Having trouble fishing jigs

[caudburns11]

This year I've decided I'm gonna force myself to learn jigs but it has only resulted in frustration. I've been trying to practice different retrieves and I how to detect a bite but I don't have any luck. I know your supposed to watch your line but it feels like I wouldn't be able to tell because my line is always moving and shaking when I'm bouncing the jig off the bottom. I really want to learn how to fish jigs but I can't figure out how to detect bites

[papajoe222]

Glen did a video on learning how to detect bites with soft plastic baits and a jig bite is often very similar. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/feel-bite.html If you are familiar with fishing a T-rig, you should be able to detect a jig bite.

One suggestion:  slow down. If your line is always moving, you're fishing too fast.  Pause between hops, or after dragging the jig a short distance. Dragging it along the bottom, using the rod to do so, will transmit valuable information about the bottom and the presence of cover more than hopping it.

The majority of hits when fishing a jig occur on the initial fall. This is why it's the perfect presentation when flipping or pitching and why it's used more for 'target fishing' than say covering a flat with multiple casts.

Check out the pinned topic at the top of this forum. There is a bunch of great info in some of the responses.

[roadwarrior]

[smalljaw67]

I say this in all sincerity, fishing a jig is the easiest thing to do but the hardest to learn. When I was teaching my grandson how to fish a jig, we started with small jigs, I suggest something like the Strike King Bitsy Bug with the bitsy craw trailer. The reason they are hard to learn is that they aren't a numbers bait, they tend to get bit by larger fish on average and during a tough bite smaller fish that would bite a worm will often pass a jig by without as much as looking at it. Bites are going to be one of 3 distinct ways, the first is the "thump", that is the one we all like, there is no mistake on whether it was a bite as it just about rips the rod from your hands, these are the ones you get the least. The second type of bite is the "tap-tap"  this is one you get most of the time and there is no mistake, you will know when you get this type of bite. The 3rd type, and the one that is the hardest to detect, is the "extra weight" or "weeds" bite, you'll often get this type of strike when dead sticking (letting it sit still for a minute or so) a jig, you begin to move the jig slowly and it feels like it is bogged down with weeds of something else that feels "mushy", these are missed by the novice jig fisherman but once you catch that first fish on a jig, that is when it gets much easier. I remember when I started fishing a jig, it was with a 1/2oz Arkiy style jig and I remember thinking that the fish in my waters won't eat that since it is so big. I fished with it for a full day and nothing so the next day I decided to only make a few casts and then forget about it, and on my second cast I felt the "tap-tap" and I set the hook and it was my first largemouth on a jig and we didn't have hand held scales back then but we did have a tape measure and it was my first bass that was over 17", the fish went 20" and I was a jig fishing fool since, that was 1981 or 82.

[scaleface]

Try fishing a texas rig plastic worm instead . The bites feel the same and you should get more of them . The way I  detect strikes is to hold the rod in front of the reel and run the line between the index finger and thumb . Lift the bait off the bottom then let it fall straight down . Lower your rod tip at the same speed the lure is falling while keeping it semi tight .This ensures it is falling straight and keeps the line tight enough to feel the "tap".  Almost all hits occur when the bait is falling  .Watch the line where it enters the water. I use mono filament and when the lure hits bottom it will slacken up a little .  .Look for it to slightly  jump   ,move to the side , or maybe it   doesnt seem to find bottom , this would indicate a bass has it and swimming toward you . A lot of bites you just cant detect and it takes practice . When I'm raising the lure I know how it feels when nothing is on it . If I start to lift and it feels slightly heavier , like I'm caught on a leaf .I  set the hook . I call it weighing the line . If you think you might have had a bite , look closely at the worm . Bass will usually leave teeth marks on it . It will appear rough from their sandpaper like teeth . Fish jigs exactly the same way .

[Evan K]

I usually can't detect strikes. If I go to hop it again and feel a strong resistance I set the hook, which means a handful of ghost hooksets but also some pretty sweet fish.

[Gundog]

To me fishing a jig was a natural progression. I fished texas rigged plastic worms and the bite was similar. As was the fishing style. Pitch or flip it into lilypads/weeds and hop it slightly. To detect the bite I found holding the line as it comes out of the reel with your thumb and pointer finger helps feel really subtle bites.

