The
last time I wrote about the Outkast Swim Jigs largemouth were
the target but in the last few years I have found a few more
uses for my swim jig. In today’s article we are
going to look at targeting springtime smallmouth and pike,
you will be amazed as I have been at the catching power of
the swim jig.
Springtime Smallies
After spending the long winter in the depths smallies cannot
wait to get into the shallows to put on the feed bag looking
for spawning areas along the way. One of the main baits
to target springtime smallies is a tube bait but a few years
ago on a smallie outing to Chequamegon Bay a tube was the
last thing that a smallmouth wanted so we had to dig into
the tackle bags for a new bait that would possible get us
some bites. I tried a texas rigged Stick Worm rigged on
a weighted hook and I had a few smallies take the bait but
I was not setting the world on fire there had to be a better
option. Having been largemouth fishing the weekend before
I had a Swim Jig already rigged and ready to go on one of
my rods. Grabbing the rod I fired a cast to the edge of
the shoreline, letting the bait sink to about a two count
I started to slowly reel the jig back to the boat. After
a few turns of the reel the line tightened, I set the hook
and after a short run the smallie was air bound and the
fight was on.
As the day went on the Swim Jig fast became the bait to be
fishing as the smallies wanted a bait that was moving but
breaking it down more they wanted a jig, grub combo. This
swim jig, grub combination was the ticket the first day, with
the smallies just seeming to start their search of the shallows
they had roaming on their minds. Seeing the weather forecast
for the next day we decided to spend one more day and try
our swim jig tactic but when we got back to our fishing area
we noticed a change had taken place overnight.
Moving
into the back of the bay we noticed smallies starting to
sit next to cover taking up places to get ready to spawn
in few days. Casting the swim jig in the area close to the
smallies did not get any attention from the smallies today’s
fishing was about getting the jig next to cover. When you
would see the smallies sitting next to cover you had to drop
the jig next to the cover to get a bite. As for the in between
stops you could still catch the roaming smallies in the shallows
with the swim jig. When the two day smallie catch fest was
over my partner and I took close to 100 smallies in the two
days on the water and the majority of these fish were taken
on an Outkast Swim Jig.
When it comes to rod and reel set up for this smallmouth
tactic I generally fish a 1/4oz to 3/8oz Outkast Swim Jig
on a baitcaster setup. For this I use a 7ft medium action
baitcaster rod, teamed with a matching reel, spooled with
12lb to 15lb P-Line Halo line. This is a fluorocarbon line
that gives me more sensitivity than mono. The lower line stretch
helps get a good hook set at the end of the cast also. For
some you may opt to use a spinning setup for this type of
fishing. If that was the case I would recommend you use a
7ft medium action, teamed with a matched spinning reel either
spooled with 10lb P-Line Halo or 20/6 Fire Line Crystal. If
the smallies are a little line shy use a fluorocarbon leader
with the Fire Line. I feel the key to this bite was the jig
and grub combo when you are using this tactic experiment with
your grub offering to see how the smallies react and make
changes from there.
Early Season Pike
How many times have you been fishing a swim jig and you catch
pike? At times maybe more than you want especially if you
are fishing in a bass tournament, but seeing this it started
the wheels turning. In the last few years when the time
is right you cannot beat fishing a swim jig for shallow
water pike. At the start of the season with pike hitting
the shallows looking for food pike want a bait that is moving
and an Outkast Swim Jig is a perfect bait choice. Anywhere
you think about fishing a spinnerbait you can fish a swim
jig. With the pike seeing so many spinnerbaits during the
early part of the season from bass fishermen a swim jig
is a great option for a spinnerbait. One fact that makes
a swim jig stand out is the grub tail and the bright colors
that you can use to attract pike.
The grub tails that you use are an important part of how
the jig attracts and works for both bass and pike. When it
comes to matching grubs to the jig I will generally use an
Outkast Fat Tail Grub but I will not stop there I will many
times use a double tail grub if I feel the need to get the
pike to come out of the weeds. I will also take a white grub
and color the tail chartreuse or pink with Spike It Dye to
create more visual attraction to the swim jig. Pike cannot
resist bright colors making this a great way to dress up your
swim jig.
So if
you are looking to up your catch with swim jigs this year
give these tactics a try. If you do not have a swim jig
make it to your local sporting goods retailer and throw
a few Outkast Swim Jigs into your bag. Remember to grab
a few different color Fat Tail Grubs to go with the jigs
and add a few different Spike It Dye colors into the mix. You
will soon what bass fishermen have known swim jigs can catch
fish and they are not just for largemouth bass.
Make some memories please remember to practice CPR (Catch,
Photo and Release). The future of fishing is in your hands.
For more timely bass tips and tactics please log onto www.fishinginsider.com
If you would
like to read more from Scott Petersen, visit his web site Fishing
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