Pitching Jigs Or Plastics

[The Young Gun]

What's the benifits of both? I see the pros pitching lots of plastics and jigs but what determines what to use? What's the benifits and cons of each?

[MarkH024]

The difference would first be appearance. Jig usually will present a bigger/bulkier bait from the skirts flaring out. The second would be that plastics can make their way through thick cover much easier than a skirted jig will.  Jigs (IMO) are better for rockier structure and plastics are better for thicker/more vegetation situations. Hope that helps some. 

[mnbassman23]

The biggest factor is finding out what the fish want on a particular day. I almost always start with a jig and then move to plastics if i'm not having luck. This is mostly a confidence thing, but also I find that the quality of fish increases when using a jig while the quantity increases when using plastics. Not to say you won't catch a few small ones on a jig or that you cannot catch big fish on plastics because that is far from the case, but in general this is what i have found. 

 

The only time I key in on plastics and keep the jig on the deck is if i'm punching grass mats or there is a lot of "clingy" weeds on the bottom. The t-rig plastic will slide through thick cover better than a jig and not get hung up as much. 

[MrPeanut]

^^ what he said.

 

I generally start with a jig tied on, beacuse IMO it's more versatile - it can be dead sticked, hopped, swam whatever you want.  If I find them in weedy/grassy areas where a plastic will slip through easier I make the switch / if they want it swimming I'll switch to a swim jig or something similar etc.  

 

This allows to try to target the bigger fish in the area with the bulkier profile first too.

[ww2farmer]

Personally I like jigs better in these situations and in no particular order or combination......cold water, dirty water, hard cover, deep water, and in the fall. When I tend to use plastics more, also in no particular order or combination, is in clear water, warm water, heavy grass, shallow water, and behind a guy fishing a jig. But there are times when I prefer one or the other, but the fish tell me other wise. I don't try to argue with them, I usually have a jig, and several plastic presentations rigged up at all times, unless they are obviously biting one much better than the other.