It's
not often a professional angler encounters any one lure that changes
their approach to fishing certain lakes or cover. Sure
some lures gain popularity overnight on certain lakes, but rarely is
that recognition carried over to other regions. For example,
a number of oversized swimbaits have become popular lures on the west
coast, but rarely are any of these sold in the southeast region. One
lure that is making a big splash, not only in the southeast, but everywhere
across the United States is a swim jig. For professional bass
angler Chris McCall from Jasper, Texas, the swim jig is changing how
he approaches fishing for fun and in bass tournaments. While
McCall in the past had fished swim jigs, these jigs were not well designed
and results were okay, but not overwhelming. This all changed
when independent lure designer and consultant Brian Branum encouraged
McCall to fish with a proto type swim jig he had designed. Giving
into Branum's insistence, McCall began using the proto swim bait
with overwhelming positive results including success on Sam Rayburn
Lake and in regional bass tournaments on other impounds. Knowing
the swim jig craze was about to erupt, McCall called his sponsor Santone
Lures and explained the potential for a custom built swim jig built
and designed by Branum with McCall's suggested specification.
Santone Lures agreed and work began on completing the final touches
on the new Santone Lures Sam Rayburn Swim Jig.
While the majority of other lure companies do their R&D in-house,
Santone Lures were blessed with having an independent lure designer
and consultant Branum working with their pro staff member McCall on
the swim jig project. The idea was to build a unique, premium
swim jig with fish catching attributes. "The three features
that differentiate it from other swim jigs is the underside of the
head. It is slightly concaved and flat allowing it to go over
and through obstacles or cover in the water without turning sideways
and getting hung up especially around wood and lily pads; it has 3-D
eyes located at the rear of the head and inset. This "Center
Eye Technology" gives the fish a focal point to strike and equals
more hook ups for anglers. Other features are the unique collar
and trailer keeper plus the multi-colored weed guard," explained
Branum. Working together, the final product was agreed upon and
is now being produced by Santone Lures.
It's one thing to cast a swim jig around your favorite fishing
hole hoping to get a bite; it's another thing to know where,
why, color, presentation, and tackle needed to effectively fish a swim
jig. Professional bass angler Chris McCall is an expert at fishing
a swim jig. Early in his career, McCall spent numerous hours
on Lake Texoma refining his swim jig techniques. 
Boat docks were
his primary targets. Now, McCall calls Sam Rayburn Lake his home
lake and regularly fishes it with the new Santone Lures Sam Rayburn
Swim Jig. "The new Santone Lures Sam Rayburn Swim Jig I
helped design is the ultimate swim jig for fishing grass; it comes
through vegetation like no other swim jig I have ever used and that
is all due to the unique shape of the head. Although it was
designed especially for fishing in east Texas lakes with a solid 5/0
hook, multi-color weed guard, trailer keeper, and premium color finish;
an angler can easily fish it anywhere and on any reservoir," explained
McCall. McCall prefers to fish the swim jig on 65-pound test
Berkley Fireline (braid) with no leaders and secured with a Palomar
knot, an American Rod Smith Team Series Magnum Jig Stick 7' heavy
action or medium heavy action rod, and a Abu STX Revo reel with a 7:4.1
retrieve ratio. "I normally fish swim jigs shallow around
any cover or vegetation; it will come through even the thickest bunch
of pads or slop without getting hung up. I will also match the color
pattern to the forage I am seeing when fishing," McCall continued, 'I
like to cover lots of water when fishing it and most strikes are a
reaction bite." As for trailers, McCall likes to use a
Gambler Flappy Daddy around sparse vegetation where the fish are attracted
to the back and forth movement of the pinchers on a 5/16-ounce or 3/16-ounce
swim jig head; a Zoom Horney Toad in dense cover where the bulkier
trailer moves more water to attract fish, or a Reaction Innovations
Skinner Dipper when he is looking for more irritate movement.
Although
well known in Texas and surrounding states for premium fishing lures,
Santone Lures venture into the swim jig market is making a big splash
all across the southeastern states and growing. Adding to
the demand for the Santone Lures swim jig is McCall's tournament
success with the lure. For Santone Lures the secret was blending
all of their resources together to make their swim jig. A premium
swim jig that not only catches bass on Sam Rayburn Lake in east Texas,
but on any reservoir, lake, river, or pond.
Brad
Wiegmann is a full time fishing guide on Beaver lake and
Lake SWEPCO in Northwest Arkansas. Brad guides for Largemouth,
Spotted, Smallmouth, Stripers and White Bass. He is also a free-lance
writer who's weekly column "Speaking of Fishing" appears
weekly in several local newspapers. You may also see him doing
seminars, working outdoor shows or featured in outdoor magazines such
as BASSMASTER Magazine, Outdoor life and Arkansas Sportsman. He
also fishes the FLW Tour, Stren and local open tournaments. He
is currently on the Pro staff, promotional staff and guide programs
of numerous tackle manufactures, lure companies, and fishing related
companies. You can contact him at (479) 756-5279, at bwiegmann@cox.net or
visit his website at www.bradwiegmann.com for
more information.
