Absolute beginner jig fisherman questions

[CDMTJager]

First I will be fishing almost entirely from the bank.

Been fishing soft plastics in the form of all types of worms from 7-12" 90% Texas rigged for over 35 years with great success including 3 of my largest largemouths were caught using 7.5" Culprit original worms and 1/8oz bullet weights. Tried bug and creature baits first time last year and enjoyed much success.  But I have never fished a skirted jig before in my life and are going to do so this year. Ordered a two each in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 oz in green Pumpkin, watermelon, black/blue and white/shad. Ordered Arkie Platinum series jigs (1/4 & 3/8oz) (best deal for jigs IMO)  and Sixth Sense Hybrid jigs along with soft plastic trailer baits.

 

Been watching how to fish skirted jigs from shore since October of last year. Everything I've read, heard or watched all say most difficult thing to master with fishing jigs is sensing when a bass just sucks up or lightly bites your jig.

 

I plan on devoting at least two outings a week in early spring when I know the smaller <3lb male bass are in thick near the shore to strictly ONLY fishing jigs and only bringing jigs with so I have no choice but to fish only jigs. I have a pretty good bass lake walking distance from my home that before spawn large stretches of shore are simply LOUSY with <3lb male bass in 3-12 feet of water that I feel would be an excellent way for me to learn what a jig bite feels like. At this time of year vegetation will still be minimal and the bottom is sand interspersed with a lot of rocks that vary from fist to a basketball in size 

 

I have never fished a soft plastic with a baitcaster before only with spinning tackle.

 

My question is this a good way to learn what a jig bite feels like as at first I plan on starting out using just my 1/4oz jigs with soft plastic trailers and a light baitcasting set up using 8lb fluorocarbon and a 7' or 6'6" baitcasting rod and reel designed for lighter baits. I'm doing this for two reasons.

First because unlike a spinning rod set up if I'm using a baitcaster I can use my left hand to maintain direct contact with my line essentially 100% of the time during my retrieve, I can NOT do this using a spinning set up. Secondly I'm starting out with 1/4oz jigs because that is what I use 90# of the time to fish my soft plastics and I think a lighter jig weight to begin with will help me feel a strike or when a bass picks up my luer better than if I use hevior jigs. 

 

As I said I will be fishing almost entirely from shore and the structure I will be fishing will be a mix a lot of sand a lot of hard bottom like rock with patches of grass and lilly pads and soft bottom with patches of grass and lilly pads, but very very little other types of structure. As the average depth from shore of the lake in under 12 feet as the water warms up there is A LOT of grass, reeds and lilly pads by late may.

 

I haven't yet bought a baitcasting reel or rod for casting lightER weight baits yet and am holding off doing so till I get some feedback from others more experienced than I at fishing jigs.

 

 

[Fishingmickey]

If you can tell you've gotten bit on the T-rigged worm. It's no different then feeling a jig bite. You're already there IMHO.

FM

p.s. Fishing with a bait caster with Jig's or T-rigged worm. 7' MH fast and a 7:1 retrieve reel will work just fine. 12-16# line, I'd start with a quality mono (Berkely Big game or XL), only fill the spool about 3/4 until you get comfortable casting. That way when you get that "Oh shucks" birds nest you can re-spool and go at it again. 

FM

[WRB]

There is a long multi page thread on jig questions that should confuse you beyond further help.

You already know what a jig strike feels like because it’s the same as a weighted T-rig. 

The heavier the jig casting and retrieving from shore the less effective it will be because of snagging debris constantly.

Do everything the same as you do with your T-rig and start with a lighter weight jig between 3/16 to 5/16 oz. Santone* Rayburn Swim Jig In River Brean is my choice for you. Site sponsor Siebert Outdoors makes excellent jigs using high quality hooks in a variety of jig types.

A swim jig can be worked uphill with it’s hook eye in nose of the jig and will go through weeds/grass better then a Arkie style jig.

Shimano SLX MGL 70 is on sale at ALF for $99.99, excellent reel. Rod Catt has been suggesting Daiwa Tatula MHXF 7’1” rod.

Tom

* currently on sale at Tackle Warehouse.

 

[RRocket]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but you may be over thinking this a bit.

 

With you possessing 35+ years of T-rig mastery, I think you'll feel the bite just fine right out of the gate.

 

You'll be a very quick study IMO.

 

Just get out there and start throwing and keep us posted on your SUCCESS.

[Pat Brown]

Yeah it's just a funny looking t rig that gets slightly larger average size fish and snags a little easier (for the purpose of this thread)

 

Don't overthink it!  Just tie one on and fish it exactly how you fish your worm.

