How to Fish a Swim Jig | Beginner to Advanced

For professional angler Bill Lowen, a swim jig is an essential shallow lure that excels at fishing clean, fast, and triggering bites. Known for his proficiency in this technique, Lowen dives deep and covers everything you need to know about swim jig fishing, such as where they excel, how to choose the best jig and trailer based on the situation, retrieve techniques, and his preferred rod setup.

THE VERSATILITY OF SWIM JIGS
Swim jigs are versatile lures that excel anytime you're fishing shallow water with a little to a lot of cover; they easily come through bushes, grass, rocks, and docks. Lowen emphasizes the importance of having a swim jig tied on year-round due to its "everywhere" appeal and adaptability across habitats and seasons.

FEATURED TACKLE

READING THE SWIM JIG BITE
Lowen's approach starts with paying close attention to each bite, viewing them as puzzle pieces to the fish's behavior. He stresses the significance of adjusting colors, trailer styles, and retrieval based on how the bass hit the bait. Short strikes? Swap up jig colors or trailer styles until they eat the bait deeper, or change to a lighter jig and slow down to keep the jig in their face longer.

JIG COLOR AND TRAILER SELECTION
The key to swim jig success is choosing the right color and trailer. Lowen recommends three primary colors: black and blue, green pumpkin, and white. These versatile colors work across the country, effectively imitating everything from bullhead to bluegills to shad. Trailers play a crucial role, too; Lowen alternates between trailers with varying actions, depending on the fish's mood and the water clarity. On this day, he landed on a crawfish trailer with an abundant kick, and some added buoyancy to help skip the bait and float it through cover.

THE ROLE OF ELECTRONICS
Most don't think of swim jig fishing as a time when electronics are particularly advantageous. Lowen disagrees, and usually keeps his forward-facing and 360 sonar on, especially when fishing adjacent to drop-offs. As he explains, it's commonplace to see cover such as a laydown or boulder patch just out of view, or bass suspended just off the edge of the drop, targeting suspended forage. You could easily find yourself catching bass on jigs in open water!

TECHNIQUE AND GEAR PREFERENCE
Lowen shares his unique method of fishing swim jigs, focusing on keeping them in the strike zone for as long as possible. Unlike the typical fast-paced approach, he advocates for a slower, more deliberate retrieval to trigger tentative bass. He prefers a longer medium-heavy casting rod with a soft tip and stiff backbone for casting accuracy and hookset power, paired with a high-speed reel for quick line retrieval. He opts for a 30- to 40-braid, balancing line strength and action.

FISH FINDER & BOAT SETUP

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[jayhernandezjh]

If it wasn’t for this video, I wouldn’t have caught my first three pounder on the bed just started fishing so hooked love it. Thank you for all the knowledge.

[citydogpack]

No bite like a swim jig bite. Love watching Lowen’s videos. He’s a great teacher

[vinnylivoti]

Bill is the master at swim jig fishing. I use his jigs and I have to say they are the money. Thanks Bill.

[officialGMerks]

Started bass fishing in march . Rigged up the swim jig today after watching your video last night . Caught me four ! Nice work bro

[robertbrost]

I picked up a swim jig last August just junk fishing and, I haven't put a jig down since. I caught larger than usual fish also. I don't swim it so much but, let it sink, drag it a bit maybe until it gets hung a little on grass or an obstruction and, then I rip it out with a snap. That draws reaction bites even if they aren't hungry. I always have one tied on!

[logansteffey]

Got to meet Bill at a seminar this winter, super nice guy!

[fishingmanifesto]

I was Bill’s marshal for the Conroe Classic and got a first hand lesson on swim jigs….really effective

[gamingdreams]

I have never had any luck on jigs but I’m going to force myself to fish it this year.

[lanceaineyfishing]

Swim jigs are my go to. I have one tied on like 75% of the time.

[scottankers]

Bluegill color swim jigs are one of my confidence baits. Love it.

[MrJohnB-qsdp]

Thanks for all the tips & advice!!! I started to use braid when I first started to throw swim jigs but for some reason switched to fluorocarbon but will now switch back. I was using the 30# braid. Stay Safe & God Bless!!!🤠

[douglasspickler]

Excellent video. Full of great information. Thanks for sharing your swim jig tips.

[TripEfishing]

Thank you for these tips! I love watching your guys videos, and I have learned so much and caught so many more bass with these tips!!!

[richashby]

I enjoy the light Weight float also 4 swimm Jig

[colejfishingadventures]

Amazing video man!!! Good stuff! Makes me excited for spring and summer fishing! I make fishing videos too and I love watching yours!! Great work and keep these videos coming! 💪🔥🤝

[TipoftheHook]

Those shallow water anchors are so nice to have 👀! Keep them awesome videos coming, loved it 👍! Got here new subscriber fisherman from Kazakhstan 😉🖐

[fidelcarrillo]

Luv swim jig fishing Especially with a legionary fisherman

[timsreeltimefishing]

you tought me alot about swim jigs. I used it once in a tournament that had a lot of grass and did ok

[isaacbrascoupe]

Lure parts online 🎉
Where fishing 🎣 starts!!! And catching begins

[CentralCoastBassFishing]

Great video Bill, thanks for the good information! What full cork handle rod were you using (model and brand)?
Thanks, Will