The hippy Jig in Winter

[Gangley]

I've tried going the route of "smaller is better" during the winter, and had some success, but this winter I am going to try out the "larger is best" theory.

I plan on using a mop style jig with a larger trailer, something along the lines of a Space Monkey, but I worry about the trailer having too much action in the colder water. What are some of the larger trailers that you prefer to use during the wintertime?

Also, what type of presentation do you normally use with the larger jig and trailer during the wintertime? I generally do a drag and hop, or straight drag, but what do you experianced jig men use during the winter? Drag and hop, drag, hop and sit, drag and sit, etc? I know "let the fish tell you", but until the fish tell you, what presenations do you generally start with.

ps, I've read the articles and used the search function and found some good info, but nothing specific to mop/large jigs with large trailers in wintertime.  I am profficient with a jig and plastic and a jig in pork, but I am hoping for some information specific to fishing larger jigs with large trailers during winter.

[SeanW]

I generally fish 2 types of jigs in the winter. For shallower waters with a stain to it I use a standard jig in 3/8 to 1/2 oz with a pork trailer. I do more of a slide the drag. Slide a foot and stop. There are also times for dead stickin a jig.

The second is a 1 oz football head with a twin tail. I fish this much faster, hoppin and scootin it along the bottom. I usually fish this on deeper lakes with steep rock banks.

[Vinny Chase]

This might be a suprising idea, seeing how most people use these as trailers for spinnerbait, chatterbait, etc, but it is very subtle and my favorite cold water "big jig" trailer

Split tail

[Nibbles]

For large mop style jigs, I usually use a longer 5-6" finesse worm.

For non-mop style jigs where I want some bulk, I like the LFTL Pig Claws.

[FIAB]

Gangley,

In the past I have stuck with the standard Black / Blue with pork trailer.  The reason for the pork trailer as you know is to help slow the presentation and action down. 

I tied some of these jigs up this summer and have been waiting for colder weather to give them a try and see if they work..........They are spun deer hair on 1oz jig heads.  This is the same technique used for making hair poppers that fly fisherman use.  The density of the hair adds a great amount of bouncy to the bait........I hope this will allow a 1oz jig head to act like a 1/2 oz jig head and so on.......I have tied these on 1/2 oz and 1/4 oz jig heads too.  The trailer on these jigs is rabbit hair.  This does not do anything as far as slowing down the bait really but the rabbit hair will float and gives a real subtle action.

That's the theory anyway.  If they suck it will be back to uncle josh, and black / blue jigs.

[Catt]

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. The colder the water, the slower the bass's brain operates so the slower you must present the lure or it's gone before the bass's brain tells it to bite. Don't be overly concerned with your trailer having too much action as long as the rate of fall is slow and the retrieve is slow.

My favorite jig trailers for cold water

Gene Larew 6 Salty Hawg Craw with 1 ½ to 2 cut off the tail

Rage Tail Lobster

Zoom Salty Pro Chunk

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.

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

[River Rat316]

Double wide beavers, 5.5" craw worms, 6" finesse worms, and the skinny chunk, are all good "big" jig trailers in the winter. Hippy jigs don't really require the monster trailer that everyone thinks they so though. The rubber flairs out so wide due to the fact it floats, and the hair is sparse enough that it just adds a subtle action and a little more bulk to the bait. Here is a pic of a hippy in my tank, the trailer is a 4.5" craw bug that I pour, and you can see the trailer is more than big enough

[River Rat316]

Forgot to add, the only retrieve I have used with hippy jigs is a super slow drag, with 3-6 second pauses to let the rubber flair out, and the hair has a real subtle action on the pause also. They represent a nice big easy meal!

[Gangley]

I appreciate all of the replies with great information guys.  I went out last night with a regular jig just to waste some time and landed a nice 2 lb'er on a KaRu's Special Brown football jig with a Berkley Chigger Craw trailer.  Can't wait to get the Hippy jigs and try them out!

[Catt]

I like jig fishing in cold water probably more than summer

Here's another little cold water tip, when the jig bite slows switch to big Texas rigged craw worm or creature bait.

[Gatorbassman]

The Mop Jig has been a go to winter bait for me for the past two years and like has been said the trick is a smaller trailer with less action. This is the only time of the year I switch from my regular Rage Chunk to a Zoom Super Chunk Jr. It's been a tournament winner every year around here.

Just work it slow and let it sit for several seconds. The living rubber skirt will do all the work for you.

[Big-O]

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. The colder the water, the slower the bass's brain operates so the slower you must present the lure or it's gone before the bass's brain tells it to bite. Don't be overly concerned with your trailer having too much action as long as the rate of fall is slow and the retrieve is slow.

My favorite jig trailers for cold water

Gene Larew 6 Salty Hawg Craw with 1 ½ to 2 cut off the tail

Rage Tail Lobster

Zoom Salty Pro Chunk

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.

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

X2 I believe it is often the fisherman that moves the bait or his postion too fast... not the actual action that the bait provides. As catt mentioned, most relatively dormant and drowsy fish need time to get their senses in order before they can make a decision to strike. Arousing them from their slumber sometimes takes more time than we fishermen are willing to give, which makes us think that the fish are not there at all.

I have stayed on my set up for extended periods of time knowing that the fish are there...only asleep. And often when one wakes up enough to eat, the commotion arouses others to do the same.

Something that I believe is good food for thought is the following:

Many cold water fish have fallen for the loud and fast moving rattletrap style baits. Wouldn't it make sense that the excessive noise from afar and getting louder by the second as it draws ever closer to a slumering bass is what begins the waking process. Then by the time the bait passes in front of the fish... she has become alert enough for a reaction strike on this scared looking shad bait running in front of her... She's cold, confused and hungry but you have to wake her up to get her to eat.

Hope that made a little sense..

Big O

www.ragetail.com