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Order of the Swim Jig

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
September 14
My good friend, smallmouth bass enthusiast, and fishing guide Jonn Graham has been tying swim jigs for quite a while now. He just got a new head design and tied some 3/8-ounce in my favorite pattern. We jokingly call it "money". When some arrived in the mail yesterday, I couldn't wait to try 'em out! After a quick photo shoot I launched the kayak and headed for some of my best seasonal "swim jig" water. I rigged it with a 4.7" Keitech Fat Swing Impact tail in "sight flash" color. The new heads are nice. The design is much more blunt-nosed than previous heads, and bounced off any rocks or logs I came in contact with while burning it downstream. Good-sized hook, shank barb to hold the tail in place, and pulsating skirt -- which I trimmed back about 1/4" to allow for more "waggle" of the tail. Overall, I think it's a hit! The fish did too! Ended up boating nine while spot-hopping: 17.25"; 12.5"; 19.5"; 12.25"; 15"; 11.25"; 13"; 18"; 15" USGS 11.17' / 605 CFS-

If you're interested in some of Jonn's hand-tied swim jigs, you can reach him at jonn@campsmallmouth.com

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Discussion starter · #2 ·
Swim Jig 101

What the hell is a swim jig? Well, listen up ... take a spinnerbait, add a tail, then clip off the arm and spinner. That's a swim jig. Fish it the same way you would a spinnerbait, in the same types of situations. It is NOT your father's jig and pig! Shame on you! Never hop it. This lure is meant to be on the move. It draws fierce reaction strikes. Keep it moving ... quickly! Find some current, find some rock. Now bring the swim jig quickly downstream in those areas. Keep your rod tip up. Pay attention! Try to keep it as fast or faster than the current.

WHAMMM!!!

Feel that? Yep, that's a swim jig. :wink:
 
#3 ·
EAS said:
Swim Jig 101

What the hell is a swim jig? Well, listen up ... take a spinnerbait, add a tail, then clip off the arm and spinner. That's a swim jig. Fish it the same way you would a spinnerbait, in the same types of situations. It is NOT your father's jig and pig! Shame on you! Never hop it. This lure is meant to be on the move. It draws fierce reaction strikes. Keep it moving ... quickly! Find some current, find some rock. Now bring the swim jig quickly downstream in those areas. Keep your rod tip up. Pay attention! Try to keep it as fast or faster than the current.

WHAMMM!!!

Feel that? Yep, that's a swim jig. :wink:
Click to expand...
:thumbup:
 
#4 ·
Nice silicon skirt with some silver flake and fishing my favorite pearl glitter color pattern.

These Kietech easy shiners are a favorite also, very soft and not very durable but being soft the body and tails really flutter a lot. Carry fat swings and easy shiners on every smallie outing.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Keitech_ ... IEZSH.html.

I'm usually light 1/16 or 1/4 ounce jigs when fishing slow. Faster current yep 3/8.

Big fan of these 4/0 nail head jigs for swimbaits. Quality hooks 25 for $12

http://www.leadfreejigheads.com/gpage9.html
 
#6 ·
Hey Eric- great pics as always.

Have you ever found that the Fat Impact is so thick that it hampers the hookset? I have used slimmer swimbait trailers in the past and on some I have shaved off some of the plastic on the head. Just curious what you think.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Thanks. That's why I like such a big hook -- there is room for the plastic to move without bunching up too much. It's a nice combo. I think bass figure the swim jig is a shad or other large forage fish and they hit it very hard. It only gets better as the weather cools off. I'm actually kinda surprised I've been doing as well as I have been on swim jigs considering we're still more/less in a summer pattern with darn near drought levels in some areas. Current and cold + swim jig typically equals some bronze river monsters.

And I'm also surprised more folks haven't been talking about (or complaining about) all the new vegetation in the Fox. Low water and high nutrients have allowed thick patches of coarse grass and other types of aquatic vegetation to take hold in backwaters and areas of little current. The Fox is starting to look like the DuPage River #2. If only it had the clarity to match!

Between the vegetation die-off and falling leaves, it's gonna make for a messy, patience-testing topwater bite as we head into October!
 
#10 ·
Great writeup. I've never had much success with the swim jig but will have to give it a shot again; especially in the situation you describe.

As for which Keitech to use, I prefer the regular swing impact and easy shiner to the FAT, except when using as a chatterbait trailer.
 
#13 ·
Nice write up. It looks like you have the swing impact threaded upside down? I usually do that after it gets torn up the other way and still trying to get life out it and that does not seem to make much difference.

mikeyd said:
o they do a good job of keeping the bait from sliding down the hook?
Click to expand...
x2 I have a big problem with keeping the swing impacts from slipping down without a keeper.
 
#14 ·
x2 I have a big problem with keeping the swing impacts from slipping down without a keeper.
Click to expand...
Ditto, I bought a ton of those flashback chatterbaits at overstock bait for 1 dollar each. My intention was to replace their plastic with a keitech swing impact but it doesn't work without glue due to the bait sliding down the hook.

I will say that one thing I like about the easy shiner is that they seem a little more durable and stay on the hook better but they still aren't great in this regard.
 
#15 ·
Eric thank you for continuing to make great educational posts. I was introduced to swim jigs a few years ago, what a great lure, especially for quality fish. Works better than a spinner baits in some weed conditions, casts farther. Great search bait for covering lots of water!
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
ohoffm, keen eye. Yep, it's rigged upside down but as you can see from the fish pics and numbers, it didn't matter. I often flip 'em over once they've taken a pounding and get a little ratty -- you get extra life out of 'em that way. In this case, I just started flipped over to give an all-white profile from beneath.

What I like about this particular jig is how well it holds the plastic. I caught five smallies on it before even having to re-seat it. I was surprised that the big ones didn't throw it off the hook, which they love to do! First-world problems!!!

Thanks all.

P.S., the swim jig is not a "magic bullet" for smallies but something you should keep in your arsenal for river fishing. It does seem to find the big ones. Polish Fly said it best ... great lure for pike and musky. A lot of folks haven't "seen the light" on this yet. In my Lake of the Woods post, that second big musky pictured was caught on this same rig, with Jonn's older style of swim jig head. Same tail. 12 lb mono!
 
#20 ·
Swimjig with a Keitech trailer is a standard setup for me too. Great target casting lure to get right in those overhanging pockets. Funny how you do the upside down plastic to get more life out of them. I actually do that on purpose, especially on chatterbaits.
 
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