Help Me Pick Out A Few Jig Combos?

[fishva]

I've never really fished a jig much before, but I'd like to put some time into it this spring. I've read a bunch of articles and watched a bunch of videos and understand how to fish it (or at least, as much as you can understand something without getting out there and doing it) -- but I'm still not sure where to start with tackle selection.

 

I'm hoping that you guys can help me pick out a few good skirted jig / trailer combinations that I can have confidence in. I prefer to keep my tackle experimentation to a minimum until I get a feel of how to fish the thing (minimizing the variables, as they say).

 

To give you an idea of where I fish:

 

I don't have a boat, so I fish from the banks in 1-15 feet of water.

 

I don't have much access to clear water. Most of the time, I'm fishing in stained to muddy water.

 

I generally fish light to medium cover (it's usually hard to get into the real heavy stuff from the bank in the spots I hit).

 

Since I'm new at this, I'd like to start out with maybe 3 different skirt / trailer color combinations to keep things as simple as possible. What would you recommend?

[Western-Mass-Bass]

There will be alot of people that I am sure will chime in on this with much more experience than I have with jigs.  But one thing I have learned from these forums about fishing with jigs is to keep it as simple as possible until your skills grow with them. My go to color is Black with a zoom craw chunk riding the hook.  Like I said, for me keeping it simple and listening on these forums has made the jig my favorite lure to use. Good luck

[normmcclean]

My search would start and end with siebert outdoors jigs. They are a sponsor on the right and mike can get you started with unlimited color options at very low price plus he has the right stuff as far as trailers and jig designs for every situation just drop him an e-mail or call him. Great guy very passionate about fishing. I think he is working on some jig kits with ready to go spread of lures. You will not find jigs anywhere close to the quality for the price

[Smokinal]

Any color will work as long as it's black and blue.

[fishva]

Any color will work as long as it's black and blue.

 

Haha. Stick with a black or blue trailer as well?

[Smokinal]

Black and blue...yes

[Teal]

The three I use most are Green Pumkin, Black and Blue, and Pb&J. These will get you through most any water color.

Okeechobee Craw, falcon craw, black and Red, and a blue gil patern are others that I use often in stained water.

Those seven colors are more than enough for any water and probably are on Mike Sieberts Top selling list.

[fishva]

There will be alot of people that I am sure will chime in on this with much more experience than I have with jigs.  But one thing I have learned from these forums about fishing with jigs is to keep it as simple as possible until your skills grow with them. My go to color is Black with a zoom craw chunk riding the hook.  Like I said, for me keeping it simple and listening on these forums has made the jig my favorite lure to use. Good luck

 

Thanks for the recommendation. 

 

Based on what I've learned from reading so far and the conditions I fish in (not heavy cover, not much rock on the bottoms), I think that the football head would be the best choice. Would you agree with that?

[Western-Mass-Bass]

I think that would be a great start.   I use griz baits jigs. He is a local guy from my town and well., there is just something that feels right about supporting a local bait shop - bait maker in my book. I wish ya the best of luck with fishing jigs. I know I love using them.

[NEjitterbugger]

Rage Tail DB Craw as a trailer on a football jig - I'm not sure what brand this jig is, it may be a V&M who make sweet jigs...

 

Rage Grub as a trailer on a flipping jig (I really like the grub on a swim jig) -The jig itself, V&M Cliff Pace The Adrenaline Pacemaker

[Brian Needham]

I only fish 3 color........ black and blue......green pumpkin with a few orange strands..... and PBJ.

 

now for you:

you are fishing stained to muddy close to 100% of the time?

you are fishing less than 15 foot or less?

you need quality jigs?

 

this leads me to one answer:

 

get Sieberts 3/8 oz brush head in black and blue and greenpumpkin with orange (bama craw or Jfranco)

 

you only need one size as you are never over 15 foot but mostly under 15 foot.

you only need one head style, as you are just starting and the brush head is a great all around head

you only need two colors because you are only fishing muddy and stained.

 

now for trailers:

rage craws or netbaits paca craws 

1. green pumpkin (a must)

2. black and blue flake (a must)

3. bama craw (optional)

4. anycolor that looks cool to you (optional)

 

2 colors of jigs in 1 size..... with 4 trailer colors ( only two are must have) is ALL you need

[Brian Needham]

 

 

Based on what I've learned from reading so far and the conditions I fish in (not heavy cover, not much rock on the bottoms), I think that the football head would be the best choice. Would you agree with that?

