Jig Fishing Questions

[HawgHunter13]

I’m sure this was answered but jigs can be fished all season, I’ve hooked on bass in early spring ,summer and fall with no problems. 
 

the trailer I usually use a matching 3” craw my favorite and only color is green pumpkin simply because they work best for me but I’ve caught great fish on black and blue and white also

 

how to fish is easy. I typically fish them 3 ways 

 

1. drag slowly on bottom

2. swim it 

3. jerk it around cover 

 

I’ve caught fish using all these methods and there all pretty consistent(try all methods and is the one that the fish bite on)

 

one last thing is a lot of times the fish act right away once jig hit the water so watch that line apon lire hitting water. 
 

last thing is the type of jig. For swimming a jig I like the strike king blue Gill color with green pumpkin strike king 3” swim bait trailer and for slow tempo I like the green pumpkin bico original jig with green pumpkin battle craw from bico (I will be trying the zman 3” green pumpkin craw soon because of durability reason of the zman products) 

 

hope this helps and good luck 

[the reel ess]

Back in spring I posted in this thread. I had a day when bass were taking the claws off my jig trailer. I managed to catch a nice one but went through a bunch of plastic. I had the same experience yesterday. I missed at least 4 bites before I stuck one. They were swimming off toward deeper water with the jig and I'd set the hook and get my jig back minus the tails. The one I finally caught I let swim around for about 5 seconds. And I still barely hooked that one at the edge of the lip. I could have had a pretty good day for cold water fishing if I'd caught all that bit. Instead it was the usual cold water day. 1 bass. Maybe next time I'll rig up just a craw on a T rig to see if they take it better.

 

On a positive note, the bass did seem to want the craw on the retrieve, not the initial fall.

[Trox]

On 11/19/2021 at 7:55 AM, the reel ess said:

I had a day when bass were taking the claws off my jig trailer.

you ever just take the claws off for them? I know it sounds funny, but there was a good bassmaster article written a while back that states the following around some research done:

"For 60 days, 450 largemouth bass, plucked from the same environment, were tested using a robotic arm and a strike counter. Each group of bass was presented a crawfish bait at the same speed and angle of attack. The bass tested had never seen the bait that was presented (it was a prototype). The test then continued, with one pincer removed, then a second pincer removed, and finally, the legs. The soft bait that had no appendages (no legs or pincers, just a body and tail) had the greatest number of strikes."

I've tested this theory a few times when the bite was tough as you mentioned and it did lead to a few extra bites (and better hookups)... A senko trailer can be a good immitator of this if you don't want to just go ripping up your craw trailers.
 

[cyclops2]

That is how I like my crayfish & lobsters.   ?

[the reel ess]

On 1/1/2022 at 7:05 PM, TroxBox said:

you ever just take the claws off for them? I know it sounds funny, but there was a good bassmaster article written a while back that states the following around some research done:

"For 60 days, 450 largemouth bass, plucked from the same environment, were tested using a robotic arm and a strike counter. Each group of bass was presented a crawfish bait at the same speed and angle of attack. The bass tested had never seen the bait that was presented (it was a prototype). The test then continued, with one pincer removed, then a second pincer removed, and finally, the legs. The soft bait that had no appendages (no legs or pincers, just a body and tail) had the greatest number of strikes."

I've tested this theory a few times when the bite was tough as you mentioned and it did lead to a few extra bites (and better hookups)... A senko trailer can be a good immitator of this if you don't want to just go ripping up your craw trailers.
 

I have proceeded with one claw or no claws with no success. But that sample size is small. I'm sure bass would bite a crawfish whose claws were gone. I'll bet I could catch a bass on a shrimp imitation.

[ajschn06]

My winter cabin fever time has been spent with a bucket of water and numerous jigs/trailers testing how they sit on the bottom.  I was surprised to find out that most of them are pretty blah when they hit the bottom- rolling over or just settling down, but I found one combo that stood above the rest.  A 3/8 oz @Siebert Outdoors brush jig paired with an Xzone Muscleback craw sits up off the bottom beautifully in a perfect attacking position.  I think the somewhat lighter hook compared to a thick flipping hook makes a difference here and obviously the "floating claw" that xzone touts.  I tried the smaller model MB Craw and adrenaline craw on a few other jigs and did not get the same effect.

[avid]

Anyone using mission jigs for their soft plastics?   I find that they hold the bait off the bottom real well   Anyone else use them ? 

