Swim Jig Alterations That Drastically Improve The Baits Performance!

Рет қаралды 13,014

Жыл бұрын

Make these alterations to your swim Jigs to improve the fishing baits performance and catch more big bass!
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I was born and raised in Chicago, but after working 12 years in the financial Industry regulating the futures and options markets at the CME/CBOT I decided to pursue my passion fishing professional tournaments and left my full time corporate job. At that point, I moved to Junction City, WI with my wife Sara and two boys Hank and Duke. I've been fishing professionally since 2011 and full-time since 2015. I've qualified for seven MLF Championships and won over a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level.

Пікірлер: 142

@jamesh7469 Жыл бұрын

My favorite modification is adding a split ring to the eye of the hook. I have noticed that it allows the jig to move more freely and gives it more rolling body action, particularly with thicker line sizes that normally reduce action. It also rotates better on the fall and swims downward

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing with us!

@emilianobanzi9432 Жыл бұрын

I do it as well!

@RyanSmith-fb8rf Жыл бұрын

Tying a loop knot will accomplish the same thing but very good idea with the split ring

@robertbrost7777 9 ай бұрын

Gonna try this tomorrow with my swim jigs. Thanks for the tip! Just put split rings on!

@af4od02 2 ай бұрын

This idea is great. I am adding some split rings today!

@billtiritilli5271 Жыл бұрын

Bears fan in Wisconsin your inside the cheddar curtain. Go Bears

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

haha! not much to be proud of when talking packers or bears this season...

@willperryman4559 Жыл бұрын

WooHoo 🥳 Matt, this was a super tip for me ✊ I love my dirty jigs and I do similar modifications, but it all just became clearer. I trim my skirt, but that inside trim was an ah hah moment, I trim my weed guards , but I like your method of taking out five much better,it’s consistent 👍 I’ve never thought of bending up the hook on a swimjig , but I will Now!!!! I also trim my swimbait trailer,but that cut to allow more flow is icing of your cake (now mine )….. I am definitely grateful to learn these mods, and I will make sure Santa puts You on his Nice List😜👍👍👍👍🍀🎣👍 Thanks 🙏

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

haha! THe nice list is a good list to be on!

@LowBrowFishing Жыл бұрын

Those are some really good tips. I'm a big fan of taking the skirt completely off and using it as a swimbait jig head for my Keitechs. That way, I get the best of both worlds. Also, a Bears hoodie in Northern Wisconsin? Ballsy! I dunno if I would be brave enough to wear that in public, lol!

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

haha!

@georgebramblett6078 Жыл бұрын

Hey Matt the floor and workbench definitely look cleaner lol great video

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

haha!

@michaelsheppard4227 Жыл бұрын

Best fishing videos there is. Most information and great hands on to show us exactly. Ty sir for doing these videos.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

awesome! thanks!

@kevinbeaudean704 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt. I have my swim jig ritual also. I trim my brush guard with a parallel to the jig cut. When done the top of the guards bristles are short to long . I don't worry about not getting a good hook up as much as I don't like the look of that big weed guard sticking up. The tapered cut looks more natural.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing!

@JAREDDADAMS Жыл бұрын

Love me a swim jig bite. Great info

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Me too!

@richardblake4777 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt for reminding us how to improve our swimming fishing. All good tips I will be using in the spring.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks!

@johnbutler307 Жыл бұрын

Matt thanks again for all the tips.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

@terrytresemer2864 Жыл бұрын

My list to Santa is for you to have bunches of 10lb bass in every tournament this coming year. Than you can ask Miles if he needs an on the water lesson, just for good natured fun. 😂

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Sounds great!

@mikeeller557 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt, I also like boot tails for large mouth. But I like twister tail for smallmouth.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

twisters work well to!

