Jig Fishing

[Gamec0cks5]

Ok I am wanting to try some jig fishing down here in SC this fall/winter. I don't know if I am fishing them right or what, but I haven't caught anything on them.

I am using Strike King Pro Model Jig, Green Pumpkin w/ a Rage Chunk Green Pumpkin. I also have been using Lunker rattle jigs same color just with Netbait paca chunk.

I cast them out around docks and brush and let them sit, then I slowly drag them in with the occasional jerk to get some action out of them

What else do I need to be doing? What do y'all do?

[Red]

Maybe slow it down a bit more.  Try just letting it sit.  Like they say, if you think your going slow, slow, go slower!

[J. M. Richardson]

If the fish are holding tight to cover, I like to give them small quick "hops" with my rod, bounce em up, lower the rod tip real fast and hang on your line will be slack if they hit so pay attention, reel down fast and set the hook. If they don't hit on the first fall I usually get 'em this way.

When I was first learning jigs I thought you fished them like a worm (let 'em sink, lift it up, let it sink etc...). I figured out though that I get a lot more strikes on a jig if you kind of pop-drag it along the bottom. Instead of lifting straight up on the rod, pop up at about a 30 degree angle, this causes the head of the jig to stir up the bottom before coming off of it.

Also, try the Booyah Bed Bug jigs, I love these things and have success on them year round (not just in beds like the name suggests). My personal two favorite colors for these are the brown/purple (with blue trailer - I know it sounds like a mismatch, but they hammer it) and black/blue with blue trailer.

Overall, just keep trying different things with the jig. I would try switching colors or downsizing as well (smaller ones I found were easier to learn on). It took me about 3 months of consistently jig fishing to get bites everytime I took it out.

[Vinny Chase]

Try sllloowwiinngg down and using hair jigs.

Check out North Star custom baits, they make the best hair jigs around

[Jigfishn10]

Hey Gamec0cks5, Where have you been?

I'm not sure what your water temps are down there, but this time of year I find that you really have to watch your line for any subtle jumps or movement to the side. The bite won't be as aggressive as it is during warmer water conditions, so you may not be feeling anything.

Has the water turned over?

[Catt]

Think Vertical

Think Deep

Think Bottom

Think Slow

During the winter months there are certain conditions one must pay attention to if one wants to be productive.

The first is stability as in stable weather; I don't care what the ambient temperature is as long as the weather has been stable for 3 or 4 days. In order to take full advantage of stable conditions one must have the ability to pick and choose the days you fish.

The second is the bass itself; a bass's metabolism is finally tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperature. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite and it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.

It is fairly easy to catch bass in cold water, if you can find them and if you use the right techniques. This means putting bait in front of a fish that looks right, sounds right, and smells right. The colder the water, the slower the bass's brain operates so the slower you must present the bait or it's gone before the bass's brain tells it to bite. 

The third think vertical; Jigging spoons or the jig-n-pig (pork frog) are probably the two most popular methods. If you want to get into the finesse end of things, fishing a small grub can also be good. But my favorite, naturally, is the jig-n-pig (or craw).

The fourth think deep; on most bodies of water in winter we're looking at a vertical situation as far as cover types go. To explain: Bass usually move deeper during the winter months. On some lakes that may mean they pull into creek channel for the winter.

On other lakes, where everything is pretty well shoreline-related, they might move to steeper banks, 45-degree banks or bluffs, which are the areas where they're probably going to spend the winter.

One thing you can just about bet on is that wintertime bass are going to be close to deep water. I'm not saying you can't catch them shallow because if you get a few nice days during the winter some of the fish will move up. They may also get on shallow targets next to deep water.

Keep deep water and a slow retrieve in mind, and you'll be a little better off during winter months.

The fifth think bottom; when I'm fishing during the wintertime, I usually relate to the bottom. That's where I'm trying to find the bass I'm not looking for suspended winter fish.

The sixth I want to get that bait down to the fish. I want to maintain contact with the bottom. Try to crawl the bait along the bottom in short spurts, basically dragging it. You don't want to sweep it off the bottom like you would during the summer.

To repeat: winter jig fishing means a slow, tedious retrieve with pauses between movements of the bait. Often that's what it takes to get some of the sluggish wintertime bass to bite.

