swimming jigs

well, with mr monsoor doing well swimming his jig i thought i might bring this subject back up. How (and when) do some others swim a jig and what trailers (ie single tail grub, dt grub, chunk, worm, etc). I have experimented with this with minimal success- both steady retrieve and with up and down motions of the rod. I usually use a single tail grub or a regular chunk.

Single-tail grub (big one) retrieved *very* quickly above grass, pads, or shallow flats… new to my techniques in 2004… seemed effective to search fish out and when the reation bite was hot, otherwise, slower techniques served me better. Sure is exciting fishing, though…

Quote:

---

Single-tail grub (big one) retrieved *very* quickly above grass, pads, or shallow flats… new to my techniques in 2004… seemed effective to search fish out and when the reation bite was hot, otherwise, slower techniques served me better. Sure is exciting fishing, though…

---

Isn’t that what spinnerbaits are for??????

The secret has been out for some time now.I will always back up a jig presentation with a swimming presentation,.especilay on river.I like twin tail grubs as trailer.

Pitbull… I’m sure you know the many spots that spinners can’t get ’cause they get “gooey” from slimey algae, etc… swimming a jog replaces the spinner… a beautiful and easy solution for late summer searchin’

swimming jigs have always been attached too, Tommy M. The secret is all in the presentation! This technique has separated those who use it from those who continue to talk about it. Size is a factor, hook attitude in relation to jig eye, color seems to be the biggest separation. Hint( what swims fast over top of grass and through pads and looks good to eat?). It may not be what you think!!! I had some interesting conversation with a member of the so-called “old guard” they are trying to figure out how this tried and true method has all of a sudden re-emerged!!! Success, ah that might be it. I’ve watch T.M. kick my butt 20′ behind and in front of us by applying one simple rule; throw it where NO one else would!!

finally got some time behind the keyboard BD280? Call me with them dates! Your right tough, throw where you think knowone else will and you may be suprised.

Swimming jigs?

For the longest time I was sure that this was some sort of magic that Jimmy & Tom performed. Then, I began to try to understand. Here’s what I understand thus far.

One color, for me, works way better than the others. Why? I have a few answers that make sense to me, but when I tried to extend those answer’s reasoning to other colors, then the reasoning didn’t work.

Ok, a blue gill. Blue, green, chart, some black and purple and a bit of white or a light color on the belly. When I tie up a jig with what I believe resemble a blue gill and swim it, I get squat; when I tie up a jig that looks pretty, according to my wife, it works (that just blows me away). It also doesn’t resemble any bait fish that I’m aware of existing on this planet.

So, the perceived color of the bait fish has to change witht the intensity of light as it penetrates the water.

Blue gills, shad and craws. That’s what they eat. What about frogs and rats? I’ve never caught a bass on a frog that looked like a frog.

Ok, Tom, according to http://www.bassfan.com, used black/blue/pink 1/4oz jig. Now, what strikes me is the color pink! Pink? Pink. I’ve never seen a bait fish even approaching that color, but do we see the color pink differently from how the bass sees pink?

Look, I’ve talked with a few folks who use this technique, and I’ve asked about colors. Now, there seems to be a base color of black, blue and brown. But other than rats and craws, I cannot come up with any other prey that sports those colors.

You see, I’m not merely after where to throw these jigs; I want to UNDERSTAND WHY the various color combinations work as they do so that I have some reasoning behind my choices of what I may throw in a given situation.

I’ve never seen a red shad worm on the bank. Red shad -It works.
I’ve never seen a chartruese bait fish. Chartruese works.
Never seen anything pink. It works! Pink of all colors (cry-key)!
Hey, what about black neon?
(Though, I do remember seeing some of these colors in the world when I was youner).

Ok, I’m four hours from pool 8. As far as I’m concerned, poll 8 is great. Now, Jimmy and Tom, and any other boys who are good seem to have one thing in common. They’re on that water, fishing all the time; after a numer of years, they’re going to understand. So, maybe that Johnson/Monsoor magic is their time on the water, experimenting. I buy that. But the color combinations make me scratch my head (rats, snakes and craws do answer a part of the question for me).

Ok, do you guys follow me?

Am I approaching the understanding? I think so.

Ok, any ideas, regarding my color theory, well, line of thinking?

I’d like to hear from you. If you’d rather not share them here, pm me.

Thanks,

OnTheWater

my take on the pink is:
everyone does research on patterns, techniques, colors, style of forage, etc…
now incorperate that into your favorite tackle, if you will..
shrimp is a key factor in tidal waters, in which hot pink snagless sallies are hot down there, plus a bait called DOA shimp in the SAME pattern- see things starting to be the same?!
Now introduce that color into your favorite bait, know you have the confidence to search properly
this is just an example of what a part of the thinking what goes on into these jigs

Obviously we all have our own favorite colors, and why pink works is a good question, but does part of it have to do that fish only know 3 things (as far as i’m concerned):
EAT
REPRODUCE &
SURVIVE…
thus there predatory instincts take over and they plow the “pretty” pink worm simply to survive?

