jig vs texas rig when to use which?

[Jimmy Wallhanger]

Got back into bass fishing in a huge way last year after a 35 year lay off. Wondering what situations I would use a texas rig with a tungsten bullet weight (other than punching matted vegitation) over a standard jig with a weed guard? 

 

Also what rod woudl be best for each? Im a kayak guy right now. I have a 6'10 H/F a 7'4 H/F a 7'6 HM/XF and a 6'6 MH/F that I plan to use for skipping ( spent alot of time learning to skip got a really bad case of tennis elbow but man do I love skipping a jig) 

 

Thank you.  

[Tennessee Boy]

I have both tied on just about all the time.  I throw both and will start to favor one over the other if the fish show me that they prefer one over the other.  As for the rods I use,  I choose my rods based on the weight of the bait I'm throwing.  It's usually an MH-F or a H-F if I'm throwing a heavy jig.  I like to keep things as simple as possible.

[Bird]

If I'm trying to imitate a craw it's Jigs or Speed craw on Shakyhead.

Texas rig makes me think of worms which I throw a lot.

 

I don't think anything beats a jig prespawn, just my opinion.

[WRB]

A Texas Rig being a sliding bullet weight with worm hook rigged weedless style soft plastics to me is a T-rig. I say this so we are on the same page.

90% of the time I use a 8mm tempered glass faceted bead, 3/0 straight shank worm hook for hand pour worms between 6” to 7 1/2” long. Bigger worms or creatures 4/0-6/0  hooks. A 3/16 or 1/4 oz brass painted bullet weight or 3/8 oz tungsten weight weight depending on depth and worm size.

I prefer hand pour soft plastics because they tend to float tail up. Not a lot of variables T-rigging.

What I call worm water is soil with wood with some rock transitions, aquatic plant growth and more gradual sloping structure. I fish T-rig worms with rod lifts and shake on the pause, clicking the weight and bead.

Jig fishing I do 90% of the time “Horizontally”* casting and moving the jig along the bottom structure with stop and go retrieve shaking occasionally.

Jig water is similar to worm water except steeper sloping rocky structure.

Jig fish more often then T-rig, T-rig when the bass prefer it or the structure looks and feels right to me.

Tackle Custom ALX casting rod 5 power fast action, line 12# FC.

Tom

*Horizontal Jigging, In-Fisherman 

 

[T-Billy]

Whichever one the fish want that day. In really gnarly stuff it's always a flippin rig with a snelled straight shank. I throw both on MH to XH rods. That's a bait and cover dependent decision.

[Pat Brown]

Don't ask me why, but they usually go for one or the other and it can change day to day or even hour to hour.  Good to be ready to throw both if you have the option.

 

I prefer the Texas rig for working IN heavy cover.

 

I prefer the jig for working AROUND heavy cover.

 

I catch fish in heavy cover with jigs and I catch fish around heavy cover on t rigs but that's how I try to maximize the efficiency of each presentation.

 

If I'm desperate for bites, usually a trig.  If I'm trophy hunting, usually a jig.

 

Don't ask why on that one, just seems to shake out that way.

[Catt]

I have both tied on 24/7/365, after fishing an area with one I will go back over it with the other. 

 

Rod is personal preference, mine are Medium Heavy X-Fast.

[Jar11591]

@Pat Brown’s response took the words right out of my mouth. My thoughts exactly. 

[LrgmouthShad]

 Interchangeable. I like a jig more in colder water/prespawn or when the water is dirtier. I still will throw a jig in ultra clear water.

 

Rods are complicated for me because t-rigs and jigs can go from 1/16oz - 1.5oz and 6inches of water to 40ft and thin hooks to heavy flipping hooks. Arbitrary numbers here.
 

[Mr. Aquarium]

If I want a bigger profile, deeper or colder water. I tend to fish jigs slower more methodical. T rigs for shallower fish more active. I don’t fish worms or senkos. I fish creatures and craws. Don’t know why. 

[RipzLipz]

To add to all of the already excellent advice above, don’t be shy about following one up with the other before moving on to the next location. Also jig worming is an almost forgotten technique, using a 4+" worm as a trailer to a skirted, or in some cases unskirted, jig. Pick your poison as far as worm shape. Even Senko type worms will work as trailers.

[thinkingredneck]

I tend to favor worms around 9:1.  I fish a lot of shallow areas where a jig will sink.  For part of the year have to throw them weightless or on very light shot to keep them from sinking into the muck.

[Columbia Craw]

Here’s some factors that dictate choices for me. 
 

Profile:  A jig can create a  big profile without a lot of actual mass.  Adjust trailers to fine tune the profile whether it’s a baitfish or crayfish. T rigs tend to have smaller profiles but can be much longer when using a worm.