Keep in mind that the bass are well grouped this time of year. It can be a long time between bites, but when you get a fish to hit, there are probably a bunch of them down there. So stick with it

[Shad_Master]

If you've every watched a crawdad move through the water - they move in quick bursts, sometimes several in a row and then settle down for what can seem like long periods.  Now a really aggressive bass may hit the jog on the fall, but (especially in winter) this is less likely to happen because the fish's metabolism has slowed way down.  The quick bursts happen close to the bottom so you want to try to imitate that by moving the jig in short hops, but still holding class to the bottom.  Hope this makes sense.

[Nibbles]

Not sure if it will work for everyone, but what I've learned through observation and trial and error is:

If you're fishing fast use a high-action trailer, and stick to brighter colors. The idea is to imitate an injured or fleeing baitfish of some sort. IMHO, most flapping chunk trailers like rage chunks, beavers and twin tail grubs do not imitate crawdads AT ALL except for their rough profile. The flapping motion resembles the tail of a fleeing baitfish way more.

If you're fishing slow use a bulkier trailer without as much action, and stick to duller colors. I personally like LFTL Pig Claws.The idea is to imitate a crawdad crawling along the lake floor completely unaware of predators. You can add a couple of hops if you like to imitate a fleeing crawdad - the jig skirts should provide enough action for the bass to notice something small but bulky trying to move quickly away from them.

Jigs with skirts made entirely of thin round living rubber work exceptionally well with trailers that give off a lot of action.

[senile1]

The word "slow" is a very subjective word. Often, we tell people to fish slowly but we give them no idea what slow is. This is fishing slow for me.

After the jig has been cast or pitched let it soak for 10 to 30 seconds, shaking in place on occasion. Then start a slow crawl, no more than a couple of inches at a time, occasionally throwing in a little longer crawl movement. Intersperse these movements with letting the lure sit and shaking it in place. When you feel the lure is no longer in the area where the fish are located reel it in. A cast can last as little as 30 seconds to a minute, or it could be two to five minutes depending on how far you crawl the lure or if you crawl it all the way back to the boat. If you feel the lure hit a limb, stump, rock, etc. stop moving it for a few seconds, shake it in place a couple of times, then work it over or through the cover. Sometimes a quick tiny movement after a stop will provoke a strike. Keep in mind that you want to fish slow in areas that you are fairly certain are holding fish. You will have a long day fishing this slow if there are no fish in the vicinity. Location, location, location. Concentrate on feeling the jig and watching your line. Sometimes the bite is just a tiny tick and sometimes you won't feel it at all. There may be a slight heaviness or the line may start to move off. When this occurs set the hook.

Temperatures in my lakes are 40s to mid 50s at this time depending on the size of the lake. The colder it is the slower I go for the most part, though this rule of thumb doesn't always hold true.

By the way, if you think this is slow research the technigue of "stitching."  You can find threads about this technique on this site.

[Gamec0cks5]

Hey Gamec0cks5, Where have you been?

I'm not sure what your water temps are down there, but this time of year I find that you really have to watch your line for any subtle jumps or movement to the side. The bite won't be as aggressive as it is during warmer water conditions, so you may not be feeling anything.

Has the water turned over?

Been busy with Work, School, and Deer season

Thanks for all the replies guys, man this is why I love this site! I will try all of these. Our water is roughly 60* right now in the morning and worms up to around 65-68* depending on the weather. The water visibilty is ~3feet or so. I am using the green pumpkin just because it is a natural color and have good luck with it at our lake when the water is clearer

North Star Baits really have my eye too, I like their jigs (from the looks of them). I really want to find something for the fisherman at my lake to really catch some cold water fish, I gotta be able to do it first to teach them though lol

[Nibbles]

Hey Gamec0cks5, Where have you been?

I'm not sure what your water temps are down there, but this time of year I find that you really have to watch your line for any subtle jumps or movement to the side. The bite won't be as aggressive as it is during warmer water conditions, so you may not be feeling anything.

Has the water turned over?

