Moving baits like crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swim jigs are excellent lures for covering water when searching for active springtime bass. Swim jigs are so good that they helped propel Bob Downey to a top 10 finish at the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series event at Neely Henry Lake, AL. In today’s Wired2fish video, Bob takes to the Upper Mississippi River to discusses his favorite time, locations, and gear for fishing swims jigs in the spring.
TACKLE
- SWIM JIG – All Terrain Tackle Swim Jig (limited inventories)
- SWIG JIG (in-stock) – Terminator Heavy Duty Swim Jig
- SWIM JIGS – at Tackle Warehouse
- TRAILER – Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver
- ROD – St.Croix Avid Casting Rod, 7′ Medium
- REEL – Daiwa Tatula Elite Casting Reel, 7.1:1
- LINE – Sufix 131 Braid, 30-pound
For bass in northern latitudes, the prespawn period can extend well into April and even late May near the Canadian border. As in southern fisheries, extended warm fronts bring numbers of bass into shallow water for comfort (warmer temps) and feeding opportunities.
Swim jigs are ideal baits for combining grass and wood flats. Downey details how he fishes light swim jigs around residual cover like cattails and submerged grass. He also shares his go-to jig trailers and preferred rod setup for increasing both bites and hooking and landing percentages.
OTHER GEAR
- FISH FINDER – Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N
- HAT – Rapala Side Script Hat
- SHIRT – Rapala Core Long Sleeve Shirt
- SUNGLASSES – Costa Del Mar Corbina Sunglasses