@Jay-zd1kq Жыл бұрын

Another thing I’ll do for longevity baits with rubber band collars add small zip tie or hand tie piece of braided line keep from toothy critters ripping skirt off bait and over time from heat and cold will melt the rubber collar over time causing skirt to fall off 🎣 Fish on my brother keep on keeping on!

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

fish on!

@k1llerdir Жыл бұрын

Matt those are similar modifications I do. I have noticed that when I use a boot tail trailer I get less bites so I use the Rage Menace or Boss Grub flappers straight up and down. Also depending on the conditions I get get more bites out of Power Stinger, Strike King Perfect Plastic Blade, and Zoom Super Fluke using the rod tip.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

flappers can be great trailers

@billpatterson6249 Жыл бұрын

Have you ever done a video showing your preferred knots for flouro, mono, and braided lines? Knots direct to the bait.

@BobbyBalsaRNM Жыл бұрын

Another great video!

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks!

@MrJohnB-qs6dp Жыл бұрын

Awesome video!!! Thanks for sharing those tips!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

you bet!

@robertcook8187 Жыл бұрын

Great tips on your video and information thanks and good fishing

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@edwardwicht5271 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video! I sometimes cut the weed guard so that it is flat, parallel with the hook shank.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

@mbeieler Жыл бұрын

Thanks for that juice Matt! Cleaned my rods and reels up today now it’s time to alter some jigs!! 👍

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Right on!

@robertbrost7777 9 ай бұрын

Matt, I checked. My jigs are the cheap Strike King ones and, the skirt is held on by a plastic ring and, there isn't a top and bottom skirt. LOL

@MattStefanFishing 9 ай бұрын

Bummer

@shawnriebe4547 Жыл бұрын

Another great video! Very informative. I love these.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks!

@williammetcalf9760 Жыл бұрын

Very good tip on them I also want to know about hooks for like a megadraft freestlye 6 inch swim bait What's a good weighted hook for them

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

stay tuned! Ive got one designed that will be coming out in the spring!

@jonorech Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Matt. Love me some WI River swimjig fishin'!. On a Dirty Jigs swim jig I just opened, the back half of skirt was ALL trimmed. Clearly they listen to you! Go Bears.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

haha! sounds good!

@brentbusick2245 Ай бұрын

Then obviously you ordered the finesse swim jig. The finesse is trimmed like that but the standard swim jigs are not.

@jasonrutherfordbassfishing Жыл бұрын

Super stoked that dirty jigs was acquired by Nichols! That being said great vid this is by far my weakest technique, thanks!

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@davidwilliams1805 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info that you share!

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

anytime!

@emilianobanzi9432 Жыл бұрын

Great and very detailed video Matt

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Thanks 👍

@leerice7929 Жыл бұрын

Great tip! Thanks Matt

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

You bet!

@Bankfishindude Жыл бұрын

I really like Berkeley’s the deal! I have caught a bunch on it yet but it looks so good it just a matter of time! Thank as always🎣

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

its a good bait!

@woefman9467 Жыл бұрын

Tell me you are Not wearing a Chicago Bears Sweatshirt in Wisconsin????? 😱

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

haha! i cheer for both teams...neither are good this year so dont waste your time!

@nickkoschmeder3288 Жыл бұрын

Those are great tips, I already trim like that but I definitely like the hook bending idea. That should help me be able to beef up my rod strength vs throwing something softer than I'd like to

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Right on!

@rodcashman4793 Жыл бұрын

Great info. Matt Great video 📹 👏 👍

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks!

@burdettehoeppner1062 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for these great tips.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

you bet!

@michaelace4739 Жыл бұрын

Awesome tips!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Tight Lines!

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

You bet!

@fernandosantiago8451 Жыл бұрын

Great video! Thank you Sir

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

you bet!

@barefootgrl Жыл бұрын

that is a great tip thanks can't wait to try it

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

good luck!

@itllkeal 3 ай бұрын

Thanks

@MattStefanFishing 3 ай бұрын

Welcome

@kennethhromcik8144 Жыл бұрын

Great tips on an incredible system. Thanks for the videos. Tight lines and Godspeed.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

tight lines!

