Thread: Swimming jigs

Unless it comes in contact with something along the way, it should track straight back towards your rod tip. How deep it drops along the way back is determined by how long you wait to start reeling, how fast the bait sinks, and how fast your reel puts line back on the spool per handle turn.

It would be very hard to figure out how deep the lure runs without knowing the weight of the jig, resistance of the shape of the plastic body, line diameter, speed of retrieve, how many inches of line are retrieved per revolution of the bail (on spinning reel), and length of cast. And to tell you the truth, even if I knew all that ... I still wouldn't be able to figure it out

Best way I know how is to find a specific depth of water and cast over it ... retrieving the lure at your normal speed ... and see if the bait hits bottom before it starts climbing up towards your rod tip. It should be at it's greatest depth at a little over half way back to you, if you don't move the rod tip and use a slow/steady retrieve.

And remember ... there's a difference in how many inches of line are retrieved on a UL reel vs a larger reel, even if both retrieve at a 5:1 ratio. The larger/wider/longer the spool is, the more inches of line are taken in per handle turn.

So basically the jig is going to be in the sweet spot for a very short amount of time

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Originally Posted by Rusty Lee

So basically the jig is going to be in the sweet spot for a very short amount of time

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Yeah, pretty much .... unless the strike zone of the fish is feet away, rather than inches away. That's why one cast to a spot isn't usually sufficient, and multiple casts from varying angles and depths is usually the best way to cover an area.

I know in salt water fishing I used a spoon and would cast the lure and retrieve rod pointing straight forward and gradually raise rod while retrieving when lure is in front of you your rod should be straight up. The plan was to keep lure about 12 to 18 inches off bottom.

Like crappiepappy said , some count down a bait to get proper depth . Then line size , distance of cast , and speed determines how long it stays down .

When Im casting...if im not just fishing real deep I add a cork. Probably the most accurate way to get a consistant depth with each cast. Change depths often til u catch a couple at a certain depth and then keep it there. Good luck brother.