Jig Fishing

[Robert Hergan]

I've never had much success at all with Bass Jig fishing (football head, swim jig, finesse jig) and I've been wanting to start getting big into it due to the fact that it's a quality fish catcher, as well as a numbers producer. I own many jigs already (black/blue, green pumpkin, etc. all football jigs), therefore I'm just asking for some inside tips to catch more fish on them! Was just asking for some tips and tricks in throwing and flipping jigs to successfully catch Bass. Thanks!

[Troy85]

I'm no jig expert, but I'm always more successful fishing my jig around wood cover rather than grass. 

 

Also,check out this link.  The 4th post is a really good get started guide.  I'm sure the entire post has great information, I just haven't made it all the way thru it yet.

 

[Robert Hergan]

@Troy1985s Funny thing I was just reading that! It helped a ton! Thanks!

[A-Jay]

51 minutes ago, Troy1985s said:

I'm no jig expert, but I'm always more successful fishing my jig around wood cover rather than grass. 

 

Also,check out this link.  The 4th post is a really good get started guide.  I'm sure the entire post has great information, I just haven't made it all the way thru it yet.

 

Perfect - beat me to it.

This post is solid and that whole thread is "Gold".

A-Jay

[Troy85]

Yeah, Its a really good thread.  I've been slowly making my way thru it the past few weeks.

[Robert Hergan]

@A-Jay That's great! Thanks a ton! I'll be reading up on it even closer to the time the season comes as review!

[A-Jay]

38 minutes ago, Robert Hergan said:

@A-Jay That's great! Thanks a ton! I'll be reading up on it even closer to the time the season comes as review!

~ Sure thing.

One small tidbit I'll offer you on presenting a jig is; 

With the exception of 'swimming a jig' which is different than most other 'jig' presentations because it's more of a horizontal deal rather than vertical - when retrieving the bait or working it back to you (either from a boat or the bank),

while there's almost no wrong way to do it as long as it is slow - try to imagine that you're attempting to get the bait back WITHOUT the bass knowing it's there.  Meaning slow, with plenty of pauses, feeling as much of the bottom and whatever cover you're bringing the bait back over, under & or through.  There's nothing wrong with big hops and snapping it well up off the bottom.  That works really well many times, but so does just sneaking it along.  There's little chance the fish do not know it's there, if they are - they know.  It's their world and little happens it in that goes totally unnoticed.  btw- one or two small rattles incorporated into the skirt of the jig can be an effective addition. 

Good Luck

A-Jay 

[Robert Hergan]

@A-Jay That's great! Thanks a ton! I'll be reading up on it even closer to the time the season comes as review! Thanks again! What exact setup do you throw your jigs on?

[Vinjints]

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

try to imagine that you're attempting to get the bait back WITHOUT the bass knowing it's there.

Had not heard this one before, but that seems to paint a good picture.  I went back yesterday and read the entire 20 page thread on jigging.

[Robert Hergan]

@Vinjints Crazy man! Love the dedication! It certainly helps!

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, Robert Hergan said:

@A-Jay That's great! Thanks a ton! I'll be reading up on it even closer to the time the season comes as review! Thanks again! What exact setup do you throw your jigs on?

Robert that's a seriously Loaded question - Because the only real correct answer there is -

It Depends.

 Do some more reading and see what you can come up with - you'll need to know how, where & when you plan on fishing the jig, as these factors (along with a few more) will determine what type/kind of gear will most likely work best for you.

 

What you're going to find is that it can & does vary wildly based on the above along with just plain old personal preference. 

 

A-Jay

[Robert Hergan]

@A-Jay Thanks! I certainly will be looking into it! Thanks for all the information!

[WRB]

Search the site for "Old School Horizontal Jigging".

Tom

[Robert Hergan]

Just now, WRB said:

Search the site for "Old School Horizontal Jigging".

Tom

Thanks! Certainly will try it!

[Fish the Mitt]

The only thing I'll add; as everything posted is tremendous, is in reference to the jigs you state you already own (all football head style) and your reference to flipping these jigs. Now this information is likely in the threads already shared, but I will make my personal point anyway.

 

Understanding why you throw a jig, when you throw it, where, and how is a great step in understanding jig fishing. It's also important to understand the various types of jigs so you can pair the knowledge you've learned with the what, where, when, and why with the accurate jig and presentation.