 

I fish a football 100% of the time, rock, laydowns, wood, everything.

I like it keep it simple and not get worked up, lol.

 

you can get the football, but I you might like a brush head a little more. The brush head/alien head is an all around head. fish it some, and see what you like.

 

In fact since in your position you only need 2 colors, get one in football and one in a brush head and see what you like.

[fishva]

Man, I cannot thank you guys enough. Thanks so much for keeping things simple for me.

 

I decided to stick with one color and one size to start out. This will help keep me confident in the bait and remove the 'tackle doubt' from creeping up in my mind while I learn how to work with it. Once I start having some success, I'll introduce another color (or possibly another weight) to the mix.

 

I just ordered some black and blue 3/8 jigs with black and blue trailers from Sieberts.

 

Thanks again, I can't tell you how helpful this was.

[Smokinal]

I only fish 3 color........ black and blue......green pumpkin with a few orange strands..... and PBJ.

 

now for you:

you are fishing stained to muddy close to 100% of the time?

you are fishing less than 15 foot or less?

you need quality jigs?

 

this leads me to one answer:

 

get Sieberts 3/8 oz brush head in black and blue and greenpumpkin with orange (bama craw or Jfranco)

 

you only need one size as you are never over 15 foot but mostly under 15 foot.

you only need one head style, as you are just starting and the brush head is a great all around head

you only need two colors because you are only fishing muddy and stained.

 

now for trailers:

rage craws or netbaits paca craws 

1. green pumpkin (a must)

2. black and blue flake (a must)

3. bama craw (optional)

4. anycolor that looks cool to you (optional)

 

2 colors of jigs in 1 size..... with 4 trailer colors ( only two are must have) is ALL you need

Quite possibly one of the most simple, informative answers I've seen. Well said Brian. Absolutely can't go wrong with these jigs and colors.

[Bankbeater]

I keep it simple:

 

black jig for muddy water

green or brown jig for clear water

black and blue jig for everything else.

 

I try and match the color of the trailer to the jig.  I use a lot of greens, browns, blacks and blues for my trailers.  I also like to use plastics that are too torn up to go on a t, or c-rig.  Just trim them a little and use them like a regular trailer.

[roadwarrior]

I only fish 3 color........ black and blue......green pumpkin with a few orange strands..... and PBJ.

 

now for you:

you are fishing stained to muddy close to 100% of the time?

you are fishing less than 15 foot or less?

you need quality jigs?

 

this leads me to one answer:

 

get Sieberts 3/8 oz brush head in black and blue and greenpumpkin with orange (bama craw or Jfranco)

 

you only need one size as you are never over 15 foot but mostly under 15 foot.

you only need one head style, as you are just starting and the brush head is a great all around head

you only need two colors because you are only fishing muddy and stained.

 

now for trailers:

rage craws or netbaits paca craws 

1. green pumpkin (a must)

2. black and blue flake (a must)

3. bama craw (optional)

4. anycolor that looks cool to you (optional)

 

2 colors of jigs in 1 size..... with 4 trailer colors ( only two are must have) is ALL you need

 

That dog will hunt!

[Volboy]

The way I learned to be confident with jigs was starting with smaller finesse jigs like a SK Bitsy Bug or Eakins Finesse jig with a small trailer like a Zoom Super Chunk, Jr.

You will get more bites on a smaller offering, and then once you learn to feel the bite, you can move up to heavier flippin and football jigs.

Also, fishing from the bank you'll hang up less with a lighter jig.

[dfris]

^{Interesting to see people only suggest a Black and Blue jig.}

 

^{That goes against several pro videos that I have watched. Im not saying it wrong, but there seems to be a consciences of Black and Blue in heavy stained water.}

 

^{It seems that the Greens ( dark green pumpkin, and watermelon) in clear water, and the blacks in heavy stained water. I'm sure you will find this often online. The size of the jig is all about just keeping feeling on the bottom. I asked a question on this forum, about 1/2 jigs being to heavy, but seems that that's the preferred size of jigs for the most part.}

^{I would suggest you get some different sizes, and some green and black colors.}

[fishva]

^{Interesting to see people only suggest a Black and Blue jig.}

 

In fairness, I asked for help picking a color that I can have a good amount of confidence in while I learn how to work the jig. That way, I only have my presentation to blame, and won't keep going for the tacklebox to switch things up (aka: blaming the bait).

 

I hear what you're saying though, and will pick up at least a couple more colors based on the recommendations here once I get the hang of things.

