Next year, I'm going to start fishing Strike King Rage Tail swimmers in the 3.75", 4.75", and maybe 5.75" sizes. Can you suggest some swimming jig head sizes and brands?

3/8oz for the first two, 1/2oz for the second two (ya, the mid-size works on both).

 

I like the Strike King Tour Grade, though I am also looking at Mike's swim jigs ( https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/categories/swim-jigs )

Talking your typical skirted jigs? Or just plain jig heads?

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

Can you suggest some swimming jig head sizes and brands

You can swim any jig, it doesn't have to be a swimjig that's marketing. Grass jigs are very similar head shape, or just use an arkie or something, really it's just one has Google eyes one doesnt

Siebert Outdoors is a one stop shop for jigs, and a site sponsor. His jigs are top notch. Any weight you need, so many head styles for different situations, and a ton of different colors. Once I started using Siebert jigs it quickly became the only brand in my jig box. Site sponsor or not, they are 100% fishing catching quality baits. 

Get some Boss swim jigs heads and skirts and make your own.....and save a lot of money.

3/8 and 1/2oz mix.

They are an excellent design, and work really well. 

If you want to run them with jus the bait, and no skirt they also work great.

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Talking your typical skirted jigs? Or just plain jig heads?

Plain jig heads.

1 hour ago, PressuredFishing said:

You can swim any jig, it doesn't have to be a swimjig that's marketing. Grass jigs are very similar head shape, or just use an arkie or something, really it's just one has Google eyes one doesnt

I did not know this. Thanks.

The hook is the jig, I just go straight to the best, owner and gamakatsu, both make excellent plain ballhead jigs.

16 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

3/8oz for the first two, 1/2oz for the second two (ya, the mid-size works on both).

( https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/categories/swim-jigs )

Below are what I lean to currently for mostly non-elaztech baits.  There might be better, but these don't suck.

 

I like these for 4" and less swim baits...

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Round_Head_with_Lockdown_Keeper_5pk/descpage-ORHL.html

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dirty_Jigs_Matt_Stefan_Guppy_Swimbait_Jig_Head_3pk/descpage-DJSGH.html

 

For 3.75" - 4.25"

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dirty_Jigs_Tactical_Bassin_Finesse_Swimbait_Jig_Head/descpage-DJTBF.html

 

 

For 4.5"+

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dirty_Jigs_Matt_Allen_Tactical_Bassin_Swimbait_Jig_Head/descpage-DJMASWH.html

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-SCOTTSTCO.html?from=basres

 

4.5"+ weedless

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Blade_Runner_Screw_Lock_Weedless_Swimbait_Jig_Head_2pk/descpage-BRSLWS.html

 

Swim jigs that I have and use with paddle tails, 3.5"-6.5"

 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/swim-jig

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dirty_Jigs_Swim_Jig/descpage-DTYJGSJ.html

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megabass_Uoze_Swimmer_Swim_Jig/descpage-MBUS.html

 

Hopefully, you can try some out before the ice shows up this year.  Swimmers work really well for me in the late fall/early winter cool to cold water.

 

scott

 

If you haven't spent much time setting a hook through a standard weedguard, consider starting with 6th sense axle or trashmaster jigs as they set up like a t-rig. Or the picasso shooter jigs that have light wire weedguard. All of them will be easier to set, especially sitting in the canoe or on stretchy line. 

 

For more traditional swim jigs, the sieberts, 6th sense divine, or if you want to overpay for an amazingly good jig, the Evergreen Grass Ripper comes in the same skirt and head colorings as a jackhammer. 

 

At least for me the practical differences are pretty minimal, and in details like how the trailer is held on, or skirt colors. 

 

Now with all that said, if you aren't already fishing those paddletails on an owner flashy swimmer (or some other weedless underspin) it's a good enough presentation in weedy or small waters that I have a dedicated rig for it, tuned around the 3.8" trailer with the 3/0 flashy swimmer. Sometimes I'll use a gold colorado blade instead of a willow if it's more bluegill as prey than shad. 

 

 

For plain swimbait jig heads I like Dobyns. Gamakatzu hooks and affordable. 

I use SK Squadron swimbait jigheads and also have some ball head jigs I need to try. 

 

What is the advantage to a ball head jig over a swimbait style?

On 10/10/2022 at 10:27 PM, Columbia Craw said:

For plain swimbait jig heads I like Dobyns. Gamakatzu hooks and affordable. 

