The reasons I am a better jig fisherman

[WRB]

Anticipation and intuition.

Anticipation comes from knowing and believing the bass is located where you are fishing and what depth. Cocked and ready to set the hook as the jig enters the strike zone.

Keeping in touch with any lure is critical but with jigs it’s essential. Everyone knows this and go to extremes buying the most sensitive rods, smooth operations reels and premium line. To me these are crutch’s and relying on equipment in lieu of anticipating the strike by keeping in touch with the jig mentally and using your intuition.

Intuition is the wildcard factor that comes from the gut. You just know a strike has occurred by processing all the factors in a micro second and hook setting without knowing why.

Since I was not totally reliant on my equipment to catch bass consistently over 5 decades with rods, reels and line today’s anglers consider obsolete my focus on anticipation, intuition stayed as sharp as my hooks.

Tom

[mcipinkie]

I understand your statement, but the reason you (and I), if we are, are good jig fishermen is because we throw them. 

From 1/16 oz Ned rigs to 1 1/2 oz punch jigs, when I've got a jig on my line, I'm confident.  When I don't what to do, I pick up a jig. 

 

Agree with you 100% on the tackle. 

[Michigander]

Someday, hopefully slightly sooner than fifty years, I hope to be a good jig fisherman. I just figured out the basics last year after years of struggle. However, now it's always on my deck and I believe in them now. I try to "unlock" a lure or technique for myself every year.

Looking back on my years of jig failure, my technique was bad and my gear was mismatched. Gear isn't everything, skill trumps it almost every time, but it sure helps.

[DitchPanda]

I am by no means a great jig fisherman. I feel that I am decent and constantly improving which is all you can ask for. Finding a few different jigs to match my style and getting to know those jig inside out has helped me in my feel of the jig and just my overall confidence in my ability with it. As far as gear is concerned  I think good gear just compliments the skill set...but good doesn't mean it has the cost $1000. My jig combos are in the $300 and under range and they serve me well. Intuition is the hardest thing to learn and its earned thru effort and time on the water. Only early you can know what that jig is supposed to feel like is feeling it feel right a million times...then you can tell when it feels different.

[MN Fisher]

Intuition is indeed one of the hardest things to learn when fishing a jig. I'm not 100% there yet, but given that this past year, most of my catches were on jigs, I think I'm learning. As Tom stated...doesn't take high-end tackle to do it...my jig-rig this past year was either the Supreme on an Aird-X or the President-XT on a Laguna.

[GReb]

From my experience extreme accuracy and presenting the bait very finesse into the water is crucial. A big splash will cost you fish

[Sphynx]

The Jig is my very first confidence bait in bass fishing, I remember my first jig fish like it was yesterday, and with the obvious exception of a terminal tackle box, my jig box NEVER stays behind, and any time I get into a pickle and can't figure out the fish, it'll be what I tie on, I have a preference for the 6th Sense Divine Hybrid jig in either Black and Blue, PB & Smoke, or one of the green pumpkin with blue accents in it in the 3/4oz size...you can hop it, drag it, swim it, and catch fish from Alabama to Washington state, I don't consider myself an expert at all, just a guy who loves to throw a jig, and finding ways to get a softer entry further from the bank is my current project, it can be very challenging I am finding, my jig rod is a 7'3" MHF St. Croix Mojo Bass paired with a 7.3:1 Shimano Curado K, I prefer to use a 30lb braid to a 12lb mono leader. There is plenty of room for finesse jigs, bladed jigs, dedicated swim jigs, and football heads, but that Divine Hybrid is my comfort zone for sure.

[Hammer 4]

I can relate to Tom's statement re: obsolete gear. Wasn't that long ago, at least to me, that I was tossing jigs on my spinning rig, which on the cheap side. I learned long ago, that staying at the ready, sorta like a gunfighter was absolutely necessary. A finger on my line, and watching my line Intensely, I blocked, or tried to block out anything around me.

Use to upset me, while jig fishing, only to have someone come close by and start jabbering, I wouldn't even look at them, just smile and go about my biz. Having said all that, I'm glad I began fishing long ago, I think we learned things that maybe those that have been fishing for a shorter period of time, missed out on. Kinda like growing up in the 50's..?   

[rangerjockey]

Well, I've got about 40 years of jig fishing in too. There's no question today's equipment is better than the old Fenwick glass rods I started with but no rod or reel is going to make someone a jig fisherman.

I agree about intuition but I think the biggest change is in electronics.

We used to go down the bank and fish history or because a spot looked good. Today, I seldom get out of the driver's seat unless I mark fish. With the advent of livescope  ect.  these boys not only know how many fish are in a brush pile but what side or top of it they're on. When you can see your bait and the fish no amount of rod sensitivity is going to top that.

 As far a derby fishing today, I'm sure most guys are getting a teach and sharing waypoints.

[TnRiver46]

Thanks for the jig advice Tom! 

[moguy1973]

8 hours ago, GReb said:

From my experience extreme accuracy and presenting the bait very finesse into the water is crucial. A big splash will cost you fish

I disagree with this to an extent.  True, if you cast right onto where a fish is sitting you may spook it, but in my experience, the commotion from a splash is almost always an attractant as they are curious to what just landed in the water that they can eat.  There's been many of fish I've caught just moments after the lure hits the water.

