MY SWIM JIG TACKLE
MOST OF MY SWIM JIG FISHING is done on 30-pound-test Sunline FX2 braid . It ’ s strong enough to handle the roughest cover but light enough that I can make long casts and get my bait out away from the boat so the bass don ’ t realize I ’ m there .
If the water ’ s very clear or if I ’ m skipping boat docks with a swim jig , I ’ ll switch to Sunline Super FC Sniper fluorocarbon . It ’ s easier to skip with fluorocarbon than with braid , I can be more accurate with fluorocarbon , and I get fewer overruns . If the water ’ s clear and the sun ’ s out , skipping docks with a swim jig can be the best pattern on the lake .
My swim jig rod is a Mark Rose signature series heavy action 7-foot- 2 Lew ’ s Team Casting Rod , and my reel is a Team Lew ’ s HyperMag
Speed Spool SLP with an 8.3:1 gear ratio . The rod has a moderate-fast tip that helps me make long casts , but ’ s got just enough flex that it helps to “ feed ” the jig to the bass when one hits . If a rod is too light , you ’ ll struggle to get the jig through cover or to get a good hookset . If it ’ s too heavy , you ’ ll pull the jig away from bass and won ’ t have a very good feel for the bait .
I like a fast reel when swimming a jig for a couple of reasons . First , I ’ m usually fishing the lure high in the water column , and a fast reel makes that a lot easier . Second , since it ’ s common for a bass to hit the jig from behind and swim straight at the boat with it , a fast reel lets you catch up to those fish so you can get a good hookset .
Lew ’ s Team Casting Rod 7 ’ 2 ” Heavy Mark Rose
Team Lew ’ s HyperMag
Speed Spool SLP 8.3:1
Sunline FX2 Braid
Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon
STRIKE KING RAGE TAIL CRAW
COLOR : GREEN PUMPKIN
STRIKE KING KVD HEAVY COVER SWIM JIG
COLOR : GREEN PUMPKIN
On the business end
MY GO-TO SWIM JIG is a Strike King KVD Heavy Cover Swim Jig ( a Bass Pro Shops exclusive ). It ’ s got a beefy hook , but it ’ s not too heavy for 30-pound-test braid or 18- to
20-pound-test fluorocarbon . I probably use the 1 / 4-ounce model for about 70 percent of my swim jig fishing . The 3 / 8-ounce version gets about 20 percent and the 1 / 2-ounce gets the rest . Because I ’ m usually swimming a jig pretty high in the water column , I like to use a light jig as often as possible . If I need to go a little deeper ( or fish shallow but fast ), I use the 3 / 8- ounce model , and if I need to go a lot deeper , I ’ ll use the 1 / 2- ounce jig .
When it comes to colors , I keep things simple . Almost all my swim jig fishing is done with just four colors : green pumpkin , black / blue , white , and blue shad .
Trailers are just as simple . I use the Strike King Menace Grub , Strike King Rage Craw and Strike King Rage Bug in colors that match the jig I ’ m using . The Menace Grub is what I use about 80 percent of the time , and I rig it perpendicular to the hook ( i . e . it runs parallel to the water ’ s surface ). Rigged that way , the bait tracks well and is less likely to roll .
42 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2023