Jared Lintner has one great tip that I’ll try this year. He uses twin tails during the spring and fall and single tails in summer. I’m not totally convinced on the colors he suggests since black and blue seems to be the best color in Florida.
The only tip I can add to these videos is you gotta keep twitching the rod as you reel.
The one thing that took the longest for me to figure out is how long to hesitate to set the hook. You definitely want a hesitation, but no too long or else they’ll drop it.
It feels like I’m going old school lately and the my latest fascination has been the jig.
I know, only Bill Dance and people from other states can pull it off but lately it seems like it’s the deal here in Orlando.
I’ve been flipping a 1/2 ounce black and blue jig in kissimmee grass and bulrushes with pretty good success. I feel like a Denny Brauer that’s been stranded in Florida. I’m surprised how weedless it is in kissimmee grass. I think the areas I’ve been fishing have a lot of bluegill in it so I’ve been using a Paca Craw in Okeechobee Craw as a trailer. The old timers have been telling me they work in Florida for years but now I’m starting to believe’em.
Another deal I’ve been messing with is swimming a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jig. It’s basically a spinnerbait without the blades and it goes through the grass a whole lot easier. The cool part is that it gets some horrific bites where you actually get startled sometimes. If you haven’t tried this at home, make sure you’ve got a good grip when you’re fishing this thing or you’re liable to lose a rod.
I’ve been using the Strike King and Yank’em Jigs. The cool part about the Strike King Swim Jig is that it has a metal clip for a trailer keeper, it comes with rattles, and also comes in a bluegill skirt that no one else makes. Just make sure you get the “Heavy Cover” model because the regular ones come with a pretty wimpy hook. I’ve also been breaking out the Yank’em Jigs when I’m not wanting a rattle. It’s hand tied so the skirt doesn’t get messed up and it also has a nice keeper for the trailer.
Probably the most important thing about swimming jigs is having the right trailer. The Little Dipper has been the deal in blue sapphire or okeechobee craw. I know Reaction doesn’t make those colors but my buddy Pete’s been making a bait pretty similar to the Little Dipper and I keep running out of them. The cool part is that he’ll pour any color I want. You can’t get them on their site. You gotta call and request it at 407-443-9349.
I’ve also been using the tail on a magnum speedworm, magnum twin tail grubs, swimming senko, super speedcraws, etc., but that Little Dipper style seems to work the best. I’m throwing it on my frog rod with 65 braid.
Last week it was the Devil’s Horse and now it’s the jig. I bet ya some 16 year old is trying to sell these baits for $20 as antiques on ebay.
They’re a lot cheaper than the latest and greatest stuff and they still catch’em after all these years.