[smalljaw67]

A 3/8oz is a good size for casting and dragging, since you are shore bound it will help you find cover and structure that you can't see. I think black/blue is also a good choice as it will work in any water clarity but I think a few jigs in 1/4oz would have been something to grab, I make my own jigs and I make 1/8oz and 3/16oz finesse jigs to use on days were the fish just won't take a regular jig and trailer. The smaller 1/4oz jig will draw more strikes as it appeals to smaller fish but this will help you gain confidence and learn how a jig bite feels but you did right as a 3/8oz black/blue jig will work in most situations.

[dfris]

I only fish 3 color........ black and blue......green pumpkin with a few orange strands..... and PBJ.

 

now for you:

you are fishing stained to muddy close to 100% of the time?

you are fishing less than 15 foot or less?

you need quality jigs?

 

this leads me to one answer:

 

get Sieberts 3/8 oz brush head in black and blue and greenpumpkin with orange (bama craw or Jfranco)

 

you only need one size as you are never over 15 foot but mostly under 15 foot.

you only need one head style, as you are just starting and the brush head is a great all around head

you only need two colors because you are only fishing muddy and stained.

 

now for trailers:

rage craws or netbaits paca craws 

1. green pumpkin (a must)

2. black and blue flake (a must)

3. bama craw (optional)

4. anycolor that looks cool to you (optional)

 

2 colors of jigs in 1 size..... with 4 trailer colors ( only two are must have) is ALL you need

Thats a good answer, What color do you throw in a clear and slightly stained lakes?

 

I have basic colors.

 

Black and Blue for heavy stained

Green Pumpkin / Water Mellon for Clearer

And Shad colors for when I know they are feeding on them.

 

Im not good with jigs, but My advice and understanding is limited... Always learning.....

 

Thats mostly what I use, but I got 1/2oz jigs. After watching a few pro dvds, that seems to help them feel the bottom better. It keeps the jig on the bottom for a better search bait.

But I also throw 1/2oz  spinners too. I like the bigger ones. lol

[Brian Needham]

Thats a good answer, What color do you throw in a clear and slightly stained lakes?

 

your colors look good

 

Black and Blue - heavy stained/muddy I also know guys that throw it 100% of the time muddy or clear

Green Pumpkin with orange - sight color to clear

PBJ - very lightly colored to very clear.

I carry three sizes.... 1/4. 1/2. and 3/4..... all football heads

 

 it is debatable whether I should have 3/8 or not. But I have found I do not have a need for it. if I am throwing the 1/4 I am less than 6 fow..... I start throwing the 1/2 in 8fow that falls off pretty quickly. It is really all based on how, where you do your fishing. Personally I have found for me, I like to err on the size of heavy.

 

I also carry 1/4 and 1/2 sexy chartruse swim jigs, only that one color, and only 2 sizes.

 

and with all the jig questions, you will be hard pressed to find a simpler, cost effective jig box that catches more fish, IMO(but I am highly biased)

 

Counting my jigs from last year, the one I lost the most of, which equates to the one I threw the most was 1/2 green pumpkin with orange..... next was 3/4 PBJ.

 

I throw a bunch of PBJ and bama craw (GP w/ orange) where I fish the most.

unlike most people I have no confidence in black/blue..... and the reason I dont is I dont HAVE to fish dirty water much, so I dont throw it much....I literally throw it 1% of the time..... which is funny cause it used to be all I threw when I first started fishing, so I really need to start thrwoing the ole BnB again even in slightly colored water,  

 

I offered my advice to the OP based on general principles, 3/8 black and blue jig will do what he needs it to do, based on what he wants to do, which is start out on the jig.

 

I am no jig guru, but I have been blessed to fish and learn from what I consider pretty dang good jig fishermen, so I consider myself a "jig guy"

 

more than anything to be a jig guy, is just like to be a spinnerbait guy, crankin guy ect ect:

KNOW what you like(trail and error), throw it like you own it, and know you are going to catch fish on it... and believe all of that while you are at it..... once you feel that THUNK THUNK of a jig bite you will sell your soul to feel it agian, and again, and again.

 

I know I do things fishing I jig that I could never explain to a person becasue I dont notice I do them... you will be the same, the OP will be the same..... and its the same with any bait you will throw, you will find your own style.

 

A jig is not a magic wand, but it is a rush to flip into a bush or tree top and feel that stud thump it.... or to cast out on a ledge in 15 foot of water and see so much slack knocked in your line you swear its moby dick when you set the hook! 

no drug can ever come close to that thrill.