Spinnerbait Vs Jig

[onefinalcast]

Being a novice in Bass fishing, there are two techniques/lures that I am not good at using. The spinnerbait, and the jig. This year I want to really work hard on one of these two techniques, but I am not sure which one I should start with. I have 3 or 4 of each lure, but don't use them often because I didn't catch much fish with them (not a confidence bait). Now I know the argument can be made that each one has its time and place etc. etc. etc. I understand, but I don't get out on the water enough to learn two techniques in one season. I just really want to focus on one and get good at it. Then I can work on the other afterwards.

 

So at the end of the day, if you had to teach me only one technique/lure, which would it be? Spinnerbait or Jig?

 

 

I will be ordering a batch of new lures in the next couple of weeks here and look forward to everyone's input. This will help me decide which route to go.

[mprestonSEK]

I would have to go with a jig on this one. Although a spinnerbait can be a very effective bait in certain conditions, a jig is always going to be productive, IMO. Jigs can be used all year around and there are so many different ways they can be fished. With the versatility of a jig, it can be swimmed, jigged, dragged, etc...If you would like some recommendations on jigs or spinnerbaits, I would gladly help you out.

 

Mike

[Siebert Outdoors]

By far it would be the jig.  For me the jig produces more and more types of conditions then a spinnerbait.  I would focus on the jig.

[mnbassman23]

I'd start with the jig. You can fish it on the bottom to imitate crawfish, swim it like a spinnerbait, pitch and flip it into heavy cover, overall it's a more versatile bait. I see your from Wisconsin and I'm assuming your lakes have an abundance of weeds. The jig will come through the weeds better and not get hung up as much. I use to fish a lot of spinnerbaits, but ever since I picked up a swim jig about the only time I throw spinnerbaits is on windy days. 

[ZB85]

You should try a bladed swim jig. When i started to really get into bass fishing a few years back that's probably the lure I used the most.

[onefinalcast]

So far it's the jig huh?

 

Also, by bladed jig, do you mean like a Z Man Chatterbait? I have two of them and love that thing. It catches me a good amount of fish!

[ZB85]

So far it's the jig huh?

 

Also, by bladed jig, do you mean like a Z Man Chatterbait? I have two of them and love that thing. It catches me a good amount of fish!

Yep!  Since you already have some of them then I would go with jigs for all the reasons stated above.

[Bassfishing375]

A few years ago i bought a couple dozen of booyah spinnerbaits for $1. I never use them, probably on 3 have ever been the water. So I would say a jig.

[ColdSVT]

In a boat practice the jig

from shore id practice the spinner bait

[Djman72]

I'll go against the majority and say spinnerbait. I base this on nothing, as I like to throw both depending on the situation. As for a tip, I really started to see success when I started to NOT just chuck the spinnerbait out and reel it back in. Make it dance, make the blades flutter and vary your retrieve speed. Also, if you hit a stump or some type of cover let it flutter for a second, if a fish is there they will strike

 

Hope that helps if you decide to go the spinnerbait route, youtube KVD spinnerbait videos. He is a master of Spinners.

[z7master167]

I love both but you're going to catch more on a jig the majority of the time. Heres what u can do, goto walmart and buy a strike king spinnerbait lil mr money in chartreuse with a splash of orange. Throw this thing at daybreak for about an hr or 2, slow roll it on rip rap and downed trees, logs etc. U will absolutely have a blast doing it.

Next buy some itsy bitsy jigs by strike king, and add some kind of trailer to the back of it, close to the same color. Its a smaller jig and you'll catch tons of bass on them i fish them like a texas rigged worm. Buy the green pumpkin, watermelon, and black/blue.. plus theyre only like a buck 99 so theyre not overly priced like most jigs

[CJV]

My vote would also go towards the JIG because it's so versatile. Try swimming a jig

[smalljaw67]