I didn’t even know Dobyns made jig heads before I bought them, but I’ve been very impressed. I was looking specifically for a 3/4oz football head with no weed guard and the Dobyns ones seemed to be the only one that matched the exact specs I needed. They’re definitely quality and affordable. 

On 10/7/2022 at 4:50 PM, PressuredFishing said:

You can swim any jig, it doesn't have to be a swimjig that's marketing. Grass jigs are very similar head shape, or just use an arkie or something, really it's just one has Google eyes one doesnt

 

What! If you swim a non-swimming jig the Earth will rotate off its axes and spin into the sun destroying all life on the planet.

 

Allen

On 10/7/2022 at 4:50 PM, PressuredFishing said:

You can swim any jig, it doesn't have to be a swimjig that's marketing. Grass jigs are very similar head shape, or just use an arkie or something, really it's just one has Google eyes one doesnt

I will disagree here to an extent.  Of course you can swim any jig but the jig head and weed guard design plays a factor in the way it comes through cover.  I can tell a noticeable difference when I am using a dedicated swim jig in the way it comes through cover as opposed to an arkie or other jig head styles.  A lot of it has to do with the angle of the hook in relation to the head.  

I stick with seibert for all my jigs.  Their quality is top notch and their shipping time and prices are good.  They also have every color you would ever want.

8 hours ago, Munkin said:

 

What! If you swim a non-swimming jig the Earth will rotate off its axes and spin into the sun destroying all life on the planet.

 

Allen

You may be thinking of using an original chatterbait after you break off your last Jack Hammer, wrong jig is just cats and dogs living together I think...

On 10/7/2022 at 5:25 PM, waymont said:

Get some Boss swim jigs heads and skirts and make your own.....and save a lot of money.

3/8 and 1/2oz mix.

Agree with this.  I probably throw a 1/4 more than a 1/2 but that's more about where I fish.  Also want to pay attention to the hook thickness.  Light wire and braid don't mix well.

 

Also can't neglect @Siebert Outdoors Quality products and will help to guide you in the right direction.  You can customize there, too.

I wasted too much money on heavier swim jigs. I don't really fish 1/2oz swim jigs much. There's never a need to fish 3/4 or 1oz swim jigs on my home waters. I fish 1/4oz almost exclusively, and every now and again a 3/8oz. For spinnerbaits and chatterbaits, I prefer a 1/2oz, but definitely not for swim jigs.

 

There's lot of good ones on the market. However, you can't go wrong with Dirty Jigs or Sieberts. The ones by 6th sense also look good, and I have one on the way. However, my favorite swim jig, overall, is a JDM Keitech Swing Swimmer. It's not really well known because it's a JDM bait, but it's probably the nicest swim jig I've ever seen. The quality and attention to detail is outstanding. Look at how beautiful it is. Pics don't really do it justice. It looks even better in real life.

 

On 10/25/2022 at 10:39 AM, Jar11591 said:

I didn’t even know Dobyns made jig heads before I bought them, but I’ve been very impressed. I was looking specifically for a 3/4oz football head with no weed guard and the Dobyns ones seemed to be the only one that matched the exact specs I needed. They’re definitely quality and affordable. 

 

Strong swirling current, 7+mph at times, and 20+ fow makes me want some heavier jig options.  I'm also gonna go broke with all the rubble, rocks, and zebras.  You still liking the 3/4oz dobyns football jigs?  Can I set them at distance on 10lb floro (braid to leader, but 25' of leader)?  Do you know what size 604 is in there?  I'd be looking at no weed guard too, since they don't offer much help in this situation.  Today was one tank of a smallie, and 3 sacrificed jigs.  

 

scott

 

 

On 10/7/2022 at 2:40 PM, Swamp Girl said:

Next year, I'm going to start fishing Strike King Rage Tail swimmers in the 3.75", 4.75", and maybe 5.75" sizes. Can you suggest some swimming jig head sizes and brands?

When you say next year are you talking 2026 or later this year?

I use the same type of trailer on jigs.  I make my own from components bought on line.  They look like ''Dirty Jigs'' swimming jigs-  Always use 3/8oz so I get the same feeling during the retrieve .  I don't use the really big trailers.  

25 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

When you say next year are you talking 2026 or later this year?

 

I was talking 2023.

57 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I was talking 2023.

 

So how'd it go?  😂😂😂

It went "Meh." I don't fish Rage Tails much anymore. They caught Maine bass, but not as many bass as other lures on the water I fish. YMMV. However, I should revisit them just in case.