As the title says, How do you catch most of your fish on a swim jig: on the drop or retrieve?

 

 

 

I've been using a KVD swim jig with a KVD Rodent as a trailer for about 4 weeks or so I believe. At first I was doing very well and then the last 2 weeks nothing. I made one cast today with one and caught a nice 1lbs bass on the drop. After that, nothing. Not one bite. I got to thinking, I've only caught fish using this on the drop, never on the retrieve. But I know a lot of guys catch them on the retrieve too.

 

 

I'm 100% at catching them on the drop.

 

 

 

 

What's your percentage of catching them on the drop and retrieve?

I rarely catch a fish on the drop with swim jigs.

I usually swim a swim jig and catch most of my fish that way. I did catch this one fishing it like a regular jig.

 

I generally cast to shallow cover so very little drop.

on the retrieve

The question should be "what is a swim jig?"

Any jig that is being retrieved in the middle of the water column, in lieu of along the bottom, is a swim jig to me.

Scroungers with soft plastic trailers are swim jigs, dart heads with worm trailers are swim jigs, fish heads with paddle swimmers are swim jigs and a traditional jig with skirt and trailer can be a swim jig if it is being retrieved horizontal through the water column above the bottom.

Show when a jig of any type is cast and falling down through the water column it isn't a swim jig until you start your retrieve, it's the retrieve method that makes it a swim jig.

Tom

Typically catching fish during the first 10 foot of the retrieve.

Typically catching fish during the first 10 foot of the retrieve.

That would be about 90% of all jig bass caught!

Tom

Bass wouldn't take my swim jig on retrieve yesterday...had 2 big bites shallow as soon as it hit the water so I switched to a football jig hopped on bottom and killed em

I don't think I've caught one bass on the fall with a swim jig. I use KVD swim jigs with Rage Grub trailers. I slow roll those suckers and get bit like crazy in the spring here.

On the retrieve and it's not even close - probably like 95%

 

You mentioned you're using a Rodent as a trailer.

 

Though a nice plastic, that bait is Not really a good Swimmer.

For me that style bait works excellent on the drop which might explain your results.

 

Baits like a Skinny Dipper, Little Dipper, A grub, an Eeliminator, even a Swim Senko offer a presentation that adds quite a bit to the action of a swim jig.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

Retrieve for me. Also agree with A-Jay about trying a different trailer. I use KVD in sexy shad and bluegill with Havoc 5" grass pig with 3/4" cut off head. It gives jig a nice action.

I would say the retrieve, after all you fish it like a spinnerbait less the blade and as a trailer like the swimming flukes, or the Rage Menace Grub twin tail grub.

On the retrieve and it's not even close - probably like 95%

 

You mentioned you're using a Rodent as a trailer.

 

Though a nice plastic, that bait is Not really a good Swimmer.

For me that style bait works excellent on the drop which might explain your results.

 

Baits like a Skinny Dipper, Little Dipper, A grub, an Eeliminator, even a Swim Senko offer a presentation that adds quite a bit to the action of a swim jig.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

 

 

 

So you think there isn't enough action?

So you think there isn't enough action?

 Well that's a matter of opinion.

 

But the Rodent as a bait does not really excel at Swimming.  So as a trailer on a Swim Jig it's not adding to or complimenting the action of the over all presentation except perhaps on the fall.

 

Just try some of the swim bait trailer suggestions you've received here.  The bait will still draw strikes on the fall but the number of fish you get on the retrieve will probably go Way Up ~

 

A-Jay

retrieve probably 95+% of the time 

When it's swimming