Texas Rig Vs Jig

[Todd2]

First I would like to say hi... I am new to this board.

 

I'd like to know how others decide when to throw T-rigs over the Jig and vice versa. I throw both usually, but just wanted to hear what others think about the advantages of each. For example, which one has the better hookup ratio, which catches bigger fish, any weather conditions favor one or the other, etc.?

 

Thanks,

 

Todd

 

 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

I like a Texas rig better in weeds and really heavy cover because I can use a streamlined bait that will pass through the cover easier. 

Not sure either has a better hookup ratio, kind of depends on how good the fish are eating the bait. A jig catches more big fish for me but I also probably fish a jig more than a T-rig so that may have something to do with it. 

[aharris]

IMO, I think the tx rig catches more fish, but the jig probably produces bigger fish. If I know there are big fish in the area, and I'm fishing heavy cover, I'll throw a jig but if I'm just looking for bites, I'll throw a tx rig.

[jhoffman]

I usually throw them both unless the grass is thick. Fire one in there, they dont want that, fire the other. When I stop the boat, theres no doubt in my mind there are at least a few fish there. I never pull up to a spot and look at it and think..."theres probably not a fish there but Ill try it anyhow". I see boats parked in places where I know that I saw it in winter draw down and theyre sitting on a mud flat mid summer. Homework pays off big.

[MCS]

I like texas rig better, I am personally more comfortable with it, and I fish a lot of grass here in FL. I agree with those that say T-rigs catch more fish but jigs get bigger fish. I like T-rig better for two main reasons, it gets hung up less, and you can switch size, shape, color of the bait very easily with out retying and wasting time. (which is important to me)

[JigMe]

Welcome to the board.

 

Jigs and T-rig plastics give a different presentation, Jig is trying to resemble a craw fish, and that works better for me on the lakes that I fish. I suggest you go out and try both techniques, and the fish will tell you when the bites are on.  

[wademaster1]

T-rig is where my success is at........I never have any luck with the jigs.....some guys kill it with the jigs though

[The Young Gun]

I haven't fished jigs yet (hoping to soon) but I've thrown a t rig with so many different plastics in different situations. I always have the bullet weigh and a nice hook on a rod for a t rig. When a situation presents itself I can rig a plastic accordingly.

[WRB]

The definition of both lures has become blurred with the wide variety ans use of both.

Jig is a hook with a heavy molded on to it and there are over a dozen popular shapes and styles. Most angler are thinking of the jig & pig; Arkie style heavy head with a crawdad type trailer.

Texas rig; sliding bulled weight above a worm hook, the hook rigged into the from of a soft plastic worm or creature to be weedless. If the bullet weight doesn't slide and pegged to stay against the weight it's a Florida rig or a heavy pegged weight a punch rig.

I fish T-rig when; the terrain has less slope or flatter with isolated brush or weed cover, this is worm water to me. Steeper rocky areas with simile cover is preferred jig & pig water. Both during the day light hours, at night there doesn't seem to be any different in regards to what the bass want where.

Heavy shallow cover I prefer the puch type rigs.

Tom

[Darren.]

First off, welcome to the forums, Todd!

 

I'll pick TX over a jig. Success with TX is more than 10 fold over the jig. Though I am fishing jigs a little more this year....

[roadwarrior]

First off, welcome to the forums, Todd!

 

I'll pick TX over a jig. Success with TX is more than 10 fold over the jig. Though I am fishing jigs a little more this year....

 

That's not surprising...Most guys do a lot better with things they fish rather than things they don't...

It makes a big difference where you are fishing. A weedless presentations just makes more sense

sometimes.

 

 

 

[Darren.]

That's not surprising...Most guys do a lot better with things they fish rather than things they don't...

It makes a big difference where you are fishing. A weedless presentations just makes more sense

sometimes.

 

 

 

 

Yeah. I like jigs, caught some decent (biggest was 3 lbs) bass on them, just a confidence thing. Which is why I'm trying to work on them this year. In fact, if I recall, I think I listed jigs (in another post) as something I want to become more proficient at in 2013. Question is, will I have the patience

 

While I haven't caught a fish yet in 2013, I've thrown jigs into downed trees, etc., to learn to feel the bait better. I actually did have a short strike a couple weeks back, almost took my trailer off.