 

You'll catch one in no time.

 

I do not recommend heavy wire hooks or overly large jigs or trailers to start out but I do recommend heavier tackle than you're planning to use.  Maybe 10-12 lb big game at least on a 7' MHF bait casting rod?  I'd go 15 lb personally but I like to set the hook.

[Choporoz]

1 hour ago, CDMTJager said:

I plan on starting out using just my 1/4oz jigs with soft plastic trailers and a light baitcasting set up using 8lb fluorocarbon and a 7' or 6'6" baitcasting rod and reel designed for lighter baits. I'm doing this for two reasons..

Typo?  Did you mean 18lb?

 

12, maybe...15 probably better

[softwateronly]

The only difference to me is, don't wait on a jig bite.  You feel a thump, mush, or nothing.....reel down and swing.  I also believe this for t-rigs, but I know some don't.

 

scott

 

** the nothing bite is also a reason I think a slightly heavier jig is easier to start with**

[Mr. Aquarium]

When I first started jig fishing that was the only thing I brought out. Especially on days where I was shore fishing and pond hopping. If I was on an all day trip I’d bring other stuff. It forced me to learn them cuz I didn’t have anything else with me. 

[roadwarrior]

Read the "Jig Questions" at the top of the page.

[CDMTJager]

Greatest of thanks to all the replies.

4 hours ago, RRocket said:

Please don't take this the wrong way, but you may be over thinking this a bit.

 

With you possessing 35+ years of T-rig mastery, I think you'll feel the bite just fine right out of the gate.

 

You'll be a very quick study IMO.

 

Just get out there and start throwing and keep us posted on your SUCCESS.

Ill be the first to admit I tend to over complicate things. Thank you for your advise.

4 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Typo?  Did you mean 18lb?

 

12, maybe...15 probably better

No it wasn't a typo, but thank you for you concern. All of the baitcasting rods I currently own are MH-H fact action and I wasn't sure (actually had serious doubts) if any of my baitcasting rods or reels would work well with casting 1/4oz jigs so I was going to buy a baitcasting rod and reel setup suited for casting 1/4oz jigs. I was going to go with 8-10lb test as I felt lighter test line will cast lighter jigs better than 12-17lb test line and should reduce my odds of over-spooling and developing rats nest.

 

Thanks to all for education me to the fact fishing jigs is very much like fishing a T-rigged worm as that will be a huge help in accelerating my bite detection learning curve. I just never fished a soft plastic with anything other than a spin casting setup. If my memory serves me correctly the lightest luer I have ever thrown with a baitcaster was 3/8oz.

 

I am rather surprised after watching at least a 18-20 videos on how to specifically fish a skirted jig for beginners (101 if you will) not one person who produced the video said fishing jigs was anything like fishing a T-rigged soft plastic. But now that I think about it, I am rather embarrassed I didn't figure that out all on my own.

6 hours ago, WRB said:

There is a long multi page thread on jig questions that should confuse you beyond further help.

You already know what a jig strike feels like because it’s the same as a weighted T-rig. 

The heavier the jig casting and retrieving from shore the less effective it will be because of snagging debris constantly.

Do everything the same as you do with your T-rig and start with a lighter weight jig between 3/16 to 5/16 oz. Santone* Rayburn Swim Jig In River Brean is my choice for you. Site sponsor Siebert Outdoors makes excellent jigs using high quality hooks in a variety of jig types.

A swim jig can be worked uphill with it’s hook eye in nose of the jig and will go through weeds/grass better then a Arkie style jig.

Shimano SLX MGL 70 is on sale at ALF for $99.99, excellent reel. Rod Catt has been suggesting Daiwa Tatula MHXF 7’1” rod.

Tom

* currently on sale at Tackle Warehouse.

 

 

5 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Yeah it's just a funny looking t rig that gets slightly larger average size fish and snags a little easier (for the purpose of this thread)

 

Don't overthink it!  Just tie one on and fish it exactly how you fish your worm.

 

You'll catch one in no time.

 

I do not recommend heavy wire hooks or overly large jigs or trailers to start out but I do recommend heavier tackle than you're planning to use.  Maybe 10-12 lb big game at least on a 7' MHF bait casting rod?  I'd go 15 lb personally but I like to set the hook.

Thanks to both of you for your advise. I will give those jigs a try. I did check my unused baitcasting rods and I do have an older 7' Shimano M/F rod (completely forgot I had it rod has a considerable layer of stringy dust on it) that should work well enough. I also have a Lew's Speed Spool reel still in it's box I will try as well.

Greatest of thanks to all for sharing your experience with me. You answered my questions and saved me well over $100 on new baitcasting setup. 

