Excellent post Catt. I have have tried to explain, and demonstrate the idea keeping contact with your bait by keeping a certain amount of tension on a slack line many times. Some get it, some never will.
Bass Junkie there are some jig related variables that you can look at. The first is weight. I use 1/2 oz most of the time, but sometimes a 1/4 or 3/8 will work better; other times 3/4 or 1 oz is preferred. Rate of fall can be very important. Second is size of the jig and trailer. A mop jig or finesse jig can be the same weight, but there is a big difference in their profile. A small chunk or a full size craw can make a can make a real difference from day to day. Third is color. The importance of color is very subjective. I think it matters, and I use 3 basic color groups: Black/Blue, Brown/orange, Green/red.
Hang in there. Mastering jigs will make you a much more versatile fisherman IMHO. Good luck. 8-)