Fall/winter Jigs

[pjmags]

I wanna go and buy a jig for fall/winter bass. What do you reccomend? Size, type, color? Thanks!

[Siebert Outdoors]

One of my favorites is a 5/16-3/8 PBJ finesse jig.

[WRB]

I see you are from NorCal and the jig style is dependent on what type of jig fishing you plan to do.

If you are flipping or pitching vertical presentation in heavy cover at the delta, you need a Wadda jig or a Nu jig or similar jig that can be worked in tulles and weed mats. However if you are fishing deep structure lakes with sparse cover and deep rocky structure you should consider a jig designed for casting.

So....where are you fishing?

Tom

[ww2farmer]

I have good results in late fall/early winter, and late winter/early spring, basicly and time the water here drops into the low 50's till freeze up, and from ice out till it warms into the mid/upper 50's with plain old boring, cheap, Strike king bitsy jigs. Pick a color based on your water clarity, black, black/blue etc...for stained water, and the greens, the browns, and craw colors for clearer water. If I am pitching or flipping them into heavy cover I will use the bitsy flip, it has a stouter black nickle hook, and it's a suprisingly good hook for a jig that's less than $2. 3/8's is my "default" size, and will go up to the 1/2 or down to the 1/4 if I see a need, If the cover is sparse I use the regular bitsy jig, the hook is ok for a while, but it's bronze, and will rust, and get dull. But they are cheap enough I just toss them out when they are getting beat up. I use these jigs mostly on spinning tackle, and 1/8, 3/16 are my favorites, but like with the bitsy flip will go up the 1/4 or down to the 1/16th if I think conditions warrant. I use the 3.75" GYCB baby craws or the Strike King KVD Jr sized chunk, both matched in color to the jig. Are there alot "better" quality finesse jigs out there? Yes. But dang, I have caught SOOOOO many fish on those, and never really had any QC issues with them, and like I said they are cheap. I can afford to have dozens of them, and not get bent about it when one breaks off, or gets trashed. And if your not hanging jigs up once in a while, your not fishing them where you should be. Now, I am also fishing these jigs around wood, docks, and grass, if rocks/gravel etc.. is the deal where your going to be fishing, you might want to look into a football head jig. I use the Strike King tour grade finesse football head jigs for this, same basic principle on colors/water clarity, same trailers, etc...as the bitsy jigs.

[WRB]

I fish in SoCal deep rocky structure lakes for trophy bass, so my jig choices are selected to catch big bass in clear deep water with sparse cover.

I use a 7/16 oz custom jig, stand up style not too much different from the Seibert Outdoor jig. The big difference is NO fiber style weed guard, because I would rather loose a jig then miss a big strike! A jig is only as good as it's hook; never, never, never use a jig with a dull hook, a weak hook or a undersized hook, cheap jigs will cost you big bass. Here is a little tip; 90% of jig anglers miss detecting a big bass strike! The reasons are; undersized dull hooks and weed guards, when casting a jig and retrieving it.

I fish hair jigs or living rubber skirt jigs year around. Silicone skirts work for average size or tournament size bass, look great with all the colors available. If your goal is catching numbers of bass, then soft plastic trailers and colorful silicone skirts work.

Your jig should be about 4" including the trailer, during the colder water periods, this means smaller 3" trailers extending behind the hook.

Tom

PS; the Nu jig is the only jig design I know of that can be fished in both heavy cover and deep structure lakes, with it's unique weed guard and head design.

[Bankbeater]

I use the same jigs that I use in warm weather. Just make sure you slow down your retrieve.

[Vinny Chase]

NorthStar Hippy Jig, Hair Jig, and Black Series jig are all tied on my line until ice over.

These jigs were designed for a subtle, colder water action that the bass cannot resist. The hippy and black series jigs are bulkier, and give you a great chance at landing your biggest bass of the year, whereas the hair is a great all around option.

Good luck!

[rockchalk06]

I havent gotten any hair jigs yet as I am lazy, but I have been using the Black Series from NS. Insanity with a "California" Pit boss, moving very slow as been the only thing to produce any bass for me since its gotten cold.

[Hooligan]

Northstar Hair and Hippy jigs are bang up for cold water. Hair jigs with or without trailers, and the Hippy with a craw. Fish them as slow as you can possible stand it and you'll catch fish.

[scaleface]

What Bankbbeater says.

[merc1997]

i usually go with a rubber skirted jig down to about 58 degrees, but there are times when hair will catch more bass for me above 58. below 58 i go to hair jigs. the weight that i throw will have a lot to do with the depth that i am fishing. if bass are below 20 feet this time of the year, i use a 1/4 oz. jig with a 1/4 oz. slip sinker added to the line. now you have at least 1/2 oz. of weight, but still have the smaller profile of the 1/4 oz jig. i know that many will scoff at this combination, but give it a try. it is deadly. plus when you hook a bass, it only has 1/4 oz. of weight in its mouth instead of 1/2 oz or more. less weight to dislodge the hook. hope some of my tips or methods will help you catch more bass.

bo