Jig vs T-Rig

[DRT]

I sadly haven't personally ever caught a fish on a jig. Its one of my goals this year to practice fishing a jig more as I usually just fish a t-rigged soft plastic of some sort. I understand that both jig and t-rig fishing have many different techniques you can use, but the way I usually fish my t-rigs is just to let my t-rig sink and twitch or drag it back to the boat with some pauses. My understanding is that a jig can be fished in this exact same manner. My question is, what determines whether you guys with more experience throw one or the other? Is it mostly a preference thing?

[All about da bass]

Jigs catch bigger fish, they are more compact. T rig, I go with it when they want something a little easier to eat or I want to catch numbers. Don't get me wrong, they both catch big fish but most of the time that's your big fish catcher is a jig. I caught my pb last year on a 3/8 ounce football jig. I would say give them both a good try and you will catch fish with both. There are times when one will do better than the other depending on the conditions.

Good luck bro

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, All about da bass said:

Jigs catch bigger fish

Generally, I agree with this, but my PB came on a T-Rig.  That's an anecdote, not a data trend, though.

 

For me, it's all about MY mood, cover present, and what I'm getting bit on (fish's mood).  I've had a good jig bite go south, and the T-rig bite come on.

[All about da bass]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Generally, I agree with this, but my PB came on a T-Rig.  That's an anecdote, not a data trend, though.

 

For me, it's all about MY mood, cover present, and what I'm getting bit on (fish's mood).  I've had a good jig bite go south, and the T-rig bite come on.

Agreed, same way with a chatter bait spinner bait situation. I've been catching most of my fish with t rigs this time of year for some reason.

[scaleface]

In seems to me the average  fish caught on a jig is bigger than a Texas rig .  Texas rigs catch just as many big fish but also more smaller fish , so the average is smaller .  I dont fish jigs as much as Texas rigs  because I like numbers and big fish .

[Catt]

2 setups on my deck 24/7/365

 

Texas Rig & Jig-n-Craw 

 

I fish em exactly the same!

 

I don't see a difference in size caught by either one.

 

I think reason some see a difference is because they're one more that the other.

[J Francho]

14 minutes ago, Catt said:

I fish em exactly the same!

 

I think I do, but in reality I'm probably slower with the jig, and faster with the T-rig.  It's not intentional, just works out that way, if I take a look at myself.  THAT might explain the size thing, too. I should probably dial the T-rig back a bit and slow down.

[WRB]

You use all types of soft plastics from craws, creatures and worms on both jigs and T-rigs with a bullet weight. The T-rig with bullet weight is either a sliding weight or a pegged weight, straight or off set hook. Jigs are usually some sort of weedless head design or wobble head design of nearly unlimited varity. What I am getting to is more jig varieties then T-rigs.

For casting and retrieving a jig like a T-rigged worm for example my suggestion is strarting with a spider jig like GYCB twin tail 4"  Hula grub on a 3/8 oz GYCB weedless plain football head, simple and very effective. Use the same or similar colors as your T-rig.

Tom

[DRT]

Since i'm pretty new to jig fishing i had to look up what you suggested Tom. The hula grub you referenced looks to me basically like a jig skirt and trailer all molded together as one unit, correct? Then you would just put it on a jig head.

[WRB]

Yes, plain painted jig head. GYCB football jigs are under $5 for 5 each and 10 each Hula Grubs about the same price as I recall. You don't worry about snagging them and can focus on strikes. 

I prefer fishing jigs down hill or paraelell in rocky clay areas in lieu of uphill, T-rigged worms in flatter areas with breaks and softer bottom.

Tom

 

 

[DRT]

Thanks all for the input!

[Catt]

Looks like today Punch Rig but it comes a light as a 1/4 oz.

 

@A-Jay has a similar one

 

[scaleface]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

Looks like today Punch Rig but it comes a light as a 1/4 oz.

 

I make them as light as 1/8th ounce .

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, Catt said:

Looks like today Punch Rig but it comes a light as a 1/4 oz.

 

@A-Jay has a similar one

 

A-Jay

[dgkasper58]

34 minutes ago, WRB said:

Yes, plain painted jig head. GYCB football jigs are under $5 for 5 each and 10 each Hula Grubs about the same price as I recall. You don't worry about snagging them and can focus on strikes. 

