Flipping and Pitching in Northern Michigan

[Goby]

I have decided to spend a fair amount of time learning about and practicing fishing jigs this year in Northern Michigan for Largemouth Bass. I have mostly fished for Smallmouth over the years and find myself wanting to try something a bit different. The theme is really about learning more about fishing heavier cover and finding fish in it during the Spring and Summer and targeting larger fish. Other than frogging this is not the type of water I have spent much time focusing on in my life and even frogging was never something I did a lot of, but also plan to do more of this year. Anyway, I was curious if anyone would be so kind to share any knowledge they had on the subject.

 

I bought a new Expride 7'7" Heavy rod, some 22 pound Sunline Shooter, a bunch of 3/8 and 1/2 ounce 6th sense Hybrid Jigs in a bunch of different colors and a bunch of Big Bite Bait "Chunks" in both sizes and a bunch of colors.

 

I figured if need be, as the weeds got thicker I could switch over to braid as the season goes on or maybe a braid to fluoro leader, but heavier fluoro seemed logical to start with. I also figured that as the season went on I may want to order some heavier jigs and/or tungtsen weights and soft plastics without the use of a skirt to fish with as well, seem logical? Obviously once the water warms a bit I will throw some frogs too, but I really want to practice and learn more about flipping and pitching jigs. 

 

Any jigs or trailers you guys suggest that would be a good addition to the arsenal other than the ones I already bought? 

 

Is there a time when you feel like jigs with skirts are not as good as a soft plastic with a tungsten weight and hook?

 

Do you think that the extra bulk of the skirt helps attract larger fish?

 

Thank you for your time!

[TnRiver46]

I think you’ll love jig fishing once you catch a few. They are excellent in grass , don’t be afraid to reel them in like a crankbait through it either. I’ve used all kinds of things for trailers, the back half of plastic worms and lizards can be good trailers 

[Finessegenics]

Only time I’d use a plastic with a bullet weight over a jig is if I was punching directly through the grass. A punch rig is more streamlined and punches through it without getting ‘tangled up’ in the stalks or leaves of the weeds. 
 

As for your approach, as I have learned thanks to the awesome people on BR, fish what’s underneath the grass, not the grass itself. When you pull up to a field of mats or weed beds, it literally all looks good and it’s so overwhelming. If you can find a few areas where there’s a bottom composition change, or a depression, or a drastic depth change, or just something different, like a patch which shoots out and disrupts the mostly linear weed edges, fish it. Also, learning the different types of grasses in your areas can be helpful as some prefer to grow on different types of bottom. Two of them in close proximity can indicate a change in depth/bottom composition. I’ve really struggled with that but there a few good resources online to identify plants: 

https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/

 

Also, make use of the Navionics web app (https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@6&key=kvfuGv_e`M) to get a general idea of what the depth is in these areas and go from there. I’m shorebound so I have to make a lot of use of my sight and “feel” of my lure but it is still doable to find those slight changes. 

Good luck! 
 

Edit: This was a great resource for me. Uncle Frank is the best: 

 

Edited April 15, 2022 by Finessegenics

[padon]

finessegenics gave great advice. i do flip texas rigs a little more than him but still like jigs the best.But as he said your not fishing the grass your fishing whats under it. Like if you have a little hump or slight depression on a big flat. if there are rocks or gravel under the grass those are your targets. On lakes you fish alot take some time now before the grass is real thick and graph through it. look for hard spots etc.Mark them now and fish them later.Seth Fieder has an excellent you tube video on flipping grass. saerch for it. I think its called conquering grass or something.

[Mbirdsley]

I live in Michigan and do a lot of bass fishing around Frankfort and the west branch area which, is in northern Mi.

 

Realistically when the underwater foliage is in full bloom I use 3/4 oz and 1 1/2 jigs for the most part.  You could get by 80% of the time with 3/4 oz.  I make my own jigs so that’s what I use. Been kicking around trying a punch rig though 
 

I’ve got a heavy fast 7’4 st. Croix bass-x paired with a 7:3 tatula sv tws ( shallow spool) with 65lbs power pro. It is a dedicated rod set up just for doing that.  If you didn’t want a dedicated rod you could get by with probably 40-45 power pro.  Our underwater foliage growing season isn’t as long as it is down south.  Trailers don’t really matter just use your favorite craw imitation. 

