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)

Episode 117, recorded live on February 3, 2026, landed right in the middle of Spotty Bowl week and focused on bladed jig fishing at the wall, heavier head choices, and how small tackle adjustments change what a bait does near the bottom. Mike Stembridge of Pearl Swimbaits joined the crew to talk through 1 oz bladed jig setups, trailer behavior on the fall, and why confidence in a presentation usually starts by seeing it work in real conditions.

In This Episode

• 1 oz bladed jig fishing at the wall — why the heavier head matters in deeper water
• How a heavier head helps keep the blade activated while staying closer to the strike zone
• Spotty Bowl week recap — Daniel’s session, conditions, and mindset going into the competition
• Waterman’s Collective launching its first live tournament at Marina Shipyard
• Mike’s involvement in youth fishing through a middle school fishing club and why that matters for the next generation
• Upcoming bladed jig colorways and local collaboration energy around the harbor scene
• 1.5 oz and 2 oz bladed jig heads on the horizon — and what those setups could change at the wall

What the Trailer Is Actually Doing

The key technical point in this episode is that the trailer is not just there to finish the look of the bait. It changes what happens on the fall. Mike’s explanation is simple: once you pop the bladed jig and let it settle, the trailer keeps working. A paddle tail rocks differently than a craw, and that drop phase is often where the bite happens.

The 1 oz head discussion builds on the same idea. A lighter head may ride too high or lose activation near the bottom, while a heavier head keeps the bait in the zone without forcing you to slow the retrieve down so much that the blade stops working. That balance between weight, activation, and bottom contact is a major part of bladed jig fishing in SoCal harbor water. The bladed jig guide goes deeper on how those moving parts work together.

What makes this episode useful is that it connects confidence to observation. Mike had already seen Caesar fish the presentation in real conditions before trying it himself. That kind of validation matters. It shortens the guesswork and makes it easier to commit to the setup long enough to learn what it’s actually doing.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode is useful because it breaks down one of the easiest mistakes anglers make with bladed jigs: treating the bait like a straight moving lure instead of paying attention to what happens on the fall and near the bottom.

If you fish the wall, deeper harbor water, or any kind of hard structure, the takeaway is clear: weight, fall behavior, and bottom contact all matter. For related context, the bladed jig guide, SoCal structure fishing guide, and spotted bay bass guide all connect naturally to what Mike and the crew are working through here.

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