Different Types Of Jigs?

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Let me start by saying that I haven't really done much jig fishing. The other day I was in a tackle shop and I ended up buying a black/blue swim jig thinking that maybe it could produce some winter bass for me. But it got me thinking, I hear you guys talk about so many different types of jigs. What makes a swim jig a swim jig? If I had to guess, I'd say that the name implys that you would use more of a swimming retrieve rather than the hopping/dragging bottom types or retrieves but I could be way off base. Also what are some of the different kinds of jigs and what are the differences between them? I want to start using jigs more but to be honest, Im a bit overwhelmed. Perhaps Im making it harder than it needs to be.

[tbone1993]

Lets stick with the traditional jig with a brush guard and skirt so that we are on the same page. A swim jig tends to have a straight in line weight with a darted head. The line tie comes directly off the point allowing you to swim it in line. A football style head has a line time at almost a 30 degree angle from the point . Each jig has a different style of presentation which can be confusing at first.

[Bluebasser86]

Swim jigs are usually poured on a straight shank or hook with a very slight bend on them and the head tends to be a cone or V shaped head, sometimes with a slight keel to keep them flat during the retrieve.

A casting jig is poured on a hook with a little sharper angle in the hook and normally have a little heavier weed guard than a swim jig. The head is often slightly teardrop shaped with the line tie being at the smaller end of the head. They're a good multipurpose jig and probably your best bet for learning to fish jigs.

Football jigs have a football shaped head They're often used for fishing deep drops, ledges, and rockpiles because the wide head helps to keep them from falling into cracks in the rocks and snagging. They often have a fairly soft weed guard which makes them a poor choice for fishing in heavier cover.

Brush jigs look kind of like a stand up head and the line tie is usually recessed inside the head to help protect the knot and prevent things from hanging on the line tie. Normally they're poured on a heavy wire hook with a stiff weed guard to be fished in very heavy cover.

Ball head jigs are a simply a round head jig, similar to a round jig head used for crappie or walleye fishing only larger and not tied on a 90 degree hook. They're often poured on a lighter wire hook with a softer weed guard and used to tie finesse jigs with. These are also a pretty good multipurpose jig and would be a good jig to learn to fish jigs with.

Lots of points I'm sure I've missed and there's lots of other types of jigheads but that will give you a place to start.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Thanks Bluebasser. That cleared a lot up. And thanks for the link Tbone. Thats like a jig fishing text book. Very informative. I skimmed over most of it and book marked it for future reference.

[roadwarrior]

All About Jig Heads

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/jig-heads.html

 

 

 

 

 

[Lunker7]

Swim jigs are usually poured on a straight shank or hook with a very slight bend on them and the head tends to be a cone or V shaped head, sometimes with a slight keel to keep them flat during the retrieve.

A casting jig is poured on a hook with a little sharper angle in the hook and normally have a little heavier weed guard than a swim jig. The head is often slightly teardrop shaped with the line tie being at the smaller end of the head. They're a good multipurpose jig and probably your best bet for learning to fish jigs.

Football jigs have a football shaped head They're often used for fishing deep drops, ledges, and rockpiles because the wide head helps to keep them from falling into cracks in the rocks and snagging. They often have a fairly soft weed guard which makes them a poor choice for fishing in heavier cover.

Brush jigs look kind of like a stand up head and the line tie is usually recessed inside the head to help protect the knot and prevent things from hanging on the line tie. Normally they're poured on a heavy wire hook with a stiff weed guard to be fished in very heavy cover.

Ball head jigs are a simply a round head jig, similar to a round jig head used for crappie or walleye fishing only larger and not tied on a 90 degree hook. They're often poured on a lighter wire hook with a softer weed guard and used to tie finesse jigs with. These are also a pretty good multipurpose jig and would be a good jig to learn to fish jigs with.

Lots of points I'm sure I've missed and there's lots of other types of jigheads but that will give you a place to start.

Great post!

[Tuckahoe Joe]

All About Jig Heads

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/jig-heads.html

 

 

 

 

 t

Wow.  I don't know how I missed that.  I swear I looked through the videos like 3 times and didn't see that.  Thank you sir.

[endless]

I want to try the scrounger jigs!

[WRB]

Arkie jig

Aspirin head

Ball head

Brush or alien

Banana

Dart head

Fish head

Football

Grass

Horse head

Nu jig

Rocker head

Scrounger

Slider

Sled head

Spider

Standup

Snootie or poison head

Shaky head

Swim

Tube

Viper head

There are more, these are the 22 of the most common, each has a specific use.

When you think of jig & pig or flipping/pitching jig it is usually the Arkie style head.

If you have a question regarding a specific jig head and how to fish it, just ask and will try to give a detailed answer.

Tom

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Well, I guess the swim jig is what Im most interested in since thats really the only jig I currently own.  It seems to be more of a moving bait so now Im thinking that its probably not going to be the best winter time lure but Id still like to learn the proper technique for fishing it.  What kind of retrieve, trailer (I have some Berkley craws in the same color as the jig), and what power rod/reel gear ratio.

[Basshammer]

1. I keep it simple, football jigs for leges and swim jigs for shallow water.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

1. I keep it simple, football jigs for leges and swim jigs for shallow water.

The lake that I usually fish is pretty shallow.  Average depth is about 5 feet or so.  There is a deep rocky resovoir that I fish sometimes though when I visit my parents or brother.  Maybe Ill pick up a football jig or 2 and give them a try there.

[merc1997]

there actually is a jig on the market that fishes through rock, brush, vegetation, and is a great swim jig. there are many people discovering it now, and proclaiming the same thing.

bo

[WRB]

Think of a swim jig as a spinnerbait without the wire and blades. The swim jig should have a head design nearly the same shape as the spinnerbait with the hook eye at the nose of the jig. Swim jigs replicate baitfish so colors should be similar to what colors the baitfish have.

You can "swim" any jig by retrieving it faster through the water column. The problem with some jigs is the hook style and head shape can collect weeds easily, a swim jig should go through weeds without collecting them around the line tie; the head is usually bullet shaped and designed not to roll when retrieved faster.

If you only have 1color to use for a dedicated swim jig white/chartreuse would be a good choice. However if you plan swim a jig during the cold water period along the bottom, then a black jig would be a good choice, colors are seasonal.

If you retrieve a swim jig along the bottom, avoid stopping the jig so it lays on the bottom; it may snag easier then other jig designs because the jig may roll flat and not stand up.

You cast out and count down about 1second per foot on average, then retrieve the jig using your reel with a uneven retrieve.

Tom

[floridabassman]

a swim jig is a lighter jig with a bigger hook and smaller head. They are designed for a fast retrieve. Just think of a swim jig as a spinnerbait without the blades. I just think they are made to add weight and a skirt to your swimbait. I always put a soft bodied swim bait such as a skinny dipper or swimmin fluke as a trailer. I would either use a black and blue or a shad type color on my swim jigs. They will catch you some big bass!

 

 

good luck