Can’t get any bites on jigs

[Ryan N]

I’m new to bass fishing and I like using spinners, top waters and worms but when it comes to jigs, I don’t get it. I drag, jerk and pop them on bottom, middle or top column of the water, next to cover, in cover, open water, everything I do doesn’t generate bites. My water is clear green so I decided to use a natural looking jig and trailer. I used half a watermelon green worm since I catch a lot of fish on it when it’s in a texas rig. I also have a junebug lizard jig but no success on that one either, tried it when it was dark, nada. I think they’re both 1/2 oz jig heads. Green one is Strike kings pro model jig and the junebug one I bought a long time ago.

[IcatchDinks]

Brother, I'm in the same boat. I just gave up and kept fishing with the stuff that gets bites. Makes me feel like an inferior angler, but at least I'm landing fish. 

[Ryan N]

@IcatchDinks Maybe I ought to try jig trailers that are tried and tested, like the rage craws. Only issue I have is they’re pricey and you have a high chance of losing or ripping them, it’s not very cost effective like a hard bait.

[PBBrandon]

Seems like different bodies of water the fish want different things. Jigs kill it in the pond I fish at, but can’t catch a darn thing on a lipless there. Then another body of water the opposite is true. I bet if you tried a different lake you’d have more success

[gim]

I don't get a lot of bites on jigs either.

 

No reason to force feed it if they ain't biting it.  Use what works.

[LrgmouthShad]

@ardeact yes, use a craw style jig trailer. I never had much luck with the worm trailers. Not to say this doesn’t work, but it doesn’t for me. Z craw is a good starting point. Rage craw is good. Zoom ultravibe speed craw is good. Berkeley chigger craw is good. Try one of those. 

[nso123]

You might try something like a Hog Farmer Spunk Shad for your trailer. I have seen them work well in several different spots. 

[roadwarrior]

 

[scaleface]

If you dont want to spend the money on crawdad imitating trailers , see if you can find Mister Twister double tailed grubs. They work great.

 

...or BPS.

[Captain Phil]

2 hours ago, ardeact said:

I’m new to bass fishing and I like using spinners, top waters and worms but when it comes to jigs, I don’t get it. I drag, jerk and pop them on bottom, middle or top column of the water, next to cover, in cover, open water, everything I do doesn’t generate bites. My water is clear green so I decided to use a natural looking jig and trailer. I used half a watermelon green worm since I catch a lot of fish on it when it’s in a texas rig. I also have a junebug lizard jig but no success on that one either, tried it when it was dark, nada. I think they’re both 1/2 oz jig heads. Green one is Strike kings pro model jig and the junebug one I bought a long time ago.

 

In all my years of bass fishing in Florida, I have only caught one bass on a jig. It was in a winter tournament in Kissimmee. The temperature was in the 30s and I had tried everything else.  The bite was so soft, I didn't know I had a fish. I've tried jigs many times.  I've bought dozens of them.  I even had a box of them in my boat with all colors and trailers, no dice.  I know they work, just not here.  This is where someone posts how crazy I am because jigs are all they use.  Fine with me, because I'm not a bass.  Stick with what works for you and leave the rest to others. 

[WRB]

Before jumping head long into the traditional bass jigs try Texas rigged worms with bullet weight.

Start out using “6 to 7 1/2” worms and 3/0 worm premium hook.

After you have successfully learned to detect strikes and catch bass then fish the jig using the same presentation. For the jig trailer start out with 4” Yamamoto twin tail grub on 3/8 oz jig works everywhere.

The basic cast let sink to the bottom watching the V in the line as the jig sinks, this is a good strike indicator when the V jumps slack set the hook. You left the rod tip 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock followed shaking the rod tip letting the jig fall back to the bottom and repeat. 
It takes time to train yourself eliminating what isn’t a strike vs what is.