[WRB]

There isn't any panacea lures in bass fishing and that includes jigs.

Bass jigs come in a wide variety of sizes and types, so what specific "jig" are you trying to learn to use?

Tom

[the reel ess]

I bought a Hvy stick just for frogs and jigs and told myself I was going to learn jigs or die trying. But jigs tend to get hung up a lot more than T rigs for me. I'm not a big fan of jigs for this reason as well as the bites don't feel as positive. I started fishing T rigged craws and got really good at it since I've always fished T rigged worms. I like the Berkley Chigger Craw, the Zoom Super Speed Craw and just bought some Zoom Z Craws. My biggest 5 fish came on the craw last year. I bought some heads that allow you to t-rig them that has a weight like a jig. Hopefully this becomes so much like jig fishing for me that I can just transition to a jig. 

The advice about starting smaller is good and I need to heed that myself.. I've found that the Hula Grub is a good smaller jig option as well. It'll pull more bites an help gain confidence. I need to buy some Bitsy Jigs and just practice, practice, practice until I have a feel for it. If you have a place where the fish are dumb and hungry at your disposal, take the jigs there.

[WRB]

Can't help you if you don't reply.

I will assume you are using a typical Arkie style bass jig with weed gaurd, 1/2 oz with a soft plastic craw trailer that 90% of the bass anglers fish with.

Your spinning tackle may have 8# test mono line and medium 6' to 6'6" length rod. 

This spinning outfit isn't a good combination to use for 1/2 oz jigs or T- rigged with heavy wire worm hooks.

1. Use 1/8 to 3/16 oz ball head, plain no weed guard with Yamamoto Hula grub 4" twin tail trailer. This is a finesse jig presentation that Glenn has a vedio showing how to use it and a good choice for your spinning outfit.

2. Strike detection is an art with jigs and most anglers miss a high percentage of strikes and detect the strike when the bass eats the jig moving off with it.

Tom

[MickD]

If you are not already doing so, try using braid, about 10-15 in open water, 15-20 in heavy weeds, with a flourocarbon leader (15-20 pound, a couple feet long at least).  Make sure you have a good, sensitive rod.  If you're using something like an old Ugly Stick, you could be bitten by a pickup truck and not feel it.  With the right equipment, just keep trying and it will come.  With the wrong equipment, it may never come.

[Comfortably Numb]

Shallow spring fishing is a good time to learn the bass jig for me. Stick to lighter jigs (since more shallow). 1/4 oz. They wont get hung up on bottom as much. Cut the skirt down a lil and use a Baby Rage craw. Medium or MH rod max. 20# braid and a 12-15# flouro leader should feel the bite.

[ClackerBuzz]

tried fishing a jig one year and didn't catch a thing so i gave up.  decided to pull them out again the following season.  nothing again until i stopped 'fishing' it to check my cell and text a few people. picked up my rod again and got slammed.  the jig fishing light bulb went off.  if ur not catching any fish on a jig it's b/c ur fishing it too fast.

[dman]

On 4/21/2016 at 3:31 PM, the reel ess said:

I bought some heads that allow you to t-rig them that has a weight like a jig. Hopefully this becomes so much like jig fishing for me that I can just transition to a jig. 

Who makes these? I'd like to try them

[Wbeadlescomb]

It's just a confidence thing. If I'm throwing a bottom bait it's going to be a jig. The only way I use a Texas rig anymore is flipping or pitching

[A-Jay]

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 4:50 PM, caudburns11 said:

This year I've decided I'm gonna force myself to learn jigs but it has only resulted in frustration. I've been trying to practice different retrieves and I how to detect a bite but I don't have any luck. I know your supposed to watch your line but it feels like I wouldn't be able to tell because my line is always moving and shaking when I'm bouncing the jig off the bottom. I really want to learn how to fish jigs but I can't figure out how to detect bites

Kindly tell us this; which baits &/or presentations do you feel most confident in  and why ?

This may help the BR jig fishing membership to formulate a way for you to get better.

A no response here would indicate that you're no longer interested in learning.

We'll be standing by.

A-Jay

[the reel ess]

7 hours ago, dman said:

Who makes these? I'd like to try them

Big Bite Baits. Got 'em at Academy.

[Further North]

Glenn's video is perfect...especially the part about fishing shallow for smaller fish exclusively for a while.

