Jig Help

[Stouty]

I have used jigs multiple times, i have caught id say about 10 or so fish on jigs. These fish were caught on Nolan Lake in kentucky with rock ledge drop offs about 24 foot. I made my first cast within 5 minutes of being on the lake and right off the ledge i felt a little brush and bam felt the weight of the fish, but it was not a a full jerk the rod out of your hands. My question is, here in Indiana on the lake i fish i throw into a lot of trees and lay downs but im not sure if what is really a fish and what is not. I have most likely missed some fish, i know what the trees feel like in the water. I just dont have the confidence in when it is really a fish, could anyone help? Thanks

 

[Mr_Scrogg]

One thing I learned on glenn's vids is if you think you got bit. Hold your rod at 10 oclock perfectly still with taught line. Let the fish make a move. Feel a tick or line moves, swing for the fences.

[hooah212002]

Hooksets are free. But honestly, it comes with experience. I am pretty much in the same boat as you because I can't get out very often. I fish jigs in heavy grass, from shore AND casting as far as I can, so I really have to pay extremely close attention because dragging a big ole jig through tons of grass, then trying to feel that slight tick ends up in A LOT of empty hooksets. Yes, people can say "when you feel this, set the hook", but somehow that has to translate into real world experience. Short of someone holding the rod with you while a fish bites and saying "there, that is a bite not a log", there isn't much someone can say.

 

This is one of those rare instances I will advocate gear that costs a bit more. When fishing baits that stay in contact with the bottom, sensitivity is paramount. You don't realize it until you have quality gear, too. When I made the switch to braid, it was like night and day. Then, I got a better rod and it was like going from nighttime in North Korea to mid day Manhattan.

 

I have gotten to the point where if I am with someone, I won't claim it's a fish until I can actually see the fish. My first time out last year, I was reeling what I was certain was a large log only to have a good size catfish break free right at the surface. I looked at my dad and said "Huh, I guess it was a fish afterall".

 

Take this with a grain of salt, as with any information I post. I am open to being VERY wrong.

[mjseverson24]

since you have only caught about 10 fish with a jig it will just take some time till you get the feel for it. having good floro and or braid will help with that, also a longer more sensitive rod might help as well. 

 

Mitch

[Mr_Scrogg]

I agree with hooah about hooksets are free. But if you are in around wood, that mentality will lighten your tackle box. Setting hooks everytime like that will be a sure way to bury hooks deep into a log.

[papajoe222]

The more you throw a jig, or any lure for that matter, the more you become accustomed to how it feels when retrieved under different circumstances.  That is how you learn what isn't normal.  Feeling your line being dragged over the limb of a tree before a tap is something that only experience can teach and the old adage that a tree limb won't pull back isn't true. Your line can run to the side as it slides along a branch and if the jig hangs even a little on any part of that limb, it can feel like something pulling.  

My advice is to use some sort of fish attractant and/or a trailer with multiple appendages that will get the fish to hold on while you determine if what you feel is indeed a fish.  Just adding a little tension will often get a reaction from a fish that has taken your jig, but there's a good possibility the fish will also drop it before you can distinguish what's going on.

Use braided line even if the water is fairly clear. The branches of the trees will break up the outline of the line and you could also add a few dark spots to the last couple of feet of line with a Sharpie if you're concerned about line visibility.  The added sensitivity is a good trade off to missing a few fish.

[Gatorbassman]

Keep fishing them and fish them and fish them some more and there will come a time when you will swear that you feel the fish breathing on the lure. You'll get it. You've just got to spend some quality time with them. 

[Teal]

All of these guys hit the nail on the head. Im probably repeating what they said.

A few things that will help:

XF rod tip

braided line and/or fluoro leaders

mega strike attractant

jj magic dye

Craw/ grub trailers that have alot of arms and or water resistance

Dont be affraid to lose a jig, its gonna take time to figure out the feeling a distingguish it. Throw it often.

[A-Rob]

On 4/18/2013 at 4:28 PM, Mr_Scrogg said:

One thing I learned on glenn's vids is if you think you got bit. Hold your rod at 10 oclock perfectly still with taught line. Let the fish make a move. Feel a tick or line moves, swing for the fences.

I use this method to...I think it works great

Although hooksets are free you look like a spaz if you set the hook on every leaf of vegetation your jig brushes by hahaaha

[hooah212002]

I agree with hooah about hooksets are free. But if you are in around wood, that mentality will lighten your tackle box. Setting hooks everytime like that will be a sure way to bury hooks deep into a log.

