Swimjig question

[Swest18x]

So I don't use swimjigs much but I'm heading out to a lake where the conditions should be right to throw one. I put together a combination (jig+trailer) that is supposed to have great skirt action (as per Matt Allen). Today I tried it out, total dud, skirt just stays plastered to the bait with no pulsing at all. It got me thinking what could be wrong: any chance a snap ring is the way to go? Allowing the jig head to roll freer, getting the skirt to move more? I tied directly to the head, but won't have a chance to test out a snap ring before we leave for vacation, what do you think?

[MN Fisher]

I always tie direct to swim jigs - no split-ring/snap/whatever.

 

Dunno what could be causing the skirt to 'glue' to the trailer.

[12poundbass]

Living rubber jigs from @Siebert Outdoors

[Scott804]

What is said combo? 

 

I was gonna say maybe it is water temp... but that would be odd anywhere in the country in August. 

 

Either way, having skirt pulsation is nice, but it has been done via "The Alabama Shake" for years anyways, so maybe give that a go if you really need this skirt to pulse. Otherwise I would just fish it and see! Plenty of fish have been caught on swim jig setups without getting that secondary skirt action. Maybe it is the speed you are reeling it? 

[Pat Brown]

Okay, so a really important part of getting the right action out of your skirt is manicuring it nicely.  I like to turn it upside down and start feathering it out from the inside out cutting little bits of it out and kind of working my way down and get it to where the skirt is no longer impeding the trailer and also has kind of an unevenness to it and randomness and is thinner which is very critical for swim jigs.

 

Second, you need a trailer that really gets that thing thumping and I feel that the x zone swammer and the gambler EZ are second to none when it comes to making that skirt dance and the jig wiggle on the retrieve.

 

Out of the package, swim jigs often don't do a whole lot of much and if you got a trailer on it that doesn't thump hard, it's really not going to do much.

 

Give these tips a try and get back out there and work it real slow even letting it fall and hopping it and dragging it occasionally just like a normal jig. Work it around really nasty cover and places that normal people won't put their bait. Try to stay open-minded and you'll catch a giant.

[Swest18x]

Dirty Jigs 5/16 finesse swimjig with a 3.5 Largo shad. Also bringing a regular Dirty Jigs swimjig with a D Walker 120, and the 5.5 xzone cut down a bit, haven't tried those yet. I tried the x zone 3.5 mini swammer earlier this year on the finesse jig with same result. ?? 

 

Yep, I guess I can just shake it but was just wondering what's going on. Everybody has their own opinion on baits but with something this technical if it's between me or Matt Allen being wrong I'd say pretty good chance it'd be me. 

 

Makes sense about trimming the skirt, Dirty Jigs Finesse has a real light skirt to start, it seems. I'm not a jig guy though so it's all new to me. Wasn't fishing it real hard either, maybe that action just kicks in at a faster pace than my slow roll up to the boat?

[Buzzbaiter]

Trim it up a hair. The skirt material has more weight than you’d think; cutting it just a little bit shorter removes the extra weight holding the skirt back and makes the strands more springy. Give it a shot. You don’t need to give the jig a buzz cut, just nip a quarter inch off.

[softwateronly]

14 hours ago, Swest18x said:

Dirty Jigs 5/16 finesse swimjig with a 3.5 Largo shad. Also bringing a regular Dirty Jigs swimjig with a D Walker 120, and the 5.5 xzone cut down a bit, haven't tried those yet. I tried the x zone 3.5 mini swammer earlier this year on the finesse jig with same result. ?? 

 

Yep, I guess I can just shake it but was just wondering what's going on. Everybody has their own opinion on baits but with something this technical if it's between me or Matt Allen being wrong I'd say pretty good chance it'd be me. 

 

Makes sense about trimming the skirt, Dirty Jigs Finesse has a real light skirt to start, it seems. I'm not a jig guy though so it's all new to me. Wasn't fishing it real hard either, maybe that action just kicks in at a faster pace than my slow roll up to the boat?

 

I'm with @MN Fisher @Pat Brown and @Buzzbaiter

 

Direct tie and trim the skirt.  Don't give up on the slow roll either, that's a killer retrieve.  I like a reel chop every couple turns as well.  I fish those specific jigs and trailers, and it's a top level technique for me, keep at it a little longer to find when and where it works.  Best of luck!

 

scott

[Functional]

i use dirty jigs 3/8oz and just about exclusively use a FAT impact keitech. Ive tried a few different trailers but the FIK gives me the best wobble and action. The trailer can really make or break this lure.

 

As for Matt Allen Ive tried a few of his combos and lures and never felt impressed by them. Just my experience but nearly everything I've gotten from this site has worked much better. 

[WRB]

Hold the jig head down and pull the skirt strands apart so none are sticking together. Run warm water over the jig while holding head down. Hang on a wire by the hook bend head down. Using a hair drier on no heat blow the skirts while hanging on the wire. Leave the jigs hanging on the wire over night.

Should do this with all jigs!

Tom

[FryDog62]

I would actually vote for the Easy Shiner Keitech trailer instead of the FAT. The FAT has good action too, but the thickness does not leave much of a hook gap and can result in a lower hookup percentage, especially if that fish jumps. It's a lot of plastic!