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 details how to a rig swimbait for bass using 5 different methods.
Without further ado, here are Wheeler’s top 5 swimbait setups and applications:
00:25 3-INCH SWIMBAIT RIGGED ON A JIG (finesse setup)
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.
FEATURED LURES
• SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad, 3-inch: https://wired2.fish/StormLargoShad
• JIG HEAD – VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig: http://wired2.fish/VMC-HybridSwimbaitJig
• LINE (braid) – Sufix NanoBraid, Color: Aqua Camo, 10-pound: http://wired2.fish/NanoBraidAquaCamo
• LINE (fluorocarbon leader) – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 8-pound: https://wired2.fish/SufixAdvanceFluoro
• ROD – Duckett Jacob Wheeler Series Spinning Rod, 7′ Medium: https://wired2.fish/DuckettWheelerSpinningRod
• REEL – Duckett Paradigm SWX Spinning Reel, SWX-2500: https://wired2.fish/ParadigmSWX-SpinningReel
• HAT – Realtree Fishing Hats: http://wired2.fish/ReeltreeFishingHats
01:00 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.
FEATURED LURES
• SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad, 4-inch: https://wired2.fish/StormLargoShad
• JIG HEAD – VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig: http://wired2.fish/VMC-HybridSwimbaitJig
• LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 12-pound: https://wired2.fish/SufixAdvanceFluoro
• ROD – Duckett J. Wheeler Series Casting Rod, 7′ Med Hvy: https://wired2.fish/DucketWheelerCastingRod
• REEL – Duckett Paradigm CRI Casting Reel, DFCR-100-681: http://wired2.fish/DuckettCRICastingReel
02:20 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.
FEATURED LURES
• SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad: https://wired2.fish/StormLargoShad
• VMC Tokyo Rig Finesse Neko: https://wired2.fish/TokyoRigFinesseNeko
• VMC Tokyo Rig Heavy Duty Wide Gap: http://wired2.fish/TokyoRigWideGap
• WEIGHT – VMC Tungsten Rugby Weight: http://wired2.fish/VMC-RugbyWeight
• LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 12-pound: https://wired2.fish/SufixAdvanceFluoro
• ROD – https://wired2.fish/DucketWheelerCastingRod
• REEL – Duckett Paradigm CRW Casting Reel, DFCW-100-681: https://wired2.fish/ParadigmCRW-CastingReel
03:14 BELLY-WEIGHTED SWIMBAIT (WEEDLESS)
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.
FEATURED LURES
• SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad: https://wired2.fish/StormLargoShad
• HOOK – VMC Heavy Duty Weighted Willow Swimbait Hook, 4/0: http://wired2.fish/VMC-WillowSwimbaitHook
• LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 17-pound: https://wired2.fish/SufixAdvanceFluoro
• ROD – Duckett Jacob Wheeler Series Casting Rod, 7’2″ Med Hvyhttps://wired2.fish/DucketWheelerCastingRod
• REEL – Duckett Paradigm CRW Casting Reel, DFCW-100-751: https://wired2.fish/ParadigmCRW-CastingReel
04:40 AS A LURE TRAILER
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.
FEATURED LURES
• SWIMBAIT – Storm Largo Shad: https://wired2.fish/StormLargoShad
• BLADED JIG – Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer: https://wired2.fish/ChatterBaitJackHammer
• SWIM JIG (underwater video) – Terminator Heavy Duty Swim Jig: https://wired2.fish/TerminatorHD-SwimJig
• SPINNERBAIT – Accent Jacob Wheeler Custom Colorado Willow Spinnerbait: http://wired2.fish/AccentCCW-Spinnerbait
• SPINNERBAIT (underwater video) – Terminator Pro Series Spinnerbait, Double Willow: https://wired2.fish/TerminatorP1ProDoubleWillow
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