Cold water finesse jig

[Mr. Aquarium]

So adding to my winter struggle post.   I just got a few 1/4 ounce BiCO finesse jigs. What are you using for jig trailers when water temps are low 40s? 

[FryDog62]

I like Maxscent Creature Hawgs, or a beaver style plastic on finesse jigs. However, if its a super slow football jig drag (which I also use a lot in 40's degree water), I go with a Twin Tail grub. 

[The one that got away]

Try a pork trailer.  

[softwateronly]

Twin tail grub for me but I have had early spring luck with TRD craws, might need to try before the ice instead of only after.

 

scott

[Bird]

30 minutes ago, The one that got away said:

Try a pork trailer.  

Your giving away your age. Lol

That's all we used in the 70's and 80's.

[ironbjorn]

TRD Craw on a Bitsy Bug is hard to beat and as a bonus is very economical.

[PhishLI]

1/4oz Bitsy Bugs:

TRD CrawZ

Turbo CrawZ, 1/2"-3/4" cut off

Baby GOAT

Trick ShotZ

 

[Kenny Yi]

i love soft plastic craw-chunk trailers:

Zoom Super Chunk

BPS Swim-n-elite Chunk

Netbait Paca Chunk

 

i want the trailer to flow rather than kick, below is the BPS trailer

[WRB]

The 1st thing you want to do is check the jig/trailer combo in the water you are fishing. Cast into shallow water where you can see it clearly and watch the movements the way you fish it. No movements it a poor combo.

Hand poured soft plastics move better then injection molded trailer that tend to stiffen in water under 50 degrees.

Pork rind trailers the cold water doesn’t affect movements as much. 

It doesn’t matter how good the jig looks to you, the bass decides.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

31 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

1/4oz Bitsy Bugs:

TRD Crawz

Turbo CrawZ, 1/2"-3/4" cut off

Baby GOAT

Trick ShotZ

 

Little pieces of bass candy 

[Catt]

Rage Baby Bug ?

 

[DitchPanda]

I fish alot in cold water...my 2 favorite trailers are a 4in yamamoto double tail grub or a zoom super chunk jr.

[Finessegenics]

As Tom mentioned, you’re going to need something real soft to still have movement from the bait in water that cold, also considering you’ll be moving the bait slow. I have found that elaztech still has decent action in cold water instead of stiffening up like other plastics. 

[Bluebasser86]

YUM Craw papi, but I rarely catch bass on jigs in the winter so take that advice with a grain of salt.

[Jigfishn10]

I’d go rage menace. I also do better slow rolling spinnerbaits, so I would slowly swim the jig on the bottom.

[fishballer06]

11 hours ago, Catt said:

Rage Baby Bug ?

This. 

[WRB]

A good 1/4 oz finesse jig soft plastic trailer is Don Iovino hand poured twin tail craw in Liver or Honeycomb.

Tom

[FishTank]

You kind of need to experiment with your water conditions.  Cold, still, clear water, I'm probably not going to be using a jig.  Slightly stained cold water with a little bit of current, I want something with a lot of movement.  Currently I have been using Net Bait Paca Chunk and GYCB Flappin Hog.   There are several others that would work but for me the key is to bounce the bait up and down as much as possible.  

[Mr. Aquarium]

11 hours ago, FishTank said:

You kind of need to experiment with your water conditions.  Cold, still, clear water, I'm probably not going to be using a jig.  Slightly stained cold water with a little bit of current, I want something with a lot of movement.  Currently I have been using Net Bait Paca Chunk and GYCB Flappin Hog.   There are several others that would work but for me the key is to bounce the bait up and down as much as possible.  

Ok so cold clear and still what are you using? The tube has been scratching up a fish or 2 when I go out. Bite been tough and tubes only thing that have been working. Hair jigs and blades can’t get a sniff 

[5by3]

I throw a 3/16 black and blue jig a lot in cold water here (low 40 degree water temps). I usually pair it with a netbait tiny paca chunk and throw on spinning gear with 8-10 lb line. Seems to excel on those bluebird skies day when they won’t eat a blade bait or jerkbait.

[FishTank]

54 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Ok so cold clear and still what are you using? The tube has been scratching up a fish or 2 when I go out. Bite been tough and tubes only thing that have been working. Hair jigs and blades can’t get a sniff 

 

Deeper diving jerkbaits, wacky rigged senkos, spoon shaped baits on occasion, and a finesse worms.   None of this matters if you don't find the fish and generally you have to put the bait right on the fishes nose and hold it there long enough for them to react.  I also chose the bait and equipment that will give me the longest casts with the least disturbance.  

[Deleted account]

I stopped throwing jigs in the winter, sure, if I insist, I may catch a few, but other things have proven better for me.

[Mr. Aquarium]

13 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

I stopped throwing jigs in the winter, sure, if I insist, I may catch a few, but other things have proven better for me.

Like what, cuz blades, hair jigs and jerkbaits haven't been working. I really suck at jerkbaits.  Like I said tubes have been the only thing I can scratch up one or 2 on 

[Basser2021]

I love to use a Strike King rage menace with matching color to the jig and make sure it is a good size compared to the jig.

[Luke Barnes]

Ive only tried them a few times but recently I was using a SK Bitsy Bug in green pumpkin and it was their Bleeding Bait line. Had a red hook and a splash of red in the trailer. I used a baby rage menace rigged vertical and used a spike it marker to color the bottom flapper red. I hopped it, swam it, and pitched it. I caught one pretty quickly then shortly after snagged and lost it. Just like the dark sleeper. It worked, I lost it, I want another.