A few Jig tips to share

[Joe. S]

I posted this on a few other boards and figured I should also share it here:

I am not a know it all when it comes to jigs and I do not want anyone to think that.

I would like to share some of the things I have done that I feel have given me more success with it over the last two years. I am still learning every trip!

A few things I have done to make my success better when fishing the jig that I think has made a huge difference in my catch the past two years, is trying something "out" of the water.

Actually two or three things, the main thing I believe in fishing a jig properly is patience to fish it right.

I have a little technique page I need to update as I am always learning new things that help produce more.

I believe when imitating a crawfish, making the Jig move and act the most realistic is key to catching fish with it, I shouldn't just say catching fish, but bigger fish!

And I always thought I did, but below will explain what really opened my eyes so to speak.

One of the first things I think anyone should do that is learning it or struggling with it,is start at home.

Cast it in the street or driveway, not in the lawn or high grass, or even try it in the parking lot at the lake before fishing.

Tie on a whatever weight jig you are planning on using, this way when you cast,and drag it you can see the actual distance the jig moves per how far you have moved the rod tip.

It is actually surprising how far it will move with not even that much rod tip movement.

(I never work my jig with the reel, it is only a means of reeling up slack or reeling in a fish.)

Crayfish crawl slow, the only time their fast is when they dart from danger.

So I think a lot of unnaturalness occurs when people will cast and let the jig hit the bottom, and then say move there rod tip, even if slow from 3 o'clock to the 12 o'clock positon, that is a far move for a crayfish crawling in the matter of a few seconds, if you were to take a live crayfish, which I really suggest doing and let him crawl around on the ground you will see the speed.

Once you do these things burn all these things into your head, So when you get out on the water you know how far to move that tip, Maybe from the 3 o'clock postion to 2 'oclock position or actually even less.

Big fish are lazy to a point and want an easy meal. I've caught Jig fish fishing it faster over the years before doing the above mentioned things, but my Pound average has went way up after implementing these techniques, and even the amount of bites I have gotten on the jig.

Hopefully some of these things, can help someone out with the jig. But you need to have the patience to implement them into your fishing

Jig fishing seems to one of those things that some people really get, or really struggle with, Would love to see some things others do as well to give them an edge in there presentations and hopefully help others who may not have the confidence to stick with the jig or struggle with catching fish while trying to use them.

My 3 fish limit from last Sunday for 10.10 with a 4.1 lunker.

With of course the jig.

[roadwarrior]

Great post!

Here's some more from Joe. S:

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

8-)

[Siebert Outdoors]

Nice post and fish Joe.  Thanks.

[slomoe]

Good post. Thanks

[Catt]

K.I.S.S.  

Keep It Slow Stupid  

[Matt 825]

Great post.  You are right most people myself included fish the jig too fast.  

[Brian_Reeves]

You're right.  I noticed that same thing when I was practicing hitting styrofoam bowls in my back yard.  Moving that rod can really make a lure cover some ground.  The longer the rod, the more movement.  

I tend to fish jigs really fast, using heavy weight and high action trailers to cover water and trigger reaction strikes by erratic and aggressive movement.  That technique works great when fish are active.

But during the heat of the day or when fish are shut off for whatever reason, moving that jig oh so slow can be oh so sweet.  That's one of the great things about a jig though.  So much can be done with it.

Great post and a good tip to keep in mind.

[Tokyo Tony]

Good info, nice post  

One thing though - when you watch the amount of forward movement on the pavement, it's not quite accurate because you're on the same level as the jig. If you're fishing 20 feet of water, a twitch of the rod won't move the jig that far forward, but it will hop it upwards more. Just a consideration...

[basspimple]

thats a good point. i fish jigs on a 7'6'' pole, and i drag it about six inches. used to work well in a local creek i fish, but with it gettin colder i have to slow down. great post!

[The_Natural]

Good to hear from you Joe, and nice post.  The number one thing I feel is important is picturing and knowing what your bait is doing under the water.  The only way to know, as you pointed out, is to view your jig on the lawn or in shallow water.  I will crawl my jig slowly, and then make it dart by giving my rod a small sideways jerk.  As you pointed out...you always see angler just doing the usual 10'clock to noon rod movement.  

[Gatorbassman]

Many people don't let there jig sit long enough.

What opened my eyes to that was the use of my kids fish tank. It's cool to see how much action a jig has when you just let it sit on the bottom for several seconds. I've been messing with different skirt materials, lengths and trailers and I've found some great combonations that work for me. My size has gone way up because of it.

[Catt]

Some else to consider when fishing structure is when working a jig down hill it will move a lot farther than when working it uphill.