How To Entice A Jig Strike?

[Preytorien]

Yesterday was a slow, and I emphasize SLOW, day on the water.

 

After trying a number of weightless soft plastics, and then also running some lipless crankbaits around (getting no bites), I decided to throw a great looking Sibert Jig, a custom colored one, in a frog pattern with a green RageTail craw trailer, all dipped in JJ's Magic clear garlic dip.

 

After a while, I kept noticing the bass would follow my jig up to the shoreline (I was bank fishing), and they would stop about 3 feet from shore, and just eyeball my jig as it sat on the bottom, sometimes coming within inches of the jig. Whenever they'd back off, I'd twitch the jig and they'd come in again for an inspection, but never once would they actually bite it, they just inspected it.

 

I've fished this body of water mulitple seasons and seen bedding bass here, these weren't bedding bass, they were just following the jig up to shore.

 

Any ideas of what they were doing? Any ideas of what I could do to draw them into a strike? 

[frantzracing0]

As simple as it sounds, when Im getting bass that follow but dont take the bite I change one very simple thing at a time to try to intice a strike. First I would change my cadence on the retrieve. Heck even try to swim the jig in between drops. Next I would try a different color or even downsize. They are intrigued but not enough to strike, they just werent looking for exactly what you were presenting

[Catt]

It's called fishing & not catching!

Sometimes despite our best efforts the bass simply don't want what we are throwing.

[Shane J]

I would have played the sit still game out in the deeper water. Instead of drawing them in, work a little longer out further. In other words, fish slower, with periods of no movement. Or maybe switch to a shakey head or drop shot.

[mjseverson24]

downsize... more erratic retrieves work too, i try and think like a crawfish trying to flee from a bass...

 

Mitch

[frogflogger]

try pork

[eyedabassman]

I would have played the sit still game out in the deeper water. Instead of drawing them in, work a little longer out further. In other words, fish slower, with periods of no movement. Or maybe switch to a shakey head or drop shot.

I would downsize first, and try to keep them out. it could be a color of the jig but I would think it could be your trailer is too much action or not enough? 

[A-Jay]

They were being Bass ~ and it sounds like they were in a neutral mood and not totally negative.

 

The fact that they at least followed your bait is somewhat encouraging.

 

Though I hate to do it, "down sizing" your presentation sometimes helps. 

 

And don't forget your line is part of your presentation also, so you may want to consider a lighter one at times.

 

A-Jay

[Preytorien]

All great ideas. Thanks guys.

 

I didn't attempt the same actions in the deeper water. I figured since they were following it up to the bank I'd at least be able to observe how they reacted, and never thought to throw to deeper water.

 

I had a 1/2oz jig tied on to the only rod I brought (I hate carrying more than one rod while on the bank), which was a Curado/Crucial with 50lb PowerPro on it. Next time I'll use a 1/4jig with my spinning rig (8lb copolymer) and try to just fish it slower and change up colors if need be.

 

Thanks for the help guys

[frogflogger]

we do a thing we call "tremble" we use it with jigs and worms when bass are iffy - lift out slack and try to let the jig/worm tremble without moving it toward you - harder to explain than to do - it's easier now that I'm old and tremble naturally

[slimshad]

I don't remeber who told me this, but as a youngster I was told if a bass follows and doesn't bite, change color.  I don't know just something that stuck in my memeory banks. 

[eyedabassman]

we do a thing we call "tremble" we use it with jigs and worms when bass are iffy - lift out slack and try to let the jig/worm tremble without moving it toward you - harder to explain than to do - it's easier now that I'm old and tremble naturally

I know what you mean with the tremble of a jig. Preytorien  when you get to be our age you will be able to put great action in a jig!   Without trying!

[Drewski73]

I wouldve tried "stroking" that jig in deeper water. MAKE them eat it when theyre like that. If they think "crap hes getting away", they may eat it.

 

Cast out, let it sit for 10 seconds without moving it, then shake it, then grab the butt of your rod with your reeling hand, and RIP it 2-3 feet up and off the bottom, then reapeat. Making it jump after shaking it, the next time you shake it, they think its getting ready to jump again. Ive caught a lot of fish doing this.

