Jig Fishing Tips

[JT Bagwell]

I am a huge fan of pitching jigs and wanted to know what tips you have that might help others get better at fishing the jig?

[SPEEDBEAD.]

1. Pay attention to your surroundings, know how long it takes for your jig to hit bottom. If you are in 10 FOW and your jig stops before it should, something better kick in telling you to set the hook.

 

2. Watch your line and know when it acts differently than "normal."

 

3. You can fish too fast, you can't fish slow enough.

 

4. Check your line often, especially around rocks and mussels.

 

5. Practice, practice, practice your pitching technique. It can't ever get good enough that you don't need to practice.

 

 

That's all I can think of right now, maybe more later.

[JT Bagwell]

Awesome tips

[papajoe222]

If you have confidence that a piece of cover holds fish and aren't getting bit, change the fall rate of the jig. You can add or remove a bulky trailer, add a trailer with more water resistance, or even change to a bigger or smaller jig.  I'll do this before I start messing around with different colors as I believe color is at the bottom of the list when it comes to triggering charateristics in this situation.

[Bankbeater]

Keep your hooks sharp, and don't be afraid to use any plastic in your tackle bag as a trailer.

[J Francho]

In cold water, you'll often get what is referred to as a "pressure bite."  No line hop, no tick, just "mush" on the end of your line.  Set the hook!

[LakeTravisAngler]

Don't be afraid to throw it into heavy cover, there could be a fish there! Also know what your jig normally feels like, if it doesnt feel right then set the hook.

[BrianinMD]

1. Pay attention

2. Set the hook on anything that feels or looks different

[JT Bagwell]

More good tips.

 

One thing I always tell people is: If your jig feels different, just set the hook. It is better to set the hook

on a piece of wood than to not set the hook on a giant Bass.

[*Hootie]

In cold water, you'll often get what is referred to as a "pressure bite." No line hop, no tick, just "mush" on the end of your line. Set the hook!

Good to know. I'm going tomorrow and the water temp. is 44°.

Hootie

[Sam]

To slow down in cold water close your eyes, take a deep breath letting it out slow, and let your bait, line, rod and fingers tell you that you have been hit.

 

As JT posted, if the jig feels different, SET THE HOOK!

[J Francho]

Good to know. I'm going tomorrow and the water temp. is 44°.

Hootie

 

Ronnie Jighead's episodes show this, and he talks about it. You can see a couple fish where the line jumps, but on most, he's just setting the hook based on feeling that "pressure" and a hunch.  You get to see some misses too, which is cool.

 

http://www.lunkerville.com/lunkerville1/jighead1.html

 

http://www.lunkerville.com/lunkerville1/jighead2.html

[eyedabassman]

In the summer when the jig bite is at it's best. When you do the jig snap, you HAVE to get good at watching your line.When I take people on guide trips and they want to learn the jig I just tell them to lift the rod up and pick up your line as you let the rod down,this way you always have a tight line and you will feel many more bites. This a good way to teach someone the jig bite,and as they get better at it they can expand the way they fish it!

[don53]

exactly why i love this forum,all great tips,cant beat a jig.

[*Hootie]

Ronnie Jighead's episodes show this, and he talks about it. You can see a couple fish where the line jumps, but on most, he's just setting the hook based on feeling that "pressure" and a hunch. You get to see some misses too, which is cool.

http://www.lunkerville.com/lunkerville1/jighead1.html

http://www.lunkerville.com/lunkerville1/jighead2.html

J Francho, thanks for the links. Learned a lot watching them. I know I'll be watching them a few times.

Hootie