by Michelle Armstrong
We are full on summer here in the South. For us lake dwellers that means sharing the water with folks that only put their boats and jetskis to use four months out of the year. This means we need to keep our eyes peeled for others and keep our patience in check.
Not only do we need patience with people, you’re gonna need patience with the fish as well. During these hot summer months, our green friends get a little sluggish and don’t swim as far or chase like in the cooler periods.
You’ll want to target heavy cover where the fish can hide and stay cool such as Lily pads, grass mats, or even trash mats, blowdowns, etc. And dont forget the ever important shady side of docks.
What should I use you ask? Well one of the most versatile baits on Earth…a swim jig! I’m certain there are few other baits that can perform in so many different circumstances.
In Lily pads, you’ll want to target the open “holes” let it sink for a second and then drag the swim jig back letting it bounce and redirect itself through and over the pads. If you feel your lure get snagged, a couple of quick pops with your rod tip should free it up.
With grass and trash mats, you’ll want to pay attention the the edges. Line yourself up with the grass and cast parallel, swimming the bait along the front. Also, if there is a point where the grass comes out further than the rest, treat this just as if you were fishing a point of land. Swim the jig along all sides slowing your retrieve as you approach the end.
Along docks, you can utilize a simple cast and retrieve. Key in on docks nearer to deeper water as the fish have moved out. Mostly pay attention to the shady side. You’ll want to get as tight to the dock as possible, even bumping it a little will get the fish’s attention. You can also put in to play working a swim jig in the same manner you would a regular jig. Letting it slow fall then bouncing it off the bottom before swimming it back to the boat.
One beautiful thing about a swim jig is it’s not just for swimming. You can pitch or flip a swim jig on brush and or blowdowns. When doing this it IS important to bump into the limbs. It creates a scenario of a meal about to drop in the water. Usually, just like a regular jig presentation, the fish will bite as soon as it hits the water or as the bait is falling. Pay attention to your line, if you see a tic or any movement, set the hook.
Another bonus is that you can virtually mimic any baitfish depending on the main forage at any given point simply by replicating the color. For instance, white for the shad spawn, Brim color when the brim have moved in on the vacated Bass beds, and crawdads at any time. The variations are endless.
When you are using your swim jig in a cast and retrieve scenario, let the fish hook itself. Many times if you try to pull the second you feel one, you’ll miss the fish. Use different retrieve speeds until the fish tell you want the want. When you catch one in a certain area, slow you next cast and even crawl the swim jig along the bottom kicking up mud as you go.
If I had to choose only one swim jig it would be a Bluegill ¼ oz Tom Monsoor Humdinger with a Bizz Baits Green Pumpkin Magic Cutter craw as my trailer. But don’t limit your choices. I also use a Smoked Shad ⅜ oz with an XPS Ozark Purple single tail grub for a softer fall. In the dead of summer when the fish go way deep I use a Natural Bream ½ oz with a Bizz Bait Alabama craw Killer Kraw to quickly get the bait to the cooler water.
I prefer a Cashions 7ft Medium rod with a Bass Pro Shops Carbonlite 7:1 reel spooled with 10-12lb test.
You can definitely put a swim jig to good use no matter what obstacles come your way. Now go catch fish!