[Catt]

Committed, devoted, dedicated ?

 

Ya can't be a casual jig fisherman & expect to be good!

[Cgolf]

I agree 100% with Tom. Having done a lot of deeper water fishing for walleyes where you are fishing a 1/32 oz jig in 25 to 30 feet of water with a cheap spinning reel and a fiberglass rod (all we could afford at the time), there was no feel just line watching and knowing when to set the hook when the line moved in a way it wasn't supposed to or stopped or slowed down before it got to bottom. That has carried over to bass fishing and helped me with all my soft plastic fishing, slider heads, ned heads, or a traditional bass jig. There are times I don't even know why I set the hook, but the lizard brain recognized something and triggered a hookset before I could process it. 

[A-Jay]

And as I continue down life's road, Intuition is something that I have tried to nurture and quite frankly 'depend on' almost daily. 

Intuition as it relates to bass fishing is an interesting subject.

I feel like I may tap into it more to assist in the the decisions of where & when to go bass fishing,

more than perhaps, when to set the hook. 

 

Either way, this thread made me sit back and think about it some and then do a little research.

I found this (text below)- which I rather enjoyed and have decided to share -

There's a link at the bottom.

Thanks Tom  @WRB

A-Jay

 

"Intuition is a form of knowledge that appears in consciousness without obvious deliberation. It is not magical but rather a faculty in which hunches are generated by the unconscious mind rapidly sifting through past experience and cumulative knowledge.

Often referred to as “gut feelings,” intuition tends to arise holistically and quickly, without awareness of the underlying mental processing of information. Scientists have repeatedly demonstrated how information can register on the brain without conscious awareness and positively influence decision-making and other behavior.

 

Where Intuition Comes From

Psychologists believe that intuition relies on powers of pattern-matching, as the mind combs experience stored in long-term memory for similar situations and presents in-the-moment judgments based on them. The automatic information processing that underlies intuition can be seen in the everyday phenomenon known as "highway hypnosis,” which occurs when a driver travels for miles without a conscious thought about the activity of driving the car.

 

Is intuition the same as gut feelings?

Intuition is often referred to as “gut feelings,” as they seem to arise fully formed from some deep part of us. In fact, they are the product of brain processing that automatically compares swiftly perceived elements of current experience with past experience and knowledge, and they are delivered to awareness with considerable emotional certainty.

 

How do gut feelings relate to first impressions?

Intuition, like first impressions, serves the brain’s need to predict and prepare for what will happen next. First impressions are rapid, holistic assessments of people based on subtle perceptual cues and judgment of intent to help or harm. Both rely on automatic processes and, as rapid evaluation systems, both are subject to error, especially from biases we hold.

 

Is intuition a sixth sense?

Because human survival depends on avoiding danger, our mental apparatus is wired to be especially sensitive to signs of danger and to register them before we can recognize and act on them. That knowledge is a product of the brain’s built-in negativity bias and can feel intuitive.  However, it is not always accurate, as the early warning system errs on the sides of false alarms.

 

When to Trust Your Gut

Our gut feelings are often correct, but we tend to attach a certainty to them that they do not always merit. They do tend to be more accurate in some domains of experience than others, such as in the formation of first impressions. Intuition is also often valuable in detecting deception and other forms of danger, and in detecting sexual orientation.

 

Should I trust my intuition?

Gut feelings do have their value in complex decision-making. Studies of top executives show that even after they analyze mounds of data, the information does not tell them what to do; that is where intuition is a guide. People typically cite rational-seeming criteria for their actions and do not disclose the subjective preferences of feelings that arise spontaneously.

 

Is my intuition always right?

Experts find that intuition, no matter how right it feels, is more reliable in some areas of activity than others. For example, it can help you generate new ideas or new figures of speech, but don’t count on it for comprehending vocabulary, where reflective thinking better fits the task, or in judging job candidates. Many situations actually utilize a combination of intentional reflective deliberation and automatic intuition.

 

Are some people more intuitive than others?

Intuition is a thinking style, and people differ in the degree to which they rely on intentional reflection on the one hand and automatic knowledge on the other. In addition, people differ in a specific facet of intuitive ability, namely implicit learning, or the capacity for taking in complex information without being aware of having learned it. Too, some people have more experience and expertise stored in their memory database against which current perceptions can be matched.

 

Is learning intuitive?

Learning relies on memory input and retrieval, and although the mechanisms of memory operate outside conscious awareness, most often deliberate effort is needed to acquire the information to be stored in memory. In fact, intuition is not a good guide to how well you are learning something. Intuition suggests that long stretches of studying or practice are best for learning, when evidence indicates that studying in shorter chunks is more effective.

 

Can I improve my intuition?

It is possible to hone your powers of intuition. To some degree, intuition stems from expertise, which relies on tacit knowledge. Strengthening intuition requires making use of feedback, comparing the real-life outcomes of situations with the intuitive decisions you made. Even so, being highly intuitive in one domain of experience doesn’t guarantee reliability in every area."

