Lets talk Swimjigs!

[caddyjoe77]

hooksets.  ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up. 

i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize    It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side.   How are you all landing your swimjig fish?

[hydrillagorillahunter]

joe it depends on my setup...rod and line being used.  i only run two setups...a 6'10" medium expride with 30-40# sunline sx1 braid/maxcuatro 40# and a 6'11" medium+ adrena with 12-15# sniper/assassin fluoro.  i never throw more than a 5/16oz swimjig.  lately, i've been throwing the bill lowen 1/4oz swimjigs.  the braid setup is really for when the grass is a just a bit much.  the majority of the time i'm running on the fluoro setup.  i'll run 14# sniper if I'm wanting to put a little more into the hooksets or if i'm around bigger fish.  i do like to throw 12# assassin quite often but you're limited to reel sets instead of big sweeping hooksets.  the heaviest i'll go is 15# assassin which has never failed me; i've never broken off with 15# assassin.  assassin has less stretch than sniper to help with those fluoro hooksets.

regarding hooksets, i typically like for them to take it and wait a little bit as i feel them start to turn out.  i probably hold my rod tip at the 9 o'clock position or if i'm running through grass i'll point it directly at the grass to allow for the swimjig to knife through.  all my hooksets are side sweeps to some degree.  rarely am i lifting abruptly upwards.   missing with a swim jig happens, but if it's happening often for you the first couple of things i'd ask are you rod and line setups and type of swim jigs you're running.

also, i know many prefer 7-3 heavy action rods etc...but i kayak and bassraider quite a bit and really need 7' or just under and have had great success with the aforementioned setups above.

 

[merc1997]

hooksets.  ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up. 

i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize    It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side.   How are you all landing your swimjig fish?

it is because of the design of the jig.  by the design of what most are throwing, they are much more prone to try to come out of the mouth with the hook flat.  simply mechanics of the design and nothing else.

bo

[Deadeye]

hooksets.  ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up. 

i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize    It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side.   How are you all landing your swimjig fish?

it is because of the design of the jig.  by the design of what most are throwing, they are much more prone to try to come out of the mouth with the hook flat.  simply mechanics of the design and nothing else.

bo

I use the Pointed Head Jigs designed and built for swimming with a Single Weed Guard and I almost NEVER miss a fish that took a Swimjig.

The Key is like most any bait, you must wait until you feel the weight of the Fish before setting the hook.

If they are swimming at you after taking the Jig you need to take up the slack first. Sideways you need to make sure the line is tight or close to it. Swimming away, well that should be obvious.

Sometimes the Bite is a sudden stop, or added weight, or a THUMP or whatever. The more you fish with a Swimjig or ANY swimming bait the better you will get at knowing when the fish has taken the bait and when to set the hook.

I've used both Upward and Sideward Hooksets, it all DEPENDS on the How's and Where's of the Bite.

and like I started with, it is Rare to miss a Fish that has taken a Swimjig. If they want it, they want it and there is usually no doubt about it.

[fishballer06]

Those Bill Lowen heads are the best swimjig head I have found.

If you prefer going the production route, my nod goes to Dirty Jigs.

[caddyjoe77]

hooksets.  ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up. 

i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize    It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side.   How are you all landing your swimjig fish?

it is because of the design of the jig.  by the design of what most are throwing, they are much more prone to try to come out of the mouth with the hook flat.  simply mechanics of the design and nothing else.

bo

thats what i was thinking in my peabrain mind 

[caddyjoe77]

hooksets.  ive missed several fish recently on grass edges that i feel i should have picked up. 

i usually keep my rod tip at about 10 or 2 depending on which side of the clock you want to visualize    It seems like the hookset should be straight up and down but i lose fish or they are hooked in the side.   How are you all landing your swimjig fish?

it is because of the design of the jig.  by the design of what most are throwing, they are much more prone to try to come out of the mouth with the hook flat.  simply mechanics of the design and nothing else.

bo

I use the Pointed Head Jigs designed and built for swimming with a Single Weed Guard and I almost NEVER miss a fish that took a Swimjig.

The Key is like most any bait, you must wait until you feel the weight of the Fish before setting the hook.

If they are swimming at you after taking the Jig you need to take up the slack first. Sideways you need to make sure the line is tight or close to it. Swimming away, well that should be obvious.

