swimbait.com - How to rig and fish with swimbaits

Swimbaits - The Basics:

Rigging:

Learning to rig the Big Hammer™ swimbait correctly is not as difficult as it seems. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

Gluing the swimbait to the jig head:

Gluing the Big Hammer™ swimbait to the jig head is not necessary but it is a good idea. Not only will it prevent the swimbait from sliding down the jig head but it will also increase your chances of catching more and larger fish. Click here for more information.

Trailers and other rigging options:

Big Hammer™ swimbaits are an extremely versatile lure. Not only in how you can fish them on a jig head, but also in the many different uses. Big Hammer™ swimbaits make great trailers for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and jigs. In addition, the 3 inch Big Hammer™ swimbait has proven to be deadly when used on a drop-shot rig.

Trap Rigging:

As the popularity of using swimbaits to catch a wide variety of fish keeps growing, the need for more rigging techniques also appears. One of these techniques is to rig the swimbait with a small "trap" hook in the tail. This method has proven deadly on species such as trout, sunfish and perch. Click here to view printable step-by-step rigging instructions in .pdf format.

Colors:

Most colors will catch fish in the right conditions. A good rule of thumb to follow is dark conditions = dark colors, light conditions = light colors. Another determining factor can be what your target species is feeding on.

Size & Weight:

Under most conditions the small to mid-sized baits (3 to 5 inch) are the ones to start with. The weight of the jig head depends on personal preference, depth fishing, target species, type of retrieve, etc. For 3 inch baits the most popular size is 1/4 oz. For 4 inch baits the most popular range is 1/2 oz. - 3/4 oz., for 5 inch baits the range is 3/4 oz. - 1.5 oz., and for 5½ and 6½ inch baits the range is 1 oz. - 1.5 oz. Shallow water, short strikes, shallow fish, or noticing small baitfish in the area are all good reasons to switch to a 3 inch bait. Deeper water, larger fish, larger baitfish, and aggressive fish are reasons to switch to a 6½ inch bait. Another reason to switch to a larger bait may be to prevent catching small or unwanted fish.

Fishing:

As with all types of fishing experimentation is the most crucial aspect. Try new things until you find what is working. Once you find something that works vary that method/technique slightly and continue to hone your skill and knowledge. Remember that confidence plays a major role in any style of fishing - especially when using artificial lures.

Read through some of the articles in this section to get a better understanding of swimbait fishing techniques for variety of species and conditions.

Click here to return to the techniques directory.

Home - Swimbaits - Salt Shaker Worms - Twitchin' Grubs - Buzzbaits - Perch Grubs - Jig Heads - Accessories - How To - Photo Gallery - Big Fish - Testimonials - On-line Shops - Pro-Staff - Dealer Listing - Media - Contacts - Links

Click here for information or problems. Click here for dealer inquiries.

Big Hammer™, Square Tail™, Rectangular Tail™, Square Tail Design™, Rectangular Tail Design™ and the rectangular shaped swimbait tail design are all trademarks owned by Sunrize Tackle, Inc. (parent company of Big Hammer Lures). Use of these terms without written permission by Sunrize Tackle, Inc. is prohibited by law.

The photos, images, text and content of the Big Hammer™ website are copyrighted. These items and information are provided for your convenience and are only intended to be used in the positive promotion and sale of Big Hammer™ products. All other use is prohibited by law.