Maya Ellison
Soft plastic swimbaits are popular among anglers due to their lifelike swimming motion, natural colours and patterns, and paint jobs. They are used to catch bass, pike, walleye, trout, and salmon. There are several ways to rig a plastic swimbait, including a jig head rig, wacky worm rig, nose-hooked, deep shot rig, and umbrella rig. The choice of rig depends on factors such as the time of year, species of fish, forage, and water clarity. Anglers should also consider the size, style, and colour of the swimbait when pairing it with a rig.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of soft plastic swimbaits | Paddle tail, boot tail, straight-tailed, pre-rigged with a treble hook, hollow, top-hook, Basstrix Swim Bait, Strike King Shadalicious, Yum Money Minnow, 6th Sense Core X Swimbaits |
| Types of rigs | Jig head, wacky worm, nose-hooked, deep shot, umbrella, Texas rig, weedless, weighted hook, under-spin trailer, Chatterbait trailer, Tokyo rig, belly-weighted |
| Rigging tips | Match weight to speed and depth of retrieve, use jigheads for open water, use weedless wide-gap hook in grass, use belly weight for proper swimming action, choose a hook that reaches the body but not the tail, adjust weight to fish bait from the surface to double-digit depths, use a hook that tears through the plastic |
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What You'll Learn
Using a jighead
One of the best ways to rig a plastic swimbait is by using a jighead. This method is versatile as it allows for different bait sizes and jighead weights. For instance, you can pair a lightweight jighead (1/4-ounce or smaller) with a 3-inch swimbait and fish at shallow to midrange depths.
To begin the rigging process, line up the swimbait and jighead. Ensure that the top of the swimbait is even with or just below the top of the jighead. Mark where the hook will exit the top of the swimbait body. Grab the swimbait at the same location each time you advance it onto the hook to keep the hook in the middle of the body. Exit the hook at the marked spot and push the swimbait the rest of the way on from back to front, stopping before it mates with the head of the jig.
Now, apply a couple of small drops of quick-setting super glue to the joint. Rotate the entire jighead/swimbait to get an even glue seal, then hang and let it dry. This gluing step is crucial as it ensures the swimbait does not slide down the shank of the hook, covering the tip, barb, and all—a common issue when fishing.
Additionally, consider using a 6th Sense Treble Head jig, which has a good hook-up ratio and helps preserve soft plastic swimbaits.
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Rigging a swimbait weedless
Rigging a plastic swimbait weedless is an effective way to fish in areas with vegetation or cover. One popular option is the Huddleston Deluxe Weedless Shad, which features a vortex tail and a sheathed hook. This bait is designed to swim through cover and is a good option for fishing in grass or weeds.
When rigging a plastic swimbait weedless, it is important to use the right hook. Two popular options are the 5/0 Trokar and the 4/0 Owner Beast. The 4.8 Keitech swimbait, for example, pairs well with the Beast hook. Another option is to use a weedless wide-gap hook, which is specifically designed for fishing in grassy areas.
The weight of the swimbait is also an important consideration. In some cases, a belly weight may be necessary to serve as a "keel" for proper swimming action. When using weighted hooks, the weight can be adjusted to fish at different depths. For example, a heavier weight may be needed for deeper fishing.
The Texas rig is another popular option for weedless swimbait rigging. It is ideal for fishing in murky water or in areas with vegetation. This rig allows the swimbait to move through cover without getting snagged. A Texas-rigged belly-weighted swimbait is also an excellent option for imitating baitfish.
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Belly-weighted swimbait
To rig a belly-weighted swimbait, you will need a hook, a rivet, and a weight. The hook will act as a needle, and you can use a straight shank hook and cut it off. Tie the hook to your rod, and stick it into the nose of the swimbait, bringing it out just in front of the hook slot in the belly. Then, pull it through. You can add a weight to the swimbait to help it sink deeper into the water. An eighth-ounce or 3/16-ounce Tour Grade Tungsten bullet weight is a good option, but you can use whatever size weight you prefer. Tie the weight onto the swimbait, and then add a treble hook. Bury one belly hook, and you're ready to start fishing.
When choosing a hook for your belly-weighted swimbait, consider using a weighted hook. This will help the swimbait skip better on the water. A screw-lock hook is a good option, especially when skipping, as it holds better than an offset bend. You can also use a hook with a weight moulded onto the shaft, such as an EWG (Extra Wide Gap) hook. This type of hook is popular for belly-weighted swimbaits and can be attached to the swimbait using a screwlock. Twist the screwlock spring into the head of the bait, and then slip the hook point through the belly of the bait and out the back. Finally, skin tag the point back into the bait to make it weedless.