@vinnylivoti9567 Жыл бұрын

Gambler Little EZ or Missle Baits Shockwave are good ones as a trailer.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

awesome!

@heinrichkellogg7563 Жыл бұрын

🍺Thanks Matt. Nice simple and quick swim jig tips.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

You bet!

@CoopOutdoorsy88 Жыл бұрын

I really like to use a scrounger jig head jig/scrounger jig head swim jig it is just a swim jig with the weed guard but with scrounger jig head. I love the action but wish some scrounger heads and scrounger swim jigs had weed guards, or they make all types/kinds of jigs and hooks weedless like use a texa rig hook or screw lock like a shakey head. Also like under spin jigs they are swim jigs with a under spin or under spin with a skirt (I would love to see it weedless though like a texas rig hook or shakey head), or just making it some how you slide on any type/kind of spinnerbait blade right on a trailer hook, and the hook it self if not using a trailer on the regular hook if you put on the blade first and then the trailer. You can also do this chatter baits/vibrating jigs because they do make chatter baits/vibrating jigs with under spins too but the only they have weedguards but wish they had made them weedless like a texas rig hook or screw lock like a shakey head. Hover jigs (I am talking about the ones by Gunki) are cool but same thing I want the other ones, I want with this one too. Always wanted to try (chatter bait/vibrating jig and Gunki) jig/lure hybrid, (vibrating jig and scrounger jig) jig/lure hybrid, (under spin or Gunki hover jig) jig/lure hybrid, (((under spin or Gunki hover jig and chatter bait/vibrating jig) jig/lure hybrid) and scrounger jig) jig/lure hybrid

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharign!

@jeffreypennekamp7101 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for a rilly good idea 💡. I never trimmed my swim baits I will know!

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

You bet!

@tommybounds3220 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

anytime!

@clintperry799 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your videos 👍🇺🇲🐕🙂

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

you bet!

@bigmikefishingchonicles9950 Жыл бұрын

Man i love those tips I do have two questions one when do you go from a boot tail to a craw on a swim jig and my second question is can I use a swim jig in the winter It gets clod here in MD and DC but our lakes don't always freeze over

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

i did this video a while back that might help with trailers and i generally put the swim jig down in low 50 degree water.. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mMl_a6qnyNOWeHk.html

@mariaruhlman424 Жыл бұрын

One of the things I do to my swim jigs is clear coat the eyeballs with clear nail polish. Depends on the brand, but once an eye is gone I feel like the jig doesn’t catch anymore.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

good idea!

@midwestfischerman Жыл бұрын

I think the quick change skirt on the Z-Man Original Chatterbait is PERFECT for swim jigs. Thus, on my swim jigs or pitching jigs that work great as swim jigs I SWAP SKIRTS with my Original Chatterbaits. I am on the cheap side, so I only buy Original Chatterbaits and have enough variety of quick change skirts to make plenty of swaps.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

its a neat concept!

@erniebrightfishing Жыл бұрын

You can buy just the skirts now. Also strike king skirts are doing the same as zman so you can buy individual skirts now. It's a lil cheaper than buying the whole jig or chatterbait. I do the same as you. I have a skirt box and then just pick out my hook (flipping,swimming,etc) and then add skirt it's a quick and easy way to carry a larger amount of baits without the weight of each one having its own hook and weight added.

@johnm2617 Жыл бұрын

Nice little tip Mathew * Daddy is going to try it *In the 15 years i have thrown it only caught a few ? Dont know ! TY *

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

you bet!

@mikeantes9597 Жыл бұрын

Great tips Matt thanks at what water temp would you stop throwing a swim jig and pick up maybe a hair jig?