[smalljaw67]

downsize... more erratic retrieves work too, i try and think like a crawfish trying to flee from a bass...

 

Mitch

 

I fish jigs a lot and I normally don't get them close enough to me to see fish following but in shallow water I'll often move the jig and see a small swirl alerting me that a fish is there. When I see that and don't get a strike I usually make a pitch to the same spot and leave it sit for about 10 seconds and give it a single big hop and if that doesn't get it to commit I will tie on a smaller jig. If I'm using a full size 1/2oz jig and that happens I go right to a 1/4oz, and 99% of the time that works, I used to drop down to a 3/8oz and it did work but not a lot, most of the time I'd get the same reaction but surprisingly when I'd go to a 1/4oz it would get hit quickly.

[Preytorien]

I wouldve tried "stroking" that jig in deeper water. MAKE them eat it when theyre like that. If they think "crap hes getting away", they may eat it.

 

Cast out, let it sit for 10 seconds without moving it, then shake it, then grab the butt of your rod with your reeling hand, and RIP it 2-3 feet up and off the bottom, then reapeat. Making it jump after shaking it, the next time you shake it, they think its getting ready to jump again. Ive caught a lot of fish doing this.

 

That's interesting, I've never heard of that technique. Sounds effective, I'll have to try that next time.....which happens to be this evening!

[SirSnookalot]

It's called fishing & not catching!

Sometimes despite our best efforts the bass simply don't want what we are throwing.

If you want to catch bass you listen to a bass fisherman ^^^^^^^^

[rowyourboat]

megastrike..... that is all

[bassguytom]

If I have followers but no takers on a jig I throw a follow up bait usually a wacky rigged senko. If the fish are going to bite this usually gets it done.

[eyedabassman]

This is a perfect example of let the fish tell you what they want! If the bass were not interested or in a negative mood they would not chase the jig but just let it go by or swim away from the jig! But they did follow it so there was something that caught there attention,weather it was the jig's color,action,size,speed! So now you have find out what will trigger them and that is called catching! How many times have you fished a spinnerbait and get a few fish follow it to the boat and the same thing is true,could be blade color,size,speed,action! Watch the pro's fish a jig and if that would happen to them  99.9%  they will catch them fish because they can be caught! And it would be with the jig or a follow up bait!

[basscatcher8]

Don't forget if you can see them they can see you too. Not saying it did but always a factor to remember shallow.

[ColdSVT]

we do a thing we call "tremble" we use it with jigs and worms when bass are iffy - lift out slack and try to let the jig/worm tremble without moving it toward you - harder to explain than to do - it's easier now that I'm old and tremble naturally

Yessir!

Or i will drag the jig on the bottom as slow as i possibly can

[Catt]

This is a perfect example of let the fish tell you what they want! If the bass were not interested or in a negative mood they would not chase the jig but just let it go by or swim away from the jig! But they did follow it so there was something that caught there attention,weather it was the jig's color,action,size,speed! So now you have find out what will trigger them and that is called catching! How many times have you fished a spinnerbait and get a few fish follow it to the boat and the same thing is true,could be blade color,size,speed,action! Watch the pro's fish a jig and if that would happen to them 99.9% they will catch them fish because they can be caught! And it would be with the jig or a follow up bait!

Bassmaster Elite Table Rock

108 "Elite" Anglers

97 th place: Dean Rojas

Guess he couldn't entice em?

[eyedabassman]

Bassmaster Elite Table Rock

108 "Elite" Anglers

97 th place: Dean Rojas

Guess he couldn't entice em?

Dean Rojas is know as a frog man! At table Rock the bite was the wiggle wart,JIG,jerk bait,crankbait!

[Catt]

Dean Rojas is know as a frog man! At table Rock the bite was the wiggle wart,JIG,jerk bait,crankbait!

Ok so I guess we should ignore his videos about crankbaiting on youtube...he thinks he's pretty good!

[WRB]

Bass are curious fish and just because they are interested in a lure doesn't indicate they want to eat it.

If these bass were 3+ lbs! they may strike a jig! smaller bass maybe not, do to the large size claws.

If you dead stick the jig, the bass turn and leave, they are just curious or they see you.

Live nose hooked big night crawler fly lined would be a game changer, if these bass are hungry!

Tom