prefer a shorter
rod, while others
rely on a 7’ or
longer rod. My
personal choice
for a rod is a
Witch Doctor
Tackle Shaman
(SIIC72MH), this
7’2” has a fast
action which
allows me to
impart action
into my jig; but
its medium-
heavy power
allows me
to hook up
My go to rod, reel and line set up for fishing
a swim jig. Photo: Glenn Walker
with the biggest of
bass in dense
cover and get them into the boat. A
Don’t discount
fast-action rod is suited for fishing with fluorocarbon;
offshore areas with structure. By
but it still works when using braid, if you are chucking
switching from the typical standard ¼-ounce jig and
distances to cover water.
increasing to a 3/8- or ½-ounce, will allow you to get
the jig down to the bottom where the bass are holding
Reel: It is important to use a reel that can quickly
tight to the structure.
pick up the slack in your line; because many times, the
Two areas where I have found the deep swim jig bite bass will run directly at you and picking up the slack
to be successful are atop flats and along weedlines. The line is crucial. I like to use a Wright & McGill Victory II or
flats could be a rock, sand or weed, but just retrieving
Pro Carbon reel with a high speed 7.01:1 gear ratio to
the swim jig back and letting it tick the tops of the
accomplish this.
weeds or bump into the rocks worked very well, many
times when other lures fail to garner a strike.
Line: The cover I am fishing will dictate the line
When I use the swim jig to fish deep weedlines, I
I choose. If I am throwing my jig on top of the slop
will cast the jig out beyond the edge of the weedline,
or around lily pads, I will use 40-pound Seaguar
then quickly engage my reel and bring the swim jig
Smackdown Braid; but if I’m fishing the jig in open
back in, so it would tick the top of the weeds and then water with sparse vegetation, I’ll use 15-pound
when my jig got to the edge I would let if fall down
Seaguar TATSU Fluorocarbon.
the face of the weedline. If I was able to make a cast
parallel to the weedline, I would let the jig sink down
The swim jig, it is such a versatile lure and
to the edge of the weeds and steadily bring it back to
technique that by understanding it and putting it to
make sure it stayed in the strike zone.
use on your next fishing trip, you will become a more
versatile angler and put more bass in your boat!
THE GEAR
For more information on Glenn Walker, visit his
Rod: The size of the rod an angler uses for fishing
website at glennwalkerfishing.com or at facebook.
swim jigs is a personal preference. Some anglers
com/glennwalkerfishing.
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