 

Not all anglers utilize or believe in the different jig styles in reference to their reported and manufactured "purpose" -and that's ok. You can certainly flip a football style or structure jig into heavy cover. You can certainly drag a flipping jig or arkie head style across the bottom and over objects. You could certainly hop and drag a swimjig up a rocky slope.

 

However, certain styles of jigs are better for certain applications (IMO). There is; or was at one point, a reason jig heads are shaped differently. A football style head or structure jig is generally meant to drag across harder bottom, while staying upright with the ability to be dragged up and over objects. Flipping jigs generally come with a more arkie, or streamlined, head for penetrating heavier cover without hangups. Swimjig heads are more horizontal with the hook shank and are meant to be swam. Casting jigs, finesse jigs, etc.. all have a reported purpose.

 

It is up to you on whether you utilize or believe in this, but I at least wanted to make you aware. Because for me, I would certainly not be using a Football style jig to flip into heavy cover. I would however utilize that style to speed drag across a sand bottom and up a bank or slope. 

*Disclaimer: I had great success burning a 2kJigs Dock Monkey (flip and skip jig) with a Netbait Paca Chunk last year. In theory, this setup wasn't meant to burn back, and I attribute most of that success to the Paca Chunk action. But this goes to show that anything is possible. So in no way is there a perfect way. Practice to discover what you like, and what works for you and the areas you fish. 

 

 

[Robert Hergan]

5 minutes ago, SemperBass said:

The only thing I'll add; as everything posted is tremendous, is in reference to the jigs you state you already own (all football head style) and your reference to flipping these jigs. Now this information is likely in the threads already shared, but I will make my personal point anyway.

 

Understanding why you throw a jig, when you throw it, where, and how is a great step in understanding jig fishing. It's also important to understand the various types of jigs so you can pair the knowledge you've learned with the what, where, when, and why with the accurate jig and presentation.

 

Not all anglers utilize or believe in the different jig styles in reference to their reported and manufactured "purpose" -and that's ok. You can certainly flip a football style or structure jig into heavy cover. You can certainly drag a flipping jig or arkie head style across the bottom and over objects. You could certainly hop and drag a swimjig up a rocky slope.

 

However, certain styles of jigs are better for certain applications (IMO). There is; or was at one point, a reason jig heads are shaped differently. A football style head or structure jig is generally meant to drag across harder bottom, while staying upright with the ability to be dragged up and over objects. Flipping jigs generally come with a more arkie, or streamlined, head for penetrating heavier cover without hangups. Swimjig heads are more horizontal with the hook shank and are meant to be swam. Casting jigs, finesse jigs, etc.. all have a reported purpose.

 

It is up to you on whether you utilize or believe in this, but I at least wanted to make you aware. Because for me, I would certainly not be using a Football style jig to flip into heavy cover. I would however utilize that style to speed drag across a sand bottom and up a bank or slope. 

*Disclaimer: I had great success burning a 2kJigs Dock Monkey (flip and skip jig) with a Netbait Paca Chunk last year. In theory, this setup wasn't meant to burn back, and I attribute most of that success to the Paca Chunk action. But this goes to show that anything is possible. So in no way is there a perfect way. Practice to discover what you like, and what works for you and the areas you fish. 

 

 

Great content, and thanks a ton! I fish rocky bottomed creeks/rivers, rocky bottomed lakes, as well as muddy bottomed ponds. So for me, I've only felt the need to have football jigs. But, I would like to throw a different jig for spots with heavier cover. What would you recommend for that? 

[Owen_007]

Flip it into visual cover or cast by visual cover and just drag and move it with the rod and reel up the slack and repeat. Make sure your always on the bottom or near it. Once you catch one fish on the jig the second will come easier and so on. Like all things in fishing you can read a book on a topic but until your actually doing it you can only learn so much. Don't over complicate it! ??

[Robert Hergan]

10 minutes ago, Owen_007 said:

Flip it into visual cover or cast by visual cover and just drag and move it with the rod and reel up the slack and repeat. Make sure your always on the bottom or near it. Once you catch one fish on the jig the second will come easier and so on. Like all things in fishing you can read a book on a topic but until your actually doing it you can only learn so much. Don't over complicate it! ??

Thanks that really helps! Appreciate it!

