As summer approaches, here around Lake Okeechobee we find the bass on the move and vegetation growing, well like weeds. So we turn to lures that can cover a lot of water, be fished under multiple conditions, and be relativity weedless. So we turn our attention to swim jigs and in particular Gambler’s Heavy Cover Southern Swim Jig (HCS).
Gambler designed the HCS swim jig with southern conditions in mind, that includes a tapered head for less resistance through grass and weed beds, a stiffer beefed up weed-guard to deflect unwanted vegetation, and an Ultra Point 6/0 wire hook for strength and superior penetration during hook-ups. Available in two sizes, 5/16, and 1/2oz, and a variety of colors, there is plenty of opportunity for you to match the local forage.
As the name implies, this jig is designed to be retrieved at a higher speed through the water column as opposed to the slow bounce-off-the-bottom retrieve typical of football and round headed jigs. This makes the lure a good choice for open water areas as well as submerged vegetation such as Kissimmee Grass, Eelgrass, Pencil Reed, and Hydrilla.
The retrieval speed is the key to being productive. You’ll want to control the rate of speed to keep the bait moving but not so fast that it breaks the surface. The speed at which you retrieve will depend on the depth of the water and the vegetation you are fishing in. If you’re fishing a grass bed you’ll want to retrieve it just fast enough to keep it at the upper edges of the grass with an occasional slow down to let the lure fall into the open holes of the bed. A slow steady retrieve with a quick twitch of your rod tip will trigger a flaring of the lure skirt that will change the profile of the bait and entice that bass to strike. Like a spinnerbait, you’ll want to pick your casting angles to bring the bait right pass any ambush points, bump as much vegetation as possible, and to maximize the bait’s time in the water.
As for trailers, if you ask a dozen jig fishermen what their favorite trailer color or style is, you’ll get a dozen different answers. In general choose a color or style that best suits the conditions your fishing. If the water is clear or the skies are sunny, then a lighter, low profile trailer might be best. If the water is dirty or the skies are cloudy, than a darker, bigger profile might be best. If the fish are in a feeding period, then bigger is the way to go.
In general, a swim jig is a very productive lure that has the versatility to cover many different conditions and when mated with trailers can present a wide variety of profiles. Gambler’s Heavy Cover Southern Swim Jig is just one of those go-to baits.
