Jig vs. Swimbait

[Doug Hodel]

I was obsessing once again over fishing, I think I need therapy.

I fished the Clear Lake Elite Series event and on day one I drew Jason Williamson, day two John Crews, and day three Jared Lintner.

Jason was throwing jigs mainly mixed in with dropshot, senko, and swimbait.

John was throwing mainly a dropshot rig, mixed in with swimbait.

Jared was throwing mainly swimbaits, mixed with dropshot.

I noticed everytime Jason caught a jig fish it was 6# or better consistently. However, Jared caught more fish, but had to weed out the smaller 4#er's (that sounds wierd smaller 4#er's). I realize that Jared finished higher than Jason, but it seems to me that the jig caught bigger fish on a more consistent basis. I also realize that the tournament was one on a swimbait, but is that due to the abundance of people fishing them?

What do you all think?

Just wanting different school of thoughts....

Thanks

[G-Ko]

I think that it was all about the 5 right bites. You could catch a limit of 4-5 lb fish, but needed those 5 kicker fish. I think that the swimbait got only quality bites and was the factor. The jig gets consistent bigger bites, but sometimes up at clear lake if the pressure gets going they won't really bite the jig that well, so I think that is why the drop shot was used. Although you get smaller fish, in my opinion on clear lake, you can get some bigger fish on that bait. I have had days where you get only a few 2 lb fish and then get a couple 5-6 lb fish.

For this tournament the swimbait was key, however whatever you were throwing, you could catch good fish. But that is why there are so many ways to catch fish. Everyone is a little different.

Greg Kosich

[RichThiel]

Watching Clearlake before and after the take over of the present grass. Before it was a fifteen pound lake with occasionally a 6lb bass was caught, usually in Jago Bay. These fish, the 15lb limit were caught on plastic's made by Incorporation's back east Then Gene Ivino came along and the weights went up.

On todays situation with the grass and because of the grass and the availability of bait fish. The largemouth in Clearlake have tripled in weight and have a fast growth rate has the Delta and many other Northern Lakes.

The dropshot will get you 2s and 3s and ocassionally a 4-5-6, but will not hold up day in and day out. Take a look of the last couple of years in what won it. Mostly Jigs or spinnerbaits in the colder months, then has the weather warms, the swimbait will be the dominating bait (Hudd), R2S's, 316 Mission fish etc etc.

Look at the above baits that I have mention and you will notice that 2 out of the 3 are all reaction baits with one subtle(sp). The Jig and the Swimbait are the force to throw for big bites. With these your going for the 5 bites that will get you a check. There times when the topwater will get you a good limit. But twelve months out of the year NOT!!!!.

Think about these people that are well known too the west coast. Gary Dobyn's/reaction fisherman, Wayne Beasly(Sp) Jigs, Mark Crutcher/Spinnerbait, Jigs, and Swimbaits, Tom Jolin/Spinnerbait, Jigs at the time of his fame, Sieg Taylor/ reaction Fisherman. If I missed anyone Im sorry, I probably haven't talked to you in years or I don't know you. All of the above people have collected checks in the past and some still do today.

Big profile bait = Big fish, figure out your equation

Good Luck

Rich Thiel