Been busy with Work, School, and Deer season

Thanks for all the replies guys, man this is why I love this site! I will try all of these. Our water is roughly 60* right now in the morning and worms up to around 65-68* depending on the weather. The water visibilty is ~3feet or so. I am using the green pumpkin just because it is a natural color and have good luck with it at our lake when the water is clearer

North Star Baits really have my eye too, I like their jigs (from the looks of them). I really want to find something for the fisherman at my lake to really catch some cold water fish, I gotta be able to do it first to teach them though lol

I would check out GMAN's jigs at Siebert Outdoors as well. His round rubber finesse jigs have phenomenal action. I remember throwing on a green pumpkin rage craw on one with a dark green rubber skirt and caught fish after fish after fish just by yo-yoing it like a rat-l-trap.

[Nine Miler]

Here ya go.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1189609782/

[Gamec0cks5]

Here ya go.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1189609782/

Thanks that was a good read, all I need to do now is get out there and fish em!

[BassThumb]

I think a kicker trailer like a Rage Tail, Chigger Craw, or Paca Chunk can be a turn off in cold water. Nothing seems to move fast in cold water. Thats why a lot of people choose to use trailers with the least action in cold water, like a pork frog. I've had my best luck using downsized 2.75" plastic chunks with little action, sometimes even threading the chunk so that it barely extends past he skirt. I fish them on 1/4 oz Bitsy Bugs in the coldest water.

[repper]

I think between Catt and Bassthumb you have your answer. What I would add is to try darker colors as well, in that water. try some black jigs with pork trailers in dark purple or black. Or try black and blue

[Jigfishn10]

Hey Gamec0cks5, Where have you been?

I'm not sure what your water temps are down there, but this time of year I find that you really have to watch your line for any subtle jumps or movement to the side. The bite won't be as aggressive as it is during warmer water conditions, so you may not be feeling anything.

Has the water turned over?

Been busy with Work, School, and Deer season

Thanks for all the replies guys, man this is why I love this site! I will try all of these. Our water is roughly 60* right now in the morning and worms up to around 65-68* depending on the weather. The water visibilty is ~3feet or so. I am using the green pumpkin just because it is a natural color and have good luck with it at our lake when the water is clearer

North Star Baits really have my eye too, I like their jigs (from the looks of them). I really want to find something for the fisherman at my lake to really catch some cold water fish, I gotta be able to do it first to teach them though lol

Wow, the water is still fairly warm. Based on your first post indicating that the water was fairley clear to your last post indicating discolored water, I'd say the discolored water now has moved the bass tight to cover or at the mudline.

It's also fall, so you have to check for structure around deeper water, as well...points, steep banks, channels, ledges and whatever vegetation is still left.

Just trying to put the puzzle together. Hope this helps.

[Gamec0cks5]

I gotta just get out there a practice now. I am a worm guy at heart so this is a whole new process for me. We held a tournament for our residents out at the lake a few weeks ago and the largest bass of the tournament was caught on a Jig & Pig. It was a nice 5.8lb Tiger Bass.

I just gotta figure out what trailers to use. I have some Chigger craws in motor oil, paca chunks (2" BK&BL), & some Rage Chunks in Gr. Pmpk. I have about 3 jigs left, one brown, one black, one green

I'll see what I can do

[Nick]

The key deal is what you said in your first post. "I haven't caught anything with them." More than any techninique is the confidence factor.  Try to go with a seasoned jig angler and watch him/her fish. Take note of the nuts and bolts of the technique esp. the rod position, the way the jig is worked and the tightness of the line, and the sensitive and correct rod and line used. The mechanics of jigging as well as the equipment are very key to the success of it all. Decisions about colors and trailers and weights and imparted action are not as important as the actual angling mechanics.

I once guided a fellow who had never caught a jig bass. And he wouldn't have with me either had I not told him when to set his hook.  Never did he realize he had a strike, but I could see his line move sideways or jump just a bit, or even note his jig was delayed in not reaching the bottom. He was amazed at how many fish he caught with some coaching. "I had no idea these were strikes, he said.

You could actually be getting some strikes and not realize it. That's an extreme example, but try to go with a good jig angler and you'll really cut the learning curve down immeasurably. You'll pick up topns of confidence with that first good catch, and then you'll be on your way. Docks everywhere hold bass at some times, so thst is a good starting place to look for fish. I woudn't get hung up on any trailers as long as they were green pumpkin or watermelon and matched the size of the jig. Heck, I've seen lots of bass caught on jigs without trailers.

