This Is My Jig. There Are Many Like It, But This One Is Mine. Help!!!

[CountBassula]

This is my Jig. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Without my jig I am nothing. Without me my jig is nothing.

 

Am I doing something wrong here?!?!?! I've been trying to learn the jig for bass fishing here in S. FL. (I know, I picked the worse time of they year to build up confidence in a lure I've never used before; LOL while CRYING). I've only caught 3 fish so far, 2 small ones and one that was 18" inches and around 3-4lbs. I've tried a variety of craw fish trailers in black, brown, green, blue, and red colors with somewhat matching skirt colors, and some not matching at all. I only got one bass and one snakehead on a light brown jig with same colored craw fish trailer. So I figured I'll change things up and use worms and swim baits on my jigs (see pics attached).

 

When I work my jig I drop it at the canal's edge right on the weed line if there is one, let it drop and wait 5-10 seconds, then I twitch it, pause, roll it slowly, twitch it, pause, etc, etc. I've tried anything and everything I can, and I just can't seem to catch a lick on those darn things!!! Agrrr super frustrated now. I fished for 2 hours today and not even a bite (I used the black/blue worm as jig trailer today, see the pic below, and last week I got a bass on a swim senko trailer LOL).

 

Also, I did get that classical thump bite once, but lost her. Other times when I caught bass on a jig I just sort of felt some resistance on the line so I set the hook and there she was. I also noticed that when I slowly drag the jig on the bottom it will sometimes get hanged up on something, and I have no idea if it's a fish or what, so I just keep some tension on the line and wait... sometimes it will get slack on it's own and sometimes I have to yank it. No idea if I caught a stick fish or a bass fish Oh, and sometimes I suddenly feel like my jig hit a power drill, there's this sudden and very fast kind of vibration on the line and rod that I can feel, kind of like touching a blender with your rod or something, and then it stops a second later; is that a fish or my jig sliding down a rocky bottom?!?!?!?!?

 

/Rant Off/ Any suggestion(s) highly appreciated!

 

 

[zachb34]

That bite that feels like a rapid drill are usually bluegill or other panfish the only way I'm catching fish on a jig right now is in the grass I bring it in slowly and when I get hung up I go to a slack line and give it a quick pop followed by a lighter pop.

[keith71]

Sounds to me like your doing fine.Its just a learning curve to one of the most productive baits ever created.Anticipate the strike on every cast,concentrate on the fall of the bait as it makes it way to the bottom,Make sure your trailer is rigged straight.I like to trim my skirts about an 1/8 inch below the hook bend.It helps with the skirt flare as it hits bottom.One last thing,try some darker colored skirts.Black and blue,Junebug,Black and red. Do not quit on the jig,its gonna hit a home-run for you in the near future.

[Sam]

Try a smaller crawfish type pig that 1) matches the jig's color or 2) conflicts with the jig's color.

 

For fast moving claws go with a Rage Tail craw plastic.

[Sam]

And you may want to dip the tip of the jig's claws in an orange dye.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Try a smaller bulkier trailer.

[Bankbeater]

I would trim the weed guard back so that it is just about even with the hook.  I like a big skirt, so I usually don't shorten it, but I do trim it so that it is even.  Try using a trailer that matches the food source where you are fishing.  If your lake has a lot of crawdads in it, use a craw trailer.

[smalljaw67]

You are doing everything right, the things you feel, remember them as that is the hard part about fishing a jig, learning to distinguish bites. The good news is that you'll get better in using it but understand this, a jig and trailer that is pretty big isn't going to get a bunch of fish, you will get fewer bites but the ones you get will be quality fish, most of the time. For people just starting out, I recommend a smaller bait that will catch more numbers of fish, like a 1/4oz jig with a zoom super chunk trailer, something that has a smaller profile and compact length, a jig like that will get bit more and you'll learn faster what bites feel like but for now concentrate on what the jig is doing and how it feels, it will pay off for you.

[1234567]

I agree with sam...downsize your trailer. From my experiences I catch more lock jawed south florida bass on smaller baits moving slow and on the bottom. IMO the time now is the best time to learn...especially if you are fishing during the day,

Don't get frustrated..I've gone days in south florida without a bite this time of year.

[evobowhunter]

ive been playing with making my own jigs for a while now and you can usually stick to a few simple colors.  Black and blue is always a great producer it will catch fish no matter what the clarity of the water is.  In clearer water a color like Okeechobee craw color that green pumpkin, with a little blue/black is good and also can be used to mimic bluegill.  in a little clearer water in a true crawdad situation a green pumpkin brown and orange jig is normally good to throw. green pumpkin orange is a good color too. 

 

as for trailers if im throwing a smaller jig or finesse jig I use a zoom speed craw and if the jig is bigger I throw a rage craw. if the water is stained to muddy I may throw I rage chunk on a smaller jig to put out a lot of disturbance.

 

if the water is stained or muddy I may use spike it in orange or chartreuse on just the pinchers of the jig to help fish find it or in normal water clarity I may dye the pinchers to better match my skirt or whatever I want to imitate 

[Dingah]

Ive also started using jigs this year, only caught about 15 fish but they all have been on a 1/2 oz jig with either a zoom super chunk trailer in blk and blue or a black and blue rage craw, ive found fishing it slow with a craw trailer has the best result for me.

 

good luck

-tully

[JellyMan]

If you like that worm, cut it down so the tail is about 1-2 inches behind the skirt. 

 

Beast.

[deaknh03]

one of my favorie movies.

[CayMar]

You have inspired me. I have some jigs but I've never caught a fish on one. I think the ones I have are all 3/8. I throw them occasionally but to no avail. I'm going to dedicate my time to learning the jig as well. I'm going to tie one on and fish it exclusively until it starts producing. Where do you start? I usually go to the lake but I'm thinking I should fish smaller water until I'm more proficient.

[Crestliner2008]

one of my favorie movies.

X2!

[Blues19]

try a zoom lil critter craw in green pumpkin for that first one. It is a really good little bait for a trailer.

[CountBassula]

You have inspired me. I have some jigs but I've never caught a fish on one. I think the ones I have are all 3/8. I throw them occasionally but to no avail. I'm going to dedicate my time to learning the jig as well. I'm going to tie one on and fish it exclusively until it starts producing. Where do you start? I usually go to the lake but I'm thinking I should fish smaller water until I'm more proficient.

 

thanks

 

i actually started in my pool, at night with a light on, so I could see exactly how the jig behaves in response to my twitching and pulling of the rod so far i've been jigging in canals in S. FL. exclusively.

[AK-Jax86]

I am going to have to brush up on my jig skills in the next few months gearing up for that FL winter fishing

[RyneB]

Rig a blue craw rage craw on the back of that jig. That's a good start

[Brent Bartman]

also the YUM Money Craw shorten up so the legs hang out about 1/2" behind the skirt is my favorite. i seem to get alot of movement out of them even on the smaller jigs