Swimming a Jig

Kentucky's Kevin Wirth says that swimming a jig is a good technique to catch big bass of all major species in early spring. Here's how he goes about it.

When: Pre-Spawn

A good day to try this technique is during pre-spawn, when you have "fairly clean water, bluebird-type skies, a high-pressure system -- a tougher day, when the fish suspend," Wirth says.

On those days the bass might not be aggressive enough to attack a jerkbait, but you can fool them by swimming a jig. "The fish are slow," he sys. "They're sluggish because the water temperature is colder, anywhere from 50 degrees to the low 60s."

Where: Creek Staging Areas

Pick your favorite spawning creek and run "midway to 3/4 of the way back," he says. "Look for flats by channel turns, laydowns and secondary points." The points don't have to be obvious, he notes.

Concentrate on water 3-10 feet deep, Wirth advises, and look for cover or other structure such as wood in these areas. Also look for baitfish. "If you're seeing bait suspended in that depth range, that's a good place to start doing this," he says.

How: Slow Presentation

A slow presentation is key, he says. He likes to make a cast or long pitch to a promising area, and the let the bait sink to the bottom. "Raise your rod tip from 2 o'clock to 12 o'clock and hold it up," he says. "Make sure the line stays tight and let the jig swing towards you."

When it comes to rest on the bottom, repeat the process. "Or, if you get a heavy feeling or feel a light tic, reel down and set the hook as quickly as you can."

He notes that this is not slack-lining, where the rod tip is pulled to 12 o'clock or further and the jig is allowed to fall on a slack line. "That's more for summertime fishing," he says. "This is a tight-line technique."

Wirth's Gear

Here's what Wirth uses for this technique:

> A Prowler Saw Craw in watermelon, tequila pumpkin, black/blue or, at times, white.

> A 1/4-ounce sinker and 3/0 hook (regardless of species he's targeting) or, for a slower fall, a 1/4-3/8 ounce jig with the Saw Craw as a trailer.

> A 7-foot heavy or medium-heavy flipping stick and 14-17-pound Stren Super Tough line (clear).