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

i dont like swim jigs below low 50 temps

@williamfaragher3671 Жыл бұрын

50 years in the future... living rubber jigs, finesse topwaters and the original floating Rapala. Will still be as effective at catching fish as they were 50 years ago... Shimano started making the finest fishing reels 50 years ago and will lead the fishing industry with their innovation and craftmanship for another 50 years... Thanks for more great tackle tips ! Bill

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

agreed!

@rockyj2008 Жыл бұрын

The old rapala’s still work just as good as they ever have…..knowing when to use them is key

@williamfaragher3671 Жыл бұрын

@@rockyj2008 Completely agree Rocky !

@dustinhanson5940 2 ай бұрын

Do you still have the lake breakdowns?

@MattStefanFishing 2 ай бұрын

Fish the moment no longer offers them

@Richard-mj5dp Жыл бұрын

Any spin cast recommendations? Looking at buying for a kid.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

I would build the CRB color series in a rod length less than 6ft. just swap out the spinning reel seat for a casting reel seat! They will love it!

@belldn3 Жыл бұрын

Ur a Bears fan........????? Living in Wisconsin? If so, awesome, lol.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

Not much to be proud of but remember I grew up in Chicago! Moved to central Wisconsin after college. I cheer for both teams... Been a bad year

@belldn3 Жыл бұрын

@@MattStefanFishing I live in Illinois myself. Go bears. I kind of think Fields is going to be awesome next season. Still need a legit running back. Nice vids, keep it up.

@markstheory Жыл бұрын

Hey Matt, what time of year do you throw a swim jig? Is it a year round bait for you?

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

spring - fall

@russellkamp8923 Жыл бұрын

I'd like to see a video on how to fish a swim jig.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

here are a couple videos about ow to fish it kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rN-Geryl1KvRdZs.html kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hbdhaJl43M6Ve2w.html

@russellkamp8923 Жыл бұрын

@@MattStefanFishing thank you!

@claudejude-qm6sq Жыл бұрын

Like a breakedown on Yatesville lake in Louisa k.y

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

ill put it on my list to do

@leeeck3866 Жыл бұрын

It's so hard to get through the psychological process of modifying baits. Cutting up brand new baits taking files and scraping them up and beating them up when you spend money on them. But I guess if I want to be a better angler I have to bite my lip and just do it. Love all your tips just have to twist my own arm to do them. Thanks for all you do on your channel.

@leeeck3866 Жыл бұрын

Do you do the same with your chatterbaits also

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

yes i do!

@stevesteve4350 Жыл бұрын

Matt I'm thinking about getting some Striker gear. Any recommendations on where to purchase or promo code for discount? Been hearing good things about Striker. Thanks

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

they make great products. They have the 12 days of christmas sales going on now so keep an eye on those. strikerbrands.com/ I dont have any promo codes at the moment

@stevesteve4350 Жыл бұрын

@@MattStefanFishing thanks

@williamknight5142 Жыл бұрын

👍👍👍👍👍

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

thanks for watching!

@guessguess8406 Жыл бұрын

A couple questions: I was told once that trimming the length of the weed guard makes the bristles too stiff (ie shorter and stiffer) what do do you or anyone think about that idea. Also, it seems like swim jigs are bitten from beneath them so it makes sense to trim the top of the skirt and not the bottom of the skirt like Matt showed here. Lastly, does anyone ever trim the center of the skirt instead of the top or bottom allowing it to collapse from both sides around the trailer. I am a swim novice so I have no real opinion just asking everyone else's.

@MattStefanFishing Жыл бұрын

yes i remove most of the skirt material from the bottom as that helps the bait flair. As for the weed guards. you cant cut it short enough to be to stiff without cutting it below the hook point making it not weedless.

@erniebrightfishing Жыл бұрын

I agree with Matt except swim jigs aren't always hit from bottom. It's very much a chase-able bait they will chase it and I've watched them pin it to bottom while it's falling like a dying shad. I've also had them head butt my swim jig I'll kill it and they'll circle back and eat it. Bass are bullies lol