A Jig Question....

[MT2]

Ive been saying Im gonig to learn to use a jig for years now. Recently I stopped talking and started walking, a few trips I didnt take nothing but a jig with me. The results are getting better and better lost a fish of a lifetime at the bank on a bone head move by me(fish's eyes looked like quarters and all I had to do was lip her but tried to flip her.) In all in the last few weeks Ive probably caught around 25 fish on a jig.

Now for my question, Ive caught a few draggins and a few with a few subtle hops between pauses. But the majority of my bites are in rocks and I'll drag the jig till I feel a rock and then I'll pop pop real hard, hard enough that my rod sounds like momma swinging a switch. And when the fish hits its normally on the fall of the 2nd pop. Which I understand you'll catch most of your fish on the fall almost regardless of the bait being used. Which has me wondering if the hard pops are a very common way of working a jig? The guys I fish with that use em dont seem to pop em that hard. So is it something to do with the type of jig Im using arkys and footballs compaired to what they use finesse, hack's, poison tails and footballs. Or does it have more to do with the cover Im fishing. I took the Fiance to a local farm pond this past sunday(She smoked me on a stickworm), and didnt get a single bite at all popping it, the 2 bites I did get was on the intintial fall the main area I need to improve on indentifying a bite. I had one guy till me they are biting it on the fall most likely because they are suspended, but I saw on more than one video that the reason for the bite could be due to be putting them into reaction strike.

Some might and on other boards have said to stop over thinking it. I beleive though the more I understand why this is working the more versatile it will make me in the long run. If there is more information needed from me or a clearity over something I said please let me know. Like I said Im tryin to learn the in's and out's of this and I'll be the first to admit my grammar and spelling are subpar.

[Vinny Chase]

I only use a football head jig when working rocks and for the most part all I am doing is draggin (hence the nickname roller jig) the bait over the rocks...most of bites come right off the bottom because the fish hold pretty tight to the rocks in the middle of summer, so if you're having a hard time getting a bite either slow down or find a different area that is close to a weedline.

Also, I like to throw a NorthStar Custom Baits football hair jig to give the fish a different look.

[clayton86]

I just drag footballs on the rocks some spots I fish in the river behind my house the currents pretty good so I'll cast past the the swift part and drag into the current so it sweeps the jig up and let it do its thing works like a charm. In calm water I just drag it up over what ever rock or wood is there slightly pausing when it makes contact giving it a shake then I give it a small lift/pop and let it fall off of what ever it was and that's when the strike comes if not after giving it the little shake. I only fish footballs and swim jigs 99% of the time I have others I just don't use them.

What your describing kind of reminds me of Ikes video a few years back when he talked about "stroking" a jig.

[Busy]

I say if you are catching fish you are doing it right! Rocks, weeds, wood, whatever when you get hung up a little in front of a fish and are tugging they're probably watching it and you can get a reaction strike when the jig comes flying off the hang up. I'll usually only pop it that hard in the grass though for the sake of my rod; those rocks don't give too much.

[Nitrofreak]

Really nice job on the feedback you have given !!!!

The reason you are most likely to miss a strike on the fall is going to be due to yourself not staying in contact with the bait, in short too much slack in the line as it falls, you want your rod tip to follow the bait all the way down so as the jig sinks your rod tip should be doing the same.

The reason the hops work is due to the natural action of the craw you are attempting to immatate, the craw will use its tail to escape danger and as it does that the movement is like a sudden burst of energy that will propel the craw through the water, hence the hopping motion or popping action we tend to give the jig, this is usually a good technique to use on sandy or smoother bottoms at least for me, it works on any kind of structure or cover but most people I know use a swimming jig if they are consistantly popping the jig.

I find the more the jig is in bottom contact the better the results will be, if I actually lift the jig it's usually no more than just a couple of inches at the most, as far as the head design is concerned, for me personally, I like the arkey style jig around cover , the bullet head jig in heavy grass, the football head where it's rocky, the only time I actually will pop a jig as you described would be to pull it out from around grass or weed lines into some more open water areas at the edge of those weed and grass lines.

The reason why a bass will take the bait on the fall is because that is when the bait is at its most vulnerable state.

Good luck and be safe !!!

[Big-O]

Football jigs are not ONLY for rocks and nor are they for ALL rocks!

A football jig can be used on any relatively firm bottom with good success including sand, shell, firm clay or otherwise. Deep silt or muck bottoms are not good for dragging any jig especially footballs due to their wide stance.

In large, jagged, and more coarse rocks, the football can be a nightmare due to snagging the wider head in the cracks. I use a basic Stand up jig like the Siebert Outdoors Brush jig or Moaner Hooks Predator jig in these conditions. They continue to hold the bait in an upright posture and make ample commotion and noise when working the rocks. Another technique or tactic to remember when fishing big nasty rocks is keep any dragging from the side or with the rod tip down to a minimum to avoid the hang ups. Better to maintain a higher position on your rod tip using slow gentle hops to keep it on top of them instead of settling down in the deeper cracks.

Your technique of slow dragging and gentle hopping over the rocks is a fine way to fish them as you have seen. In fact, that is how I fish casted jigs more often than not. Also switching or high jumping a jig allowing it to fall back on a slack line is another important technique to employ at times. It not only attracts the bottom dwellers but also attracts other fish that are suspended higher up off off the bottom.

You're on the right track, so just keep an open mind and so much of this will come natural to you...