Sometimes the Bite is a sudden stop, or added weight, or a THUMP or whatever. The more you fish with a Swimjig or ANY swimming bait the better you will get at knowing when the fish has taken the bait and when to set the hook.

I've used both Upward and Sideward Hooksets, it all DEPENDS on the How's and Where's of the Bite.

and like I started with, it is Rare to miss a Fish that has taken a Swimjig. If they want it, they want it and there is usually no doubt about it.

thank you.  I guess i am too early sometimes.  I feel the double tap or the one big thump and set the hook normally. 

[caddyjoe77]

joe it depends on my setup...rod and line being used.  i only run two setups...a 6'10" medium expride with 30-40# sunline sx1 braid/maxcuatro 40# and a 6'11" medium+ adrena with 12-15# sniper/assassin fluoro.  i never throw more than a 5/16oz swimjig.  lately, i've been throwing the bill lowen 1/4oz swimjigs.  the braid setup is really for when the grass is a just a bit much.  the majority of the time i'm running on the fluoro setup.  i'll run 14# sniper if I'm wanting to put a little more into the hooksets or if i'm around bigger fish.  i do like to throw 12# assassin quite often but you're limited to reel sets instead of big sweeping hooksets.  the heaviest i'll go is 15# assassin which has never failed me; i've never broken off with 15# assassin.  assassin has less stretch than sniper to help with those fluoro hooksets.

regarding hooksets, i typically like for them to take it and wait a little bit as i feel them start to turn out.  i probably hold my rod tip at the 9 o'clock position or if i'm running through grass i'll point it directly at the grass to allow for the swimjig to knife through.  all my hooksets are side sweeps to some degree.  rarely am i lifting abruptly upwards.   missing with a swim jig happens, but if it's happening often for you the first couple of things i'd ask are you rod and line setups and type of swim jigs you're running.

also, i know many prefer 7-3 heavy action rods etc...but i kayak and bassraider quite a bit and really need 7' or just under and have had great success with the aforementioned setups above.

I believe most of my swimjigs are 3/8 oz.  I do have some 5/16

my setups are a couple. have a 7' med heavy fast with 8:1 reel and 50 pound braid.  That normally is the one that is in the grass.  I might need to consider a lighter jig until the grass gets really thick over the next month. 

also throw a 6'10 with 17 pound flouro for around docks. 

seems there is a theme of perhaps waiting just a little longer to set.  the ones that really thump it, easy to catch.  Its the ones that kinda do the double tap might need to wait just a split second longer. 

[hydrillagorillahunter]

Yup Joe...like another wrote above...waiting as you feel the fish commit and feeling the weight of the fish tells me it's committed plus I have this notion that the slight tension that allows the feedback acts as a fish trying to.break free which makes the fish commit and really clamp down on the bait.

[chrisD46]

*Do you throw 3/8th oz. or 1/4 oz. size swim jigs the most - or does it depend on the season / circumstances ?

[chrisD46]

Good thread ... For me a variety of 1/4 oz. to 3/8th oz. swim jigs in Pearl White , Bluegill , Black & Blue , or Green Pumpkin colors . I like a variety of matching trailers in paddle tail or craw styles ... The 1/4th oz. size is to "float" the swim jig  to keep it over the strike zone longer and the 3/8th oz. when I want to speed the retrieve up . *Lastly , search : "Bill Lowen and Tom Monsoor who are absolute  magicians with a swim jig !! ... *Greg Hackney is also very good to search -  albeit his still of fishing swim jigs is akin to heavy the : "Mortal Kombat" or "Greco - Roman Wrestling school of swim jigs" !! (lol)

[BassmanRudy]

Almost always 3/8 oz for me. Just a "comfort" level weight that feels the same casting as other lures weighted the same. Chatterbaits/spinnerbaits/Texas rigs 3/8 just feels right.

Dirty jigs is my current favorite swim jig but I'll try almost any of em if it looks right. A smaller company I've bought from has a wide gap hook and that has really helped land some fish.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[Deadeye]

Seems like most of mine are 3/8 or 1/2.

I like the Strike King Hack Attack Swim Jigs. They are built for fishing in more heavy cover, like the grass we have here in Florida. Heavier Hook with a Bigger Gap then some others.