School me! swim jigs/swimming a jig

[Bullet3119]

Alright let's hear your tips, suggestions, what to do, and what not to do on swim jigs and swimming a jig. I will admit it's something that I've never really tried. Looking to try it some this year, looking for advice.

[Curt]

I've only done this a small amount, but I do know it can be deadly at times.

When I have done it, I will typically cast the jig out and then begin a medium speed retrieve, giving it a short little pause or twitch every few seconds to see if that will trigger a strike from a following bass that I might not know is there.

I know a lot of buys like to use craw style trailers, but I tend to go against the grain and use a twintail grub instead. A swim jig is supposed to be imitating a baitfish more than a craw, so using that twintail grub creates more swimming action than a craw trailer can, imitating a baitfish better.

I'm sure there are tons more things that can be done with this setup, but that's what I've learned about it so far.

[Bullet3119]

That's pretty much what I planned on trying. 

[JackJ]

It's predominately what I throw most of the time.    I use something like a Dirty Jig swim jig, with a Paca Chunk Senior or a Zoom Ultravibe trailer in the grass thrown on 50 lb braid.    For outside the grass I will throw a bladed swim jig with a swim bait type trailer on heavy fluro line.

Swim jigs are great because you can throw into the grass and still pull it through, and that's where it really shines.

[Bullet3119]

Do you use them with success when grass isn't present at all?

[JackJ]

Not near as much for me, thats when you need to throw the bladed one.

[Curt]

Do you use them with success when grass isn't present at all?

I usually only fish them in or around cover, like submergent grass or sparse lily pads. I honestly don't think I've ever fished them in open water areas. And anything I posted above is for a standard swim jig, with no blade.

Bladed jigs, on the other hand, I throw a lot! I fish them just about anywhere, shallow or deep (up to 12 fow) and will almost always use a soft plastic swimbait body on the hook as a trailer. These things catch some big fish.

[Jig Man]

I fish them quite a bit.  I like to use the lightest weight possible (1/4 or 3/8) except in stump fields.  I like white, white/blue, white/red and white/chart.  I use a knockoff of the Zoom swim chunk as a trailer.  One thing I learned is to not set the hook when I feel a fish take hold. I just keep reeling and let the fish hook itself.

In stump fields I use a 1 oz jig and let it bounce off stumps as I swim it back.  I have found that lighter weights don't get me the strikes in the stumps that the heavier ones do.

[Wizard]

I use them in place of spinnerbaits in many situations. I fish a clear strand shad imitator in very clear water; sometimes down to 20 ft.. I use a Kalin's 5in Clear Holographic single tail grub as a trailer. I'll try natural colors for the most part but will use a hot pink swim jig as a shock bait.

[Curt]

I fish them quite a bit.  I like to use the lightest weight possible (1/4 or 3/8) except in stump fields.  I like white, white/blue, white/red and white/chart.  I use a knockoff of the Zoom swim chunk as a trailer.  One thing I learned is to not set the hook when I feel a fish take hold. I just keep reeling and let the fish hook itself.

In stump fields I use a 1 oz jig and let it bounce off stumps as I swim it back.  I have found that lighter weights don't get me the strikes in the stumps that the heavier ones do.

Thanks @Jig Man! That's some great info

I agree 100% with the lighter weights, but I've never really fished stump fields with them. They are few and far between here in the Northeast.

[Bullet3119]

Thanks guys

[pondhopper424]

I have only been fishing a jig for about 4 years so I have not yet tried it all but I can offer this;
I fish a few lakes that have nothing but rock and weeds (strip pit lakes) and the smaller (3/8 >) jigs have been bass killers! A couple of years ago Jig Man sent me some custom colors that he made and they proved to be the best I found for swimming grass. He can tell you the color but for the most part their green. I know that sounds a bit odd to use green in green weeds but hey, it works! I generally use a single tailed 3” smoke grub and cast it to the bank, then start hanging it up and jerking it free.
I generally do not throw this bait until after 10 AM. Once the sun is up and the fish duck to cover it produces. It also works if you can find bass feeding on shad in the open.