Pro bass angler Jacob Wheeler routinely relies on soft swimbaits to catch all bass species, at all depths, on fisheries across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. He lays out his top 5 favorite ways to rig and fish this versatile bait, so you too can experience success in wide-ranging situations. Without further ado, here are Wheeler’s top 5 swimbait setups and applications:
1. 3-inch swimbait rigged on a jig. A small swimbait rigged on a ball head jig is one of the best all-around get-bit baits in existence. This setup excels when bass are keying on small baitfish (early fall on southern impoundments), year-round for smallmouth and spotted bass, or anytime fish are just finicky in general. This setup is best fished on a spinning rod and reel combo.
- SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad, 3-inch
- JIG HEAD – VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig
- LINE (braid) – Sufix NanoBraid, Color: Aqua Camo, 10-pound
- LINE (fluorocarbon leader) – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 8-pound
- ROD – Duckett Jacob Wheeler Series Spinning Rod, 7′ Medium
- REEL – Duckett Paradigm SWX Spinning Reel, SWX-2500
- HAT – Realtree Fishing Hats
2. 4-inch swimbait rigged on a jig. A mid-sized paddle tail rigged on a jig is Wheeler’s most used and favorite all-around swimbait setup — it catches ’em shallow to deep all year long. Just increase or decrease your jig weight/size based on the depth you’re fishing. Wheeler prefers fishing this setup on a medium action rod and reel combo spooled with 12-pound fluorocarbon.
- SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad, 4-inch
- JIG HEAD – VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig
- LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 12-pound
- ROD – Duckett Jacob Wheeler Series Casting Rod, 7′ Med Hvy
- REEL – Duckett Paradigm CRI Casting Reel, DFCR-100-681
3. Swimbait rigged on a Tokyo Rig. Tokyo rigging swimbaits is a relative newcomer and still overlooked in many situations. Fished either weedless or with an exposed hook, a Tokyo-rigged swimbait is an excellent substitute for traditional swinging jigs. The physics of weight hanging below keeps the swimbait glued just off the bottom while also permitting the swimbait to move freely and independently of the weight.
- SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad
- VMC Tokyo Rig Finesse Neko
- VMC Tokyo Rig Heavy Duty Wide Gap
- WEIGHT – VMC Tungsten Rugby Weight
- LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 12-pound
- ROD – Duckett Jacob Wheeler Series Casting Rod, 7′ Med Hvy
- REEL – Duckett Paradigm CRW Casting Reel, DFCW-100-681
4. Weedless rigged swimbait. A Texas-rigged swimbait rigged on a belly blade swimbait hook is an excellent baitfish imitator and comes through cover snag-free with ease. Wheeler uses this setup religiously in shallow water and offshore when targeting mid-depth bass relating to isolated brush piles. It’s an excellent alternative to fishing a spinnerbait or ChatterBait, especially when the bass want a less imposing bait.
- SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad
- HOOK – VMC Heavy Duty Weighted Willow Swimbait Hook, 4/0
- LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 17-pound
- ROD – Duckett Jacob Wheeler Series Casting Rod, 7’2″ Med Hvy
- REEL – Duckett Paradigm CRW Casting Reel, DFCW-100-751
5. As a trailer on moving baits such as vibrating jigs (ChatterBait), swim jigs and spinnerbaits. Wheeler advises not to overlook using a swimbait as a trailer on your favorite moving baits. Specifically, he’s had excellent success (tournament wins) by adding bulk and action to the backs of ChatterBaits, swim jigs, and spinnerbaits. Bulkier, flat-sided swimbaits also have the added benefit of improving the ability to skip baits deeper under overhanging cover such as brush and docks.
- SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad
- BLADED JIG – Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer
- SWIM JIG (underwater video) – Terminator Heavy Duty Swim Jig
- SPINNERBAIT – Accent Jacob Wheeler Custom Colorado Willow Spinnerbait
- SPINNERBAIT (underwater video) – Terminator Pro Series Spinnerbait, Double Willow
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