Another Jig comment, 2016 commitment

[Tom18xs]

I see so many people list jigs as their goto lure for catching bass.   Me,  it's my weakest or least confidence presentation to catch bass.   For some reason I can go half day and not catch a fish on a crankbait but yet maintain same level confidence the next time out.  Also,  I have caught multiple 5 plus pound fish on a jigs.  However, when it's in my hand I feel like I'm wasting my time.  I think I have figured out what my problem is.  I need to be cognitive to pitching to  targets like I do with a crankbait (Lay-downs) and visualize a fish in that area and how I need to work the jig to attract a bite.   Reality, I get cast dumb with a jig.   Like I zone out.   Maybe it's me more being A.D.D. and lacking patience.  Regardless,  I have made 2016 new year resolution.   I'm going to commit more time using a jig on cover,  work it throughly and do it WITH A PLAN.    Next time out I when I see targets like lay-downs and brush piles I'm going to pitch a jig and work  the cover throughly and let the fish tell me I need to start using a crankbait.    It's a conditional approach I need to change.  Anyway, I think I'm on the right track and will be using a jig in this fashion the next time out.    At least this is my 2016 plan and I'm sticking to it.    Also, In general rattles or no rattles?  

If you have additional suggestions please share.

[Bruce424]

Maybe you have KVD syndrome? Ya need things to keep moving. Haha 

[WRB]

Sometimes it's important to settle down into a pace that allows you to fish slower moving bottom contact lures like a most jig presentations. If you like to fish faster use a Scrounger jig. Concentration is extremely important fishing jigs, bass rarely hook themselves like they do with treble hook lures.

Tom

[Evan K]

Jigs are a weakness for me too, and I'd like to gain some confidence with them as well. My biggest problem with jigs and lures in general is getting a sense for their depth. For some reason it's really hard for me to tell, possibly because I fish ponds with year-long thick hydrilla, and it can be difficult to tell if you're dragging along a bottom or just hung up in a giant submerged hydra bed, 4 feet up.

Best of luck!

[atcoha]

I'm in the same boat. Don't catch many dragging a jig, I do on swim jigs. I am putting more effort into bottom jigs this year too.

Good luck.

[smalljaw67]

A jig is the easiest lure to fish but the hardest to learn. The reason is due to the fact it is not a numbers bait, you may be able to catch 20 fish on a soft plastic in a day but only 8 to 12 on a jig but most of the time it appeals to larger fish. The best thing to do is to start with something like a Bitsy Bug jig, something in the 3/16oz to 1/4oz that will get bit more as it appeals to a wider range of fish sizes. Good luck on getting better with a jig.

[Jake the Cake]

Agreed.  I don't know if I'm a weak jig fisherman or if I just don't fish it enough or just don't have the patience.  It seems I can take a simple swim bait setup and bounce it off the bottom with better results.  My 2016 resolution is also to slow down and really give the jig a try more this season.  I like the look of the Scrounger that WRB mentioned.  Never fished one but I'll be giving it a shot.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Do you fish a Texas rig any?  Its basically fishing the same thing if your fishing it across the bottom.   Dragging, Glidding, hopping are some of my best techniques I use. 

There is nothing wrong with having a few rods next to you with different baits on them and switching.  I do it all the time.  Typically I have a jig, shaky head, crankbait or spinnerbait tied on and laying on the deck.  Those baits will vary with time of year.   Anyway, I will regularly pull up on a brush pile or some other type of structure and throw all of those baits at it.  I might start by running a spinnerbait along the outside then move to fishing into the pile with a jig.  Fishing a certain lure constantly with no bites is just dull and boring.  This will also keep you from finding a pattern.

[WIGuide]

I also tend to struggle with a jig. I've caught a few fish on them, and have been in the boat a few times when someone was doing well with them, but I haven't seemed to be able to mast it. Part of it is I don't have as much confidence in it as I do soft plastics. I seem to get bit way more on them even on the same spots. I need to get better with it in 2016 though and plan to. 

[Tom18xs]

4 hours ago, Siebert Outdoors said:

Do you fish a Texas rig any?  Its basically fishing the same thing if your fishing it across the bottom.   Dragging, Glidding, hopping are some of my best techniques I use. 

I have no issues with a Texas rig at all.   I can't explain it but in my mind there is a difference.  To those that have jig confidence I tip my cap to you.    I have that same feeling with every other presentation but the jig.  However,   I might do me good to go the lake next time out and rig 3-4 jig rods in different sizes and colors and commit a whole day.   It won't be easy but I might have to force myself to do this.  This is purely a mindset issue within.  

 

Might be good for those with confidence to share prime areas you use jigs to catch fish consistently.  What do you target?  How much success do you have casting open water.  If you fish open water is there is specific style jig head?  What types of trailers?  Also, Is there a type of water you do not fish not suitable for a jig. 

[Senko lover]

Fish a swim jig! I catch a lot of my fish swimming my jigs.

[Tom18xs]

I have complete confidence swimming jig.  Respectfully, to me a swim jig is closer to a spinnerbait then a jig.

[Sam]

Tom, so what is a jig supposed to represent?

A crawfish, as you know.

So have your jig act like a crawfish.

Study how crawfish in the waters you fish act, especially when bass stroll around and start looking at it.

Then mimic what the crawfish do.

[Catt]

Despite its pure awesomeness one must keep in mind there will be days when the bass simply do not want a jig.

Do not be fooled into thinking a jig is only for flipping & pitching, they are very productive when casting.

Do not be fooled into thinking jigs are only for fishing slow, they are highly productive when fished fast.

[Catt]

Prime areas you use jigs to catch fish consistently?

The exact same areas I use Texas rigs, Carolina rig, Wacky rigs, or any other rig including spinner baits & cranks baits.