[RRocket]

43 minutes ago, CDMTJager said:

 

Ill be the first to admit I tend to over complicate things. Thank you for your advise.

 

Oh no! 

 

I was hoping that wouldn't be the conclusion drawn from my post! I'm sorry if it was.

 

My point was that with your extensive T-Rig expertise and mastery, that a transition to jig fishing would be easy for you since you already possess excellent feel and touch.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear in that regard.

[CDMTJager]

2 hours ago, RRocket said:

Oh no! 

 

I was hoping that wouldn't be the conclusion drawn from my post! I'm sorry if it was.

 

My point was that with your extensive T-Rig expertise and mastery, that a transition to jig fishing would be easy for you since you already possess excellent feel and touch.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear in that regard.

Nothing to worry about at all. I took no offence whatsoever. I am a heavy industrial maintenance electrician responsible for safeguarding, maintaining and repairing electrical equipment worth millions to 10s of millions of dollars, so I tend to over evaluate most situations and at times have difficulty accepting a simple solution especially when it's staring me in the face.  

[RipzLipz]

@CDMTJager Do what you feel best, but I wouldn’t go under 12lb. line, especially if you’re fishing around wood or rock. Granted, I rarely fish jigs from the bank but with 7’+ MH baitcaster, I can throw 1/4oz jig + trailer just fine on 15lb fluoro. The trailer will add some weight. You should be fine with 12-17lb line. You’re probably going to want to set the hook pretty good once you gain the confidence like you have T-rigging, so the heavier line will allow for that more than diminishing casting, IMO.

 

Start throwing at ice out. They can be up shallow looking for craws much earlier than you might expect. Caught most of my largest fish here in IN before mid-April fishing jigs. Pick 3 basic colors & trailers in varying weights. Cycle through weights until fish tell you what they want. I fish a Dirty Jig Canterbury Flipping Jig all year with SK Rage whatever, mostly in 1/2oz, 3/8oz if being shy/stubborn (LMB). I’d go lighter if targeting smallies & trim the skirt a bit & bite off trailer for more compact profile.

 

Stick a pig. 👍

[RipzLipz]

Also, forgot to mention & my opinion only, don’t skimp when it comes to fluorocarbon. You typically get what you pay for. If you’re concerned about backlash & going through too much, use some cheap mono backing until the overruns are a thing of the past.

[CDMTJager]

On 1/30/2024 at 10:48 PM, RipzLipz said:

@CDMTJager Do what you feel best, but I wouldn’t go under 12lb. line, especially if you’re fishing around wood or rock. Granted, I rarely fish jigs from the bank but with 7’+ MH baitcaster, I can throw 1/4oz jig + trailer just fine on 15lb fluoro. The trailer will add some weight. You should be fine with 12-17lb line. You’re probably going to want to set the hook pretty good once you gain the confidence like you have T-rigging, so the heavier line will allow for that more than diminishing casting, IMO.

 

Start throwing at ice out. They can be up shallow looking for craws much earlier than you might expect. Caught most of my largest fish here in IN before mid-April fishing jigs. Pick 3 basic colors & trailers in varying weights. Cycle through weights until fish tell you what they want. I fish a Dirty Jig Canterbury Flipping Jig all year with SK Rage whatever, mostly in 1/2oz, 3/8oz if being shy/stubborn (LMB). I’d go lighter if targeting smallies & trim the skirt a bit & bite off trailer for more compact profile.

 

Stick a pig. 👍

Thanks for the advice will do. I haven't yet bought a jig fishing specific rod or reel and my funds of late are getting used pretty darn quick as both boys are now in collage youngest just started oldest is in his 2nd year of nursing youngest for electrical engineering. So I'll need to buy what I can afford VS what I'd really like. 

My son has joined the bass fishing club at his college, and while I bought him his own rods reels and pretty decent ones at that, as well as a quite respectful selection of both soft and hard sided baits, I'll have to keep my fishing gear under lock and key and look into what a 7/24/365 armed guard will cost me.

On 1/31/2024 at 2:17 PM, RipzLipz said:

Also, forgot to mention & my opinion only, don’t skimp when it comes to fluorocarbon. You typically get what you pay for. If you’re concerned about backlash & going through too much, use some cheap mono backing until the overruns are a thing of the past.

Great advice on the line choice.This is my fluorocarbon of choice:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/SPRO_Essential_Series_Gouken_Fluorocarbon_Fishing_Line/descpage-SEGF.html

[RipzLipz]

@CDMTJager I completely understand. Food & money quickly disappear once boys hit the age of 10 or 12. I have 2 boys myself, both over 27 now, thank goodness.

