Jigs in grass

[HeavyDluxe]

So, as I've made abundantly clear elsewhere, my main confidence is in soft plastics.  But, I have long wanted to spend more time focusing on jig fishing, and this week's stay on Lake Bomoseen has afforded me that chance.

It's also generated a question... For the most part, I'm bank fishing this week. The rocky shallows near the dock at our house gives way so some nice, thick grass flats, and, beyond that, deeper rocks.  I've some REALLY nice largemouth on the jig out of the grass - casting out to the weedless depths and dragging/twitching back in.  

However, I'm obviously mowing the lawn, so to speak, a fair amount of time... And that got me wondering. How do you work a jig through grass in order to minimally snag on the growth?  I imagine that, to some degree, there's nothing you can do about it. It's the cost of putting the jig where the fish are.  But, if I can learn some trick that will give me even 5-10% more time in the zone without getting wrapped in the growth, I know it will amount to more fish.

I seem to recall Glenn posting a video some time ago where he advocated for 'snap-snapping' the jig sharply when it was caught in the grass.  So far, that hasn't seemed all that effective here - perhaps due to the longer cast and low angle the line takes to the jig.

 

(And, for the gearheads like me:  3/8oz Siebert Brush jig in his bluegill color with a GYCB Flappin Hog in Green Pumpkin has been the hot bait.  I finally broke that off, so I switched to version of the same jig with a craw color skirt.  So far, it's slowed down.  But, I think that's the bite and not the color.)

[Catt]

 

Most anglers try forcing a jig through grass which is all wrong, you gotta finesse the jig through grass!

When you feel the jig starting to load up in the grass...stop. Release pressure, pull up until you feel heaviness again but apply slightly more pressure, then release, continue until the jig breaks free. You want the motion to be similar to & as fast as working a shaky head, you're just applying more pressure.

[crypt]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Most anglers try forcing a jig through grass which is all wrong, you gotta finesse the jig through grass!

When you feel the jig starting to load up in the grass...stop. Release pressure, pull up until you feel heaviness again but apply slightly more pressure, then release, continue until the jig breaks free. You want the motion to be similar to & as fast as working a shaky head, you're just applying more pressure.

see above,that is the best explanation I have ever seen about using jigs in grass.

[Senko lover]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Most anglers try forcing a jig through grass which is all wrong, you gotta finesse the jig through grass!

When you feel the jig starting to load up in the grass...stop. Release pressure, pull up until you feel heaviness again but apply slightly more pressure, then release, continue until the jig breaks free. You want the motion to be similar to & as fast as working a shaky head, you're just applying more pressure.

Wanted to take the time to thank you for sharing that; I ain't never fished a jig in grass but I guarantee I would have done it completely wrong without your counsel.

[Catt]

@crypt & @Senko lover

Don't thank me I learned from Tommy Martin!

[MassYak85]

I really like the All Terrain Tackle Grassmaster Jig. Comes through grass better than any other jig I've tried. With that one I can just pop the rod a little and it will come out clean, but with other ones that may tend to get hung up a little more, @Catt post should help you out. A lot of times it's better to just slowly work through the grass or weeds and it will kind of naturally wiggle it's way through.