 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/intuition

[ajschn06]

5 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

I disagree with this to an extent.  True, if you cast right onto where a fish is sitting you may spook it, but in my experience, the commotion from a splash is almost always an attractant as they are curious to what just landed in the water that they can eat.  There's been many of fish I've caught just moments after the lure hits the water.

I agree- I can't remember who I was listening to but the finesse no splash cast has it's place, especially when they are finick or it's dead calm out.  But if they are aggressive or there's a lot of wind/waves sometimes a big splash landing can be the ticket...

[Catt]

48 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

I agree- I can't remember who I was listening to but the finesse no splash cast has it's place, especially when they are finick or it's dead calm out.  But if they are aggressive or there's a lot of wind/waves sometimes a big splash landing can be the ticket...

 

I throw a Texas Rig in grass unpegged for that reason.

 

Often times when shaking the t-rig to get it through the grass I've watched a wake coming towards it.

 

Sometimes ya gotta raise a little commotion!

 

@A-Jay Finesse: skillful handling of a situation: adroit maneuvering

 

Adroit: having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations.

[NoShoes]

6 hours ago, Catt said:

Committed, devoted, dedicated ?

 

Ya can't be a casual jig fisherman & expect to be good!

What would you recommend to raise confidence  in throwing a jig?  I start each day saying I’m going to split between the jig and t-rig but always end up favoring the t-rig as I have confidence in it. 
 

ive only had one bass on jig, but it’s hard to stay on something you ain’t caught on. 

[roadwarrior]

Tie up two or three rods with different sizes and colors, then fish NOTHING else.

Stick with this plan every third trip. I think you will be amazed! 

 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, NoShoes said:

What would you recommend to raise confidence  in throwing a jig?  I start each day saying I’m going to split between the jig and t-rig but always end up favoring the t-rig as I have confidence in it. 
 

ive only had one bass on jig, but it’s hard to stay on something you ain’t caught on. 

 

ANSWER 

 

56 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Tie up two or three rods with different sizes and colors, then fish NOTHING else.

Stick with this plan every third trip. I think you will be amazed! 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

I got kind of lucky............

one of the first times I threw a jig (black n blue), I tossed it under a boat dock and a bass thumped it ! I’ve been addicted ever since. When they get it good, it’s like champ from anchorman says........

 

[GTN-NY]

3 hours ago, NoShoes said:

What would you recommend to raise confidence  in throwing a jig?  I start each day saying I’m going to split between the jig and t-rig but always end up favoring the t-rig as I have confidence in it. 
 

ive only had one bass on jig, but it’s hard to stay on something you ain’t caught on. 

Easy. Leave everything else home

[Mr. Aquarium]

My buddy the other day said that jigs are a googan bait. He knows I love jigs. Kinda ticked me off. He doesn’tt fish jigs!  

[WRB]

I am not a fan of leaving presentations that work and build confidence. The simple fact is you can’t catch jig fish unless you are fishing them?

Like everything in bass fishing you gots be where the bass are active feeding. 

Jigs work all day and night so pick a time when the bass are active on your other confidence presentation, put it down and fish a jig. If the is a worm bite chances are a jig will work.

I like to teach new jig anglers thay know how to catch bass on sliding weight T-rigged worms using a spider jig.

Spider jig is a double tail grub with soft plastic collar; Yamamoto 4” or 5” Hula grub using/either a weedless football head or Hula grub head in 3/8 to 1/2 oz. Color is optional as long as it’s 301 or 330 if green pumpkin worms are working.

Fish the jig like you successfully fish the worm and stay focussed.

Tom

 

[NoShoes]

Thanks for the suggestions and will definitely give them a go. 
 

I actually ordered some finesse jigs recently so rigging up different sizes and nothing else is an awesome suggestion. 

[mcipinkie]

You guys are making this far harder than it really is.  To me, nothing is easier to fish than a jig.  When a fish pulls on it, or swims off with it, you jerk.  That's all there is to it.  Watch your line.  I see far more bites than I see.

 

I like heavy jigs.  Easier to pitch, easier to feel.  My bread and butter jig is a 3/4 oz.  Fish Boss Gary Klein Heavy Cover jig.  Fish it 75% of the time.  I use 1/2 oz most of the rest of time.  Don't believe all the finesse crap.  Stay with the big jigs.  Learn to present them.  Learn how they feel.  I catch fish on the big jig 12 months out of the year from 6" deep to 15' deep.  I ain't fishing any deeper than that.

 

Seriously, pick you a jig size, stay with it.  Learn how it feels.  Once it's part of you, then you can try another.  Unfortunately, every once in a while, the small jigs are what they want, but it's not the norm.  Throw big jigs. 

 

Funny personal note:  Every one dotes on 3/8 oz jigs.  I don't own any.  I don't know how many jigs I have between the boats, the truck, and the tackle room, but none are 3/8.  If I want a full sized jig, I'll throw 1/2, preferably 3/4.  If I want a small jig, I'll throw a 1/4.  

See more than I feel.  Jim Beam sours mess up my typing.