Another option for rigging a belly-weighted swimbait is to use a hook without a screwlock, such as a normal EWG hook. This method works well with bigger swimbaits (5 inches and up) and when targeting largemouth bass. Run the hook point through the nose of the bait and then back out the bottom, similar to a Texas rig style without a bullet weight. This method is super weedless, allowing you to fish the swimbait around and through heavy cover like vegetation and brush.
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Choosing the right style, size and colour
When choosing the right style, size and colour of plastic swimbait, it's important to consider the time of year, species of fish, forage and water clarity. For example, a Texas rig is ideal for fishing in murky water or in lakes or ponds with vegetation cover. A straight-tailed or "paddleless" swimbait is a good option when fishing in clear water as it imitates dying shads or other small baitfish.
The size of the swimbait is also important, as larger swimbaits will require a larger jighead and hook. For example, a 3.3-inch Keitech Fat Swing Impact swimbait works well on a 3/16th VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jighead. If you're fishing in deep water, you'll need a larger jighead and hook, such as a 1/2- or 3/4-ounce jighead with a 5/0 hook.
The colour of the swimbait is also a factor to consider. While soft plastic swimbaits generally look more realistic in the water due to their lifelike swimming motion, colour patterns, and paint job, you'll want to choose a colour that blends in with the natural forage of the fish you're targeting. For example, if you're fishing for trout, you'll want a swimbait that imitates the colour and pattern of a trout.
Additionally, the rigging style can affect the action of the swimbait. A jighead rig is a popular choice for fishing in open water or around vegetation, while a Texas rig is ideal for fishing in weeds or other cover. The weight of the swimbait and the speed of retrieval can also affect its action, so you may need to experiment with different weights and speeds to find the right combination.
Finally, the tail design of the swimbait can impact its movement in the water. Paddle tail swimbaits create more side-to-side swimming movement and noise, making them a good choice when fishing for lethargic bass or walleye. On the other hand, swimbaits with more subtle tail movements are better suited for clear water or tough conditions when the fish are less aggressive.
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Using a treble hook
Swimbaits are a popular and effective bait for anglers. Rigging them with a treble hook can increase your chances of catching more fish. This is because the extra hooks and the natural swimming style of the treble hook swimbait rig put more fish in the boat. The rigging process is simple and can be done quickly with practice.
To rig a plastic swimbait with a treble hook, you will need a few key pieces of tackle: a split ring, a pop rivet, a long sewing needle, and a straight shank hook. The first step is to connect the split ring to the eye of the treble hook. Then, insert the cylindrical portion of the pop rivet into the belly of the swimbait. This will act as a stopper to hold the hook in place. Next, tie the straight shank hook to your rod and use it as a needle to pass the line through the swimbait. Insert the hook into the nose of the swimbait and pull the line through, positioning it through the bait to keep it stable. Finally, slide the pop rivet cap onto the line to act as a stopper and prevent the hook from pulling back through the bait.
When choosing a treble hook, it's important to match the size of the hook to the size of the bait. For example, a size 4 treble hook is typically used with 4-inch Keitech Swimbaits. You can also add weight to the treble hook to balance it out and allow the swimbait to swim upright without rolling. This is especially useful for faster retrieves and when fishing for Smallmouth and Spotted Bass.
Additionally, you can tweak the running depth of the bait by adjusting where you insert the hook. Going farther back by 1/8 inch will create a slight back arch that helps the swimbait dig deeper. Conversely, you can reverse the bend to fish shallower by inserting the hook closer to the front. It's also worth noting that rigging with a treble hook is especially effective for fishing in open water, while belly-weighted baits rigged weedless are ideal for fishing around vegetation and other shallow cover.
Overall, rigging a plastic swimbait with a treble hook can be a simple and effective way to improve your catch rate. With the right equipment and some practice, you'll be able to rig your swimbaits like a pro and land more fish on your next outing.
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Frequently asked questions
Common ways to rig a plastic swimbait include using a jighead, a weedless wide-gap hook, a belly-weighted hook, or an open jighead.
A mid-sized paddle tail rigged on a jig is a good option for catching bass.
A treble hook is a good option for rigging a swimbait as it provides a better strike-to-land ratio than a single-hook option.
Storm Largo Shad is a good swimbait option for bass fishing.
The VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig is a good jig head option for rigging a swimbait.
