Ep. 117: Mike Stembridge of Pearl Swimbaits on Bladed Jigs & the SoCal Swimbait Scene

Guest: Mike Stembridge (Pearl Swimbaits) | Hosts: Daniel Dahlin ([FISH]rx), El Charly, Luke Dean (Bait Slingers / Artemis Charters)

Mike Stembridge of Pearl Swimbaits joined for Episode 117, recorded live on February 3, 2026, right in the middle of Spotty Bowl week. The conversation covered 1oz bladed jig presentation at the wall, what Mike’s been throwing in the harbor, and how the SoCal swimbait scene got to where it is — plus Daniel’s Spotty Bowl session recap before the cameras rolled.

In This Episode

• 1oz bladed jig at the wall — how Pearl’s Mike verified the setup by watching Caesar fish it in the harbor before the Artemis charter trip
• Why the 1oz head keeps the blade activated in deeper water while staying in the strike zone
• Spotty Bowl week recap — Daniel’s session in, conditions, and approach going into the competition
• Waterman’s Collective hosting their first live tournament — that Saturday at Marina Shipyard
• Matros visit to Mike’s middle school fishing club — 30+ kids, rod demos, and what it takes to grow the next generation
• Bladed jig colorways coming: Spotty, Spotty Magic Mint, and Spotty Special — plus Mark from Performance Tackle’s color collabs
• 1.5 and 2oz bladed jig heads coming — and what a 2oz burn at the wall is going to look like

Beyond the Rod & Reel with Pearl Swimbaits

The technique conversation in this episode centered on what actually happens when you kill a bladed jig. Mike’s point was specific: the trailer isn’t just aesthetic — it’s doing work on the fall. A paddle tail rocks on the way down. A craw kicks. That drop phase, the moment between the sharp pop and the bait settling back to the bottom, is where most bites happen. It’s a point that’s easy to miss if you’re just burning the bait back and hoping.

The 1oz head conversation had a similar thread. Lighter heads ride higher and are harder to keep activated near the bottom. Going heavier keeps the blade in the zone without having to slow down to the point where you lose the thump. Mike had watched Caesar fishing it in the harbor before the Artemis trip, bought some from Daniel, and caught fish early. That kind of pre-trip validation — seeing it work before you even launch — is what confidence fishing looks like.

Watch the full episode on the Time On The Water YouTube channel. New episodes every Tuesday at 6 PM.