How Do You Fish A Jig?

[Green Trout]

I know there is a thread about Jig Fishing at the top of this catogory but I want this to be specific to my area and the questions im asking. My question is how do you fish a jig? I fish around so much wood so finding cover for me is not an issue. I plan on starting with a black and blue 1/4 oz jig. My depths range from 1ft up by the trees to 15 ft out in the middle. All the fish I have ever caught have been right next to the trees. Also, I am used to fidhing plastic worms on the bottom with a 1/4 oz bullet weight. How does the jig differ in fishing plastic worms on the bottom as far as how you fish it? Thanks so much.

[Ozark_Basser]

Fish it however you want. I generally just drag them on the bottom. I would look at arky style heads if I were you. They go well with wood and you can skip them into hard to reach areas under those limbs.

[Brian6428]

I basically fish a jig like a plastic worm. The main difference is when I throw them. I throw a jig year round while in the summer it is about 50-50 jig vs  texas rig worm.

 

The technique is just like a worm-- mix it up. Drag it fast, drag it slow, hop it, shake it, stroke it, etc until you find what works. My go-to method would be just to slowly drag it along with the rod tip with occasional hops. Make sure you are setting the hook hard with a jig. It can be harder to penetrate with than a worm.

[Catt]

Your technique is working with the T-rig so work the jig the same.

[Sam]

What Brian posted plus....if the jig feels "different" in any way as you move it, set the hook.

[Catch and Grease]

Are the trees your talking about cypress trees by chance?

I catch a lot of fish pitching a 3/8oz - 3/4oz jig to the bottom of cypress trees giving it a few hops then rinse and repeat. They usually grab it on the fall or they may follow it down after the initial fall and when you hop it they grab it.

Not really for this time of year though...

[scaleface]

Fish them the same as a Texas rig. If the cover is real heavy , like cedar trees,  I will forgo the jig and use a texas rig with a skirt and still keep the jig profile .

[BannedForSpamming-1234555]

How do you determine how heavy of a jig to use?

[WRB]

You could start with a shaky head jig/worm and fish the same as your T-rigged worm.

Weedless jig with a skirt and trailer should be worked with crawdad movements, slower with shorter hops to start with and keep making cadence changes in the retreive until you generate some strikes, then repeat that retreive.

To me the big difference is strike detection, T-rigged weedless worm, sliding bullet weight, the bass tend to hold longer and you have more time to detect strikes. Jigs are shorter and the lead head goes into the basses mouth, the bass tend to reject it faster and more often then with T-rigged worms. With jigs hook set instantly when you detect a strike. You should do this with worms, most anglers hesitate and get away with it, not with jigs.

The jig weight depends on a lot of factors; rate of fall the bass react to is the most important, your ability to keep in contact with the jig and feel what it's doing and getting through the cover effectively without hanging up are important regarding weight and trailer style-size.

Tom

[HookdUP]

I love listening to to

[HookdUP]

I swim a jig a lot ... But when I'm pitching targets I take more time with hops and drags .. When I am running banks between major areas I will pitch and just do a hop or three and reel up and repeat ... In the winter however is when jigging takes its most technique ... At this time I do my most envisioning of what the jig looks like on bottom and how Id like it to move .. I do this until I get a bite... When jigs ARENT being swam .. I find most strikes come within the first 15 sec of the bait hitting the waters surface ... The key is learning the tools you're using with the jig ... And interpreting the jig well in the water while being focused

[F14A-B]

I love sloowww crawling a 1/2 oz football jig/ craw trailor... Using the reel, crawling very slowly on hard/ rocky bottoms... Strike detection is quite easy with this method, it's easily my favorite way to fish a jig..

[Bass_Fanatic]

I'm different than most. I like heavy jigs. 3/4 oz is light for me as I normally flip a 1-1.5oz jig. For so,e reason I seem to catch more and better fish with a heavy jig vs a light one.

[Brian6428]

How do you determine how heavy of a jig to use?

Many different things. If its windy, you're fishing deep, or flipping into heavy cover and need weight to get down, use a heavy jig. If it isn't windy, you're fishing shallow, and fishing "normal" cover, go a little lighter. Weight effects fall speed which can effect how the fish bite it-- some days they want a heavy jig and others a lighter one. You have to figure that out through experimentation and experience.

 

That said, I throw three sizes of jigs: 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4. These cover all my needs, but 1/2 is my go-to weight. It works well for most everything I do.

[Catt]

You have already established a productive rhythm with your Texas Rig...why change it?

You have already estsblished a productive rate of fall with a 1/4 oz bullet weight...why change it?

This is where you want to start with the jig!

The most difficult part of jig fishing is feeling the bite, many will tell it aint like the bite you getvwith a Texas Rig but it is, do get that notion out of your head. But like a Texas rig those bumps, thumps, tics, & taps are the easy ones to detect it's the ones where the bass inhales your jig without any tell-tale sign or line movement. I say now it the time to bring forth all your expertise on feeling subtle bites stored away in your brain under Texas Rigs.

You will also hear "bass don't hold a jig long", don't be surprised when a 1 1/2 lb bass inhales your 1/2 oz jig without any tell-tale line movement and proceeds to sit there until you apply to much pressure at which time they spit it.

The art of feeling a worm/jig bite is a fine combination of watching your line and feeling for unnatural sensations of what your lure shouldn't feel like.

[BannedForSpamming-1234555]

Many different things. If its windy, you're fishing deep, or flipping into heavy cover and need weight to get down, use a heavy jig. If it isn't windy, you're fishing shallow, and fishing "normal" cover, go a little lighter. Weight effects fall speed which can effect how the fish bite it-- some days they want a heavy jig and others a lighter one. You have to figure that out through experimentation and experience.

 

That said, I throw three sizes of jigs: 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4. These cover all my needs, but 1/2 is my go-to weight. It works well for most everything I do.

 

Thanks bro

 

And thanks to all who have contributed so far

[Fishes in trees]

You got 4 choices when you're jig fishing.   You can drag them, hop them, swim them or dead stick them.

Pick one.  If it doesn't work, try one of the others, or a combination.  If that doesn't work, try a different bait.

If that doesn't work, take a break, pop a top, chill, practice jumping out of the boat, or something else.

[Catt]

Or you can stroke em!

[Siebert Outdoors]

Catt pretty much summed it up. I personally fish a jig and t rig exactly the same in most instances. I use mostly short hops and drags depending on bottom contour. To me fishing a jig is all about feel. Watch a crayfish move across the bottom and replicate this movement.

[ABW]

How do you determine how heavy of a jig to use?

 

Shallow water (around 10' or less) then I use a 3/8 or 1/4 oz