[OkobojiEagle]

My preference is a jig head and plastic fished exposed hook whenever cover allows.  When grass/weeds prevail I fish a jig head I can bury the hook point into the plastic (Brewer head or wide gap).  When rocks are eating my jigs I fish a jig head with a light double wire guard.  I very rarely fish a skirted jig head and haven't fished a traditional Texas-rig with slip sinker for the past couple decades.  I guess we all have our idiosyncrasies.

 

oe

[run23]

over the weekend i decided i was going to learn the ins and outs of jig fishing. i threw those things probably 80% of the time. at the end of the weekend while my fish count was a little lower, the average size of the fish was much higher. i'm a newb as well and just recently got a second pole...7' MH. my other pole is a 6'6 M which i learned on, (and continue to learn on). Trigged plastics and weightless senkos almost exclusively. i honestly couldn't tell you the benefits of one over the other and which one is better for any given presentation, but my observation was that with a heavier jig, i  felt much more confident with the longer heavier pole. my goal was to throw that jig as deep as i could and learn how to fish it. with my Trigged plastics i just don't have the confidence to throw it in as deep. i use a 1/o hook combined with the smallest bullet weight i can get away with. that doesn't get me down through the thick stuff like a jig could. once a fish takes the bait i also like the heavier backbone to set the hook and drag her out. the 6'6 just seems a little too 'noodley' to get a good hook set with a big hook if that makes any sense. anyway, just my observations from a weekend of trying new techniques.

[backcast88]

Like other have said, a TX catches more fish and a jig catches bigger fish.

 

For me its all about confidence.  I use a TX rig more b/c I have better success and more confidence with it.  I use a TX rig around every type of structure and water depth.  I find I have a better hook up ratio with a TX rig but that is probably due to the fact I use it 10 times more then a jig. 

 

This year I am trying to spend more time fishing a jig to get more confidence but I will always have a TX ready to go as backup.

[wademaster1]

Keep in mind the SIZE if the plastic on the t rig may very well dictate the size of fish you may catch. Same applies with the jig. Small fish will possibly hit either one but you have to compare apples with apples when talking fish size.

[J Francho]

I see the jig as a drop bait.  Same for a pegged "Florida" or "Punch" rig.  I true Texas rig worm or other plastic is an excellent, if not a little slow search bait.  WRB basically hit the nail on the head with what it's good for.

[Bankbeater]

I like jigs around deep structure, and around timber.  I tend to fish t-rigs more around rocks, and weeds.  Usually have one of each rigged up.

[vtbassin]

I usually have one of each rigged up.  Then switch between them to see what the fish are looking for that day.  I fish them both in the same areas and the same types of cover.   If I had to pick one I would go with the jig. 

[mnbassman23]

I fish both a lot, but as a general rule I always start with a jig and switch to a T-rig if i'm not having success. The only time I start with a t-rig is when it's super weedy or i'm punching matted vegitation. More times than not the jig will produce bigger fish and that's what i'm looking for.

[Grantman83]

Jig fishing is what I am trying to work on this year.  Every year, I give myself something to work on for the upcoming season and I and rigging all must stuff up with jigs to find what I like best

[Todd2]

Thanks for all of the replies, alot of good info here.

[papajoe222]

I cut my teeth fishing a Crème worm T-rigged with an egg sinker on a straight shanked hook using a 5'6" broomstick of a rod years ago. It's still my preferred rigging for many soft plastic baits.  That being said, in the past twenty or so years, I've likely caught more bass on jigs than ALL other baits and rigging combined. Both are versatile and they'll both catch monster fish.  I just recently started fishing a football jig in situations where I'd normally be throwing a T-rig (gravel flats, bottom transition areas, etc.) 

The only time I see a T-rig outshining a jig is when the fish will not hold a bait long enough to get a good hook set.  Being able to pick up the bait without feeling the weight is the big difference. The only time I see the jig coming out on top is in heavy cover where the weight and bait of a T-rig can separate. If I have to peg the sinker, I switch to a jig.

[NEjitterbugger]

With a T-Rig I beleive you have a more diverse yet successful arsenal from a soft plastics stand point...

[Quillback]

The last couple of weeks I've been dragging t-rigged tubes and jigs on relatively shallow rocky flats on Table Rock.  The bass are in those areas are feeding on crawfish.  The tube has been working better than the jig, so far at least, but things will change as the water warms.  You've got to be versatile, willing to try different presentations.  Jigs aren't necessarily a heavy cover thing either, at least in this part of the country.  Dragging FB jigs on rocky structure or gravelly points at certain times of the year will catch fish.