3/8 oz Swim Jigs

Swim Jig experts, when do you bump up a 3/8 oz jig vs. a 1/4 oz?

I’ve done pretty well with 1/4 oz with a 5 inch grub trailer, but I’d like to bump up to 3/8 oz just simply for better casting, etc. Any real difference in how a 3/8 oz fishes versus a 1/4 oz?

Thanks,

KwikStik

I prefer the 1/4oz for two reasons – slower fall & slower retreive. However 3/8 and 1/2 certainly have their place. I use the heavier for deeper water, thicker weeds, tight reeds, deep timber, and dirty water. A lot of it is instinct when to go heavier.

Didn’t know they even made 1/4 ounce. I have never thrown one. I thought 3/8 was small. Go big or go home! On a serious note, in applications where I need a more subtle presentation I will throw a texas rigged tube with a pegged torpedo sinker vs a small jig based on how it darts when falling.

I’ve only thrown 1/4 oz jigs. I do have a few bigger 3/8 or 1/2 jigs but rarely throw them. Like randy said if the weeds are thick or want to fish deeper a bigger jig works better. Once you add a 5″ grub that extra wieght should make casting much easier. Have you ever tried a jumbo sized trailer, They are still 5″ but a bigger wider body and tail. You can really slow these baits down and work great for slow rolling over logs or rocks. Dan

I throw 1/8 a lot of times, especially when fishing slop.

I mostly stay on or near the main channel and I often burn it up shallow, but then I like to work down the drop off and I thought the 3/8 oz might give me a bit more depth control. Thanks for the comments!

The fish will tell you what sort of action they like best. I don’t pin down situation “A” with jig weight “A” and situation “B” with jig weight “B” when it comes to bass. Sometimes a little heavier jig head with a quicker drop rate triggers strikes. Other times stacked breaks and weed edges holding fish act like would be survivors piling out of a burning building to get out of the way of that bottom pounding heavy hog. That’s a situation where you hook the slow-poke in the and drag him to the boat. Yet a smaller weight with a corresponding slower drop in the same local and you’re in business! Go figure.

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Any real difference in how a 3/8 oz fishes versus a 1/4 oz?

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In my experience, you just run a little deeper with the 3/8 oz or you need to reel a bit faster to get a 3/8 oz to run the same depth.

If you want to keep your jig in the same part of the water column but increase your speed, bump up to the 3/8th jig. If you fish a jig enough you will learn there are scenarios that require this…

aka, when the water temps are in full swing, this doesn’t give them as much time to find the flaws in your bait.

I know they use that at the Madison Chain to rip off the bottom around the weed flats. They stay alot more weed free than a normal jig.

I’ve gone as heavy as 5/8ths to keep the jig in the water in thick pads.

John

I like the 1/4 oz. myself just to keep it on top better….but i guess i havnt thrown a 3/8 ounce yet but im sure it has its place

1/4 oz for me, too. I haven’t had to many situations where I’ve needed a heavier jig. I don’t fish tourneys anymore and mostly fish shallow structure.

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I know they use that at the Madison Chain to rip off the bottom around the weed flats. They stay alot more weed free than a normal jig.

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I’ve been swimming a 1/2oz cyclops around the chain this spring with some pretty good luck