I'd also recommend fishing a jig in really clear water so you can sight fish...when you see the bass pick up the jig and connect it to what you're feeling, you'll learn faster.

[Catt]

There is only one way to learn jigs...throw em!

 

[Catt]

The art of feeling a worm/jig bite is a fine combination of watching your line and feeling for unnatural sensations of what your bait shouldn't feel like. Some times you will feel that classic Tap, some times you'll only see line movement, some times your line will simply go slack, but some times there will only be a feeling of heaviness that is almost like your line will not move. The bites where the bass moves after inhaling you bait are the easy ones to feel because there is line movement, the bites where the bass simply inhales your bait and just sits there are the hardest to feel. Feeling a worm/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 the worm/jig angler it makes total sense. 

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

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 6 feet of water and the lure suddenly stops at the 3 depth, it's possible a bass has taken the bait. If you're fishing 3 feet of water and 6 feet of line sinks beneath the mat, chances are good a bass is traveling with the bait. This is extremely true on the initial drop and no line movement maybe noticed.

Strikes will sometimes so subtle with no line movement that they can go unnoticed if you feel is a spongy sensation, as if the line suddenly got heavy set the hook. 

The hook set is the only part of this sport that is still free so when in doubt drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook.

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

The art of feeling a worm/jig bite is a fine combination of watching your line and feeling for unnatural sensations of what your bait shouldn't feel like. Some times you will feel that classic Tap, some times you'll only see line movement, some times your line will simply go slack, but some times there will only be a feeling of heaviness that is almost like your line will not move. The bites where the bass moves after inhaling you bait are the easy ones to feel because there is line movement, the bites where the bass simply inhales your bait and just sits there are the hardest to feel. Feeling a worm/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 the worm/jig angler it makes total sense. 

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

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 6 feet of water and the lure suddenly stops at the 3 depth, it's possible a bass has taken the bait. If you're fishing 3 feet of water and 6 feet of line sinks beneath the mat, chances are good a bass is traveling with the bait. This is extremely true on the initial drop and no line movement maybe noticed.

Strikes will sometimes so subtle with no line movement that they can go unnoticed if you feel is a spongy sensation, as if the line suddenly got heavy set the hook. 

The hook set is the only part of this sport that is still free so when in doubt drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook.

Well Said Catt.

"Feeling a worm/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 the worm/jig angler it makes total sense."

Took me a while to understand what the above underlined passage really meant and even longer to be able to create it with rod & reel in hand, but for me it is the very essences of fishing not only jigs but most any bottom contact bait.

A-Jay

 

[J Francho]

43 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Feeling a worm/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.

Yep, especially important when using braid.  Braid transmits even less information on a semi slack line than mono, copoly, or fluoro.  Tip watchers will be oblivious to bites that a line watcher will pick up on.

[Catt]

Those bumps, thumps, tics, & taps are easy to detect, so are the ones where ya see line movement.

It's the ones where the bass inhales your jig without any tell-tale signs or movement & proceeds to sit there until you apply to much pressure at which time they spit it.

Keeping a certain amount of tension while keeping a certain amount to slackness will "clue" you in on two bites.

If you jig/t-rig is sitting still & your line gets tighter or your line gets slacker odds are you've had a bass pick up your lure!

A-Jay & I have said it 100,000 times...try night fishing!

[J Francho]

4 minutes ago, Catt said:

It's the ones where the bass inhales your jig without any tell-tale signs or movement & proceeds to sit there until you apply to much pressure at which time they spit it.

Once I visually witness a bass violently take my jig on the drop, and noticed only a tiny bit of movement in my line, and no sensation of a bite, did this point get driven home.  I did catch the fish...barely.

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, Catt said:

Those bumps, thumps, tics, & taps are easy to detect, so are the ones where ya see line movement.

It's the ones where the bass inhales your jig without any tell-tale signs or movement & proceeds to sit there until you apply to much pressure at which time they spit it.

Keeping a certain amount of tension while keeping a certain amount to slackness will "clue" you in on two bites.

If you jig/t-rig is sitting still & your line gets tighter or your line gets slacker odds are you've had a bass pick up your lure!

A-Jay & I have said it 100,000 times...try night fishing!

Game.  Changer.

However casting into the Black Horizon-less Abyss ~ That's a whole different animal.

A-Jay