Jigs...from start to fishin'

[Brian_Reeves]

Ok, I'm going to try to do this with as few references to brands as possible.  With several PM's regarding jigs and a few of the threads, I figured this might help out a little bit.

Jig description-  For this thread, we're going to call a jig a chunk of metal on a hook with a skirt and a trailer.

Jig Selection-  Before you buy a jig or tie one on, you might want to consider where you'll be fishing at.  Think about the lake or river you usually fish.  Is it grassy or barren?  Is it full of timber and brush or rocks?  Are the fish up in the shallows or deep?  These questions will help you pick the right shaped jig.  I'll break it down further.

Round head jigs-  These jigs have a simple ball for a head.  They aren't really specialized as far as I can tell, but they perform pretty well through each of the types of cover except grass.  

Football Jigs-  Football shaped heads on jigs are specifically designed for rocks.  They do not perform well at all in brush or grass, but their wide head keeps the hook pointed up and prevents the jig from falling into small cracks between the rocks.  This is also one of the best deep water jigs, since most deep structure is rocky.

Grass jigs- These jigs have more of an arrowhead or bullet shaped head.  Notice the hook placement on jigs.  Usually the eye of the hook will be bent at a 30 or 60 degree angle.  I prefer a 30 degree bullet head jig for swimming through heavy grass.  Some prefer the arrowhead shape though.

Flipping Jig-  Flipping jigs have a teardrop or 'flattened ball' shaped head.  These jigs are perfectly suited to deal with grass or brush while flipping and pitching banklines.  Some even have fish-shaped heads.  

Colors-  Unless you're fishing extremely muddy water, then you can get away in most cases (insert disclaimer here) with a watermelon-red, green pumpkin-orange, or black-blue jig.  Match the trailer color with the skirt color in most cases.  I personally like a green pumpkin-orange skirt for fishing in less than 10ft and black-blue for depths greater than 10ft.

Weights-  This is where the money is made.  Shallow water generally means lighter weights and vice versa.  I use this as a rule of thumb.  1/4oz is for less than 10 ft, 3/8oz is for 10-15ft, and 1/2oz is for 15+.  I also use 3/4 or 1oz for 30-40ft, if I fish that deep.  That isn't a set in stone rule, but that is typically what works for me.

Trailers-  I like action trailers, such as craws with curl tails or twin tail grubs.  In clearer water, beavers, chunks, and craws work well for me.  I match the trailer color to the jig in most cases.  I might get into those rare cases later on.

Presentations- The most common use for a jig is flipping and pitching it to cover or structure.  If I'm in gin clear water and am forced to cast the jig, chances are that I will switch to a soft plastic stick bait or something similiar just because it is too easy to miss bites on a jig that is too far away from the boat.

On a flip or pitch, you're ultimate goal is to be sneaky and stealthy.  Quietly approach the target and get the lure out there without making much of a splash.  Try to get it close to the cover or structure and let the jig fall under it's own power.  If there is no bite on the fall, let the jig sit still for about 10-20 seconds.  If there still isn't a fish, either hop it back to you or swim it back VERY SLOWLY.  If the jig collides with the bottem or with cover, let it settle and for a few seconds.

Hopefully some of this helps.  I think that about covers everything, right?

[Siebert Outdoors]

Very nice.

Mods Please sticky next to senko faq's

[tyrius.]

Thanks for the info!!!

Do you have a preference on the line tie orientation (vertical or horizontal) for grass jigs?  Horizontal would be like the Terminator Top Secret jig.

[Chad.]

I like a vertical line tie for grass jigs and horizontal for football.  

It would be perfect to add suggest and pictures of jig types.

[islandbass]

Awesome!!!! But any more you can add to help this jig virgin (uh, me. Doh!) is greatly appreciated. This is the last season I remain a jig and pig virgin and your piece gets one step closer.

I won't even touch my trusty drop shotting rigs this season until I get my first jig bass.  :'(

[Catt]

100%  ;D

[Chad.]

Without going into all of my weird tactics and tricks, that's about it for the basics.  Catt is the other dude that can really explain the nitty gritty of it.  

