Advice About Jigging

[OklahomaJohn]

I am in the process of learning various techniques and would like more information on Bass jigging.specifically, jig size and color selection,and also advice on fishing my favorite private pond here in Oklahoma.I have a 3 acre pond, with a max depth of approx.50 feet(gravel pit pond),water is clear with the typical green algae as the summer months approach, lots of sunken trees about 20 feet off the ponds edge. I have caught Bass ranging from 1/2 to 11.14 pounds over the last 2 years. The largest was caught on a chartreuse Malibu jig 5 feet below a weighted float. I'm not sure exactly how that all came about but, it made for a nice day, even if luck were involved. I would like to try jigging this year, to see if I can catch an even larger Bass, I have a feeling there are bigger in there. To add to the excitement, I am also catching bluegill ranging from 1 to 2 1/2 pounds with the same skirted spinners and lizards that I catch the Bass with..I do not claim to be a pro or even advanced in my fishing knowledge,but, I know a honey hole when I find it.

[bassinnoobie]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12403-jig-fishing-questions/

Here you go read up.

[OklahomaJohn]

That's a good read, thank you!

[Preytorien]

I'm new to jig fishing too, and not very good at it. If I could sum it up, albeit somewhat comically, it's these points.....

 

1. You can't fish it wrong

 

2. Really any color might work, in the right conditions

 

3. Fish it just about anywhere, it'll probably work 

 

4. Use a trailer, or don't - it should work either way

 

Knowing all those vague, yet inconclusive points, I still haven't had much luck with them, even in places that "should produce" with jigs. But hey, I keep trying because of the success stories I see from other guys who've figured it out

[OklahomaJohn]

I tried jigging with a chartreuse Malibu jig yesterday,simply because its all I had, and I managed to catch two very small bass.I have predominately had luck with Biffle bugs, zoom frogs,and zoom lizards(particularly the junebug color,I highly recommend it).If I never master jigging,I guess I can't complain, I have a sweet location that has remained private for 25 years.

[OklahomaJohn]

I will pick up a few jigs today at Gander, along with some Uncle Josh pork trailers, just to see what happens.I will never see success unless I strive for it I guess.

[Preytorien]

Also check out one of the site sponsors, Siebert Outdoors. Mike makes absolutely gorgeous jigs and impeccably made. He can make virtually any color combination you'd like or select the wide variety he has on his site. 

 

I have about 25 of his jigs and in addition to being gorgeous, they are very very durable, I bang them along rip rap quite a bit and no chipping of the head yet. They're awesome.

 

http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/

[Ben Eipert]

When wishing around trees and brush I go with a 3/8 to a 1/2 jig. I like bulky trailers so that it slows the fall. You can never fish them too slow. I have caught them with the jig just sitting there untangling line. Also don't be afraid to go with ones as light as 3/16 for heavy cover. Sometimes they love it when they just sink really slow through there. The hard part is getting the fish out though.

[YourBassIsGrass]

When wishing around trees and brush 

 

I know you meant fishing, but wishing is sometimes needed

[roadwarrior]

I never fish a jig without a trailer. My #1 recommendation is the

Rage Tail Craw.

 

 

 

 

[andrew_t_moran]

I never fish a jig without a trailer. My #1 recommendation is the

Rage Tail Craw.

Amen to RoadWarrior. The RageTail Craw is king.

I devoted last year to learning a jig and man, had it paid off. If you get confident in a jig, you'll probably find your average weight of fish go way up.

[Senko lover]

I recently discovered the magic of jigs and rarely fish without using one sometime during the day. That's saying something, because I really love to fish soft plastics and I only have two rods.

Here's some things that I have learned:

 

1. You will never catch a fish on a jig if you don't throw it.
2. You will up your catch ratio if you use a trailer
3. Don't get stuck in a rut working it. Swim it. Hop it. Drag it. Find what the fish want.
4. Colors are pretty. But the only two you "need" (!) are Green Pumpkin and Black/Blue. Try a GP/Blue for the best of both worlds.
5. Trailer options are endless! Find one or two you like and stick with them.
6. Little fish will eat them too .
7. But the bigger fish will usually get to them first.
8. Unless you fish very heavy cover, you don't have to get a H rod. I use a MH with 12 lb. mono and have no problems with hooking or fighting the fish.
9. The jig is an awesome bait for pitching and flipping. Very compact.
10. There's no wrong situation for a jig. They excel in almost any scenario.
    
    Once more: get out there and fish with it. You won't be disappointed.                      

[WRB]

What type of tackle are you usung? Rod model, reel and line type/lb test.

You use lizards. Texas rigged?

Tom

[OklahomaJohn]

I have a Berkley Cherrywood 7' medium action rod,a Zebco Quanton SS3 reel,and powerpro 20 lb test line.I have recently started using Junebug lizards,biffle bugs and rattle n' crawls. I tried a jig and crawl combo yesterday made by Justice Jig, that did surprisingly well, but I have not caught anything over 2 lbs.The biggest issue is that the ponds depth and my inability to use a boat to fish it.I must resort to bank fishing only.

[everythingthatswims]

Baby boo jig is a good starter jig. It's small, and works well for flipping light cover, dragging or hopping it, and it also makes a decent swim jig. Good bait to experiment with, all sizes of bass will eat it, and you don't need a jig rod with heavy line to set the hook.

[WRB]

OK, a spinning rod-reel combo with 20 lb braid. You able to detect strikes from bass and apparently get a hook set. Most bass jigs have heavy wire hooks designed for heavy cover applications and a fiber weed guard, difficult to fish effectively with the spinning outfit you are using, Since you are having success it works for you.

Learning to fish jigs I usually advise starting with a plain black Yamamoto 3/8 oz football head jig with Owner ot Gamakatsu hook, wire weedguards and use a 4" #330 twin Hula grub. 4 jigs are about $4, bag of 10 Hula grubs about $5. This jig has a smaller dia wire 4/0 hook, the wire style weedguard works good in light cover and doesn't get in the way of hook sets. Good combo for clear water pits.

If you can get a medium heavy spinning rod, it will help fishing both jigs and worms or creatures.

Good luck.

Tom

[Catt]

When it comes to jigs everyone has their personal repertoire of confusion!

You'll hear your reel will not work, your rod will not work, or that's the wrong jig.

With your setup a light wire hook would be the better choice.

Siebert makes awesome jigs, a Bitsy Bug Flip is a good beginner jig.

You have already caught bass on plastics, fish the jig the same way.

[*Hootie]

Wait a minute! You're catching 11# bass, and you're asking for advice? I advise you to give me directions to this pond....lol.

Hootie

[Ben Eipert]

Depth has nothing to do with fishing from the bank.The bass relate to structure and cover. Use a heavy bait to get it down or just walk around the pond until you find fish. Another thing you could do is use an inner tube. I wouldn't use a regular pool one but they can be found cheap and are not too bad new.

[OklahomaJohn]

I will check out the Baby Boo jig this morning, I found a few locations that carry them, its definitely worth trying out..

[OklahomaJohn]

I will check out the Baby Boo jig this morning, I found a few locations that carry them, its definitely worth trying out..

[WRB]

I will check out the Baby Boo jig this morning, I found a few locations that carry them, its definitely worth trying out..

you will need to scale down your trailer size, SK Bitsy bug craw or 101 UJ spin frog.

Tom