I prefer fishing jigs down hill or paraelell in rocky clay areas in lieu of uphill, T-rigged worms in flatter areas with breaks and softer bottom.

Tom

 

 

+1

[IgotWood]

The two major differences I see are profile/bulk, and contrast.

 

The skirt will add bulk to your bait. The bulk of the skirt can help you adjust your fall rate if your typical 3/8oz t-rig is falling too fast for the fish's mood. The skirt is also moving at least slightly while the jig is soaking, which is when most bites occur.

 

The skirt also helps adjust the overall color of your bait and can add contrast. Often times contrast is a what the fish seem to key in on. I find that contrast helps generate a bite when the fish are in one of their finicky moods...like when they are showing signs of activity, and react to your bait, but do not bite. Or when fish have green pumpkin baits falling on their heads all day, and then you come through with a green pumpkin trailer on a black or brown jig.

 

I catch fish on both jigs and t-rigs. To be honest, I prefer t-rigs because I get better hook-ups than with jigs. And it's convenient to swap baits rather than having to tie a new jig and rig a new trailer. Ultimately, if I feel I need to fish slower, I'll switch to the jig.

[lo n slo]

i like to stroke a t rigged worm on deep structure. there’s nothing like watching your line sink, stop, then take off again. 

[WRB]

3 hours ago, IgotWood said:

The two major differences I see are profile/bulk, and contrast.

 

The skirt will add bulk to your bait. The bulk of the skirt can help you adjust your fall rate if your typical 3/8oz t-rig is falling too fast for the fish's mood. The skirt is also moving at least slightly while the jig is soaking, which is when most bites occur.

 

The skirt also helps adjust the overall color of your bait and can add contrast. Often times contrast is a what the fish seem to key in on. I find that contrast helps generate a bite when the fish are in one of their finicky moods...like when they are showing signs of activity, and react to your bait, but do not bite. Or when fish have green pumpkin baits falling on their heads all day, and then you come through with a green pumpkin trailer on a black or brown jig.

 

I catch fish on both jigs and t-rigs. To be honest, I prefer t-rigs because I get better hook-ups than with jigs. And it's convenient to swap baits rather than having to tie a new jig and rig a new trailer. Ultimately, if I feel I need to fish slower, I'll switch to the jig.

I fish jigs faster then T-rigs most of the time mimicking a panicked crawdad scooting for a hiding place. Tend move worms slower crawling through cover. Pace is something that needs to be tried as it always changing.

Tom

[papajoe222]

I fish a T-Rig when I want to cover an area and I'll work it all the way back to the boat.  Except for a football jig, I work a jig in a very small area. Letting it fall and sit, or jigging it a couple of times before reeling in and hitting another target.

[Catt]

The #1 most productive technique; Texas Rigged plastics 

 

The #2 most productive lure; Jig-n-Craw 

 

Why y'all wanna restrict their productivity by limiting when, where, & how ya use em?

 

They can both be cast, pitched, flipped, & punched.

 

They're both productive winter, spring, summer, or fall.

 

They both catch Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spots

 

Both can be thrown on any structure, in any cover, under any water conditions, & any weather pattern.

 

Y'all really wanna limit that? ?

[ClackerBuzz]

18 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I fish a T-Rig when I want to cover an area and I'll work it all the way back to the boat.  Except for a football jig, I work a jig in a very small area. Letting it fall and sit, or jigging it a couple of times before reeling in and hitting another target.

Mine have developed similarly.  Jigs are for pitching targets whereas I tend to drag T- rigs.  I always fish T rigs unpegged so they tend to not pitch as accurately as jigs and they hang up more in timber. 

[WRB]

Every giant bass I have caught on a jig the strike occurred over 100’ away, a long casting distance. I think you all are missing something!

Tom

[jbrew73]

40 minutes ago, WRB said:

Every giant bass I have caught on a jig the strike occurred over 100’ away, a long casting distance. I think you all are missing something!

Tom

Please explain.  I am obviously missing the point as I have no idea what your point is.

[WRB]

3 hours ago, jbrew73 said:

Please explain.  I am obviously missing the point as I have no idea what your point is.

You can cast a jig a long distance and retrieve it horizontal along the bottom, it isn't always a verticle presented or short cast lure.

Tom

[FishDewd]

I'm voting for a wacky rigged worm just cause! :P