Beat up finesse jigs

[waymont]

Over the last 3-4 years I've been throwing finesse jigs more than my regular bass jigs. The finesse jigs I like the most are the the SK 1/4oz Bitsy Flip and 5/16oz Santone Texas Finesse jigs. The Bitsy Flip in 1/4oz seems to come through cover so well because of it's small size and great shaped head and weed guard. Over the years I've noticed that beat up jigs catch tons of fish. I always wire tie my skirts on my Bitsy Bug and Bitsy Flip jigs because the get wrecked after 3-4 fish, but after tying with wire they hold up to so many more fish, and catch fish like crazy. My trailer of preference is usually a Yum Wooly Bug. You people think beat up jigs catch more fish than new ones? I think they catch more fish for some reason. Here's a photo of a new Bitsy Flip and beat up one with over 60 fish on it. See how much thinner the skirt is.

 

[MrPeanut]

In my experience the beat up jigs catch (seemingly) more fish too.  It might just be coincidence in they've been used more, but it also could be the more beat up looking they are the more natural they are.  Most things in nature aren't perfectly shaped, the beat up skirts may appear more natural under water

[CountryboyinDC]

I don't know - I've always tossed them after the paint comes off the head.  Generally by the time I've worn most of the paint off, the skirt looks pretty beat up (as does yours), but the hook will still hold an edge.  I'm thinking of testing that hypothesis rather than tossing the next one that gets to that state.  Now that you say it, there are several baits that seem to catch more fish the more torn up they get (TRD worm, etc.).

[ec1]

This was something I was told about the bucktail jigs we use for walleye here. The more beat up they are, the better. How much truth there is, I really don't know. Glad you found some jigs that you really like though. I will try the bitsy's soon enough.

[waymont]

2 hours ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I don't know - I've always tossed them after the paint comes off the head.  Generally by the time I've worn most of the paint off, the skirt looks pretty beat up (as does yours), but the hook will still hold an edge.  I'm thinking of testing that hypothesis rather than tossing the next one that gets to that state.  Now that you say it, there are several baits that seem to catch more fish the more torn up they get (TRD worm, etc.).

I use a jig until I can't get the hook sharp with sharpening. I never found the paint missing to have any effect on the amount to bites a jig gets.  I agree about the TRD getting better the more it's chewed on.

[Steveo-1969]

I fish finesse jigs in a shallow rocky river. I'll throw the same jig until I snag it and can't get it back. If I'm lucky I've caught a bunch of fish on it and all the paint is wore off the head before I lose it. If I'm not lucky, I've just tied on a new jig, made one cast, got snagged, and had to break it off...

 

Usually I don't have them long enough to wear them out so I can't say if they get more productive with wear.

[microotter]

This is kind of related – I read once that the bull shad was so “unrefined” looking because it attracts more fish that way. Something about the rough finished made the prey seem more susceptible. Maybe it is the same with other lures. 

[waymont]

12 minutes ago, Steveo-1969 said:

I fish finesse jigs in a shallow rocky river. I'll throw the same jig until I snag it and can't get it back. If I'm lucky I've caught a bunch of fish on it and all the paint is wore off the head before I lose it. If I'm not lucky, I've just tied on a new jig, made one cast, got snagged, and had to break it off...

 

Usually I don't have them long enough to wear them out so I can't say if they get more productive with wear.

I hear you. This year I've been fishing about 85% around laydowns and isolated weeds so I haven't been loosing many jigs. I've been using that jig in photo since may! I'll be sad when it's gone.

[the reel ess]

I've always kept a few jigs after the skits came off and just put plain craws on them. They seem to get more bites that way. But I'm looking for size, not quantity.

[Deleted account]

Put me squarely on the beat up jig better than new jig camp. I started fishing them a few times to wear them in before wiring the skirt, or randomly pulling strands, and cutting some before wiring. I also used to get my striped bass parachutes (like a giant bucktail tied with nylon doll hair) custom tied with like 1/3 the strands of how they normally came. Makes a difference.

[bhoff]

I've seen this as well. A heavily used jig will outfish a new jig more often than not. To me its probably the fact its less bulky, and not as uniform in appearance. 

[r83srock]

I’m in the used jig camp, love the 1/4 oz bitsy flip as well.

[thinkingredneck]

I have a painted lead bullet weight that is beat up and I think it does better, too.  Who knows why?

[Bluebasser86]

Not just jigs, beat up baits in general are more productive IMO. When they start to look like these, they just have that mojo that puts fish in the boat. Don't know that I've ever kept a jig long enough to catch 60 fish on it, that's impressive.

[CountryboyinDC]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Not just jigs, beat up baits in general are more productive IMO. When they start to look like these, they just have that mojo that puts fish in the boat. Don't know that I've ever kept a jig long enough to catch 60 fish on it, that's impressive.

That is one ugly rattle trap!  Mine would surely be hung up in some grass where I couldn't get it before it got to this state.

[813basstard]

Yep! Spinnerbait as well. Like a baseball glove, needs to get broken in.

 

[Bankbeater]

Over the years I have noticed when I put a new skirt on a jig, it takes a while to start catching fish on it again.  Usually after the skirt starts looking weathered a bit is when the bite comes back.

[Brayberry]

Just wanted to revisit this to see if there were any new observations. I also believe a weathered worn bait till outfish a new bait 

[DitchPanda]

I agree with this as well..bass must like baits the way we like an old pair of jeans or worn out pair of sneakers. I'm guessing it's cuz a lot of the shine is gone so it gives that more dull natural look. Also with a skirted bait I feel like it's more broke in so the strands have less rigidity and more flow and movement.

 

I like my hard baits to have teeth marks and hook rash..and I've got no issue with a skirted bait with the head paint all chipped off and the skirt about to fall apart

[Ogandrews]

Bitsy flips are the jigs that got me started jig fishing, still use them although I usually throw the dirty jigs compact flipping jig now. Very similar size to the bitsy but way better colors and way better hook/weedguard. I absolutely agree that beat up jigs work the best, I also think that my hard baits that are covered in hook rash and chipped paint work way better than brand new ones out of the box. I’ve never had an issue with bitsy bugs skirts coming off though, caught 40-50 fish on the same jig before losing it and the skirt never got pulled down. 

[OkobojiEagle]

On 6/26/2019 at 11:29 AM, CountryboyinDC said:

but the hook will still hold an edge.

This made me laugh out loud...  that's one used up hook that's flattened to the point of now holding "an edge".

 

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