What do you target?

Structure & cover on structure; points, humps, ridges, drains; grass, brush, rock, & timber.

How much success do you have casting in open water?

I catch better quality fishing deep structure.

If you fish open water is there a specific style jig head?

Nope! Down here you'll see everything from finesse heads in timber to football heads in grass.

What type trailer?

Every piece of plastic known to man!

Is there a type of water you do not find suitable for a jig?

No such thing!

[WRB]

I will go against the trend and say a sliding weight Texas rigged worm 7" to 10" long is easier for me to detect strikes with then a 4" to 5" jig with a trailer at times. Hook setting is also easier for me with T-rigged worms because the bass tends to hold onto a mouth full of plastic longer than a jig most of the time. Jigs require very close attention to what is going on with it to detect those subtle strikes like a "nothing" strike where the jigs feels like it was cut off the line..nothing there when a bass just engulfed it and will reject in an instant! With worms the bass tends to eat it longer.

I also agree with everything Catt just posted, he has learned from years of experience what both worm and jig strike feel like from trail and error ...same as I have and we miss very few strikes most of the time. The bigger the bass is the harder it is to detect strikes because of the size of their big mouths!

Tom

 

[Tom18xs]

There are some wonderful and insightful comments.  I am humbled by those that really are trying to help.  I will be adding this thread to my favorites and reference these comments to formalize my mental impressions fishing a jig.  Great stuff guys!

[Tom18xs]

On January 12, 2016 at 8:37 PM, Sam said:

Tom, so what is a jig supposed to represent?

A crawfish, as you know.

So have your jig act like a crawfish.

Study how crawfish in the waters you fish act, especially when bass stroll around and start looking at it.

Then mimic what the crawfish do.

Viewed some Youtube crawfish seminars as a follow up to your insightful comments.    I now know there are two types of crawfish types to target bass.  Those that live in rocks or rip rap environment and those that burrow in the mud.  For those that burrow in the mud I know their colors relate to the soil color they burrow into.  So most likely either black or red based soil colors.  For those that live in rocky environment more brown, greens and oranges due to eating plankton off rocks.  So colors I understand.   My curiosity is this.   Respective to these two types of crawfish do they behave and move around differently?  Just curious as I think about respective retrieves.  Especially since pre-spawn is month away for those that fish in the south.    I will say when I have had success it's been in the fall.   Just some advancing thought.

[Catt]

Tom-8xs there are 350 species of crawfish in the USA!

WRB ya don't think a 2 lb bass could easily hold a 1 oz jig?

Don't be surprised when a 2 lb bass inhales your 1 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!

Just think what a 6 lb plus bass is capable of!

[WRB]

A 2 lb bass is more than likely a young adult, unless it's a older male, and just learning to target larger size crawdads. Most of the time when a young adult bass hits a jig it runs off with it regardless if it is 3/8 oz or 1 oz and definitely a mouth full, shouldn't be missing that type of strike.

Catt is right, there are hundreds of crawdad species. California only has 1native crawdad, all the others have be imported, mostly from Louisiana or Alabama along with the bass from Minnisota ( northern strain) and Florida ( Florida strain). The NLMB are very aggressive jig strikers, the FLMB very subtle jig strikes as a rule becuase they are bigger bass that can easily gulf a 2 lb trout or bass, a 1/2 oz 5" jig is very small in comparison.

There was a period of time during the 70's when western bass anglers believed that FLMB wouldn't strike a artificial lures, then hand poured worms started catching these bass. To this day few western bass anglers use jigs, most prefer worms and I am  exception and prefer jigs.

Tom

[Catt]

There is a 50/50 chance a 2 lb bass is either male or female and they are born with the instinct to eat anything that will fit in their mouth.

In water (10'+) it's not difficult for a 2 lb bass to stop a 1 oz jig before it hits bottom. Pay close attention to the depth you're fishing, any sudden change in the amount of line you're using could mean you've been bit. For instance, if you're fishing 10' and the jig suddenly stops at 6' it's possible a bass has taken the jig. If you're fishing 3' and 6' of line sinks chances are good a bass is traveling with the jig. This is extremely true on the initial drop & no line movement maybe noticed.

When I'm working a jig in an area without much cover & it suddenly stops like it's hung on something that something is usually a bass.

These are the bites 95% of anglers miss!

[Mike L]

This thread should be required reading for anyone new to jig fishing...Just my opinion 

 

Mike 

 

[WRB]

57 minutes ago, Catt said:

There is a 50/50 chance a 2 lb bass is either male or female and they are born with the instinct to eat anything that will fit in their mouth.

In water (10'+) it's not difficult for a 2 lb bass to stop a 1 oz jig before it hits bottom. Pay close attention to the depth you're fishing, any sudden change in the amount of line you're using could mean you've been bit. For instance, if you're fishing 10' and the jig suddenly stops at 6' it's possible a bass has taken the jig. If you're fishing 3' and 6' of line sinks chances are good a bass is traveling with the jig. This is extremely true on the initial drop & no line movement maybe noticed.

When I'm working a jig in an area without much cover & it suddenly stops like it's hung on something that something is usually a bass.

These are the bites 95% of anglers miss!

Agree, most bass anglers do not detect a high percentage of jig strikes and the bigger the bass is the more difficult strike detection is. There are a few old sayings; bass don't have hands, swings are free and rocks don't move both apply to jig fishing. 

Tom

[BrownBear]

I like to fish with a jig, but 9 times out of 10 I end up losing the jig and move on to something else....lol.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, BrownBear said:

I like to fish with a jig, but 9 times out of 10 I end up losing the jig and move on to something else....lol.

Perhaps something like this could be an option for you.  It's easy to rig, comes through just about anything and best part is -

It catches Bass.

A-Jay