Welcome to jig & worm fishing,

Tom

 

[Ryan N]

1 hour ago, PBBrandon said:

Seems like different bodies of water the fish want different things. Jigs kill it in the pond I fish at, but can’t catch a darn thing on a lipless there. Then another body of water the opposite is true. I bet if you tried a different lake you’d have more success

I’ll definitely try another lake, been fishing the same one for too long

[king fisher]

Buy some Yamamoto Hula Grubs rig them with 1/4 ounce ball head jigs, with hook exposed.  You will get snagged some, but you will also catch bass.  After catching lots of bass with this set up, you should be able to switch to traditional skirted jigs, and catch bass with them.  I don't know why it is so much easier to catch bass with the hula grub and ball head jig, but believe me it is.  I rarely use them any more, but maybe I should.

[Catt]

Once again 😉

 

The Jig is one of the most productive lures for fishing heavy cover of any type known to anglers.

The Jig is one of the most productive lures for catching larger than average bass.

But despite its pure awesomeness the angler must keep in mind there will be days when the bass simply do not want a jig.

 

So to all the young anglers (not chronological but experientially) struggling when casting, flipping, pitching, or punching with the Awesome Jig keep in mind there will be times when the Jig aint gonna be that AWESOME.

[MN Fisher]

^ Will it didn't produce numbers last year, two of my better bass were caught on a Siebert swim-jig in Green Pumpkin Candy with my go-to trailer....a Pit Boss in Green Haze.

 

Never got around to pitching into the mess - was having too much fun on the outer weedlines.

[Catt]

Keep throwing em, it'll happen

[Ryan N]

48 minutes ago, Catt said:

Keep throwing em, it'll happen

I’m just curious what kinds of jigs you guys are throwing, if you can send a picture that’ll help a ton

[LrgmouthShad]

13 minutes ago, ardeact said:

I’m just curious what kinds of jigs you guys are throwing, if you can send a picture that’ll help a ton

Ok

A couple of examples

 

[Ryan N]

The bottom one looks very saucy, but I never fished with any red. Who knows, maybe red is the jackpot I have yet to try.

[Jmurphy87]

It will come with time, I struggled at first with jigs because of no confidence in them. I could fish plastics with no problem at all. Although I kept throwing a jig and then it clicked, catching 2 fish over 4lbs in Michigan in less than 3 hours gives you confidence and now I have full confidence in jigs and they are one of my favorite presentations. You just have to put in the time to get there, it’s a dedication thing.

[Deephaven]

If you fish them in spots where you expect the bite will be in the fall will make the transition easier.  I love jigs.

[RRocket]

11 hours ago, PBBrandon said:

Seems like different bodies of water the fish want different things. 

So much this! 

[WRB]

Remember bass don’t give a sh@t what it looks like they care what it moves like!

Tom

[gulfcaptain]

So here's my 2 cents. First where are you throwing them, around grass? If so,  nix a football jig,  better for hard bottom. Next is jig size, sometimes you need to use a compact jig.....kietech makes a good tungsten jig, lighter would be a bitsy flip jig from Strike King in 1/4oz. Now fall rate.  Sometimes you want it to fall quickly,  so flapping appendages slow it down. I fished with a friend yrs back at Clear Lake, he was getting 4 bites to my one on a jig, difference,  I had a trailer that moved too much water he was fishing a Reaction Innovation beaver without pulling the ends apart causing a muted action. Next day swapped to a 1/2oz with a smaller beaver rigged the same way and night and day difference.  Needed less action. There is a lot of variables, water temp, depth, cover type,  style of jig. And I would say most over work a jig. If you're flipping it or working it around cover and looking for that reaction strike then a heavy jig works great moving quickly from one target to the next. If you're dragging and slow hoping a jig, well go slow, and when you think you're fishing slow, go slower. You hit a rock, shake it free, don't hop it. That rod tip should move from 9 to 11, figure slow(15-20seconds to cover that distance) then pause.  Learn the feel of your jig, if it feels mushy or different,  set the hook. Moving slow they will pick it up and it's either heavy or mushy or your jig just doesn't feel right, lift up and hit um....I wouldn't slack line them though, by that time they may drop it.  But as some have said sometimes they just don't want it. Sometimes a Texas rig craw bait is better. I can say I've not had great luck with a jig and worm set up or a lizard. I'd stick with 3-4" craw/creature baits,  or the chunk style trailers, double tail grubs.  

 

[Captain Phil]

Here's the jig I throw.  Guaranteed not to catch dinks!  😊