Jigs Are Not My Freind

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I need some help for fishing jigs. I have 2 colors, 2 black and blue one with a chatter on the end both football style heads and one kids light brown/red skirt iwth a red bleed hook. i have some crawdads that i put on the end and also some white rabits. IN my ponds and lakes in my area alot have tons of cover and vegition i know i need some heavy to get the jig through. Ive tried going to a log down in the water then poping it and bouncing off of it..a ny suggestions?

thanks, chas

[Jig Meister]

My guess is you are fishing it way to fast.

I see people all the time fishing jigs and they are giving too much action. Maybe that works for them, but for myself I usually only get a fish one the first drop, or on a slow drag, sometimes on a double pop, or twitch after the initial sink.

Cast it to the location you want, let it sit for maybe 3-10 seconds, raise the rod tip, maybe twitch some, or pop it really fast twice or so, then let is sit (dead stick) for another 3-10 seconds, then drag it a foot or so, feeling the bottom.

If that doesn't yield in a strike, or a fish, then reel in, or repeat as desired.

I used to fish skirted jigs like I would a normal twister tail jig, and that has never worked for me, only way for me to catch fish, repeatedly is by doing what I just mentioned. Hope that helps, FWIW's it's something to try out.

[JSPOONE]

when i fish a jig its usually black with a black and blue skirt and a matching rage tail claw. when the jig hits the bottom i usually pop it real quick and see if i get a bite. if not i reel in a little bit and pop it 2-3 times. if i dont get a bite after a couple pops i reel and retry. remember you have to b ready for a strike or a pick up. a lot of the time my bites come after im done popping or twitching the bait and just watch ur line u will see ur line moving when some has picked it up off the bottom

[Jig Meister]

when i fish a jig its usually black with a black and blue skirt and a matching rage tail claw. when the jig hits the bottom i usually pop it real quick and see if i get a bite. if not i reel in a little bit and pop it 2-3 times. if i dont get a bite after a couple pops i reel and retry. remember you have to b ready for a strike or a pick up. a lot of the time my bites come after im done popping or twitching the bait and just watch ur line u will see ur line moving when some has picked it up off the bottom

Good advice, always watch the line, and feel for the strike

[JSPOONE]

yep just keep practicing and u will find something that is comfortable and works for u. also take ur time and remember u are not going to get as many cast in as with cranks or spinners.. and if u are using a shakey head its pretty much the same thing as using a jig

[K_Mac]

I would take some time and read some of the many articles on jig fishing on this site and elsewhere. Jigs are one of the basic tools for catching bass, and learning how, what, and why will make you a better fisherman.

When casting to cover I will often use the method JM describes above. When fishing structure I may take a couple of minutes to work my jig through, up, down, or over whatever is there.The trick is figuring out where the strike zone is, and keeping the jig there for as long as possible.

Football jigs are great for rock, but not so much in grass or wood. A chatter blade would not be my choice on a jig in heavy cover unless I'm working it above, or ripping it through grass. Heavy is not always better when it comes to cover, grass, or anything else. Sometimes a 1/4 oz or lighter jig with a bigger trailer falling slowly will kill; other times a heavy jig and smaller trailer will work better. What I'm saying is matching the jig to the conditions will improve your chances. Fishing jigs is not rocket science, but I've been doing it for a while and I still have days when I don't seem to get it. Keep the faith. Jigs work, and are worth the effort to learn. Good luck.

[roadwarrior]

Here ya go:

[Nitrofreak]

Thats a great video to watch !!!

One more thing I will add when fishing a jig, it is VITAL that it maintains bottom contact, the most you ever want to lift a jig is a couple of inches, of course this is my opinion, but a jig is most effective when worked in a slow dragging motion or a motionless state.

Popping a jig especially with a skirt is not near as effective as just slow motion movement, the skirt is there to flair out and create life-like movement while at rest.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

thanks k mac i have done all of what hes said and i still havent had success.. i was just posting to see what type of jigs other people have been using and what works for me..im just going to slow down my retrive and slow roll it with a crawdad..

[Grizzn N Bassin]

i lost 3 jigs today was i fishing to slow? what is wrong with me!!!!!!

[new2BC4bass]

i lost 3 jigs today was i fishing to slow? what is wrong with me!!!!!!

Did you get mad and throw them overboard? :)

If you lost them from a snag, then I guess there is nothing wrong with you. It is aggravating at $3.50-$5.50 a pop, but drag a jig along the bottom far enough, and you are bound to snag them every so often. I haven't had luck with jigs either. I think some of it is the type of bottom where I fish (slimy weeds) with the other 95% being me. I bought some swim jigs to try after reading an article on them. Unfortunately I haven't tried them yet. At least I shouldn't lose one of them unless a fish snaps my line. Plus I don't have to practice patience. Use them like a spinnerbait.

[logan9209]

I have a tendency to fish jigs fast also. I'm not sure why, because I fish with soft plastics a lot and I generally take my time with them.

I didn't realize that you could put a small trailer on a big jig and a big trailer on a small jig. Gotta try that some time.

I love swim jigs because you can treat them as a regular jig by letting it drop, twitch it, rest, twitch it, and then start swimming back to you.

[A-Rob]

watch the vids, read the articles, keep fishing it.

If there is a bass around that jig, it'll catch it.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

cuaght my best fish today on a jig thanks for all of the tips now i am in love with jigs!!!!

[Grizzn N Bassin]

and yeah i got snaged on some branch i swam in and got one because it my last jig im getting the hang of it now and i can honestly say ill never quick jiging!!

[logan9209]

LOL! I wish they would let us swim in and get our lures. But due to liability and insurance (or maybe that's just an excuse) if we get caught swimming or boating we run a risk of getting evicted.

[basscrusher]

As was stated before, football jigs are for rock cover. Get some with bullet-shaped heads for grass. My favorite is the Terminator Finesse jig (bullet shaped head and a thin, easily collapsible weed guard). I'm pretty serious about bass fishing, (been doing it for over 20 yrs) but jig fished finally clicked for me just this year. Most important thing I learned...when you feel a bite, swing hard. it's not like a worm where you can set the hook after a couple taps. When you feel the thump, he's got it. Set the hook and cross his eyes. Fish it slow, whether with slow hops or dragging.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

well i fish in private ponds and ponds people dont even know exist ha soo can swim down and get it its safe but im safe when i do it dw!