 

[CDMTJager]

On 1/31/2024 at 2:31 PM, RipzLipz said:

@CDMTJager I completely understand. Food & money quickly disappear once boys hit the age of 10 or 12. I have 2 boys myself, both over 27 now, thank goodness.

 

On 1/31/2024 at 2:17 PM, RipzLipz said:

Also, forgot to mention & my opinion only, don’t skimp when it comes to fluorocarbon. You typically get what you pay for. If you’re concerned about backlash & going through too much, use some cheap mono backing until the overruns are a thing of the past.

Great advice on the line choice.This is my fluorocarbon of choice:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/SPRO_Essential_Series_Gouken_Fluorocarbon_Fishing_Line/descpage-SEGF.html

While I am a XXL guy my sons are both bigger than I one is 6'3" the other 6'4" and both over 280 feeding and clothing them both is frighteningly expensive. Thankfully they both have gotten so big they no longer fit in most of my clothes. Phrases like "does anyone want that last piece of pizza, chicken, beef roast etc. NEVER get said in my home.

[CDMTJager]

On 1/30/2024 at 2:08 PM, WRB said:

There is a long multi page thread on jig questions that should confuse you beyond further help.

You already know what a jig strike feels like because it’s the same as a weighted T-rig. 

The heavier the jig casting and retrieving from shore the less effective it will be because of snagging debris constantly.

Do everything the same as you do with your T-rig and start with a lighter weight jig between 3/16 to 5/16 oz. Santone* Rayburn Swim Jig In River Brean is my choice for you. Site sponsor Siebert Outdoors makes excellent jigs using high quality hooks in a variety of jig types.

A swim jig can be worked uphill with it’s hook eye in nose of the jig and will go through weeds/grass better then a Arkie style jig.

Shimano SLX MGL 70 is on sale at ALF for $99.99, excellent reel. Rod Catt has been suggesting Daiwa Tatula MHXF 7’1” rod.

Tom

* currently on sale at Tackle Warehouse.

 

Well I splurged and bought the Diawa Tatula HHXF 7'1" rod. I already have a new unused Kast King Zephyr I'll spool it with 16lb Sporo Gouken fluorocarbon. Plan on fishing by 1st week of April.

Will fill the spool 50% with Tylene BG then the rest with FC. at $23/164 yrds can't afford to waist any.

Looking forward to trying out jig fishing as last year after two previous years of frog fishing and an abysmal hook up rate of <50% I switched to a smaller softer frog and mastered waiting to set the hook and my hook up/landing ratio skyrocketed to over 80%. I made only TWO simple changes and I doubled my success with frogs. Hoping for similar success with jigs.

[CDMTJager]

23 hours ago, RipzLipz said:

@CDMTJager Do what you feel best, but I wouldn’t go under 12lb. line, especially if you’re fishing around wood or rock. Granted, I rarely fish jigs from the bank but with 7’+ MH baitcaster, I can throw 1/4oz jig + trailer just fine on 15lb fluoro. The trailer will add some weight. You should be fine with 12-17lb line. You’re probably going to want to set the hook pretty good once you gain the confidence like you have T-rigging, so the heavier line will allow for that more than diminishing casting, IMO.

 

Start throwing at ice out. They can be up shallow looking for craws much earlier than you might expect. Caught most of my largest fish here in IN before mid-April fishing jigs. Pick 3 basic colors & trailers in varying weights. Cycle through weights until fish tell you what they want. I fish a Dirty Jig Canterbury Flipping Jig all year with SK Rage whatever, mostly in 1/2oz, 3/8oz if being shy/stubborn (LMB). I’d go lighter if targeting smallies & trim the skirt a bit & bite off trailer for more compact profile.

 

Stick a pig. 👍

I've got GR/Pump, WTRM, and BLK/BLU jigs and  3"-3.25" GRN/Pump/BF, WTRM/RF and Okeechobee craw trailers.

Last year I did very well fishing 4-4.25" BT/Bug baits in Okeechobee craw and fishing 8-12" worms in June Bug, blue/blk flake WTRM/RF and a new color beaver bait I did well on showed promise of Tilapia.

