Jig

[Jonny15678]

I use 3/8oz jigs for all my fishing needs. I fish in water that is less than 10ft. Is this a good weight or should I be using something heavier?

[Catt]

What kind of cover? ?

[Jonny15678]

43 minutes ago, Catt said:

What kind of cover? ?

 

 

no grass mats, maybe some fallen logs and your typical vegetation. But if I am somewhere where there is grass mats and the water is deeper and thicker vegetation I do want to be able to fish that as well.

[Dens228]

I use 3/8's for everything except punching.   I use them down to about 20 feet but below 12-13 feet is rare once the thermocline sets in. 

[rod snapper]

Maybe buy a couple half ouncers just in case you need them. It won't hurt

[the reel ess]

I mostly fish shallow and usually I'm using either a 3/16 or 1/4 oz. That's just what I'm used to. I think 3/8 is a good middle of the road, all-purpose size.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Jonny15678 said:

 

 

no grass mats, maybe some fallen logs and your typical vegetation. But if I am somewhere where there is grass mats and the water is deeper and thicker vegetation I do want to be able to fish that as well.

 

1/4-3/8-1/2 oz will cover that nicely ?

[Bankbeater]

90% of the time I use 3/8 oz. The rest of the time I fish with 1/8, 1/2, 3/4, or 1 ounce. 

[long island basser]

1/2 and 3/8 mostly for me.

[Russ E]

If the water is 10 foot or less I use 3/8 ounce, most of the time.

 

If it is much  deeper I will go up to 1/2 oz.

 

If I am dragging football jigs across deeper structure, I will bump up to 3/4 to 1 ounce.

 

If I am skipping under docks or overhanging trees I will drop down to 1/4 ounce.

I can skip the lighter baits easier.

 

[Log Catcher]

I usually throw 1/2 ounce jigs. I will go lighter if I feel I need to downsize to get more bites.

[Catt]

ROF: Rate Of Fall

 

I never base Texas Rigs or Jig-n-Craws weight off water depth!

 

In 10' of water a 2# bass can stop a 1 oz jig from ever hitting bottom.

 

I quite often throw a 1/4 oz in 18-20' of water.

 

[rod snapper]

9 minutes ago, Catt said:

ROF: Rate Of Fall

 

I never base Texas Rigs or Jig-n-Craws weight off water depth!

 

In 10' of water a 2# bass can stop a 1 oz jig from ever hitting bottom.

 

I quite often throw a 1/4 oz in 18-20' of water.

 

Interesting concept

[GReb]

Start light and adjust up. 3/8 is typically ideal for most normal cover. 

[Bluebasser86]

I start with a 1/2oz a lot of the time. I can cover a lot of shallow cover really quickly with a 1/2oz pitching jig. I use a 5/8 and 3/4 occasionally also. 

[Catt]

8 hours ago, rod snapper said:

Interesting concept

 

That's the way most Pros select jig weight.

 

If you look at tournament results the Pros use heavier weights than the average angler.

[rod snapper]

ill definitely do more research, thanks!

[deadadrift89]

On ‎2‎/‎11‎/‎2019 at 10:22 AM, Jonny15678 said:

I use 3/8oz jigs for all my fishing needs. I fish in water that is less than 10ft. Is this a good weight or should I be using something heavier?

3/8oz for me mostly when flipping wood shallow, sometimes 1/4oz with big trailer for slower fall or smallmouth.

[Catt]

3 hours ago, rod snapper said:

ill definitely do more research, thanks!

 

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20061117/right-weight-on-lures-key-to-catching-fish

 

https://advancedangler.com/features/the-hack-attack-system/

 

 

[rod snapper]

wow! great info! we all need to go buy some half ounce hack attack jigs right now!

[WRB]

The most important component of a jig isn't it's weight, it's the hook and head design.

If you want to slow down the rate of fall heavier line and bulky flapping trailers will help.

The rate of fall is what usually triggers strikes as the jig falls down through the water column, heavier equals faster fall with everything being equal.

Can you use a  3/8 oz jig for the majority of your jig fishing? Yes you can, is it ideal? No it isn't. However using 1 jig weight is a good idea to learn how the jig feels under a wide verity of presentations. In fact I use my 7/16 oz jig 90% of the time because my confidence level is very high using it. If I am fishing cover that requires a heavier jig that is what I use. If the bass want it slower falling or a jig worked slowly through grass then a lighter grass jig is what I use. Most of the time I am fishing more rock with sparsh cover so my 7/16 oz jigs works good. 

I am very anal about hooks, they must be extremely sharp and stronge enough not to bend under the force of the biggest bass in the lake. Sharp hooks penetrate through the bass mouth past the barb, the bass can't throw by head shakes if I keep tension on the line. If the hook point doesn't penetrate past the barb the bass can throw it or high pressure can open the hook bend.

jig head shape and hook eye location affects action and ability to get through cover or structure easily.

Tom

[roadwarrior]

16 hours ago, WRB said:

The most important component of a jig isn't it's weight, it's the hook and head design.

More than 90% of my bites come off the bottom, not on the fall. I prefer heavier jigs.

 

[bagofdonuts]

Rate of Fall & Speed. You can cover more water with a heavier jig. The old "fish it slow, but do it quickly".

[basshtx]

For me, 

 

_{1/8 or 1/4 for a smaller finesse presentation,}

 

_{3/8-1/2oz for general pitching into none to light cover or just for distance.}

 

_{3/4-1oz for heavy cover.}

[Buckeye66]

3/8 black and blue. Pick your favorite brand. A true classic