Why might fish like Swim jigs without trailers??? This has been happening often the last week or so...

Anyone ever see this happen? When I put a trailer on I dont get bit, all I'm doing is just reeling it straight in shallow water

What trailer are you using? Maybe it's scaring the fish away or the fish think it's too much for them to eat Try shortening the trailer (the top part where you start hooking it), making it a lower profile jig.

If they are hitting it without the trailer, fish it that way and don't argue with 'em. As to why they're doing this? What is your watter clarity, and what size of Bass are you targeting?

Dirty, Shallow water pond with Silt bottom .5-3 pound bass

Can't remember ever using a bass jig for bass, I use the same bucktails I use in saltwater for snook with no trailers, works excellent. IMO a bucktail is the most universal lure there is.

Can't remember ever using a bass jig for bass, I use the same bucktails I use in saltwater for snook with no trailers, works excellent. IMO a bucktail is the most universal lure there is.

I"m starting to feel the same way!

I agree 100%. Man those bucktails are some of the best numbers baits I own. Spro makes a great one. Gamakatsu hook, realistic finish,GREAT mutli species bait.

As mentioned before, a smaller fish finds it easier to take a smaller bait, which probably was contributing. Plus, if your pond gets fished a lot the fish might have been turned off by trailers, and the low frequency of a skirt on a head might have done the trick.

What you experienced doesn't happen often but it does happen. What I believe was going on is you had a bait that was the right color and size with just enough action to make them bite but the trailer probably made too big of a profile. The fish probably would have followed but not hit smaller lures with a lot of action, they were in a mood were just the pulsing of the skirt was enough to make them hit, easy meal. I had something similar happen one time in over 30 years of bass fishing, I was fishing a jig in cold water, early March, a warm front came through and I was able to be on the water the last warm day. Anyway the water temp had gone from 44 degrees to 47 degrees and as a result the fish were moving but still lethargic. I had a Zoom super chunk jr. on my jig and I wasn't getting any bites for an hour or so and then my jig got hung up in some limbs and when I finally got it free it rended up tearing off my trailer well I put the rod down and left the jig in the water while I went to get another trailer out of my bag and when I picked up the rod I felt a slight tap so I set the hook and caught a nice 2 pound fish. I threw it back out without the trailer and let it sit on the bottom for a second and then gave it a short hop and felt the same slight tap and another fish. I caught 7 fish that day all on a jig with no trailer so it does happen but not often.

Which bucktail do you guys use?

Which bucktail do you guys use?

Spro if your going to buy one off the market. They make an excellent bucktail jig. I suggest making your own, though. Head to your local Bass Pro and grab a vice, some nice jigheads, thread, and some deer hair. Google "how to tie a bucktail jig" and you will find tons or articles to help you along the way.

Can't remember ever using a bass jig for bass, I use the same bucktails I use in saltwater for snook with no trailers, works excellent. IMO a bucktail is the most universal lure there is.

This.....this right here. Bass WHACK bucktails.

Spro if your going to buy one off the market. They make an excellent bucktail jig. I suggest making your own, though. Head to your local Bass Pro and grab a vice, some nice jigheads, thread, and some deer hair. Google "how to tie a bucktail jig" and you will find tons or articles to help you along the way.

What is "Spro"? I go on BassPro website and can't find them. Can you link me?

What is "Spro"? I go on BassPro website and can't find them. Can you link me?

http://www.tackledirect.com/spbucktailjig.html

Hardly a day doesn't go by that I don't use a bucktail, I've used countless number of brands, styles, sizes and prices. For actually catchability, it doesn't make a difference, what sets one brand apart from another is how long they are going to last. Even the cheaper ones have lasted a long time bass fishing, that isn't the case in saltwater, I get couple of fish and they usually are history. I do well with a flats style bucktail, but that may be due to the fact that's pretty much the only one I use in freshwater, I don't contend that's better than another style, but has worked well for me.

I'll preface by saying that I haven't tried this, but I think it would great for bass fishing. In saltwater we "tip" them when fishing for certain species. Tipping is merely putting a little piece of squid or shrimp, that scent is a magnet. I wouldn't be surprised, and I'm sure people have already done it, is to use some artificial scent on a bucktail.

Can't remember ever using a bass jig for bass, I use the same bucktails I use in saltwater for snook with no trailers, works excellent. IMO a bucktail is the most universal lure there is.

Any particular retrieval method (swim, hop, etc.) you prefer over the other?

Steve

Any particular retrieval method (swim, hop, etc.) you prefer over the other?

Steve

All of the above........no preference. If I'm fishing current, extremely slow retrieval, I like letting the water do the work for me, I don't over work baits.