[RipzLipz]

@CDMTJager Black & blue, brown & orange, & watermelon/green pumpkins are my usual suspects. Some examples:

 

   

  
Color names (my interpretation of similar) below of jigs shown above which IMO are minimum starting points for colors with SK Rage Bug, Rage Craw or Rage Menace Grub trailers:

1. Alabama Craw (brown/orange)
2. Bever Craw (Okeechobee Craw)
3. Black & Blue
4. Black Blue & Purple
5. Definite Watermelon
6. Dirty Chartreuse (summer craw/watermelon)
7. Green Pumpkin Magic (brown/purple, PBJ)

Those are variations of the basics (IMO), can go lighter or darker pending water clarity. I’d definitely consider all black as well though I’ve yet to fish one as the brand I use doesn’t have one of this model in production. I omitted red hues for same reason but should also be considered once you get some experience under your belt & figure out what may work on your waters.

 

If fishing cover, like laydowns, brush, logs, rocks, angle of the hook eye along with head shape are key in being able to pull the jig through. If you ever fish in a boat, a good lure retriever will pay for itself & often if you haven’t set the hook into the snag, you can move boat over & past the snag & should be able to free the jig easily. Can come back later if fish get spooked. Unfortunate by product of fishing gnarly cover at times.

[Munkin]

Here is my take on learning to fish a jig to simplify things:

 

1.If you can fish a T-Rig you can fish a jig, only difference I find is with a jig bigger fish will just knock slack in the line.

2. Use the same colors in jigs that you use in soft plastics, KISS principle applies here.

3. Trailers= Keep it simple here as well, chunk style and something that moves water (doubletail grub, Rage craw, Chigger craw, or something similar) and colors should match the jig skirt to start.

4. Weight = You something slightly heavier than your T-Rig. Jig with a trailer will fall slower than a T-Rig of the same weight. Don't go too much heavier as 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2oz cover most situations.

5. Try lions-cut or fine cut skirts if you want more of a finesse presentation.

 

To really simplify things try this jig with a Zoom Super Chunk Jr trailer.

 

Products (siebertoutdoors.com)

 

 

Allen

[CDMTJager]

4 hours ago, RipzLipz said:

• Bever Craw (Okeechobee Craw)
• Black & Blue
• Black Blue & Purple
• Definite Watermelon
• Dirty Chartreuse (summer craw/watermelon)
• Green Pumpkin Magic (brown/purple, PBJ)

I did order jigs in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2oz (although I'm kinda regretting ordering the 1/4oz ones) in all the above colors or colors so close I'm not sweating the difference. Did my absolute best to color match the trailers and trailer length some were 2.75" some are 3" some are 3.25". Some are beaver style baits some were chunk style some were twin curly tail style. So I should be well covered and kept busy from April till October learning the ins outs dos and don'ts of jig fishing. 

Going to start off simple with 3/8oz jigs and chunk trailers and not really modify anything and just do my best to listen to what the bass tell me they want.

The trailer I'm most likely to try first I bought is a 3" NetBait BaitFuel Paca Chunk as they were very attractively priced at TWH. I did order jigs made by 6th sense, Santone, Cumberland Pro and Arkie Platinum. 

Like I said going to be VERY busy.

[CDMTJager]

4 hours ago, Munkin said:

Here is my take on learning to fish a jig to simplify things:

 

1.If you can fish a T-Rig you can fish a jig, only difference I find is with a jig bigger fish will just knock slack in the line.

2. Use the same colors in jigs that you use in soft plastics, KISS principle applies here.

3. Trailers= Keep it simple here as well, chunk style and something that moves water (doubletail grub, Rage craw, Chigger craw, or something similar) and colors should match the jig skirt to start.

4. Weight = You something slightly heavier than your T-Rig. Jig with a trailer will fall slower than a T-Rig of the same weight. Don't go too much heavier as 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2oz cover most situations.

5. Try lions-cut or fine cut skirts if you want more of a finesse presentation.

 

To really simplify things try this jig with a Zoom Super Chunk Jr trailer.

 

Products (siebertoutdoors.com)

 

 

Allen

Greatest of thanks' on sharing your recommendations. But I had already ordered these as my trailers in colors best matching my jigs I ordered.

 

And a few colors of these in 3" long

 

[CDMTJager]

Well I have jigs, trailers and a new rod that all should be here by friday. Going to use a reel I have and going to start by using 16lb SPRO Essential Series Gouken Fluorocarbon fishing line. 

14 day forecast says starting after Feb 7th-14th temps are supposed to get in the low 50's. If so will give the lake walking distance from my home or another lake pretty close by a try I know has good sized bass in it. It's a smaller lake shore access only unless you want to drag a kayak quite a long ways from the P-lot.

 

 

[CDMTJager]

Have a question about trying braid to fluorocarbon for jigs.

Was thinking trying hi-vis yellow 15lb or 20lb Power Pro to 16lb Floro might be a good idea as the hi-vis braid would allow me to see my line move and the braid would transmit strikes better than just straight floro.

Thoughts?