Bluegill-Imitating: Swim Jig vs. Straight-Up Bluegill Swimbait (Not Paddletail)

[NeroXyn]

Swim jig, paired with the right trailer, can liven up the bait as the skirt acts as "secondary" actions, such as moving fins and gills.

On the other, in similar sizes (around 3 to 5 inches), there are also bluegill swimbaits that literally look like them. (such as Savage Gear RTF, Savage Gear Structure Gills, Berkley Gilly).

With that said, what is the point of using one or another? If I were pond fishing and most ponds generally have bluegills, should not I just go straight bluegill swimbait rather than swim jig?

 

Even if weedless-ness is an issue, Savage Gear also has Structure gills and Pulse Tail LB that are weedless.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Screenshot cr: TacticalBassin

 

[Big Swimbait]

For ponds, I personally would fish the swimbait. The swim jig comes in to play for me when I have to rip it through the grass or need a faster retrieve speed. Let the bass tell you for sure.

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, NeroXyn said:

With that said, what is the point of using one or another?

Feeding fish are often keyed in on a size and profile. Sometimes they'll bite anything, but when they're keyed in you need to give them want they want, not what you'd like them to eat or think they should be eating.

 

I have that Savage Gear gill in 4" inch, and threw it the past two nights in a gill filled lake. Not a sniff regardless of how I changed retrieves. Tied on a chatterbait and caught every fish in the same zone I threw the gill. Tomorrow it might be the opposite. The fish will let you know. 

[Hammer 4]

3 hours ago, Big Swimbait said:

For ponds, I personally would fish the swimbait. The swim jig comes in to play for me when I have to rip it through the grass or need a faster retrieve speed. Let the bass tell you for sure.

I agree with this, but there are weedless swimbaits, like the Mattlures bluegill, that can get through grass ect, most of the time. 

There's a time and place for either lure, the bass will let ya know pretty quick which one they want.

[ChrisD46]

*Not to thread jack - but what are some of the better quality / value Bluegill imitating swim baits now available ? I definitely see more of them offered now ?

[Deleted account]

Different lures for different conditions. The swim jig is a jig (duh), and it's more about the speed and the action (as dictated by the trailer) and the swimbait is more of a steady retrieve clear water sight based lure.

[king fisher]

I have no idea which one the bass will want, but I would buy that jig.  That is an awesome looking jig.  

[Big Swimbait]

12 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Not to thread jack - but what are some of the better quality / value Bluegill imitating swim baits now available ? I definitely see more of them offered now ?

A few that work really well for me:

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megabass_Sleeper_Gill_Swimbaits/descpage-MBSG.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Savage_Gear_3D_RTF_Bluegill_Swimbait/descpage-SGRTB.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Smash-Tech_Custom_Baits_Bluegill_Line-Thru_Swimbaits/descpage-SMASBG.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Jackall_Gantarel_Jr_Swimbaits/descpage-JGANJR.html

[PhishLI]

12 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Not to thread jack - but what are some of the better quality / value Bluegill imitating swim baits now available ? I definitely see more of them offered now ?

Try this one in Dope Gill on a 6/0 Owner Beast Hook weighted 1/4oz. It really needs a keel weighted hook to run correctly, plus it's tall in the belly, so it needs the Beast 6/0 at a minimum.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Beast_Coast_Miyagi_Swimmer_3pk/descpage-EMS.html

 

I have a good selection of real looking gill swimmers like MattLures, etc. I do far better in my bluegill lakes with the Miyagi than any of those. 1 1/2 lbers will gobble it as well as bigs. They come through most anything cleanly. Very weedless. Weighs an ounce rigged on that hook, so at least solid 5 power rod is super necessary to throw it and send the Beast home. It might work for you.

 

Miyagi shown rigged on the Beast hook on lower right and one up. Berkeley Champ Swimmers shown above it.

[PressuredFishing]

Apples and oranges

[NeroXyn]

5 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

Apples and oranges

You don't say. But they are fruit regardless and we eat them.

so how do you use differently one to another?

[PressuredFishing]

10 minutes ago, NeroXyn said:

You don't say. But they are fruit regardless and we eat them.

so how do you use differently one to another?

Disregarding baits like the megabass sleeper gill and other small bluegill swimbaits, swimbait bluegill are usually big (1-3+oz) and are used on swimbait rods to target bigger bass. Swimjigs are a smaller profile around and in cover, bluegill swimbaits are open water and occasionally near/in lighter cover. 

 

Berkley gilly is a unique new bait and falls into a small swimming bluegill swimbait category, they look more natural and put off less vibration, therefor may do better in clearer water. Most swimjigs are built around heavy heavy hooks, even many finesse swimjigs, where the Berkley gilly and other small bluegill swimbaits can be used on medium or medium heavy. True finesse swimjigs that don't have the thick wire hooks can be interexchangeable with the Berkley gilly.

[ChrisD46]

16 hours ago, Big Swimbait said:

A few that work really well for me:

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megabass_Sleeper_Gill_Swimbaits/descpage-MBSG.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Savage_Gear_3D_RTF_Bluegill_Swimbait/descpage-SGRTB.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Smash-Tech_Custom_Baits_Bluegill_Line-Thru_Swimbaits/descpage-SMASBG.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Jackall_Gantarel_Jr_Swimbaits/descpage-JGANJR.html

*Thanks - good selection there but what I was really referring to are the life like , jointed bluegill swim baits with treble hooks ? 

[fishballer06]

Swim jig is going to offer better hookup ratio, easier and more accurate to cast, and less specialized gear to throw. Give me a swim jig. 

 

The big swimbait is a specialized bait if I'm just going for that one huge fish. 

[Big Swimbait]

17 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Thanks - good selection there but what I was really referring to are the life like , jointed bluegill swim baits with treble hooks ? 

Here you go. The Bull Gill is easily my fav in this list.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mattlures_Hardgill_Swimbaits/descpage-MLHGSB.html

 

https://thehookuptackle.com/products/explorer-gill-6?_pos=6&_sid=ab3dce0c3&_ss=r&variant=41771056169127

 

https://thehookuptackle.com/products/bull-shooter-160-floating?_pos=19&_sid=ab3dce0c3&_ss=r&variant=36347108851879

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Triton_Mike_Buccas_Bull_Gill_Slow_Sinking_Swimbait/descpage-TMBGS.html

 

[WRB]

When a bluegill is swimming forward the dorsal fin is down, the pectorals tucked tight to the side and gills are not moving. This applies to all sunfish family including bass.

The bluegill fins are used to stabilize the fish and turn when not moving are moving very slowly.

I have no idea what a bass thinks a swim jig looks like other then something moving that appears to be live prey.

Spawning bass guarding a nest or watching a nest area instinctively knows bluegill are egg eaters and attack them.

The more natural a swimbait looks like a bluegill around the nest sites the better it works.

Otherwise take your pick and use what you feel will work.

Tom 

[Darth-Baiter]

I like how a Ganatral does that odd freaky u-turn when you do a hard twitch and stop the bait.  I had a big bass hit it so hard when I was simply standing up watching the bait do it's thing.  I think even a bass giving your bait a hard pass will reconsider when a bait turns around and gives it the stink eye.

 

I dont love tossing it because I dont seem to have the right rod set up.  too heavy.  but man is it fun when a bass comes up for it.  maybe my snaggiest hard bait as well.