[Catt]

The most difficult part of jig fishing is feeling the bite, many will tell you it aint like the bite you get with a Texas Rig but it is so get that notion out of your head. But like a Texas Rig those bumps, thumps, tics, & taps are the easy ones of detect its the ones where the bass inhales your jig without any tell- tale line movement. I say now is the time to bring forth all the expertise on feeling subtle bites stored away in your brain from Texas rigs, Wacky rigs, Drop shots and so on.

You will also hear "bass don't hold a jig long", don't be surprised when a 2 lb bass inhales your 1 oz jig with out any tell- tale line movement and proceeds to sit there until you apply to much pressure at which time they spit it.

The art of feeling a worm/jig bite is a fine combination of watching your line and feeling for unnatural sensations of what your bait shouldn't feel like. Some times you will feel that classic Tap, some times you'll only see line movement, some times your line will simply go slack, but some times there will only be a feeling of heaviness that is almost like your line will not move. The bites where the bass moves after inhaling you bait are the easy ones to feel because there is line movement, the bites where the bass simply inhales your bait and just sits there are the hardest to feel. Feeling a worm/jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but the worm/jig angler it makes total sense.

Maintain contact with your lure at all times, allow the lure to free-fall unrestricted, but without letting slack form in the line; follow your lures down with your rod tip.

Pay close attention to the depth you're fishing, any sudden change in the amount of line you're using could mean you've been bit. For instance, if you're fishing 6 feet of water and the lure suddenly stops at the 3 depth, it's possible a bass has taken the lure. If you're fishing 3 feet of water and 6 feet of line sinks beneath the mat, chances are good a bass is traveling with the lure. This is extremely true on the initial drop and no line movement maybe noticed.

[bigfruits]

to build confidence, try a small jig and trailer.

id suggest 1/4oz bitsy bug (green craw) with a matching 3" trailer (baby rage craw, 2.75" craw papi or tiny paca).

drop it by a log, let it sink on semi slack line (watch the line). let it sit for 10-30 secs. drag it a few inches. pause. hop it. pause. "shake" it. pause. mix it up. if you feel that tap or feel anything different, set the hook! you will catch a fish!

cast your jig in shallow clear water and watch its movements as you move your rod. this will give you an idea of what it is doing when you cant see it in deeper water.

[rubba bubba]

many will tell you it aint like the bite you get with a Texas Rig but it is so get that notion out of your head. But like a Texas Rig those bumps, thumps, tics, & taps are the easy ones of detect its the ones where the bass inhales your jig without any tell- tale line movement. I say now is the time to bring forth all the expertise on feeling subtle bites stored away in your brain from Texas rigs, Wacky rigs, Drop shots and so on.

This.

Hopefully when you start, the bites are aggressive and easy to detect which will make it easier to learn.  However you have to be prepared for that not to be the case and will need to depend on exactly what Catt wrote.

[kikstand454]

well ill add this....

this time last year i probably coulda counted all the fish i had caught on a jig on one hand.

but this year i told myself i was going to do it and made sure i did. so i was basically in the same place you are 10 months ago. the advice above is great. and ill say that the two things that have caught me a ton of fish this year (including a 4lber just yesterday...) are - throwing the jig! sounds funny but like mentioned above, confidence is everything. i just told myself repeatedly that this lure works... everyone else uses them...the pros kill on them... and just stuck with it. now i find myself throwing a jig almost everytime i go out by choice.

the other is to finish my flip/ cast with my rod in the 12oclock or even 1230 position. to explain... i think my lure hits the water at about a 9 to 10 oclock position and then i feather off the remaining line and the engage the reel.

this gives the the lure and initial 3 or 4 feet of slack line to fall exactly where i pitched it... and then having the rod so high, i can then follow the lure down as it sinks on a semi slack line.  this is probably the most critical technique ive worked on as far as presentation goes.

and fwiw.... i like a.t. jigs and paca chunks in black and blue variations.

[fishermantony]

Maybe try throwing the jig by wood.  In my limited experience my best success has come throwing a jig into and around lay downs and there extended limbs.