Swimming Jigs

[basswest1]

Im interested to see what techniques and tackle you impliment while swimming jigs.  Do you use white jigs.........or natural colors?  Do you use a slow steady retrieve or a up and down retrieve?  What kind of trailers do you prefer?

[Papa_Tom]

Starting with tackle...I use an SF Curado (not the new model) on a 6'6" and 7' Fenwick HMG MH power medium action rods.  These rods are great for this technique.  LONG casts.  Let them take it for a second, you should see the jig fully in their mouth when you bring him in.  If I am in a lake with grass I will always be spooled with PowerPro 30/8.  If not I may have 12 or 15 # Big Game green.  

There are multiple styles of swim jigs out there.  Some guys just use regular casting jigs.  I really like the Brovarney swim jig.  Quality made, comes thru whatever I want to throw it in.  Soft, sparse weedguard.  Well tied skirts in a multitude of colors.

For the most part, I try to imitate either shad or bream in my colors.  You don't have to get real exotic with the color.  (Well, I may not have followed this piece of advice.)  White or silver with a Zoom or GYCB single trailer.  Smoke or clear with some silver metalflake is really good.  Also use anything I think will represent a bream.

I like to keep it in the top of the column when possible, over the cover.  I usually bring it back pretty quick.  However, there are days to slow roll it as well.  Nothing wrong with swimming it just off the bottom.

You can cover a lot of water with this technique and have a lot of fun.