Football Jigs?

[Justbass11]

OK I was watching a YouTube video about winter bass fishing with jigs. The guy was talking mostly about the football jig. I like fishing jigs but I’m not sure about the football jig. Is the football jig primary for winter fishing?And as always all input is welcome, thank you.

[Jig Man]

I fish them all year long.

[Mike L]

The different shapes of the head are intended for different presentations. 
 

A football shaped head is intended to be used when fishing in and around rocks. The shape makes it less likely to get caught up as opposed to a one intended to be used as swim jig because of its pointed head. 
 

However, Don’t get totally caught up in what is intended. 
It just makes it easier to use for different reasons. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[WRB]

No...the football jig was designed* to not get shagged in rocky structure. The original started in west coast deep steep rocky lakes working the down hill.

The football head didn’t have a weed guard, wire weed guard were added later because the 90 degree bend hook didn’t have enough area for a hole.

The 1st jig with a fiber weed guard was the Arkie head jig using a 60 degree hook designed to allow a hole to insert the weed guard.

We use football head jigs year around out west.

*Larry McCain made the 1st football jig mold I know of early ‘60’s.

Tom

[padon]

12 hours ago, Justbass11 said:

OK I was watching a YouTube video about winter bass fishing with jigs. The guy was talking mostly about the football jig. I like fishing jigs but I’m not sure about the football jig. Is the football jig primary for winter fishing?And as always all input is welcome, thank you.

it can be used all year and is actually quite effective in summer. its main purpose is fishing rocky structure. shell beds, rock piles etc. example a long mud point that maybe has a steep section where the channel sweeps in alot of times there will be rock and gravel there.the wider head keeps it from getting snagged in the cracks and crevices as easy. its is also usually retrieved more with a drag with constant bottom contact more than a hop and drop. i love a 3/4 oz football jig in summer when our fish get 30 feet or so deep.

[Ski]

The football jig is the king of offshore fishing thanks to its head shape, which is designed to not tip over when dragged on bottom on ledges, points and the like. It’s also a great tool to feel the bottom content. To fish it, simply pull the jig along a bit, take up the slack and repeat. Reel up slack line before setting the hook. A football jig can also be stroked up and down off the bottom. The technique: Rip it up, then let it sink back on a slack or semi-slack line. Fish usually bite on the fall.

 

Flipping jig design. Some of that stems from the variety of cover types that anglers flip and the fact that some jigs are designed to be versatile enough for other techniques. Typically, a flipping jig is a target bait for making short flips, pitches and roll-casts to shallow wood, shoreline grass, deeper grass beds (in some situations) and docks. Once the bait reaches the target, let it fall, hop it a time or two, and then reel it back in for the next flip. Shoot for a quiet entry into the water each time.

 

The swim jig is designed to come through grass and wood, but it’ll get bites in open water too. Just don’t drag it. Swim it. Sometimes a straight retrieve is desirable, but another common technique is to shake the rod tip while reeling. It can be fished right at the surface, scraping along the bottom or in between.

[Fishin Dad]

I absolutely loved the football jig this year.  It was the first year I really used it a lot.  I had always used a drop shot or shaky head in deeper rock.  I ended up having a 3/4 oz. Football tied up all year and used it a ton.  I even threw it around some isolated sunken wood and it worked there too, even though that is definitely not its intended use.   I would cast it as far as I could with 20 lb fluoro and drag it across rock.  The bass would pin it the bottom then take off with it.  Man, I love that bite!