 

Punching with jigs is one of my favorite ways to fish.  Shame it’s really only a technique for 2-3 months out if the year. 

[WRB]

Bore a hole in the ice and practice.

Tom?

[IneedAnewScreenName-98161861]

Todd castledine (I think is how you spell his last name. )

 

He also has a great video on YT about flipping a big jig in summer in the grass (grass can mean literally any type of vegetation)

 

I myself am just learning this style.of fishing and not too too far from you. So I feel like we will have the same type of weather / grass. People have already given you basically the info you need, all that's left for you to do is get out there and do it! 

 

For what it's worth, me personally I bought a few 1oz jigs, trailer I'm going to use is the rage bug. And to truly understand the concept and technique to this I'm going to basically bring just this setup out for a day, put the trolling motor down and just go to work. I know if I go with all my rods the moment I start to loose confidence in this technique I'll give up. So by bringing just this setup with me and dedicating a day or whatever to doing this style.of fishing I'm hoping to cut the learning curve down some and more importantly get comfortable doing it and gain the confidence in it!

 

Good luck!

[TnRiver46]

Side note: northern michigan is awesome 

[Abby]

Interested in this also...Jig fishing has become my favorite..

[Bankbeater]

The only jig colors I use are black, black/blue, green pumpkin, and orange/brown.  You can either match the trailer to the skirt, or add a trailer that is a shade or two off.  Sometimes the bass like the contrast and sometimes they want everything to match.

 

[T-Billy]

I'd forget the flouro and spool it up with 40# 832. LM in cover aren't a bit line shy even in clear water. Flouro in cover will get your heart broke. 

[Catt]

 

[Goby]

Thank you very much guys for taking the time to respond! Hopefully will get to get out there this week and give her a go...

[Deleted account]

On 4/17/2022 at 6:11 AM, T-Billy said:

Flouro in cover water will get your heart broke. 

FIFY...  

[T-Billy]

5 hours ago, Deleted account said:

FIFY...  

Thanks. That's my opinion as well. I was just trying to be nice and not get the OP's thread blown up by flouro lovers flaming me. ?

[Deleted account]

19 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Thanks. That's my opinion as well. I was just trying to be nice and not get the OP's thread blown up by flouro lovers flaming me. ?

Flaming Fluoro Lovers needs a T-shirt...   

[Goby]

23 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Thanks. That's my opinion as well. I was just trying to be nice and not get the OP's thread blown up by flouro lovers flaming me. ?

 

I have some 30 and 50 pound Sunline Asegai braid to use as well, I'll probably start with 30 pound with 22 pound shooter as a leader, as the weeds get thicker over the season, will go up from there as needed. 

 

 

[Mike L]

1 hour ago, Goby said:

 

I have some 30 and 50 pound Sunline Asegai braid to use as well, I'll probably start with 30 pound with 22 pound shooter as a leader, as the weeds get thicker over the season, will go up from there as needed. 

 

 

The 50# braid or 22# Shooter you already have are good choices to use as a mainline fir what you describe.
I personally don’t see the need to use a leader. 

Get to know and understand your waters at all levels and chose what’s best based on what you’ve learned. 

Don’t let the brand loyal or flouro haters influence your choices. 

Make them yourself. 
 

Good Luck, it’s one of the best ways to fish. 
 

 

 

Mike
 

 

[the reel ess]

I highly recommend the Trashmaster jigs. They cost a bit, but you lose so few it's really a savings. I like Rage Bugs and Rage Craws with them. The bug skips better. And the Trashmaster is a good skipping jig. I only buy black/blue ones anymore. But I'm sure other colors work too, maybe better in clearer water. I have a 6'10" Falcon BuCoo H-F rod and use a Lew's LFS reel spooled with 30# braid. If I'm using it in open water, which is rare, I'll sometimes put a short 15# mono leader on to disguise the line. My philosophy is you can't set the hook too hard on a jig bite. I have set it hard and still had the fish spit it at the surface, not just with the Trashmaster, but other jigs as well. It's a fat hook and a mouthful. Luckily, the big ones will usually hold on tight and they give you good weight to set the hook against. I keep the drag very tight and once I have the hook set I winch that sucker in. Give the fish no quarter. I see people playing jig bass in videos like they have 1 treble in the fish's nostril. You bought the heavy equipment for a reason.

 

Also, don't be afraid to go to a T rig if the jig gets no bites. I've caught big bass on those too. and they're more weedless.