cold water fishing with jigs

[rowyourboat]

ok, i know to fish them slowly, but i have a question about the size of the jig you use. do you want a small or a large presentation in cold water (around low 40s)? also, with your trailer, do you want something with a lot of action like the rage craws, or maybe something a little more subtle? thanks guys!

[roadwarrior]

Most guys want a small, compact presentation.

That means 1/4 -3/8 oz, skirt trimmed neatly to

the hook and a small, subtle trailer (GYCB Baby

Craw).

However, I like BIG! 3/4 oz GMAN Mop jig,

untrimmed and wild. Rage Tail Lobster, full

size Paca Craw, Flappin' Hog or Double Wide

Beaver for the trailer.

;D ;D ;D

[spotaholic]

Not to start a fight on here but I always do better in cold water on a bigger jig. 1/2 Mop with Super Chunk. I think they want something bigger being that they feed less and tend to be on the deeper side. I never trim my mops regardless of the time of year. I fish a jig all year long on several lakes and have never seen a huge need to downsize because the water temp. I think it has more to do with bait size. I know everyone has a different way of doing it and this is mine, So far doing pretty good on it.

[soccplayer07]

I prefer smaller jigs. Below 55 I use hair jigs!

[rowyourboat]

do you use trailers on hair jigs?

[Big Bait Fishing]

when i use jigs i also like to use a trailer with a bigger profile in colder water . i try to keep the presentation slow and do smaller "hops" off the bottom then i normally would when the water is warmer and the fish are more active . as for the "action" of your trailer , i like the craw to have big "claws" that stand up as long as possible (defensive posture), especially for the slow presentations 

[soccplayer07]

do you use trailers on hair jigs?

yes!

check out north star state (member here)

[Team9nine]

Like has already been mentioned, a lot of this is personal preference. I get the most fishing satisfaction out of going very small with my jigs in very cold water - 1/8-oz. hair jigs, custom hand poured tiny frog trailer (no extra action) and 5#-10# braid or 4-6# fluorocarbon. Add a 6'6" custom ML fast action rod and cold water bassin' life is good  8-)

-T9

[EastTexasBassin]

I prefer bigger jigs in the winter. (well, year 'round actually)

When fish are less active, it makes sense to me that a fish would want more food for less work.  Eating a slow moving, large prey item is more efficient than eating several smaller ones. 

Even when using big jigs, I still catch some smaller fish.  I've caught bass only 10 inches long on a big full-skirted half ounce jig with a lobster trailer.