Are Swim Jigs and Swimbaits The Same Thing? Some Anglers Think So…

in my country we call all soft plastics jigs, and those americans call jigs we call directly translated, casting flies

I have a ton of swim jigs and have yet to throw one. Great content as usual Matt. Will definitely try out swim jigs given the versatility!

Matt, I shared your frustration with my hook up ratio using a weighted EWG owner beast hook. However, when I started using an owner flashy swimmer my hook up ratio improved dramatically because it has a much larger hook gap between the hook eye and the hook point. Now, my hook up ratio is almost as good as using a jighead and I get the weedlessness and flash of the flashy swimmer for fishing in heavy cover.

🍺Thanks Matt. Nice explanations. Our local University of Washington Huskies are now 11-0.🤞We have the in state rivalry game against the Cougars in the Annual Apple cup then the PAC 12 championship game against the dreaded Oregon Ducks to get into the BCS playoffs for the National Championship of college football.🤠

Love this break down of the two different baits, I have been having better success with the swimbait lately but I think its because Im just using them more. Just wondering if you could give us an update on the latest goings on between MLF and BASS with J lee leaving and some pretty good names not on BPT roster, just looking for your opinion on this and does this move surprise you… thanks Matt.

They are not the same but one will usually get the job done. One is better than the other just like lipless is better than a crank. A standard store swimjig even w/o skirt will never be better than your pairing to make such (naked swimjig). The art is hard for people to understand.
EWG swimbaits in particular need a particular rod for that better penetration. I fish trout so that style is derived from said style. The only problem with a jig style is that you hang up more.
As for depth, I tend to add a trout weight to get them down with that heavier add to the head size.
As for action, no need to impart if you know swimbaits. Trust me. The unseen (by others) skills in this bait is the elite level. No need for two when you can work around one. Mod on the go. It's complicated, but once you understand it, it's easy money.

I just recently found some soft plastic paddle tails with rattles in the tail. They have other designs too. If you want to know the name let me know and I'll go dig them out of my car. I've been catching redfish and trout with them on 1/4 oz jig heads.

Honestly with a slim jig it's all about the right style head and the right style hook the right weight of of hook because that way if you get the trailer right and you match it all up you get a ton of secondary action it looks more lifelike it looks like gills it looks like fins and scales and you just get a whole lot of more realistic looking bait but it's all about the trailer that you pick. I base my trailer on water clarity. Inthrow the swimmjig everywhere. Shallow deep dirty clear doesnt matter the trailer is wjay sets it apart.

I see them as very different techniques myself- the swimbait- the smaller ones I use anyway- I see more as a finesse like thing- more natural, less action. The swim jig feels more aggressive- more like power fishing. Plus- if you use the Tush rig the swimbait is swimming more horizontal while the swim jig is head diving because it's forward weighted.

I let the fish tell me what they want. Sometimes the counterintuitive option is the one the fish are actually willing to bite at that particular time.

Perfect just what doc ordered

I’m also gonna use that jig with the wire weed guard for a tube , will u make just that jig head with the weedguard without the skirt , that wire if u fold it forward and insert the wire first u can poke it out a lil below where the jig head flushes out in the tube and shove that jig head in the tube , then I can even put a twin tail on my tube , I’ve been wanting a wire guard so it will punch out the plastic tube tip , and that shaft on the jig allows a trailer , I use a twin tail on my tubes

I'm thinking the main factor that determines when to fish one over the other is the angle of retrieval required by the presentation that is being utilized.

Meaning, a vertical and bottom contact presentation would be more effective using swimjigs. In comparison, swimbaits perform better with a standard horizontal retrieve in open water with suspended fish.

Swimjigs, on the other hand, can also perform well with a horizontal retrieve in open water for suspended fish, but with a line tie that is 45 degrees or less.

That's why fishing deep is more of a vertical approach instead of a casting horizontal approach. That's why most jig heads in general have a 90 degree line tie. The emphasis is put more on the vertical presentation from a boat, rather than the horizontal movement from casting in shallow water.

Also skirts not only provide a larger profile and water displacement, but they also provide additional actions that are not dependent on horizontal motion. While swimbaits are dependant on motion for their action. When suspending a jig with a 90 degree line tie, or letting it sit on the bottom, it isn't absolutely necessary to impart motion because the skirt should naturally flair and slightly undulate independently due to the water pressure.

I use the swimjig more then a swimbait. Open warer is when i use a swimbait.i fish a lot of lily pads so i use a swimjig more

Good video 👍

👍👍👍👍👍

Thanks Matt , I love them both.

A Huddleston is not a swim jig and a swim jig isn't a Glide bait.

Great information. Thanks for sharing.

Great video. I use swimbaits for open water, if the water is more clear than usual or when I want to add flash with a flashy swimmer. Everything else is a swim jig with a BBB swimon. Biggest difference is bejng able to slow down and pitch the swim jig into tight spaces. The bbb swimon and berkley deal allow for easy transition from swimming to pitching.