[Todd2]

On 1/5/2022 at 1:33 PM, ajschn06 said:

My winter cabin fever time has been spent with a bucket of water and numerous jigs/trailers testing how they sit on the bottom.  I was surprised to find out that most of them are pretty blah when they hit the bottom- rolling over or just settling down but I found one combo that stood above the rest.  A 3/8 oz @Siebert Outdoors brush jig paired with an Xzone Muscleback craw sits up off the bottom beautifully 

 

It's a good point but I've noticed that some of my best jig trailers seem to be pretty blah. I've used a stickbait or half of a stickbait for many years after reading about it in an article long before hearing about the ned rig.  Sometimes it outproduces everything. The Zoom speed craw is not overly active at slow speeds but Bass around here love them. 

 

But I'm always game to try new trailers when things are slow, I might have to look for some these Musclebacks.

 

Any other trailers out there with active claws at rest?

 

 

[ajschn06]

2 minutes ago, Todd2 said:

It's a good point but I've noticed that some of my best jig trailers seem to be pretty blah. I've used a stickbait or half of a stickbait for many years after reading about it in an article long before hearing about the ned rig.  Sometimes it outproduces everything. The Zoom speed craw is not overly active at slow speeds but Bass around here love them. 

 

But I'm always game to try new trailers when things are slow, I might have to look for some these Musclebacks.

 

Any other trailers out there with active claws at rest?

 

 

I think anything xzone in their standard size does.  I picked up some standard adrenaline craws and they do the same. I don’t know if it will produce more fish, but it makes me more confident.

[Drawdown]

On 1/20/2022 at 7:51 AM, Todd2 said:

Any other trailers out there with active claws at rest?

 

 

I recently bought some Z-man BatwingZ in both 2.75” and 3.5” in the hopes they’ll do precisely this and also be durable. Haven’t tried them yet or done the “bucket test.”

[WRB]

The flotation characteristics of ZMan ElasZtech soft plastics and durability are both good. The down side has been the plastic may not be compatible to silicone and living rubber skirts materials.

Tom

[Drawdown]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

The flotation characteristics of ZMan ElasZtech soft plastics and durability are both good. The down side has been the plastic may not be compatible to silicone and living rubber skirts materials.

Tom

Can you elaborate? I’ve never heard of trailer material “compatibility.”

[NoShoes]

8 hours ago, Drawdown said:

Can you elaborate? I’ve never heard of trailer material “compatibility.”

elaztech has a tendency to eat other plastics and render them to a glob of goo. If you look it up, they’ll actually advertise not to store with other soft plastics. 
 

it may very well eat your jig skirts too. Never heard of it happening but it’s possible. 

[J Francho]

12 hours ago, WRB said:

The down side has been the plastic may not be compatible to silicone and living rubber skirts materials.

I haven't had any issues with either.  So far, I've only seen it react with plastisol baits.  Long term, I've seen it discolor a Plano utility box.

[clemsondds]

29 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I haven't had any issues with either.  So far, I've only seen it react with plastisol baits.  Long term, I've seen it discolor a Plano utility box.

Yeh I have several (6-7) plano edge boxes. The only one that I have had issues with is the one with my ned baits (zman plastics). The rubber gasket broke completely and it discolored the box.  The baits are amazing but they don't play well with anything! 

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, clemsondds said:

The baits are amazing but they don't play well with anything! 

Leave them in the original package and you'll be fine.

[clemsondds]

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Leave them in the original package and you'll be fine.

this! 

[shimmy]

Hey all, long time jig fisherman but am continually learning and having some occasional stumps. Asking longtime jig connoisure. Recently hit a lake in Lousiana (Bussey Brake) where there were bass in the prespawn and spawn. Water was murky, low visibility, and filled with timber. Like fishing in the woods. For the first time, fishing the jig did terrible for me. Talking to one of the locals, they stated that the jig bite was no longer on and was only working during the prespawn. Luckily we did adapt and I was able to stick a nice one on plastics. Nevertheless, it left me confused. The lake is definitely pressured, but given the structure, it can accommodate it. So I am trying to run through some theories here. Something pressured, i understand downsizing. Clear water and pressured, i understand downsizing and even going for plastics instead. However, this lake was very murky and filled with great cover. This lake produces very low numbers on average and I understand that, but the jig bite was basically non-existant compared to other methods. Help this young grasshopper with some feedback. Why now is the bite died down as opposed to prespawn? Jig in murky cover has always beaten plastics for me. But not this time and it seemed like it was not a fluke per the locals. Thoughts?