I'm going against everyone and say the spinnerbait and for a bunch of reasons. The first reason is the spinnerbait, like the jig, is very versatile, it can be slow rolled on the bottom, burned right below the surface, and everywhere in between. The other thing is you said you don't get out enough to learn both baits in one season, that there is the biggest reason because you can cover more water with a spinnerbait, and I know you can swim a jig but swimming a jig is just a spinnerbait without a blade, learn the spinnerbait and you can fish the swim jig. By covering water with the spinnerbait you'll quickly learn to identify high percentage areas which will be near some sort of cover and after a few fish you'll get more confidence so you can try other techniques like slow rolling but in the beginning you just have to focus on catching a fish. There are days when they won't hit it but I've had many more days when I could get them on a spinnerbait when they wouldn't sniff a traditional bass jig and that brings me to my last point. You can use a 3/8oz tandem spinnerbait in white and chartreuse and it will work everywhere, tandem means there is a willow leaf blade on the top and a smaller Colorado blade on the bottom, that will work anytime fish will hit a spinnerbait where as a jig, well sometimes they won't touch anything over 3/16oz and other times you need a 1/2oz bait to get bit and just the fact that jigs are easy to fish but remain one of the hardest to learn, I would think the spinnerbait will leave you a lot less frustrated and you'll also pick it up quickly once you catch 2 or 3 fish on it. That is how I look at it, and because you can learn the spinnerbait basics rather quickly, it will lead to more time devoted to learning the jig.

[McAlpine]

I'm going against everyone and say the spinnerbait and for a bunch of reasons. The first reason is the spinnerbait, like the jig, is very versatile, it can be slow rolled on the bottom, burned right below the surface, and everywhere in between. The other thing is you said you don't get out enough to learn both baits in one season, that there is the biggest reason because you can cover more water with a spinnerbait, and I know you can swim a jig but swimming a jig is just a spinnerbait without a blade, learn the spinnerbait and you can fish the swim jig. By covering water with the spinnerbait you'll quickly learn to identify high percentage areas which will be near some sort of cover and after a few fish you'll get more confidence so you can try other techniques like slow rolling but in the beginning you just have to focus on catching a fish. There are days when they won't hit it but I've had many more days when I could get them on a spinnerbait when they wouldn't sniff a traditional bass jig and that brings me to my last point. You can use a 3/8oz tandem spinnerbait in white and chartreuse and it will work everywhere, tandem means there is a willow leaf blade on the top and a smaller Colorado blade on the bottom, that will work anytime fish will hit a spinnerbait where as a jig, well sometimes they won't touch anything over 3/16oz and other times you need a 1/2oz bait to get bit and just the fact that jigs are easy to fish but remain one of the hardest to learn, I would think the spinnerbait will leave you a lot less frustrated and you'll also pick it up quickly once you catch 2 or 3 fish on it. That is how I look at it, and because you can learn the spinnerbait basics rather quickly, it will lead to more time devoted to learning the jig.

 

x2.  Spinnerbait.  If your learning then the spinnerbait steps to sucess are thus:  1.) Chuck 2.) Wind. 3.) Repeat

 

Plus since a spinnerbait is an active fish bait, you are going to learn more about where the fish stage themselves to ambush when they are feeding and it will help you learn what to look for.

[MCS]

I recently did the same thing. At the begining of the year I got some jigs and some spinnerbaits. Tried them both, now that spawn is starting up the spinnerbait is getting bit and my confidence is growing. Jigs are harder so far. I feel they are going to take more time to catch fish period, lot more to learn in way of where to throw, how to work, sublty of changing trailer size/shape/action. weigh of fall, type of jig etc. Just my personal experience for you to think about my observations.

[cadman]

My personal preference hands down would be a jig.

[Djman72]

I'm going against everyone and say the spinnerbait and for a bunch of reasons. The first reason is the spinnerbait, like the jig, is very versatile, it can be slow rolled on the bottom, burned right below the surface, and everywhere in between. The other thing is you said you don't get out enough to learn both baits in one season, that there is the biggest reason because you can cover more water with a spinnerbait, and I know you can swim a jig but swimming a jig is just a spinnerbait without a blade, learn the spinnerbait and you can fish the swim jig. By covering water with the spinnerbait you'll quickly learn to identify high percentage areas which will be near some sort of cover and after a few fish you'll get more confidence so you can try other techniques like slow rolling but in the beginning you just have to focus on catching a fish. There are days when they won't hit it but I've had many more days when I could get them on a spinnerbait when they wouldn't sniff a traditional bass jig and that brings me to my last point. You can use a 3/8oz tandem spinnerbait in white and chartreuse and it will work everywhere, tandem means there is a willow leaf blade on the top and a smaller Colorado blade on the bottom, that will work anytime fish will hit a spinnerbait where as a jig, well sometimes they won't touch anything over 3/16oz and other times you need a 1/2oz bait to get bit and just the fact that jigs are easy to fish but remain one of the hardest to learn, I would think the spinnerbait will leave you a lot less frustrated and you'll also pick it up quickly once you catch 2 or 3 fish on it. That is how I look at it, and because you can learn the spinnerbait basics rather quickly, it will lead to more time devoted to learning the jig.

