Hey guy's, this is the first topic I've started so hope I do it right. I  tried using swim jigs for the first time this year and wasn't too impressed. I was using a 1/2 ounce Freedom swim jig and was using a Big Bite swim craw as a trailer. I thought the combo looked great but after a few casts I could see that the trailer claws had no action at all? So I tried another craw that looks the same but has different claws more like a rage craw. Well the action wasn't there either, so I gave up and went back to Texas rigged plastics. I was trimming the craws bodies so they were about 1 1/2 inches past the hook and had trimmed the jig skirt even with hook barb. I guess it looked great if it would have been a flipping or structure jig. Do you think I should leave the craws full length or just go to a paddle tail swim bait. Both the craws I used have a lot of action if Texas rigged, I think the jig skirt blocks too much water from passing over the claws of the craws to let them flutter? Any advise you have would be appreciated, Thanks.

You can try to trim the jigs skirt and maybe they craws will have action? Or if you want to try different trailers that have alot of action, heres my recommendations, (1). Paddle tail swimbaits either ribbed or smooth. (2) The SK Rage Bug with the things spilt apart has amazing action, i even sometimes swim it through the water almost like a paddle tail. (3). Zoom makes a couple trailer chunks that i bought but havent tried them yet, but they should have alot of action. (1). Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub. (2). Swimmin Chunk. (3). Ultravibe Chunk.

If you want to use a craw, I like the SK Rage Lobster. It's long, so you will probably have to bite off a piece of the head. I also really like the SK Rage Menace on a swim jig. Its a little smaller and more compact. Both options are great.

Trim the skirt more, but it needs to be thinned out not shortened, and as already mentioned a trailer with flanges will give more kick.

I use these quite a bit ~

SK Menace, GYBC Single & Twin tail grub, & RI Little Dipper          

A-Jay

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/228461-what-is-your-favorite-swimjigtrailer/?do=findComment&comment=2584671

 

Take any jig that will come through the cover you are fishing. Cut the inside strands short - almost to the collar. Pick a color that matches your forage. Add a rage menace trailer, no trimming necessary. Done

Durability aside, I like a keitech SIF on a swim jig. Fast or slow it always wobbles and wiggles. You only get a couple fish out of one,  but it’s the best action I’ve found. 
 

a rage craw or lobster has a ton of action also  and works well if the fish are active and chasing. More durable for sure. Slightly different action from the keitech. 

18 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Durability aside, I like a keitech SIF on a swim jig. Fast or slow it always wobbles and wiggles. You only get a couple fish out of one,  but it’s the best action I’ve found. 
 

a rage craw or lobster has a ton of action also  and works well if the fish are active and chasing. More durable for sure. Slightly different action from the keitech. 

I failed to list it but that 3.5 - 4 inch Keitech Swing Impact Swimbait has been good for me as well.

A-Jay

Honestly, most days I don’t think the trailer matters much. It provides bulk, color, action and profile, but they seem to either be in the mood for a swim jig or they aren’t. @A-Jay has covered the basic shapes and profiles I use, but many days I do just as good on one not shown, a standard pork chunk (Zoom Salty Chunk). I have no doubt your craw style baits will work just fine, too. I pretty much just base trailer length on how well the whole package looks to me. On minimal action trailers like craws or chunks, longer can often be better if you’re looking to maximize action.  Trailers with built-in action can usually be more compact. Just my $0.02

If you wanted to use a craw I’ve caught plenty on rage craw trailer… cut a segment or so off length but this year I’ve been doing great using an xzone swammer for a trailer. 

Only trailer I've thrown the past several years is a menace... I catch alot of swim jig fish. Its a go to for me on a few bodies of water.

36 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I failed to list it but that 3.5 - 4 inch Keitech Swing Impact Swimbait has been good for me as well.

A-Jay

the 3.8 fat is my starting point for a swim jig. Bigger fish, dirtier water, or later summer I might bump to the 4.3. Skittish pressured fish I might drop to the 3.3. There is no wrong answer though. 

Zoom Fat Albert.  Try and match the trailer to the skirt.

Thanks for all the replies guys, I'm sure they will be helpful. After reading some replies I went to my grandkids wading pool and swam the jig across it, no action from the craw. So I installed a SK 4 inch paddle tail swim bait and tried that.  That worked pretty good, the jig now had good tail action and side to side movement. Now I just have to go fishing and try it out. Thanks a lot everybody, now I'll have to get some Strike  King plastics and try them too.

I have far and away the best results with paddle tail swim bait style trailers in the 3-5" range.

 

All the ones mentioned here are great and I will add the Yum Scottsboro Minnow and the Gambler EZ which both have caught me a pile of fish and giants on the backs of swim jigs.

 

Trimming and thinning out your skirt both so it has proper secondary action and so it doesn't impede the action of your trailer IS critical to really getting into fishing swim jigs and tapping into their fish catching properties.

 

My favorite way to fish here on my lowland reservoir loaded with threadfin shad/gizzard shad/shiners/crappie/sunfish/perch.

 

Big fish with take the rod out of your hand with a swim jig.

 

Slowly swimming it on the bottom so it's bumping into everything and giving it pauses and popping debris free every so often has caught me giants.  Slow rolling it 'just in site' past cover like a spinner bait or chatterbait has caught me giants.  Dragging them through rocks has caught me fish on days they wouldn't touch a worm or a craw.  If baitfish is on the menu at your fishery, your gonna get your arm broke eventually if you keep tossing it!

 

3/8 - 1/2 oz work really well even in shallow water in my experience so don't sleep on throwing a heavier weight than everyone says to.  I really like the 1/2 oz swim jig for the slow bottom bumping technique!

 

Have fun it's probably my favorite way to fish!

Zoom Fat Albert 

I'm not sure it really matters.  Josh Jones has caught a nice size fish or two without any trailer.

4 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I'm not sure it really matters.  Josh Jones has caught a nice size fish or two without any trailer.

 

 

When you're vertically jigging a trailer free, weed guard  free skirted jig with eyeballs you're fishing a silicone hair jig more or less.  Nothing wrong with that at all but it's a different presentation than swimming a jig which is a horizontal deal and definitely relies much more on the 'action' of the bait creating the proper lift and fall rate and wiggle to entice bites in harmony with the profile.  Color seems to be the least important thing but sometimes it can make a big difference!

I'm a big fan of 3/8 ounce swim jigs and use a variety of trailers.  One trailer I always have rigged is a Zoom Z Craw Jr..

If you are still looking for different trailers. I really like the Strike King Rage Tail Chunk and Reaction Innovation Spicy Beaver.

22 hours ago, IgotWood said:

I also really like the SK Rage Menace on a swim jig.

^^^

I only use swimbaits on swimjigs.

cut the skirt short enough to let the tail “swim”

 

Swammer x-zone

D-Walker River2sea 

 

are both great active trailers that will move your swimjig. Try them

Rage Tail Shell Cracker

https://www.amazon.com/Strike-Shell-Cracker-California-RGSC-51/dp/B09BFMMDT6

I do best without a trailer 

I'm with @Pat Brown and @waymont

 

gambler ez's, d-walkers, and xzone swammers are my favorites.   The beast coast miyagi has been a great nighttime bait this year and so far surprisingly durable.

 

scott