I plan on throwing and flipping black and blue booyah 3/8 ounce jigs with yum chunk b&b in heavy cover with ( little off topic) a daiwa hsta and a heavy 7' 12-25 st.croix elite does this sound ok. I am very sorry for the extreme ignorance as i have never fished a jig. I got a bunch of these booyah flipping jigs, but people never talk about them so i am a bit worries .

[Chad.]

The setup sounds fine to me.

Swick !

[tyrius.]

My goal is to get this thread to include everything that is needed for jig fishing that way I can copy and paste it in future threads.

Hmm, then let me ask a few more questions which I think would be helpful for jig beginners (which I am).

Rod recommendations (NOT brands, but action, length, etc)

Line recommendations: type (braid, mono, flouro), test, etc

Reel recommendations (retrieve speed in IPT, anything special like a flipping bar?)

Is your first pitch/flip directly into the center of the cover or do you start on the edges and move in?

I'm sure I'll think of more.

[Big-O]

Great info Brian, Cant' say that that I would add or subtract a thing. Maybe "JUST ADD FISHING".

Been out of the country for a week. Wish I could say I was fishing but I wasn't, so "BORING".

Big o

www.ragetail.com

[Jake P]

Thanks for more in depth jig fishing Brian, i know i asked for a little guidance the other day but this cleared up every question i had swimming around in my head. One of the bests posts i have read on this forum.

[HOIST-N-HAWGS]

Great thread and I'm sure it will be of help to those who are jig newbies as well as those who have jigphobia. Anyway, I noticed (unless I missed it,if I did my apologies!) there was no mention of swimming jigs. This is something I've been trying out this year, when others are cranking,though not w/a swimming jighead design. I have had limited succes and it takes a bit getting used to.

[Catt]

Rod recommendations (NOT brands, but action, length, etc)

Too many people try to buttonhole people into certain rods for jig fishing this is what I teach my students.

Select a rod length that suits your physical stature

Explanations: I'm 5' 11 ¾ 190 lbs so I can easily handle a 7-8' rod but a friend I fish with is 5' 4 156 lbs and would be at a disadvantage trying to use a 7' rod. A 6'6"-6'8 rod fits him perfectly.

Action: For Flipping/Pitching in dense cover select a heavy action but for sparse cover I use a medium heavy.

Line recommendations: type (braid, mono, fluorocarbon), test, etc

Again I use braid (50#) in dense cover but mono & fluorocarbon (15#) in sparse cover

Reel recommendations (retrieve speed in IPT, anything special like a flipping bar?)

You can fish jigs with any reel, some prefer high speed while other prefer medium.

Is your first pitch/flip directly into the center of the cover or do you start on the edges and move in?

Total depends on if I've established a pattern of fish hold deep in cover or on the edges

[roadwarrior]

This is a jig thread I save it in "Favorites" for the post by Joe.S:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1189609782

8-)

[njpaulc]

Great post! However, (you knew it was coming) after backlashing hundreds of times learning to pitch a quarter ounce jig, it dawned on me that I never read about any of the pros fishing that light.  I now reserve the smaller jigs for skipping with a spinning rod or casting with casting tackle and start pitching at three eights.  Haven't noticed any changes in catch rate.

[BrockSamson]

Hmm, then let me ask a few more questions which I think would be helpful for jig beginners (which I am).

Rod recommendations (NOT brands, but action, length, etc)

7' 1 pc Baitcaster Heavy Action/Fast

Line recommendations: type (braid, mono, flouro), test, etc

30 pound braid

Reel recommendations (retrieve speed in IPT, anything special like a flipping bar?)

6:1 Baitcaster, flipping bar if you want, I don't use one though.

Is your first pitch/flip directly into the center of the cover or do you start on the edges and move in?

Depends, sometimes you can get a reaction strike if you drop it right in.  In fact I missed one on Sunday when a bass crushed my jig immediately after it came off the log.

I'd start out with a 1/4 ounce black/blue jig with a 4" black w/ blue fleck Berkley Chigger Craw trailer.  This combo WILL catch fish.

[senile1]

Brian,

Your periodic primer on jigs is always welcome.  Good information.

[Castamasta]

i use football heads for all jigging, even in cover.....it works for me but i wonder if i could get some more bite if i used some of the other heads.......

[Joel W]

Brian, excellent primer on jigging.