Jiggin' Johnsons' Chug Bug 3.5" Soft Plastic Creature Bait

When/Where: Wood, docks, reeds, and any time you’re target-fishing heavy cover and need a bait that gets in and out cleanly.

How: Use the Chug Bug as a trailer on an arky/flipping jig. Pitch tight, let it fall on semi-slack, then hop once and let it settle again before reeling out.

Why: The 3.5" size gives you a little more presence than compact creatures without turning into a “parachute” in thick cover.

Tuning: If you want faster fall, trim a small amount off the nose for a tighter fit against the skirt.

When/Where: Grass edges, shallow flats, and stained water where vibration helps fish track the bait.

How: Thread it straight as a trailer. Retrieve steadily and “tick” the cover; pause briefly when you contact grass, then restart.

Why: Adds bulk and slows the fall on pauses, which can turn follows into commits.

Tuning: If the bait hunts too hard at speed, shorten the trailer slightly.

When/Where: Low light, wind, and shallow cover lines when fish want a loud, moving target.

How: Run it as a trailer to add lift and help the bait plane faster. Start reeling as soon as it lands and keep it tracking over cover.

Why: The added body gives fish a bigger target behind the blade without needing a long trailer.

Tuning: If you want instant start-up, trim the bait slightly shorter.

When/Where: Pressured fish, clearer water, and days when you need a smaller jig but still want “real” bulk.

How: Fish it with small hops and long pauses. Drag it slowly across bottom transitions and stop when you hit cover.

Why: It fills out the profile of a compact jig without overpowering the presentation.

Tuning: Extend pauses—most bites happen while it’s parked.

When/Where: Rock, shell, and firm-bottom structure.

How: Drag and “tick” bottom contact. Pause when you hit a rock and let the bait settle before moving again.

Why: A creature profile looks natural on bottom—especially when the retrieve is drag + pause.

Tuning: If hang-ups increase, downsize head weight or switch to a more streamlined jig head.

When/Where: Windy banks, scattered cover, and stained water where you want a bigger target behind the blades.

How: Use it as a trailer and slow roll around cover. Speed up briefly to clear grass, then settle back in.

Why: Adds “presence” and helps fish commit when they’re swiping at flash.

Tuning: If it lifts too much, trim the trailer slightly shorter.

When/Where: Grass lanes, reeds, and shallow cover where you want weedless swim with a different profile.

How: Swim steadily and add short “kills” to let it glide and drop. Keep it ticking cover, not plowing it.

Why: Creature bulk gives a different forage look than a straight swimbait trailer.

Tuning: Keep the head compact and the trailer rigged straight for cleaner grass exits.

When/Where: Edge fishing where a hint of flash helps fish locate the bait.

How: Rig straight and retrieve smoothly near the bottom or along cover edges. Add gentle lifts instead of hard jerks.

Why: Flash draws attention; the creature body becomes the meal once they get close.

Tuning: If it tracks off, re-rig until centered—underspins are picky.

When/Where: Flats, ledges, and transition zones when you want to cover water but keep a bait crawling behind the weight.

How: Drag slowly and pause often—especially when the rig hits anything different.

Why: Creature baits look natural “doing nothing” on the pause, which is a huge part of Carolina rigging.

Tuning: Longer leader = more glide; shorter leader = tighter, more bottom feel.

When/Where: Thick vegetation and mats where you need penetration and a compact, believable profile below the canopy.

How: Peg your weight, rig straight, punch through, shake once or twice, then move to the next opening.

Why: The 3.5" size is a strong “mat meal” without excess length that can fold or snag on entry.

Tuning: Any bend in rigging reduces penetration—re-rig until it’s perfectly straight.

When/Where: Pads, wood, docks, rocks—anywhere you want weedless control and target precision.

How: Fish it with short hops, slow drags, or pitch-and-soak. In cover, let it fall, pause, then move it a foot and repeat.

Why: It’s the cleanest way to put a creature bait into places other baits can’t live.

Tuning: If bites feel “tap-tap,” slow down and extend your pause before moving it again.

When/Where: Sparse grass and shallow cover where you want weedless but still want a true swim.

How: Texpose the hook point and swim through lanes. Let it fall in pockets and restart.

Why: You get a swimable creature profile with weedless confidence.

Tuning: Re-rig until perfectly straight—tracking is everything on this setup.