[Fish the Mitt]

1 hour ago, Robert Hergan said:

Great content, and thanks a ton! I fish rocky bottomed creeks/rivers, rocky bottomed lakes, as well as muddy bottomed ponds. So for me, I've only felt the need to have football jigs. But, I would like to throw a different jig for spots with heavier cover. What would you recommend for that? 

Sounds like what you've got is fine. For heavier cover, depending on how you describe that term, perhaps a few flipping jigs wouldn't hurt. Again, depending on what you're calling heavy cover, a football style might suffice. If it works, it works.

[WRB]

Football jigs are not designed to be fished in heavy cover. Before you all jump my bones on this simply listen and I will explain why. Tie on your favorite football jig and do this simple test; extend your index finger and pull the jig by the line up and over your finger. The line tie and head shape causes the jig to flip over and if that is a small branch the jig snags it every time. 

Jigs with the line tie at the front of the jig nose and have a more pointed shape don't flip over going over your finger of small branches and don't snag. Lots of choices and the standby Arkie head design works good for fishing or flipping cover, football are better suited for fishing rock or gravel/clay banks/structure. 

Use what you have confidence with and with practice you will develop your techniques.

I have been fishing jigs longer then anyone I know, over 60 years with good success.

My advice is use the right jig design, you have lots of choices, Siebert Outdoors offers whatever you need at fair price and top quality.

Tom

 

[Pro Logcatcher]

This is a great thread! Jigs are the most versatile lure.

[NHBull]

When I first started using jigs the old guy I was with had me only move the jig with the rod, never the reel.  This slowed me to a snails pace and my hookups improved dramatically 

[N Florida Mike]

I'm trying to learn jig fishing as well. What kind of jig would you experts use in a shallow , weedy lake , fairly clear water ,with a good amount of laydowns along the banks ? Excuse me , not trying to hijack the thread.

[Robert Hergan]

58 minutes ago, WRB said:

Football jigs are not designed to be fished in heavy cover. Before you all jump my bones on this simply listen and I will explain why. Tie on your favorite football jig and do this simple test; extend your index finger and pull the jig by the line up and over your finger. The line tie and head shape causes the jig to flip over and if that is a small branch the jig snags it every time. 

Jigs with the line tie at the front of the jig nose and have a more pointed shape don't flip over going over your finger of small branches and don't snag. Lots of choices and the standby Arkie head design works good for fishing or flipping cover, football are better suited for fishing rock or gravel/clay banks/structure. 

Use what you have confidence with and with practice you will develop your techniques.

I have been fishing jigs longer then anyone I know, over 60 years with good success.

My advice is use the right jig design, you have lots of choices, Siebert Outdoors offers whatever you need at fair price and top quality.

Tom

 

Thanks a ton for this advice! Will definitely be using jigs more in the upcoming season, and hearing it from the jig master XD. Thanks again! 

23 minutes ago, NHBull said:

When I first started using jigs the old guy I was with had me only move the jig with the rod, never the reel.  This slowed me to a snails pace and my hookups improved dramatically 

This is awesome! A lot of people say try to make it seem as if you are rying to make the jig undiscoverable to bass. I love this technique! Thanks a ton!

11 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

I'm trying to learn jig fishing as well. What kind of jig would you experts use in a shallow , weedy lake , fairly clear water ,with a good amount of laydowns along the banks ? Excuse me , not trying to hijack the thread.

For laydowns, from what I've heard, a flipping jig would produce the best. The Arkie designed head is made to bounce off and around that cover. Plus, the streamlined design helps it to deeply penetrate that cover, therefore making a flipping jig best for cover and laydowns and weeds. Make sure if the lake is normally clear in color, to match the hatch as well as throw more natural colors. I mainly like to stick with natural craw colors, green pumpkins, and black and blues. A lot of anglers sware by different sizes, but the main size that seems to be the most versatile is the 1/2 oz. Make sure, as well, if you are going to be placing a trailer on the back of the jig, that it matches the bait. Both in color, as well as in profile. If you are throwing a large bulky spread out jig, choose the correct trailer. As well as vice versa for a slimmer jig.

Hope this helps!

-Rob

[thinkingredneck]

When I started with a jig  I followed Catt's advice and fished it like a T rig worm, more or less.  It worked.  Not an expert, but no longer intimidated.  Don't over think it.