Another interesting thing about these jigs is the actual implementation of the skirts and baked in PowerBait scent. The way that these skirts flared based on the style of jig was very important to Bobby Lane and Gary Klein, so even though they wanted the skirts to disperse scent they didn’t want to sacrifice the style or movement of the skirts. To accomplish this the skirts are a hybrid design that utilizes both traditional silicon strands and a mix of PowerBait infused strands, enabling the jigs to exhibit both the desired flare and PowerBait enhancement.

Pro Angler Bobby Lane prepares to retrieve the Swim Jig through vegetation

Each of the jigs is armed with the company’s proprietary Fusion 19 hooks which feature a forged bend for added strength and a coating that is designed to give the hook some added durability and stealth in the water. My experience with the hooks has been positive, and while they are sharp it is hard to match the edge holding ability from competitors like Owner and Gamakatsu. They Fusion 19 hooks are durable and while I did manage to bend a hook that was lodged into a submerged tree stump I never broke a single hook on any fish.

Bobby's experience fishing lakes with heavy cover helped the company design a jig that can get through the thick stuff consistently

What I like about the Berkley hook choice is that the company is able to use the exact hook style and length that pairs best with each jig design. Berkley thought about how anglers will be using each bait, and because the company manufacturers their own soft plastics these jigs are designed to pair especially well with certain plastics and can even be thought of as part of a complete system.

Joseph shows us the Fusion 19 hook

For example, the Berkley Football Jigs are designed to be used with a PowerBait Crash Craw or MaxScent Chigger craw to create a genuine looking profile and adding an extra punch of PowerBait in the process. While many anglers will turn to their proven Keitech swimbaits for their swim jigs Berkley does offer their own PowerBait infused versions, the Power Swimmer, or the twin tailed Boss Grub which both pair well with these jigs which are designed to swim at multiple depths and through various types of cover.

Hank Parker works a Heavy Cover Jig

The Berkley jigs also all feature a detached talon-style keeper on the Fusion 19 hooks that helps lock plastic trailers in place to deal with everything from the vibration of skipping across the surface or simply helping trailers to stay pinned through vicious strikes.

Powering through the thick stuff yields results

When fishing with the Berkley Pros I learned more about some of the unique features on each of the jigs and developing personal favorites within the lineup. Let’s go a little deeper into each of the seven models and highlight the design features, applications, and how the Pros fish them.

A fish caught on the Swim Jig. Adding a Berkley trailer doubles down the PowerBait

Next Section: A Closer Look at all the PowerBait Jigs...