Hey guys, I've been using a kvd swim jig w/ a rage craw (4 in.) and haven't been getting alot of strikes, a bunch of fish seem to bump it but not take it, I was wondering if yall could help me fix my retrieves or just give me some ideas

What kind of retrieve do you usually use?

Can't say that I've had that problem with a swim jig. When they commit, they usually choke it.

It's probably color. Try changing, just like you would a crankbait or spinnerbait.

When I fish them I seem to always get bit on a steady retrieve, letting the trailer make all the commotion. Every now and again I'll kill it and let it fall.

Well, If you don't have any other swim jigs to change colors with, try changing up the retrieve. A conastant jerking, or slow it down, speed it up. You may want to try a different color though, that would be my first guess.

Color would be the 1st thing I changed... I normally use a fluke / grub as my trailer. I like a slow steady (6.x or slower) retrieve although sometimes on the 2nd or 3rd cast I will kill it next to likely holding spots. I almost always use fluoro with SJ's as well.

I would try retrieving it faster. My favorite retrieve is burning it either on or just below the surface. I know this sounds backwards, but preventing the fish from getting a good look at it will often trigger a more aggressive strike

I dont know what color jig your using, but the first thing id do is use a grub as a trailer. If its a shad colored jig,use a white Zoom Fat Albert single tail grub. If its the bluegill colored jig, use a bluegill colored Kalins lunker grub trailer. I had the same problem you did until i changed to a grub trail. Made all the difference.

I don't fish the swim jig that often but when I do I use 2 main retrieves.

1) A long cast and let it sink on a tight line rod tip at about 10 O'clock and reel the bait back at a pace that just keeps the bait off the bottom and or ticking the tops of the cover. I will add in a few ticks with the rod tip, but that is pretty much it. When using this retrieve I generally use something I feel will mimic a craw fish in color.

2) Again make a long cast and burn it back letting the legs of your trailer sort of act like a buzz bait. This makes tons of commotion, yet it's subtle. (if that makes sense) Occasionally I'll kill the bait just past where I think there should be a fish laying. When using this retrieve I like to use something I feel resembles the baitfish that are being fed upon in your particular body of water. For me it's blue gill, for you it may be shad or something else.

Hope that helps a little bit, tight lines

Pondboss

I fish a swim jig as I would a spinnerbait. Some sort of stop and go retrieve and variations to that. Anything that makes the skirt flare out is when I get bit on it.

PondBoss brings up a good tip in that he basically slow rolls it trying to hit any obstruction along the way. Again, just by hitting obstructions gets that skirt to flare out a bit. I usually use a single tail grub for a trailer, but the trailer your using and what has been mentioned above all sound very effective.

I do like to burn them at times with, again, with pauses or even a few rod tip pumps. I really use it as a last resort technique and it has saved the the day for me a quite a few times.