

and I'll even use spinning gear when I need to.

Routinely for long casts with a 1/4 bait when I'm not target casting, 

but instead looking to cover water.

While there's a fairly wide array of bait's and presentations that will get bites early season,

a swim jig is one of those and an often over looked one at that.

The bite's usually pretty fun too.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

[roadwarrior]

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/swim-jig

 

Trailer:  https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Rage_Bug/descpage-RGBUG.html

 

 

 

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

Are these a thing? I normally throw a spinner bait or chatter bait after ice out but my water has been abnormally clear the last year from lack of rain and runoff...and from all indications it will likely be that way again this spring. Anybody throwing a finesse swim jig in cold water? What jigs? Trailers?

Not really, The early season from ice out to about 50 degrees is when the salad is not an issue, and that means I'm getting my treble hook lure fix on. Swim jigs will work, but I just feel there are better options. I usually don't bring one until the water temp is consistently mid 40s.

[BlakeMolone]

Sounds like jerkbait season to me ?

[TnRiver46]

Everyone always says jigs are good when it’s cold but I’ve never had a bite on one in water under 60 degrees. The smallies I fish for like them much more from April-thanksgiving or so. In winter they eat mostly tiny minnows and tiny craws, I have loads more success on a small minnow or tube bait in the cold water 

[roadwarrior]

 

<----------------------Try bigger minnows...

[DitchPanda]

51 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Not really, The early season from ice out to about 50 degrees is when the salad is not an issue, and that means I'm getting my treble hook lure fix on. Swim jigs will work, but I just feel there are better options. I usually don't bring one until the water temp is consistently mid 40s.

Yep I throw alot of jerkbaits and lipless that time of year..just looking for another option. Like I said in my post I'd normally throw a chatter or spinner but I have more confidence in that in water with some color to it. I like the subtle action of a swim jig in cleaner water.

 

49 minutes ago, BlakeMolone said:

Sounds like jerkbait season to me ?

oh it definitely is..just want other options. Some years the weather can get abnormally sunny and warm here right after ice out...most years I'd throw a lipless or spinner/chatter...just looking at other options.

[TnRiver46]

28 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

<----------------------Try bigger minnows...

I have, they don’t get bit . I ain’t on pickwick! 

[T-Billy]

I like to swim them along laydowns and let them fall deep into the tree tops early season, especially when it's too windy to pick them apart pitching a jig or T rig. LM often suspend under the trunks or within the tops in cold water. Either a single tail grub or boot tail trailer.

[NorthernBasser]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/swim-jig

 

 

Good call. Last spring, shortly after ice-out, the exact jig in that link got me on some nice ones. I got a handful of smaller/average LM on jerkbaits and blade baits. Then I tied on that swim jig paired with a BioSpawn ExoSwim. I started catching some chunkier girls in the same spot I had been using the jerkbait.  (I'll take pics of my bait a lot of times for documentation purposes).

 

 

[TnRiver46]

12 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Good call. Last spring, shortly after ice-out, the exact jig in that link got me on some nice ones. I got a handful of smaller/average LM on jerkbaits and blade baits. Then I tied on that swim jig paired with a BioSpawn ExoSwim. I started catching some chunkier girls in the same spot I had been using the jerkbait.  (I'll take pics of my bait a lot of times for documentation purposes).

 

 

Nice one, almost didn’t recognize you without the buff 

[NorthernBasser]

12 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Nice one, almost didn’t recognize you without the buff 

 

Thanks. And I'm definitely more handsome with a buff on. 

[EWREX]

beast coast working man swim jig. smaller profile and only comes in 1/4 and 5/16

 

“Since the launch of our heavy-duty Gorilla Swimjig, customers have often requested a more "northern style" swimjig, and so, the Workingman's Swimjig was born. This swimjig is ideal for smaller grub or double-tail grub style trailers, or any swimbait in the 2.8'' to 4'' range. The largest 3d eyes on any swimjig in the category, along with perfectly trimmed skirts and weedguards make the Workingman's Swimjig a phenomenal tool. The pointed, perfectly keeled head lets you swim this little jig through thick grass and keep it high in the water column. Skirts are wire-tied AND banded. 1/4 Oz and 5/16 Oz sizes.”

