jigs for big fish in winter waters

[Bass Magnet]

Gents,

I need your help.

What kind of Jigs should I use when the water temp drops.

Football, Mushroom heads, Darter Heads, Big Skirts or Small, Creature Baits or Jig and Pig

What colors Black/Blue, Brown with tint,

Trailers?? Craw, worms or parts, kreature parts or the good old Cow Toung.

1/8th oz or 3/4

Just try'n to find out what you VA guys are using to catch the bass out there in the winter.

The Bass Magnet

[Guest avid]

Yup, that should work.  ;D

Seriously, Like most variations of a classic bait, the differences in jigs are not as critical as the manufacturers would have you believe.  Yes, there are differences, but I wouldn't stay up nights worrying about it.

I believe when experimenting with a new bait it's always best to start with the standard, then see how the subtle differences in head design or trailer configuration might change the action to better suit the conditions you face.

I would get a 3/16th or 1/4 oz. black and blue jig that has a quality hook.  Add to that a black or blue plastic frog chunk.  This is the basic.  

See how it works and what problems may emerge.  For example if you water is stained you can get a rattle mode.  Or if your ROF (rate of fall) is not getting strikes, add a bulkier trailer.   And so on.

The jig n pig has probably caught more bass than any lure save the plastic worm and senko.

It is a challenging lure to master.  Largely because the strikes can be so soft.

It is also addictive.  There are literally thosands of combinations that can be tried.

Start with the basics.  Read the articles here at BassResource.com and have fun.

avid

[Bass Magnet]

Avid, Thanks for that info, What about trimming skirts do you or anybody you know do it?

Asfaras trailers I use parts of other soft baits that end up in the bottom of the boat. After an outting I will pick up all the baits in the bottom of the boat and what I can not reglue I will use for trailers. I have never bought a trailer. I even use 6-8 in swimbait bodys for trailers on my spinner baits. Do you do the same?

Other than pork, is their any other trailer that you use or would recomend? Please Keep in mind that I am not talking about Summer conditions, I am only talking winter. water between 38-50 degs.

Bass Magnet.

[basspro48]

In the winter I always trim back the skirts on all the jigs I use. This is to achieve a more subtle finesse profile to the fish but keep sufficient weight to get the jig to the bottom. I trim the skirt so it is even with the shank of the hook and in clear water situations I thin the skirt out. For trailers I mostly use a small ZOOM chunk or a plastic craw like a GYCB Baby Craw. Also, don't overlook hair jigs in the winter. Hair jigs are deadly in supercold water because the natural hair fibers flare out and "breathe" to make the perfect profile of a craw or baitfish. For colors I mainly use white, white/chart., black/brown, and orange/brown. I tie my own most of the time but I suggest getting some Punisher hair jigs.

http://www.punisherjigs.com/

[Bass Magnet]

Bass Pro,

Thanx for the advice, I have statred just using heads and putting my own bodys on them.

What are you calling Super Cold Water????

TBM

[Guest avid]

I always trim the skirt, usually just so it reaches the bottom of the hook.

But don't forget the weedguard.  trim that back so that it barely extends past the point.  I also remove some bristles and flair it out to give it good coverage.

Oh, and stop using garbage from the bottom of the boat.  

[Gatorbassman]

Something I started using a few winters ago after watching a guy catching good fish day after day is a Yamamoto Hula grub on a jig. Just take the skirt off and put one on. I prefer white or blue pearl.

I moved this thread because it should get more responses here in the tackle section.

[justfishin]

I love those jigs. How cold are we talking? Are you talking green bass or brown? If you are talking green bass and it is super cold like 38 or so you could step over to a hair jig and a 101 pork frog in black and black. I use this for both L&S in very cold water. Also, if you are fishing deeper water because of the winter conditions use a casting jig instead of a flippin jig as the hook is finer and you will get a better hookset. I tend to trim back the rubber in the winter on my jigs to the bottom of the hook and remove some of the weedguard and trim it back as well at a 45degree cut. You mentioned that you were fishing in VA as well. I expect you are talking Lake Kerr, Lake Anna and Smith Mountain? If you are, I use 1/2 jigs with Zoom Super Chunks on those places but for this time of year I would maybe step down in trailers to maybe a smaller trailer or even a worm trailer. I use mostly a black jig with a Flippin Blue or Sapphire Blue trailer. I mean the colors are endless in jigs but, I use black because it works for me but, brown or olive will work too. Absolutly make sure you have white with a white trailer on hand, these places are full of shad and white can be great this time of year because some of the shad are dying and falling close to the bottom in an erratic manor. Hang on though, as Stripers will wack these jigs as well, especially Anna and Kerr around the deep water bridge piers like around the Rt. 208 at Lake Anna . Just my opinion.

[Catt]

Mr. Avid has scored again   ;D

Mr. Avid now has control of the trolling motor   8-)

[Lightninrod]

These are the jigs I use.  Now I realize the water temps don't get that low down here but those jigs will work anywhere.  They are truly different and for good reason.

Dan

[Siebert Outdoors]

I pretty much throw the same jig year round.  A finesse jig eakins style for 90% of my jig fishing.  I will either use silicone or round rubber skirts.  

I trim the skirts to about 1/4 past the hook and then thread on a 2" joesjigtrailer or zoom/eakings craw.  this combo works for me year round.  I'm talking temps from mid 30-80 degree waters.

[paparock]

The most consistent color and size I am using right now in the cool deep clear water on Bull Shoals is the Jewel 5/8oz. football jig or the 3/4oz football jig in Peanut Butter and Jelly with a NetBait Paca Chunk in like color.

[basspro48]

Bass Magnet, by supercold I mean 40 degrees or lower. However, a hair jig will catch fish in any water temp but they really shine during the cold months.

[Bass Magnet]

Bass Pro and all,

You guys give great advice, thanks.

And I got it. Thanks for the help. It sure sounds like their is a lot going on on the east coast and I can not wait to get involved.

I also can not wait to get back to the east coast a spread the word about no sweat mist for y'alls boats. This stuff  is so good it is going to flip you out. check out my sig.

Ken Kirk

The Bass Magnet