[Pat Brown]

On 4/4/2023 at 10:42 PM, shimmy said:

Hey all, long time jig fisherman but am continually learning and having some occasional stumps. Asking longtime jig connoisure. Recently hit a lake in Lousiana (Bussey Brake) where there were bass in the prespawn and spawn. Water was murky, low visibility, and filled with timber. Like fishing in the woods. For the first time, fishing the jig did terrible for me. Talking to one of the locals, they stated that the jig bite was no longer on and was only working during the prespawn. Luckily we did adapt and I was able to stick a nice one on plastics. Nevertheless, it left me confused. The lake is definitely pressured, but given the structure, it can accommodate it. So I am trying to run through some theories here. Something pressured, i understand downsizing. Clear water and pressured, i understand downsizing and even going for plastics instead. However, this lake was very murky and filled with great cover. This lake produces very low numbers on average and I understand that, but the jig bite was basically non-existant compared to other methods. Help this young grasshopper with some feedback. Why now is the bite died down as opposed to prespawn? Jig in murky cover has always beaten plastics for me. But not this time and it seemed like it was not a fluke per the locals. Thoughts?

 

 

Something happens when fish move shallow in the spring time where they hit jigs a little less good and hit plastics a little more good.   Why?  I don't speak bass and I've never gotten a straight answer out of one....but it's a thing that happens everywhere as far as I know.

 

The jig bite usually comes back with a vengeance for a nice little while in the post spawn when those big deflated females start going wild on the bluegill beds and then comes back big time in the late summer/fall/winter/pre spawn transition and holds out until they move up shallow to spawn again.

 

All I know is it's a great time of year to get out your weirdest soft plastics that you normally leave buried in the tackle box and tie one on.

[Catt]

@shimmy

The Jig is one of the most productive lures for fishing heavy cover of any type known to anglers.

 

The Jig is one of the most productive lures for catching larger than average bass.

But despite its pure awesomeness the angler must keep in mind there will be days when the bass simply do not want a jig.

 

So to all the young anglers (not chronological but experientially) struggling when casting, flipping, pitching, or punching with the Awesome Jig keep in mind there will be times when the Jig aint gonna be that AWESOME.

[The Jig Is Up]

 This ☝️

I've had days when they couldn't eat a jig fast enough.

And then I've had days where they wouldn't look at it...
(Fun fact ➡️ a soft jerkbait is my next choice when a jig doesn't get bit. If you can get those bass fired up, it's like candy to them! ?)

[Bird]

I'm pretty sure that a jig would make most anglers top 5.......of all-time.

My last 4 fish that were 5lbs or better all came with a jig.

 

They are extremely versatile in my hands.

Cast them into the knarl, flip them around docks and drag them down steep rocky banks.

Over half of my fish this year has come on a jig.

[WRB]

Changing the ROF (rate of fall) by using larger size trailer and/or lighter weight jig often helps when a soft plastic bite is working better. 

Why force feed bass something they don’t want for whatever reason...adapt and use what is working. 

Jigs are my go to lure but always willing to try other lures if the jig bite isn’t working, rather catch then cast.

Tom

[RipzLipz]

On 4/21/2023 at 1:14 PM, WRB said:

Changing the ROF (rate of fall) by using larger size trailer and/or lighter weight jig often helps when a soft plastic bite is working better. 

Why force feed bass something they don’t want for whatever reason...adapt and use what is working. 

Jigs are my go to lure but always willing to try other lures if the jig bite isn’t working, rather catch then cast.

Tom

This.

 

I love bacon cheeseburgers, prime rib, pizza, etc. On occasion I don’t want any of those to eat but want something different. Fish & and other animals are probably the same but more opportunistic. I hand feed fox squirrels peanuts off the back deck - right now most around here are going crazy for those "helicopters" that fall off the silver maple trees & aren’t as crazy about coming up & getting peanuts.

[ak6388]

Recently made an account with the forum after reading for a year or so and I just wanted to say thanks to all the contributors on this thread. I’ve read through a couple times this year and it’s really helped my jig fishing game. 
 

I typically flip a lot of Texas rigged plastics. This year I’ve put a jig in my hand more and I will definitely say that my average fish is larger as well as a lot more catches than previous attempts with the jig. 
 

I’ve read through the whole thread multiple times, there’s a ton of great information. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone!