Jig fishing in wind or rain

[WestMichiganBass]

I've read multiple times that to be a sucessful jig fisherman you need to watch the line. What do you do when that's not possible when it's windy or rainy? Do you let it fall on a tight line? Or are these just not the time to fish a jig?

[Turtle135]

I always try to let the jig fall straight down on a slack line as that generates more bites on the drop for me.

I estimate that 75% of the strikes I get I feel either a "tick" or a preferably a "POW" travel up the line. I fish jigs on a baitcasting setup with heavy monofilament line. For the other 25% of the time I generally detect a different feel when I "weigh my jig". If the weather conditions are really crappy then most of my casts will be short (like 15 to 25 feet). I catch them at night on jigs when it is totally based on feel.

As to when is a good time to throw a jig I subscribe to the "always" theory! 

Good luck and keep throwing jigs.

[RichF]

I fish with a jig 80% of my time on the water.  I always let it fall on slack line even if under windy conditions.  I just throw a heavier jig.  It also helps to have a pretty sensitive rod since the wind will make it pretty difficult to feel what your bait is doing under the water.  That's what is really key. I agree that line watching is important but it doesn't compare to getting the "feel" down.  When you can feel what your bait is doing at all times and really distinguish between bites, grass, bottom composition, etc. then you'll really succeed as a jig fisherman. It won't matter if it's windy,  rainy, or slick calm out. 

[WestMichiganBass]

Thank you guys for the response. Some good information to consider. I've often been turned away from jig fishing in rough water because I can't watch my line on the initial fall but I'll have to not let the wind get the best of me 

 

[Choporoz]

Heavier jigs, high-viz line, concentration....I don't recall ever getting bit on a tight-line pendulum fall.  Watching is key, but I admit, I'm not the best of watchers; but even when windy, I try to see with my hands.  I feel as though I can feel a slack braid pick up as well as I can see subtle movements.....sometimes.   I wouldn't choose not to throw a jig simply because its windy

[scaleface]

I use clear blue fluorescent for my texas rig and jig fishing .  I have no trouble watching the line in those conditions .It disappears quickly in the stained waters I fish . 

[Raul]

Well, if you can´t see the line then to be a successful jig fisherman you got to feel the bait. 

[WestMichiganBass]

It's hard to feel a bait on slack line? I would say alot of places I fish have great water clarity so I like to fish mono/floro because I don't like messing with braid and leaders. 

[Catt]

I night fish a lot so I aint much of a line watcher!

Maintain contact with your jig at all times, allow the jig to free-fall unrestricted, but without letting slack form in the line; follow your jig down with your rod tip.

Once on the bottom feeling a jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but to the experienced jig fishermen it makes total sense.

[RichF]

1 hour ago, WestMichiganBass said:

It's hard to feel a bait on slack line? I would say alot of places I fish have great water clarity so I like to fish mono/floro because I don't like messing with braid and leaders. 

I'm from northern NY and most of the lakes I fish are super clear as well.  Don't let straight braid and clear water scare you.  My father and I have no problems catching them with it.  In fact, my father almost exclusively fishes jigs (and only big jigs) with straight braid just about anywhere and he always does well. 

[Raul]

1 hour ago, WestMichiganBass said:

It's hard to feel a bait on slack line? I would say alot of places I fish have great water clarity so I like to fish mono/floro because I don't like messing with braid and leaders. 

In windy conditions use heavier weights to compensate or eliminate the line drag caused by the wind.

[buzzed bait]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

I night fish a lot so I aint much of a line watcher!

Maintain contact with your jig at all times, allow the jig to free-fall unrestricted, but without letting slack form in the line; follow your jig down with your rod tip.

Once on the bottom feeling a jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but to the experienced jig fishermen it makes total sense.

 

7 hours ago, Raul said:

In windy conditions use heavier weights to compensate or eliminate the line drag caused by the wind.

these 2 guys know a little something....  i'm no pro with a jig, i'll admit that, but i know i'm getting better at it!  moving that weight up a little in the wind really helps me out A LOT.  

i just need to work a little on the slack, but not too slack line deal and i'll really be getting better at it...

[Airman4754]

10 hours ago, RichF said:

I fish with a jig 80% of my time on the water.  I always let it fall on slack line even if under windy conditions.  I just throw a heavier jig.  It also helps to have a pretty sensitive rod since the wind will make it pretty difficult to feel what your bait is doing under the water.  That's what is really key. I agree that line watching is important but it doesn't compare to getting the "feel" down.  When you can feel what your bait is doing at all times and really distinguish between bites, grass, bottom composition, etc. then you'll really succeed as a jig fisherman. It won't matter if it's windy,  rainy, or slick calm out. 

It's the same with Senkos and the Ned Rig. Usually your best water isn't calm so line watching isn't going to get you very far. 

[WestMichiganBass]

I went out today just to play around with a jig because it was windy and snowing just to see what it was like with the wind. Thw initial fall is challenging honestly. It will take practice to detect hits on the first fall. After that feeling a bite shouldn't be an issue.

[papajoe222]

It's tough to detect a bite watching your line when it's windy. I'm a line watcher and have been since I was a teenager. The youngsters I teach start out with hi-viz yellow braid so it's easy for them to see.  I use it for wacky worms, tubes, hair jigs and shakey heads as my eyes aren't what they used to be. It also helps with feeling the bite, so for us it's a win win.

[WRB]

Jig fishing in light rain or light wind is prime time for big bass to be active.

The ability to detect strikes is what separates a good jig fisherman from the average regardless of weather conditions day or night. You can't rely on any one sense, sight plays a roll along with feel and intuition of knowing what is going on with the jig at all times.

As Catt has recommended many times learn to jig or T-rig at night to develope all your senses, especially feel.

I grew up feeling my line as it comes off the reel using my index finger and thumb feeling for any changes in line tension, ticks, movement increased or lack of tension, weight or movement that alerts me a bass has my jig in it's mouth to get a hook set. Rods, reels and lines have improved over the past 60+ years of jig fishing, however hasn't improved over feeling line with the most sensitive strike indicator...your finger tips.

Tom

[frogflogger]

One way to get more sensitivity - which for me is the holy grail in jig fishing - is to replace your tip with a recoil guide tip top.

[WestMichiganBass]

A what? Never heard of one. I'll have to look it up 

[Catt]

Other considerations are

Sustained wind speeds

Are the winds 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, or above?

Dead calm & up to 10-12 mph my rod top will be around the 11 o'clock position, as the wind speed increases my rod top drops.

The higher the sustained wind speeds the less likely I am to cast cross wind opting for casting into the wind or with it.

What depth of water are we fishing; bank shallow out to 10', 10'-15', or deeper?

The deeper the water the more wind created current puts bow in your line below the surface.

Y'all thought ya was done!

[Catt]

Lost all but 2 of y'all that quick?

[scaleface]

45 minutes ago, Catt said:

Lost all but 2 of y'all that quick?

You didnt lose anybody .  

 

[Catt]

2 hours ago, scaleface said:

You didnt lose anybody .  

 

Sure got quite

[Bluebasser86]

15 hours ago, Catt said:

Sure got quite

got quite what? 

 

Wind is a way of life in the Midwest. I'll still catch my line jumping even in a stiff crosswind sometimes, but like Catt said, there's a fine balance where a good jig fisherman keeps his line where it's tight enough, but not too tight. 

I try to watch my line, but that's just a bonus if one hits it hard enough for the line to jump or grabs it and runs. A vast majority of my jig fish are caught because something just felt a little different. 

[Catt]

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

got quite what? 

 

Wind is a way of life in the Midwest. I'll still catch my line jumping even in a stiff crosswind sometimes, but like Catt said, there's a fine balance where a good jig fisherman keeps his line where it's tight enough, but not too tight. 

I try to watch my line, but that's just a bonus if one hits it hard enough for the line to jump or grabs it and runs. A vast majority of my jig fish are caught because something just felt a little different. 

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 too much pressure at which time they spit it!

[Smokinal]

I used to palm the reel until I read about the hold that Gary Klein uses; which is to hold the rod just above the reel and have the line run over the top of your index finger. This has made a big difference for me fishing jigs and worms. I feel the bite better and have a better hookset with it too; you have a little better leverage with your hand just an inch or two higher than it is at the reel and being able to feel the line is a great bonus. It's an odd feel at first but once you get used to it, palming the reel on a worm or jig just doesn't feel right now.