Hey now! You weren't the first to start the spinnerbait trend!

 

Back off my Kudos!

[river-rat]

Even though I fish a spinnerbait a great deal, I'd have to say a jig. I don't catch as many fish with the jig but the average size is better.

 

And if you are really determined to learn how to fish a jig don't bring any other lures - just jigs and trailers.

[Raul]

I learned to fish a spinnerbait long before I even tried a jig, it´s much more simple to fish with a spinnerbait, in practical terms all you do is to cast, allow to sink and retrieve.

[Jigs 4 Pigs]

I learned to fish a spinnerbait long before I even tried a jig, it´s much more simple to fish with a spinnerbait, in practical terms all you do is to cast, allow to sink and retrieve.

^ This

[Pz3]

I will have to go with the spinner bait as well. In my opinion it isn't as hard to learn as the jig so its much quicker to learn and fish with. But Jigs really are a lot of fun. I absolutely love swimming jigs to me its a spinner bait with no blades but slow fishing a jig seems to be the hardest to learn and the most rewarding.

[5dollarsplash]

For what its worth, I catch a ton more pike/muskie on spinnerbaits while bass fishing then I do jigs.  To some that's not a issue, but if your out specifically targeting one fish and consitantly getting bit by another it can be annoying. 

 

I've got a box full of spinnerbaits that rarely gets opened while bass fishing for that reason.  If I'm targeting pike however, its a must have. 

 

I'm in no way saying jigs don't get bit by pike, they will, but in my experience the jig is the better BASS bait.

[HeavyDluxe]

Lots of good advice in this thread.

 

I would vote for the jig... You can bottom bounce them, and you can swim them (a spinnerbait without the spinners). Soooo versatile.

[mjseverson24]

two options here

1) catch more fish-----> spinnerabit (not everywhere but most places)

2) catch less fish but the size is better-----------> jig

 

personally I would go the spinnerbait rout because it seems you are relatively new to bass fishing and just learning how to catch fish and gain confidence will help you in the future when you learn the more involved techniques like jigs and t-rigs...

 

Mitch

[Sam]

Here is the deal: Spinnerbait fishing is simple unless you make it difficult.

 

Jig fishing is simple unless you make it difficult.

 

You will need more patience with a jig than a spinnerbait so be ready to concentrate on how the baits feel WITHOUT ANY FISH ON THEM and if they feel different SET THE HOOK!

 

Start with either. Just make sure you have the correct rod, reel and line test for each presentation.

 

Check out Glenn's videos on jigs and spinnerbaits on YouTube plus any other pro's videos on YouTube.

 

Start out slow and then make changes to the size and colors of your baits. Don't try to overwhelm yourself with all of the details on jigs and spinnerbaits. Take it easy and start out slow. There are many details about fishing both baits and you can drive yourself crazy trying to do what all the pros and others say to do.

 

For jigs, keep the colors simple: watermelon for clear water; green pumpkin for stained water; and blue/black for heavy stained or dirty water. Add a twin tail Zoom as a trailer in the same color as the jig. Fish it like a Texas rigged plastic or swim it back to you.

 

For spinnerbaits keep the colors simple: white; white/chartreuse; and chartreuse. Always add a trailer hook the size of or one size smaller than the spinnerbaits' hook. Colorado blades for a lot of vibration in cold or stained water and the willow leaf blades in clear and stained water. Throw and retrieve at first and then learn the secrets from the pros.

 

Now go out and start throwing both, and only both, and let us know how you do.

 

Don't forget your needle nose pliers as you will need them to remove the hooks.