 

Indeed. Just a slight bit of inconsequential info I may or may not have forgotten.   But seriously, it's a good way to catch the elusive "wood-mouth bass". You pros have probably forgotten the species.

[merc1997]

i am going to disagree with wait for the fish to give you a sign. bass get rid of a bait in the blink of an eye most of the time. you need to know what your jig should be doing at all times. this means time to get to bottom after pull, feel of hitting bottom, feel of coming over limbs, ect. anytime something happens different that it should have set the hook. i fish holding the rod in front of the reel. this not only gives me better feedback through the rod, but it allows the line to run underneath my thumb so i can feel a change of nothing more than difference of tension on the line. you also have a much faster and powerful hookset in doing this because you have the weight of the reel behind your hand. time fising is a great teacher. keep swinging, hooksets are free.

bo

[Siebert Outdoors]

Agreed,  For me jig fishing is almost all feel.  A log will feel different then a branch.  Grass is different then rock or mix any of them up however.  They all have a certain feel to them.  It takes time and patience to learn this.  I hold the rod/reel by palming the reel with my finger under the line.  This helps me feel what is going on down under the water.  Make sure to move your finger before a hook set.  OUCH! 

 

 

The best advice I can give is to go fish a spot of certain structure.  Then notice the patterns and how it feels.  Once you become familiar with that pattern, move to a different type of structure.

 

When I'm fishing a jig through brush you can feel the jig up over a branch and then should expect the fall.and feel the next branch.  If this does not happen you better set the hook.  You will learn the patterns and feel over time.  Obviously every brush pile or tree is different but you will learn the feel.

 

After fishing the brush for awhile move to rock.  Feel the jig through the rocks.  Learn the feel of the jig.

 

Then go back to the trees.  Notice the difference in the type of hit off the rock to tree.  A good rod/line will show you different types of feel from the impacts the jig makes.

 

Learning this feel with catch you more fish and save you jigs from the Tree bass.

[WRB]

Being an Oldschool jig fisherman I agree with Bo, feel the line and use a bait casting reel/rod and line strong enough to handle bass in the type of cover/structure you fish in.

At the top of this forum page is a good thread on jig fishing, take a few minutes and read it.

Don't be discourage with missing strikes, most anglers don't detect a high % of jig strikes and still catch some bass.

The mistakes some jig anglers make are; wrong type of jig design for the presentation technique. Poor weed gaurd design. Dull hook points and wrong style and size of hook for the application. Bass bite the jig to kill it and spit it quickly if it doesn't feel right, you have very little time to detect this strike, unless the bass continues to eat the jig and that doesn't happen very often and you should catch that bass.

Tom

[mnbassman23]

Great info above, not much to add. Best advice is keep fishing them and with time you will know how a the jig is suppose to feel. It is almost impossible to describe, but with time you just "get it". I always tell people I fish with that hooksets are free. Yes you may set into a log and lose your jig, but if you don't swing it could be the biggest fish of your life on the end of the line. People who are afraid to loose jigs are leaving behind the best spots, and most often the biggest fish.

[senile1]

As others have stated, after you gain experience in fishing different types of cover and structure you will learn what each object feels like using a decent, sensitive rod.  I do have one thing to add.  In the beginning, when learning how to fish a jig I think it is a good idea to keep your boat stationary if possible.  Wind can move the boat in such a manner that the jig can move and tick a rock, and it can feel almost like a the "tink" of a fish.  If you don't notice the boat movement and you aren't moving the bait you may be fooled into setting the hook based on the false strike. It can also make you think your line is moving if you don't notice the boat movement.  After time, you will be able to fish a jig with slight boat movement as well.

[Brian Needham]

and if you aint losing jigs you aint fishing jigs....

[Stouty]

Thank you everyone for your help, i have a tournament next weekend hopefully we dont have anymore of these coldfronts coming in. I will be throwing a jig, hopefully will do some good with yalls advice.

[hatrix]

I am going to assume you are using a casting reel. When fishing bottom baits I always do a full palm of the reel and I put my index finger under my line. Sometimes even fishing moving baits like a swimbait/jig I will keep my finger under the line. It really seems to help with detecting the littlest of changes with your baits.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Put some fluro on your reel... get some jigs and fish them all day.... you wont regret it. And all the other things posted b4 me is all great info.