Just wondering what set up other bass fisherman favor for swim jigs? I fish mostly clear water and
usually fish 1/4oz swimjigs on a Dobyns DX 742 finesse rod with 10# fluoro (shown below). But I am planning on fishing deeper water and more weedbeds this season… and some heavier to 1/2oz swim jigs and 5″ minnow trailers…and trying some blade jigs…
What do you like?
7′ MH-F with 30# braid.
The only time I’m throwing swim jigs is around weeds and in the weeds it is a split second strike most of the time, so braid works just fine. For open water fishing in clear water I would probably up to 14# fluoro and try to turn their heads as soon as I set the hook so they stay out of the weeds…. at least that’s the plan.
St. Croix Legend Tourney Bass – 7’1″ MHXF. I like the extra fast action. I believe this allows the bass to get the bait in a little better before you can jurk the bait away on the Hookset. I usually fish my swim jigs with 14 – 17 Lb. Fluro unless I am fishing heavy pads or heavy cover them it is on 30 Lb Power Pro.
I use swim jigs generally in place of a crank bait. on occasion, open water, but more in places where a crank bait is going to get fouled up with snags or weeds. I have two rods set for swim jigs – both 7′ 1. med/fast and 1 med H/fast. The medium is set with 12# mono and the MH is Cajun Red Braid – both with Tour Edition reels. Location dictated which I use.
I love the Brovarney jigs, but prefer an EWG Gamakatsu hook to the standard round bend hook most jig manufactures use. So I began making my own about 10 years ago with a mold that I modified to take my hooks. Some have argued that they don’t track correctly with the wider gap hooks, but I have never encountered that problem. Mine are tracking perfect and the wide gap hooks with the larger plastics trailers are awesome for hook sets.
I also have grown accustom to “match the hatch” on certain bodies of water with the custom colors that I can do. An example is Lake Erie and Lake MI. The smallies feed so heavily on gobies. But I found there is a distinct color difference between Door County, WI and western basin of lake Erie. Was able to sit in a motel room one night with a gobie I caught and lay out the strands to best match the color.
Randy
Nice looking Swimjig. Like you I use to use the Brovarney swim jig. The last 2 seasons I have switched to the RC tackle swim jig. They are available with a 2X heavy hook, The Plastic keeper is the best design that I have found, and the Paint finish holds up great. Anyone looking for a swim jig to try – give the RC tackle a shot. I think you will like them
For paint I have been using all powder paints. The finish is very durable when they get introduced to rocks!
If its clear water and not weedy I really like throwing a 5 inch Havoc Grass Pig (favorite color “Swamp Gas” or “Watermelon Candy”). It has one of the more active thumper tails at slow speeds:
I attach it to either a 1/4 or 1/2 Kalin Ultimate Swim Bait jighead. 1/4 ounce for swimming, 1/2 oz if you want to scrape/grind/hop the bottom:
I like a 734 Dobyns Coalition with with 7.1:1 baitcasting reel, 17lb Fluoro or 30-40lb braid
I got a few old All Star 6-8 spinnerbaits rods that work great for swimjigs and bladed jigs. been using 20 and 30# power pro, but I’m in weeds for the most part. set up casts lightweight jigs real well. with the braid hooksets are never a problem. I also have 2 All Star Carolina rig rods that would do well too. 7ft MH. Again I pretty much throw 20# braid for most everything. No leader.
I bought some saltwater Chatterbaits, 3/4 oz, gonna throw them on a big swimbait rod. Deep weeds.
I have a few different rods i like. 7’2″ mh shimano sellus paired with a super hs reel and 50 lb braid for heavy cover on lighter jigs. I have a 7′ xh carrot stick and revo sx with 65 lb braid for muskie sized swim jigs and paddle tail trailers (they are big bass baits too) and then I have another 7′ mh hs shimano curado reel 17 lb fluro (spinnerbait rod) for other applications. It depends on where im going to be fishing these jigs and how heavy the jig is as well..
most of my rods have a parabolic action.. so last year I found a couple of low end Garcia’s with a m but fast tip..
one of the things that found in making my own jig skirts was putting too much skirt material in the skirt.. for swim jigs.. LESS is MORE.. more depth.. more control, better tracking.. more fish..
Finally, when fishing rivers with swim jigs.. I have found that bringing the jig back with the current, and with the jig as opposed to almost any other lure, is almost a must..
my bite increased from nothing to everything, once I applied that technique to my swim jig fishing..
this is also why I am in the market for an avid..as I want a higher end rod, or at least higher then what I am currently using , for a swim jig..
I throw mine on a 7ft h with 30lb braid. i tend to fish mine almost like a frog throwing it on top of weeds and slop and letting it fall into the holes and open water. few colors i love are these that i make. the blue one is a flippin head in the picture but its an awesome color for swim jigs
Those are SWEET Kris! 
I use a GLoomis IMX783 with a Daiwa Fuego 14lb smoke Fireline with chatterjigs. (Sometimes a 6’8″ medium St. Croix Avid as well.)
Last year I caught a bunch of fish both bass and pike on a plain old Berkley swim jig head with a Havoc Grass Pig on 7’3″ St. Croix Legend Tournament Carolina Rig Rod with a Team Daiwa X-103 with 40lb Powerpro and about a 3 foot of 30lb Tyger Wire Leader. Man did using that Tyger cut down on break offs.
I run a 7′ St Croix medium heavy and a Shimano Curado E, 14 pound flouro, and the Outkast Swim Jigs with a fat grub. Love these jigs, best finish in the business. I can’t find any others out there that I like as well. It has become one of my go to techniques the last few years.
Jason Erlandson
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