Fishing Footbal jigs deep? What do you do to make it work?

[Waterwolves]

Ok, I have fished jigs deep for a while now with no success. I feel I am doing something wrong so maybe some of you guys can tell me how you fish them to make the fish bite. I know I am on top of fish because I catch them in these same spots with different techniques. I have no confedence in this bait.  >  

Do you drag it slow of rocks?

Do you hop it along at a fast pace?

Do you throw it really shallow and work it deep?

Do you work it along break lines. Drop offs.

The lake I have fished the most with it is a reasonably clear rocky lake with smallies, spots, and LM. Spots dominate this lake though.

[Tin]

Drag it down rocky points and bump it into rocks, when you get caught up rip it free. Thats what I get most my bites doing.

All about the reaction strike.

[5bass]

I will usually just bump it along a flat bottom that doesn't have much cover on it. On rocks I like to hop it a little more frequently just to get it up and over the rocks where they can see it. On an especially muddy bottom, I'll use a heavier football and try to drag it so it kicks up a little mud trail.  

Sometimes you just have to do it all in order to get bit. Once you catch a few, it's going to be hard to put down.  

[CJ]

Dragging them slow with a pause is how I have had best results.

I try to keep it slow and easy,no twitching or shaking,just letting the jig fall lightly off the rocks with a pause.....BAM!That's usually when she gets it.

In the winter,the fish seem to favor the jig,when there's current and/or clouds.

[=Matt 5.0=]

I

Sometimes you just have to do it all in order to get bit. Once you catch a few, it's going to be hard to put down.

Truer words were never said... it's like crack.  

[Stringjam]

You might try downsizing the jig - - cutting the the skirt right at the hook and cut the top off of the skirt "Eakins-style"    This will cut the bulk of the jig way down......I catch way more smallies and spots on this style of jig than any others I throw......and for that matter, largemouths like it just as well.  

[rglabach]

Football jigs (unpainted) are hard for me to find, and pretty expensive.

Any suggestions where I can purchase them at a reasonable cost? Are they that much more difficult to pour?

Thanks,

Rick

[brgbassmaster]

i like to just drag it through the rocks and pop it up once and a while like a fleeing crawfish.

[Al Wolbach]

Football jigs (unpainted) are hard for me to find, and pretty expensive.

Any suggestions where I can purchase them at a reasonable cost? Are they that much more difficult to pour?

Thanks,

Rick

This is the only place I have been able to locate unpainted football heads with a wide gap hook.

http://www.barlowstackle.com/

[Waterwolves]

  Thanks guys for the info. i will keep trying. i know it is a big fish bait and a lot of my friends swear by it. I guess i got to just keep at it. I just need to hit a day when the fish are really on a jig bite.

  I have tried cutting my jig a little and I think I will stick with that. There is some huge spots in this reservoir but it might increase my chances of getting bit. Good idea.

 

  I think I am going to wait until summer time and I am going to bring 3 rods and everyone of them will have a jig on it. I will just fish that jig all day until I get bit.  

[Shadcranker]

If you are around fish they will bite it.

Just pick a bunch of high percentage spots and make a milk run.

Throw a 3/4 oz and just drag it slowly down the ledge (say from 8ft down to 20).

Pick channel bends, corners, and /or deep edges with cover on them (stumps or rock piles).

Also, make sure and use a heavy action rod. You really have to hit em hard on a deep jig, or when she jumps, she'll spit it at you.

Sometimes the deep fish can be color selective, so rig up one black n blue and one green / brown, and mix up the colors.

Also, I've found that trailers can make a difference. My two favorite football trailers are a Zoom Speed Craw and a 4" Twin Tail trailer. I've also caught some on a sweet beaver trailer, but 70% of the time, I throw the Speed Craw.

[David P]

When I first started using jigs, I only fished a football jig.

3/8oz - 3/4oz football jig / uncle joshes pork trailer has produced time and time again.

[5bass]

Easy there brokejew, you're about to hit 1,000 posts!

As for trailers, I like the Power Bait chunks and also the Chigger Craws. I think the Power Bait scent attracts more bites plus makes 'em hold it just a little longer.....and ANY longer on a jig bite makes a big difference.

[flippin]

i make one with a light wire gammy and use paca craw all you got to do is lean back start winding and it barries the hook

[Jig Man]

Football jigs (unpainted) are hard for me to find, and pretty expensive.

Any suggestions where I can purchase them at a reasonable cost? Are they that much more difficult to pour?

Thanks,

Rick

They aren't hard to pour at all.