Arky Jigs

[Tatenackett]

Hey everyone, so my go-to is the Yum Dinger/Yum Finesse Worm (Wacky, Neko, Carolina in Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Red Flake, June Bug).  This spring I want to start expanding more and using Arkie Jigs.  Does anyone have any recommendation on their favorite brand and color, trailer (craws/grubs/paddletails) combinations for the different seasons?   Which works best for you? Also, how do you normally retrieve such jigs with the specific combinations?  Again, I am just looking to expand and perfect my arsenal one at a time. Any help would be amazing

 

I also use Crankbaits (Berkely Pitbull 5.5 Squarebill), Buzz Baits (Booyah 3/8 top water) and Swimbaits (Powerbait 4" Rib Shads ) but for some reason or another unsuccessful using them. I will save that for another thread lol.

[fishballer06]

Brand - Seibert Outdoors (click the link to the right. Seriously, they're the best.)

Color - I'm a firm believer in our lord and savior, Green Pumpkin.

Trailer - any sort of craw trailer. Paca Chunk, Baby D Bombs, Rage Chunk

[Tatenackett]

thank you so much for the recommendations.  Do you recommend steady retrieve/bounce off the bottom/retrieve and pause?

[roadwarrior]

You have to experiment with the retrieve on every outing. To start with imagine a crawdad moving

over a rock.  This is a very subtle lift and drop on slack line. Sometimes they want a slow steady

retrieve, other times move, stop and let it sit. For a steady retrieve stay just off the bottom, clicking

cover or structure occasionally. I prefer a true swim jig for steady retrieve.

 

I think you will be impressed with Siebert Outdoors jigs. I prefer the G2 with a recessed eye. Mine

are always wire tied which requires a small additional charge. Favorite colors are Kent's, Black and

PB & J, but your favorite color will work just fine.

 

My choice for trailers are Rage Tail Craws, sometimes Baby Craws and sometimes Lobster. For a

swim jig I recommend the Structure Bug, Shellcracker and Menace. Match or contrast the trailer

with the jig skirt. The size of the trailer varies with the weight of the jig. For a 3/8 ounce jig the

Rage Craw is perfect, but I bite off the first two joints for a more compact presentation.

 

 

 

 

[the reel ess]

I usually use a custom jig in black/blue made by @cadman in the grass head style because I fish around a lot of grass. I like the Berkley Chigger Craw in same color. The water here is usually off-color at best. I have other colors, but my confidence is in black/blue. Custom jigs are certainly not necessary, but the wire tied ones last.

 

I also have some Arky heads that I bought just to use with the craws and no skirt. This can be a killer bait and a good way to get practice jig fishing. You'll get more bites with it. It also skips easily.

 

If you're fishing in lots of weeds, get an arky jig with a vertical line tie. You'll retrieve less vegetables. And buy one with a quality hook. 

1 hour ago, Tatenackett said:

thank you so much for the recommendations.  Do you recommend steady retrieve/bounce off the bottom/retrieve and pause?

Whatever fish want. When the water is warm, more action is usually better. It's usually a bump-bump. If you're doing it right, you'll be pulling through and over some kind of cover. In winter, less movement.

[I/MBasser]

Siebert Jigs for sure.  By far the best color selection.  I always use a Black/Blue variant or a Green Pumpkin variant.  Always have a brown, chartreuse and shad color as well.

 

I use the Swim, Dredge G2 (football jig), Dredge Brush (flipping) and prefer the 1/8 Dredge Arky over the Sniper for finesse.  

 

As far as trailers, you'll get a million different answers.  They all work.  Depending on what I'm throwing I'll use a paddle tail, Rage Menace, Baby Rage Menace, single and double tail grubs, Net Bait Paca Craw, RI Sweet Beaver.  I don't keep anything that is specifically a trailer.  All of these I will fish t-rigged or on a ball head or swim jig.  I also keep my colors very basic.  Black/Blue, Green Pumpkin or White.

[Tatenackett]

Thank you all so much for all of the advice and recommendations! You all are amazing

[WRB]

It's winter and this site has a long 22 page informative thread on jig fishing questions at the top of this forum.

My choice of colors in the cold water period are darker browns and black, the balance of the year I go with redish browns, black, brown & purple, white Shad colors and brown & green. Black & blue at night and cold water.

Twin tail swimming trailers for more active bass, smaller size craws for less active bass the majority of the time.

Location, location, timing , then lure selection. Right lure at the right time in the right place = success.

Tom