Standard Wire Football Jig For Spotted Bass ?

[ChrisD46]

Do you have a favorite football jig  (1/4th oz. to 1/2 oz.) you prefer to use for smaller mouth  spotted bass or smallies ?

I'm a bit concerned the typical Strike King , Booyah , Dirty Jigs , Siebert , etc. are and have hooks that might be a little larger than ideal for the spotted bass / smallie applications ... *The only smaller form factor football jigs that get up to 3/8th , 1/2 oz. etc. weights are from "Bass Patrol" found on TW... Your thoughts ?

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

Do you have a favorite football jig  (1/4th oz. to 1/2 oz.) you prefer to use for smaller mouth  spotted bass or smallies ?

I'm a bit concerned the typical Strike King , Booyah , Dirty Jigs , Siebert , etc. are and have hooks that might be a little larger than ideal for the spotted bass / smallie applications ... *The only smaller form factor football jigs that get up to 3/8th , 1/2 oz. etc. weights are from "Bass Patrol" found on TW... Your thoughts ?

I would throw whatever jig you’ve got and if they are short striking it follow up with a shakey head or something. I’m usually surprised at how big of a jig a small fish will eat 

[ChrisD46]

8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I would throw whatever jig you’ve got and if they are short striking it follow up with a shakey head or something. I’m usually surprised at how big of a jig a small fish will eat 

Thanks for the reply - I notice a trend these days for the heavier 3X football jig hooks , with oversize 4/0 & 5/0 hooks which I don't need in an open water , rocky reservoir environment . Conversely , finesse jigs which max out around 5/16th oz. are too light and are arky type which get hung up  a lot . *You would think there would be a market for a compact football jig with the following traits : 1/4th oz. , 3/8th oz. and 1/2 oz. football jig head with recessed line tie  , shorter shank 2/0 & 3/0 standard wire hook (1X , 2X strength) , 55 strand silicone / living rubber mix skirt with the whole package  suitable for a Baby Rage Craw , Smaller Paca Chunk , etc. trailer . *Think compact football jig category - heck , I'd even call it the "Rudy" series (think under sized Notre Dame player) football jig (lol !) ... Mike Siebert will probably have this concept out in the next 9 months (hint) .

[Logan S]

The Picasso Tungsten Football is what you're looking for...No living rubber, but its a nice little bite-sized jig and you can choose hook size for each weight.  The 3/8 with 2/0 hook is my spotted bass special .  

[ChrisD46]

10 minutes ago, Logan S said:

The Picasso Tungsten Football is what you're looking for...No living rubber, but its a nice little bite-sized jig and you can choose hook size for each weight.  The 3/8 with 2/0 hook is my spotted bass special .  

*Sweet - I'll look it up !

[Munkin]

Just get Seibert to pour you some with the 32798 Mustad hook. It is what I consider a regular wire hook. I fish jigs with this hook on 10lb floor all the time with no problems.

 

Allen 

[ChrisD46]

1 hour ago, Munkin said:

Just get Seibert to pour you some with the 32798 Mustad hook. It is what I consider a regular wire hook. I fish jigs with this hook on 10lb floor all the time with no problems.

 

Allen 

*Thanks - I'll look into this ...

[WRB]

Skinny Bear jigs.

Tom

[lo n slo]

shoutout for the spider jig

 

https://www.gitzitinc.com/main/index.php/shop/product/view/3/73

[burrows]

Skinny bear does make some nice jigs for sure I have to admit I been trolling the seiburt outdoors website a lot lately however. Might be making an order soon.

    SPOTTED BASS CANDY

     skinny bear jigs.

 

[ItsHardwick]

What is that you’re using for a trailer there? I like the look of it. 

[burrows]

Zoom chunk 

rage bug 

[burrows]

 Your targeting spotted bass and you want to go light wire which I believe to be optimal for spotted bass then you need to go with a spider jig, a spider jig is text book for spotts in the fisheries here in California I don't know where your at but I believe its probably the same thing. your options are very cheap and simple make your own yamamoto rigs or get some cheap arky twin tail spider jigs or gitzit, these are your best options specially if your going to be using spinning gear which is the best way to use these micro type jigs with a light wire hooks. The gitzits spider jigs and the arkys are expendable almost like cut bait or live bait and can be fished with a finnese presentation using 8 pound test. The smaller 2X hooks or a standard wire jigs like the skinny bear which  happen to be my favorite are a little more expensive and you would benefit more with 12 to 14 pound test casting gear and are good for both spotted bass and large mouth bass.