Got My First Jig Fish!

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Fished Loch Raven again today and caught my first fish on a jig.  I was at the farthest point I could go along the trail and was just thinking about heading back to the car.  Flipped my summer craw SK Hack Attack jig into the middle of a tangle of branches growing down into the water and felt a thump.  After I set the hook I realized that I was wrapped around 2 different branches so I had to scramble down the bank and stretch out to free the line.  I was worried the fish was going to get off during all of this but when I grabbed the fish I saw that it was hooked really good and wasn't going anywhere.

 

 

I posted these 2014 fishing goals in a topic a couple months ago and I'm crossing them off left and right.  I wanna get into some nice smallmouth action next!

 

1.  Break my personal best largemouth of 3.75lbs.

2.  5lb largemouth

3.  Catch first smallie ever

4.  Get off the bank

5.  Improve my flippin/pitchin and catch my first jig fish

6.  Help my little brother catch his first bass

7.  Catch a tiger muskie

8.  Fish as much as possible

[bclark7b]

Nice fish! I caught my first jig fish last year and now I'm hooked on jigs! Good luck with the rest of your goals

[Hattrick7]

Nice man! I'm getting going on jig bites also. Gotta love that thump.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

nice bass man! your having one heck of a year. think you need to get that goal list a little longer!

[Bankbeater]

Good job! Jigs are addicting!

[MCS]

Nice fish Joe. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

Congrats on the first jig fish!!

[*Hootie]

Congrats, great job.

Hootie

[lmbfisherman]

Congrats MAN!

[MoeC]

Any opinions on head configuration for a pond with a lot of submerged fall down? Mostly trunks and larger branches (nothing more than 6 inch diameter). From what I see in the shallow areas the smaller stuff is gone.  This pond isn't very deep (we think). Estimate 4-5 feet at most.

 

Football or round head? Also, any other insights. I've never thrown many jigs but I think it is needed there, now.

[EvanT123]

Nice going Joe. Way to keep checking things off that list !!

[whitwolf]

Nice fish Joe!

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Any opinions on head configuration for a pond with a lot of submerged fall down? Mostly trunks and larger branches (nothing more than 6 inch diameter). From what I see in the shallow areas the smaller stuff is gone.  This pond isn't very deep (we think). Estimate 4-5 feet at most.

 

Football or round head? Also, any other insights. I've never thrown many jigs but I think it is needed there, now.

 

I'm not exactly a jig expert but the 2 I've been using are the Strike King Hack Attack and the Terminator Pro Series with a Berkley Havoc Pit Boss trailer.  Both of the jigs have more of a rounded triangular shaped head.  The spots I've been fishing sound pretty similar to the pond you describe and these 2 have served me well.  Expect to lose some lures cuz the fish are gonna be right in the middle of all the snaggiest stuff.  And don't be afraid to flip/pitch multiple times to the same area.  The area I was flippin when I caught that fish was only about 6ft by 6ft and I probably made a dozen flips before he hit it.  The technique I've been using is to let the jig sink on a slack line, sit on the bottom for a couple seconds, and then give it 2 quick hops.  This is all just me though and like I said, I'm still new to this too.  If you ask in the 'Fishing Tackle' forum you might get some better responses and I know there are some good videos on jigs in the video section.  Good luck man!

[flyfishman]

 Way to go Joe !  Congrats.  A couple suggestions to help cross a few "to-do's" off the list:  First, take a nice scenic drive into Washington County and wade or canoe fish along the C & O Canal.  Those same type of largemouth jigs will work on the smallies too.  You'll also catch plenty of smallmouths using 3" Yamamoto grubs on 1/8 oz. or 1/16 oz. jig hooks w/plastic or fiber weedguards. Try gray/smoke or pumpkin crawfish colors. I've also had great success using rooster tail spinners in the 1/8 oz. size and the 1/4 oz. size will help keep the bigger ones hooked up. A small quality ball bearing snap swivel is a must with the spinners. There are tiger muskies along the Upper Potomac and don't be surprised if you hook one....Snyder's Landing, Taylor's Landing and Dam #4 are some areas where wade fishing is best at acceptable water levels.  Try prop baits or Heddon Pop-R's  in the low light periods and prepare for some exciting topwater action. Don't be concerned about losing a few lures and take a few extras.  A big tackle box in not needed. A light spinning rod with  good abrasion resistant 6 or 8 lb.  mono is a good choice. The big bass lie in wait along the deep pools and hang around those rock ledges.  Wear felt soled wading shoes or grippy canvas sneakers to help avoid the inevitable slip between the ledges.  Be careful, good luck and have fun.