I'll come right out and say it...I have trouble fishing JIGS!!!

[Bassnajr]

Hey all,

I have had a great fishing season and have only one complaint....

I still have not mastered the jig. Heck, mastered, I have a heck of a time with them!!! I don't know what I am doing wrong. Perhaps I don't give jigging enough time, or I'm just not patient enough. I have read many posts here from members who feel the same. way. My fishing buddy watches me, and says, You're doing it right." But no luck. He thinks I am "over thinking" it. I have heard people say, "It's not really that hard." I don't know what to think any more. Lots of people give me advice (use a SMALLER jig, trailer/no trailer, get the color right, etc.) Could it be that I, and alot of other members are just over thinking it?? I know that to be successful, you have to be a good all around angler and that's what I am trying to do.

What do you folks have to say?? :-/

ajr

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I didn't really "get it" till I totally dedicated to it.  Throw nothing else till you learn it.  It was the only way for me.  

I had tried them here and there, no luck, no confidence built.  If you dedicate to it, eventually you will hit 1 of those "windows" where it reigns supreme and all the previous , seemingly fruitless hours beforehand, will now all make sense and you'll be addicted for a few yrs, minimum.  Some nice fish in your future should you take this route

ps- small jig/always use a trailer, grn/blk or brown combos. (Till your confidence builds, then explore)

[Bassnajr]

That's good advice.

I think one way is to ONLY take jigs out for a few trips, forcing myself to get used to using them, and hopefully, picking up a feel for them.

ajr

[Garnet]

You didn't mention your normal approach and some input on lake type.

Garnet

[Bassnajr]

Gar,

I am speaking about jigging in general. Any lake, any time of year. I am pretty good with a wide varity of lures and presentations, all which I hope to et better with. Using a jig in general, is just hard for me.

ajr

[Big-O]

Relax Bassnajr,

Rome wasn't built in a day, or a fishing season, and Rome is still one off the most popular cities on earth....

I posted the following info recently to assist on another thread and hope it helps you as well.

Time and patience is all it takes to catch fish and gain confidence with jig fishing. My best advice from the beginning is:

1) Stay shallow in 8ft or less.

2) Stay light on the weight of your line 12 lb or so, and jig maybe 1/4  oz. max

3) Stay out of the wind as much as possible so you can concentrate on your technique.

4) Stay slow on your hops, twitches and drags and maintain contact with the bottom, fish them much like Tx rigged worms.

5) STAY WITH IT.

Last but not least, it is extremely helpful to use a trailer that provides great action to your jig in every situation whether it is on the fall, with the slightest movement of your rod tip or on a swimming retrieve.

I guess you can figure out which trailer I would advise...

Big O

[Tin]

Sounds like we need to take a trip to the Park.  8-)

[Bassnajr]

Thanks for the advice Big O !!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Alan, have you seen this?

[Bassnajr]

Tin,

You name the date and time....I'll drive. You have my number. I would be honored!!

[roadwarrior]

I didn't really "get it" till I totally dedicated to it. Throw nothing else till you learn it. It was the only way for me.

Took me 2+ years, but now it has become my "go-to" lure. My strong

suit has always been soft plastics, yet I have hardly fished them this

year. That's really a big deal for me!

8-)

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I didn't really "get it" till I totally dedicated to it.  Throw nothing else till you learn it.  It was the only way for me.

Took me 2+ years, but now it has become my "go-to" lure. My strong

suit has always been soft plastics, yet I have hardly fished them this

year. That's really a big deal for me!

8-)

Soft plastics-----> jigs, a natural progression.  Think of jigging as soft plastics fishing,..accelerated.  With jigs, you look to learn a better understanding of reading the bottom by feel.  The next level.

[TruflShufl]

I've never got even a bite on a jig before until yesterday. The patterns been tough in the pond behind my house and I got a wild hair and decided to throw a 3/8 oz. watermelon jig with a baby paca craw trailer and woooooo-eeeeee. Caught me a 21 incher  8-) Now I'm hooked on the jig fishin. ;D

[=Matt 5.0=]

Last year after the quick on the water tutorial with LBH I caught about 95% of all my bass on a jig. This year, I think I caught maybe 5 fish on one. :-? :-/ The bite has been off like you read about. Very frustrating season for me this year. Hoping to redeem it tomorrow......maybe.....