 

Rate of Fall:  When slow fall is what I’m looking for, a jig is the deal. You can get a slow fall with a T rig with no or small weight but you loose the benefits of penetrating cover. It’s much easier to get a fast fall rate with plastics.  
 

Penetration:  Plastics get the nod when cover is heavy and snaggy, especially vegetation.  I like jigs in wood however. There are jigs with screw locks however that provide bulk and more effective penetrating ability and less hang ups.

Action:  If I’m looking for slower subtitles a jig with the right trailer.  When wiggles and waggles seem to be a triggering issue the T rigged plastic shines.  Lizards, Brush Hogs and such do great. There’s also something about the flare and collapse of a jigs skirt that just lends itself in cooler water.  Like Catt, both in some form 24-7-365.  
 

l like 7-3 or longer in MH, H and Extra fast.  👍

Edited January 4, 2024 by Columbia Craw
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[OmegaDPW]

I have never fished a jig like you're describing in my life. Sure, I've taken a Beetle Spin off of it's spinner and bumped one of the large ones a few times off the bottom over the years but that's it. None of my local ponds have any noticeable crawdad populations, so things like jigs and fat creature baits have never been anything I've gotten interested in. I guess I should try one out sooner or later just to see how they work down here.

 Texas rigged worms do it for me in all situations other than hunting panfish. That's what I have confidence in and I know I can fish it in just about any situation. Weeds and muck are prevalent in the ponds I have access to. I've always figured jigs would get hung up or need to be cleaned off after every cast and that has swayed me not to use them. 

[roadwarrior]

15 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

 Interchangeable.

 

I catch more fish on a Senko, but I prefer fishing a jig.

 

[scaleface]

I tend to fish jigs more early and late in the year. Texas rigs during the warm months but it varies year to year. 

[bowhunter63]

I went to a Rage Rig 90 percent of the time. Weighted keel hook for craws , creature baits. Still use t rig for worms but most my worm fishing now is a wacky worm. Rage Rig gets hung alot less 

[LrgmouthShad]

Cover is not even a consideration when deciding between the two. A jig can come through grass, mats, laydowns, brushpiles, bushes, standing timber, etc. If you fish jigs and one of these forms of cover beats you while jig fishing, pick a different jig or evaluate how you are fishing it. 
 

I’ve never encountered any cover that I thought was too thick for a jig. As I told @TnRiver46 recently, I’ll throw a jig over limbs or dock supports. 

[Jimmy Wallhanger]

lots of great answers thanks gentlemen. 

[TnRiver46]

Cypress is what steals jigs rapidly but they steal Texas rig too. Have to go weightless in there 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I use a Texas rigged plastic when I want to lose a little money to a snag. I use a jig when I want to lose a lot of money to a snag. 

[A-Jay]

 

I don't throw a jig or a Rigged plastic all that much any more,

but how about a Texas rigged plastic with a skirt ?

I'm a big fan of this deal and have been for a long time. 

Sort of the best of both worlds.

Really comes through all types of cover very well and is a bank anglers best friend.

I find myself throwing this in 'new to me' places.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/104025-best-jig-for-heavy-weeds-grass/?do=findComment&comment=1138729

 

A-Jay

[Catt]

@LrgmouthShad & @A-Jay

 

 

[Jimmy Wallhanger]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 

I don't throw a jig or a Rigged plastic all that much any more,

but how about a Texas rigged plastic with a skirt ?

I'm a big fan of this deal and have been for a long time. 

Sort of the best of both worlds.

Really comes through all types of cover very well and is a bank anglers best friend.

I find myself throwing this in 'new to me' places.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/104025-best-jig-for-heavy-weeds-grass/?do=findComment&comment=1138729

 

A-Jay

 

what knot do you tie with that? 

 

I have that set up but used it to punch mats with heavy braid and a snell knot. I love the snell knot but can not for the life of me tie one with flouro. 

 

thanks

[RipzLipz]

3 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

If you fish jigs and one of these forms of cover beats you while jig fishing, pick a different jig or evaluate how you are fishing it. 

Really good point. Happened to me when I started fishing football jigs in a lake that has practically one entire side littered with laydowns. I didn’t own any other type of jigs but after losing 2-3 per trip, I changed to a flipping jig which not only had a different shaped head but the line tie was at a different angle. Problem solved, plus the newer jig comes through weeds much, much better as an added bonus.

 

If I do get snagged, the vast majority of the time I can move the boat over to the opposite side of the snag & jig will pop free with little effort.

 

 
 

Bait Monkey was ecstatic with my decision.