I was wondering what everyone's preference was for swim jigs. What is the weight size used most often and do you prefer a regular or thick hook?
Mine vary in weight from 1/8 to 1/2oz but 3/8 is what I use most often because of the buoyancy of the paddle tail trailers. As for hooks the Mustad 32724 5/0 is what has worked the best. This setup works great for my MH 12lb Floro rod outfit that I use.
Allen
I mostly use 1/4 and 3/8 ounce, and I tend to lean towards lighter or normal wire hooks because I don't fish around a lot of heavy weeds or timber.
I prefer 3/8 with a 5/0 hook. I like a little heavier weed guard juat for the fact that if i need to pitch to heavy cover i can and fish it like a normal jig.
3/8-1/2 oz jigs with hooks on the lighter side. I've never straightened one, and the hook-up rates seem a little better.
For the northern/bullet/finesse style I use 1/4 to 3/8. I prefer the lighter wire hooks.
When using the Cali/poison tail style I use 3/8 and 1/2 oz and prefer larger and more stout hooks like a Mustad Ultra point or bigger Gammy.
3/8 oz foe me all day.With trailer you right about 1/2 oz.Great casting distance to cover more water.
I use a 5/16oz Original Swim Jig and a 3/8oz Flippin Jig from North Star Baits...
I prefer a small, compact 1/4oz bait but I pour them on a heavy hook because I fish them through water willows on braid. I like a twin tail grub for a trailer on mine.
http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Swim-Jig-902.htm
3/8 oz Siebert Outdoors "Swim Jig"
For trailers I use the Rage Tail Shellcracker, Menace, Space Monkey and Structure Bug.
I use a 1/4oz or 3/8oz most of the time. I use a 3/0 on the 1/4oz and a 4/0 on the 3/8oz and I've used standard wire hooks, light wire hooks and heavy wire hooks and that standard wire seems to work best for me. I do use the 4/0 32724 on swim jigs I'm using for smallmouth on the river as I'm not in grass and I'm using them on 8lb to 10lb line depending on water clarity. I use a heavy wire hook when I'm in pads or heavy brush, I can pull it off a limb without the hook being bent out. So I make a few for different situations but for the most part it is 1/4oz and 3/8oz with a 32886 in a 3/0 and 4/0.
3/8 and 1/2 oz...I tie my own mainly because we like natural rubber for at least part of the skirt because the action seems better than plain silicone skirts . Hook size and strength vary depending on where I get the jig heads but all are 4/0 or 5/0 and at least standard strength...no light wire ever. We like Ragetail craws, Menace grubs, 5" single tail grubs and paddletail swimbaits for trailers. Rod is 6'6" med/fast and reel is Lew's Super Duty spooled with 30# braid and a 12# fluoro leader.
I like a "bullet" style head, with a large heavy hook.
1/4 oz gets the call in super shallow water, 3/8's is my "do all" size, and 1/2 oz for burning, or running along deeper outside grass lines.
I have found the Boss swim jig heads to be a good value, and they fit my uses well. I use my own home made skirts.
The Boss swim jig heads also work well as a lighter grass flipping jig too, so they are right up my ally in the versatility department.
Bullet head 3/8 with a thinner skirt and a swim bait trailer.
1/4 for real shallow or slow, 1/2 for anytime i don't have to trow the 1/4. I like the sk hack attack swim jig.
For me 1/2 oz. and then 3/8. 1/2 oz. for a bit deeper water and distance and I can slow down a bit with the 3/8.
1/4oz light wire when up shallow around the spawn or working docks, 3/8oz heavy or light wire when working weed edges, and 3/8oz light wire when slow rolling over the bottom. When going straight into weeds or pads, I'll use a 3/8 or 1/2oz heavy wire.
I use Lethal Weapon swim jigs. Lethal Weapon II are light wire, and Lethal Weapon IV are heavy wire.
On 4/12/2017 at 7:19 AM, kickerfish1 said:For the northern/bullet/finesse style I use 1/4 to 3/8. I prefer the lighter wire hooks.
When using the Cali/poison tail style I use 3/8 and 1/2 oz and prefer larger and more stout hooks like a Mustad Ultra point or bigger Gammy.
Same for me. I normally fish the northern/bullet style with a lighter hook, thinner skirt and a grub trailer. Brovarney makes a great one.
Occasionally I will fish the California style as a bigger presentation. I use a fuller skirt, heavier head and normally a larger swimbait style trailer. I really like the Warbait jigs and Big Hammer trailers.
Chris McCall's Rayburn Swim Jig
Chris McCall's Rayburn Siwash Swim Jig
Chirs McCall's Rayburn Finesse Swim Jig
U. S. Military Tribute Rayburn Swim Jig
All made by Santone Lures
http://www.santonelures.com/store/store_sub.cfm?Category_ID=3
I base all my tackle choices on the structure and cover I'm fishing. Wood cover requires beefier line, rod, hooks, and with weeds and rocks it depends. I'll swim and arkie style jig just about anywhere, including over weed beds that I know are uniform. I'll switch to a pointed jig with a fairly stout hook for weeds with a lot of pockets or ones that are growing on an uneven bottom. The reason I opt for the arkie style more often than not is I can fish it in many different ways, including letting it fall to the bottom and crawling it along. If the cover changes on a piece of structure, or there's another type of cover mixed in with it, I just switch up my presentation without having to switch baits.
I use dirty jigs California swim jigs from 3/8 oz up to 3/4 oz. I use kietechs, grubs, rage claws, and RI skinny dippers for trailers.
Lethal Weapon IV Swim Jig (for over the counter stuff) - mostly 3/8. I also throw 1/4oz. Keitechs and Rage Menace are what I use most of the time trailer wise.
I like the 1/4 and 3/8 oz Terminator Swim Jigs. They've always worked well for me and I mix it up with the trailer at times, but the majority of the time I use a boot tail swimbait.
Dirty Jigs California Swim Jig in 3/8 or 1/2 oz in the crappie color is a killer for me. Other good choices are Revenge swim jigs. The 6th Sense swim jigs are also very nice
1/4oz thinner wire
Soft plastic choice will effect weight and depth covered.
1/2oz with trailer will weigh 3/4oz if not more.
If i need to fish that deep a swim jig isnt my first choice!
Going to be my first season trying out swim jigs. Picked up 3 2K deposits, 3 lifted jigs 38swims all 3/8 ounce. Want to add something to the arsenal, seems on calm sunny days the spinnerbait isn't as effective for me. I shore fish and a 30 to 40 yard cast gets to maybe 4ft deep.
a grass style jig and a menace grub make a versatile swim/pitch bait. 1/4 - 3/8oz usually for me.
I use a lot of 1/4 ounce to fish slow in shallower water, 3/8 for mid depths, and 1/2 for depths over 12 feet. Pepper Custom baits Fred Roumbanis Swim Jig is by far the best, in Gilly Gal, Green Pumpkin, and Black Blue. I use matching trailers, usually Zoom Fat Alberts, Mr. Twister Split Double Tails, and Zoom Swimmin' Chunks.