Categories: Fishing Hacks & How To's

Everything You Need to Know About Fishing a Swim Jig by Jacob Wheeler

Arguably the best bass fisherman on Earth today, Jacob Wheeler, breaks down everything you need to know about fishing swim jigs.

Stick to these simple colors for swim jigs (black/blue, green pumpkin, white)
Recommended 3 types of swim jig trailers
- flapping type craws (most lift)
- chunk craws
- minnow boottails (least lift)
Use braid & heavy gauge wire hooks in shallow heavy weedy cover
Use fluorocarbon light gauge wire swim jigs in sparse grass, rocks, wood
How to fish a swim jig when the bass are keying on craws/crayfish
- Light gauge swim jig hook
- Fluorocarbon line
- sparse cover
- 3/8 or 1/4 oz (if shallow)
- craw type trailer
- Slow retrieve with light shaking
- Swim and pump, then kill… pause, then repeat
- MH Rod
- 7:3:1 or 8:3:1 gear ratio
Fishing a swim jig when the bass are keying on minnows/gills
- Light gauge swim jig hook
- Fluorocarbon line
- sparse cover
- minnow boottail trailer (3″ or 4″) which gives the bait a rolling action
  - 3″ trailer when bass are targeting shad, smaller minnows, small bluegill or perch
  - 4″ trailer when the bass are targeting bigger minnows, bluegill, or perch
- wind it slow, pause occasionally (cast & wind, cast and wind)
Fishing a swim jig in heavy shallow cover
- Heavy gauge swim jig hook
- Use braided line
- Heavy shallow cover
- Steady retrieve with the “Alabama shake”
  - hold rod tip higher
  - shake to throw slack in the line during retrieve (med. action rod helps here)
  - retrieving higher in water column
- Medium action Rod (because using braid… more forgiving)
- 7:3:1 or 8:3:1 gear ratio

Vincent Wondra

Obsessed with fishing since a child. Vince loves to share his knowledge of the sport, while helping encourage selective harvest and protection of the resource. He shares fishing reports, tips, tricks, and more during his never ending quest to be a better fisherman. PRACTICE CPR: Catch. Picture. Release.