Jig And Plastic Fishing

[HoosierHawgs]

I told you in my introduction post that my weakness comes when fishing slow moving jigs like football jigs, and plastics like fishing the bottom with a Texas rig or Carolina rig. I just haven't been good at it. I'm looking to invest time and money to master these presentations. How are some ways I can up my game?

[iabass8]

[Comfortably Numb]

Dont go out with any other baits but a jig and craw. That is if the jig craw is good presentation that day.

 

I tell people to fish what you are not comfortable in the spring. Fish will eat pretty much anything then and you can gain confidence and feel what the bite feels like

 

It is easier to feel the bite on a lighter jig in shallow water. Try a 1/4-3/8 oz

[HoosierHawgs]

Dont go out with any other baits but a jig and craw. That is if the jig craw is good presentation that day.

 

I tell people to fish what you are not comfortable in the spring. Fish will eat pretty much anything then and you can gain confidence and feel what the bite feels like

 

It is easier to feel the bite on a lighter jig in shallow water. Try a 1/4-3/8 oz

 

Thanks for the tip! I've heard that jig and craw presentations work year round. I assume a smaller jig might help you get more bites as well, so you can get used to feeling the bite better. Do you recommend fishing the lightest weight you can, similar to plastic worms?

[Comfortably Numb]

I am pretty much where you are. I was addicted to Senkos for shallow water. My buddy kills them in shallow water on very light jigs. 1/8 on spinning rod is deadly for him even fishing in the back of the boat behind my senko.

 

I have been catching bass on them and def getting more confidence

[Raul]

Not trying to be an azz but have you searched the video section ?

[HoosierHawgs]

I am pretty much where you are. I was addicted to Senkos for shallow water. My buddy kills them in shallow water on very light jigs. 1/8 on spinning rod is deadly for him even fishing in the back of the boat behind my senko.

 

I have been catching bass on them and def getting more confidence

 

I have fished some finesse jigs before, but not a lot. Senkos have been very good to me in shallow clear water

[warpath58]

Try a Caroline rig using a 1oz jig in place of the egg sinker  

[Brian6428]

One thing that nobody seems to say is that a good rod really helps. I think one reason guys don't have confidence in jigs and t-rigs is because they can't feel the lure pulling, like a spinnerbait or square bill. Even a $50 rod will really up your game with jigs and T-rigs, and by knowing you will feel most bites you will gain confidence in them.

 

I'm not sure what kind of rod you're using, but this is just something that really helped me. 

[WRB]

Go fishing with a skilled Texas rigged worm (sliding bullet weight and weedless hooked soft plastic worm) angler.

Time on the water with a mentor will save you hundreds of unproductive learning hours.

Not all lakes are good worm or jig water, some are excellent and that is where you should learn.

Advice from a bunch of anglers that you don't know may only confuse you more.

Tom

[Will Wetline]

That's good advice WRB offers: See if you can make a trip with someone experienced in the techniques you want to learn. Then observe closely and ask lots of questions.

 

Too, are you sure that you're working an area that's holding fish? That, of course, is the first question to ask regardless of presentation.

 

Jigs and T-rigged plastics are go-tos when the fish aren't active enough to bust a reaction bait. I suspect that many of us - self included - fish too fast at times. Have patience. Drag and pause your offering. Don't rush. See how that works.

[Bluebasser86]

My learning curve with a jig was greatly accelerated when I went fishing with a good jig fisherman and when I bought a decent rod for fishing jigs and plastics. 

[Turkey sandwich]

1) force yourself to fish jigs and plastics.

2) get out with someone who does well fishing them

3) ask SPECIFIC questions, watch videos, etc

4) have the right gear - having a fast or extra fast action rod and low-stretch line is a game changer.

5) put yourself in a position to gain confidence quickly - learn about colors, leader length, trailers, weights, and when to use which. The quicker you start landing fish, the better for your confidence and patience.

6) take advantage of time off the water to learn as much as you can so that time on the water isn't wasted.

Soft plastics and jigs are my most confident baits. You'll find that once you get the basics down, they're great not just for numbers, but also for big fish.

[annexation]

I'm fortunate to have a lake out here that has a ton of small-ish largemouth that will take anything, seemingly. I know I can catch bigger fish elsewhere, but I like this lake because it's guaranteed to produce. Whenever I want to learn a new presentation, I go there. If you've got a place like that, it can do wonders for building confidence in new lures.