 

 

[DitchPanda]

Not sure why I didn't think of it before but I have a bunch of booyah baby boo jigs..while not really marketed as a swim jig it has a bullet shaped head, a light wire hook and a compact build. Don't know why that wouldn't do what I want. Throw a 4" or 5" grub on the back..should work.

[Bass Rutten]

I love to slooowww roll swim jigs from ice out all the way to late fall. I do this near, and often on the bottom grinding it slowly (with pauses too) through vegetation, weed edges, along sloping banks, dropoffs etc. Dirty jigs finesse or outkast pro, 5/16-3/8, boot tail trailers preferred. This has been a fantastic and consistent pattern for me the last four years.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Once that water gets in the mid 40s swimjigs can do some damage.  There a good alternative to a SB or bladed jig in calm, bright conditions. 

The fish like to push into lilly roots or stumps on real shallow flats in good numbers in march.  When I'm afraid snagging up my crankbait or what ever I may be using will spook the fish I'll fish a swimjig to find the lanes.

As far as the a finesse swimjig goes, the best one I've found is the Chibi Swim jig by Greenfish Tackle.  It's not very big out of the pack and you can trim the inner skirt out and shorten the outer to make it real small.  A Chibi swim and a swimmin Fluke jr slightly cut down makes a super compact bait that gets bit.  The hook is a lighter wire o'shaughnessy, the fish hook themselves most of the time.

[ChrisD46]

Here is your answer : The Siebert Mini - Swim Jig - Products (siebertoutdoors.com) . Get a couple in shad and bluegill colors . Ad a 3.5" Yum Pulse swim bait or Big Bite Baits 3.5" Cane Thumper in trailer colors to match the mini - swim jig colors and you are set ... A quality mini - swim jig with great components , spend the extra for a wire wrapped skirt 

[Deleted account]

8 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Once that water gets in the mid 40s swimjigs can do some damage.  There a good alternative to a SB or bladed jig in calm, bright conditions. 

The fish like to push into lilly roots or stumps on real shallow flats in good numbers in march.  

You been following me around?....  

I also like to yoyo a smallish lipless between those pads.

[Basser2021]

On 2/6/2022 at 11:04 AM, A-Jay said:

I'll say - Yes.

However when compared to casting, structure/flipping jigs, and Vibrating Jigs,

ALL my swim jig fishing sort of feels like a finesse type deal.

Regardless of the water temp.

Like a spinnerbait or vibrating jig with any blade involvement.

I use the bait's weight, line type & size as well as the trailer selection,

to assist / enable me to fish the bait at the necessary pace.

Whether that be high up, in the middle or at the bottom of the water column,

it's still almost always 'around' some type of cover.

IMO, a grub is the 'subtlest' trailer and my choice for the coolest/coldest conditions.

(that's a relative term)

A small paddle tail comes in next followed by higher action trailers like craws. 

Which are often reserved for when the bass seem more willing to chase;

usually somewhat warmer water, but not always.  

Matching hook size/gauge to the condition and my tackle can help 

and I'll even use spinning gear when I need to.

Routinely for long casts with a 1/4 bait when I'm not target casting, 

but instead looking to cover water.

While there's a fairly wide array of bait's and presentations that will get bites early season,

a swim jig is one of those and an often over looked one at that.

The bite's usually pretty fun too.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

I agree with this, but the only difference I would have is that I would put paddle tails #1. They personally have worked for me better than anything.

But each fishermen has their "go-to" for anything

 

[Bdnoble84]

Do these count as a swim jig?  https://andyscustombasslures.com/product/marabou-pro-series-jig-2/
 

[roadwarrior]

You can swim any jig, but the one pictured is referred to as a hair jig.

[Bdnoble84]

22 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

You can swim any jig, but the one pictured is referred to as a hair jig.

I am aware, swim jig is a style of presentation. And a very popular presentation for a marabou jigs is to swim it midcolumn. Im just being goofy and in my mind, a marabou jig is an extremely finesse swimmer

[TnRiver46]

23 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

You can swim any jig, but the one pictured is referred to as a hair jig.

Marabou is from a chicken, and they ain’t got no hair! Haha

[Bdnoble84]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Marabou is from a chicken, and they ain’t got no hair! Haha

Because i like getting into the weeds and really messing with semantics, how bout this as a swim jig? ????

 

 

seriously though, ive thought about swim jigs early season as well but really havent tryed them a ton.