Any thoughts on that aspect?…and please dont’ get me wrong,,,i know colors are important and play an intrical part in catching fish…

ie: Blue’s Purple Passion jig

Here are my thoughts on the color pink.

What color is bluegill, shad and crawfish flesh?? Have you ever seen a predator go after a wounded baitfish? Have you ever noticed what color a wound on a bluegill looks like? Is the color pink beginning to make some sense now?

These last posts have helped me to understand much more! Thanks alot.

Here’s an interesting site, regarding blue gills. The color issue is becoming clearer:

http://www.dto.com/fwfishing/species/generalprofile.jsp?speciesid=298

Pink? Pink is good.

A few tournaments ago, if ya didn’t have something with pink tied on, you were not getting bit. This happened after the spawn. Probably at the begining of blue gill spawn.

This was ocurring on pool ten, I believe. Any thoughts? Gills rubed themselves raw and were easy pickings?

Thanks,

OnTheWater

I have 2 pink Poes challow cranks that can be very effective at times on the river. I cannot find this color pattern around anymore. I take a pink marking pen to color an all white crank too. Pink strands in the white skirt of a spinnerbait can also be the difference in getting a few interested and a few in the boat.

That being said I think that most fish will hit any number of colors but at times appear to be color selective. I also color or dye white tubes pink for bed fishing!

Now you have the entire sum of my secrets!!

Ok, if you swim jigs, which color is your favorite ? Why? Which pray does that jig represent?

Thanks,

OnTheWater

I have had success with Blue/Black on dark days and White/Pearl on sunny days… but, that is only my humble opinion.

In regards to why pink is successful, I always have assumed that the pink in a jig, spinner, etc would imitate the gills that some fish seem to have. I don’t know if that is the case, but it has always made sense to me. Which isn’t saying much.
Steve

Great information. One question though is what size of trailer to use (4″, 5″).

A while back I also had an article from Yamamoto Custom baits that detailed Champman’s techniques for swimmin jigs but have since deleted the link. Does anyone still have access to it?

Larson,

Have a paper copy that I keep next to my heart. I hope this is link is still active http://www.insideline.net/articles/swim-jigs.html.

Riverfan – the link expired… any chance you could scan it in and share?

Or, perhaps Champman will…….

Im with reel guy, i had this same link saved on my computer but it doesnt work from there either- link expired or something. Would love to read it again.
thanks to all for the input, i am excited about trying it out again this year, along with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater, jigs, worms, tubes, senkos, etc, etc, etc- come on thaw!!!

Guy’s

I’ll try to scan it this evening.

Hey Guys,
Here is a link to a Jimmy Johnson Article on Swimming Jigs.
http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/swim-jigs.shtml
Good Article Hope this helps.

hhmmmm…….didn’t see any pink in those jigs.

Did anyone see the interview with Monsoor in BassDozer’s newsletter? I just got it yesterday. I just started swimming jigs over lilly pads last summer, it can be exposive. I went into a back slough south of Prairie that I had to hold my trolling motor up to get into and the bass hammer the jig cast after cast. A couple of weeks later all I got in there was doggies

Thanks for the link to the Bassdozer article.

I also read that interview article and found it very informative. It seems though that everyone makes their own jigs to use for this technique. I am curious as to what jigs (brands and models) I could use for this as I don’t have the equipment or expertise to make my own.

On another note it is quite evident that heavy cover is the primary application here. I’ve only tried swimmin once this fall with mixed results. I’m planning trying this many times this summer and was wondering if anyone uses it for open water such as rip rap or wing dam fishing for smallmouth?

RC Tackle makes a great swimming jig that I rely on. They can be seen at http://www.rctackle.com . If you have any questions let me know.

I personally have experimented with many different types, and have found the J-Mac to be the best swimming job… also, the J-Mac jig with no skirt and just a fat, single tail grub! Cast it out and crank it back as fast as you can…

I had found Jimmy’s article last year, and I have begun to tie my own jigs to match what I think the fish want in the waters that I fish.

As far as buying commercially available swimming jigs, I’d have to suggest http://www.rctacle.com. Or, another idea is just email Jimmy. Just click on his name, Champman, and you’ll be taken to his stats page. From there you can email him.

I’ve had limited success with Black or black and blue, but pearl/chartseem to work very well for me. Maybe I just throw the latter all the time, but it seems as though when I switch to it, I get bit. Maybe it’s a co-inki-dink, but if it is, it’s quite consistent.

Thanks,

OnTheWater

do you guys add rattles? after reading these two articles it sounds like it is more of a finesse spinnerbait. I wonder if the rattles help or hurt if using it like this?? or is it one of those– “they help today, not tomorrow” or “im not sure” types of deals. Most of the jigs i use in the river have rattles on them- free swinging types. Also, both Monsoor and Champman mentioned clear water= does this eliminate the river of do you just find relatively clear water (where the weeds are)- (i might have just answered my own ?)

Any input?? thanks

So, How big is big ? Are we talking Mugumbo big or 5″K-Grubs. I have been using K-gubs in 5″ the past few days and have caught a lot of fish. Mugumbo grubs are larger all around and have great tail action. Started texas rigging them last summer as something different than a jig or tube.