finally!! a jig fish!!

[kikstand454]

this past weekend i went out and pre fished with my partner on lake talquin. as we didnt have a specific plan, when we came upon some cypress islands, i decided that i was going to throw a jig until i got bit. i had a new (to me) reel and a good rod and some 40lb power pro and i was determined!

well finally after years of half heartedly throwing a jig... it payed off! i caught 3 between 2 and 3.5lbs. it was satisfying. esp. since i was going behind my boater who was pitching a lizard and i was catching fish behind him!

we also got some really good fish on a carolina rig and i even had one break me off on my c-rig (20lb powerpro !).

all in all a good practice day for his tourney. and a great time and confidence boost for me!

[Big-O]

WTG ...now you're talkin'   

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[b.Lee]

TTIWOP

Im jealous haven't caught a jig fish yet, caught my first crankbait fish, but it was steelhead.

[firefightn15]

Cool beans Man! One more notch in your pistol.

[Deb]

We fished Talquin Feb of last year....it is a beautiful lake!!!!  I  hear it can be rough on lower units though, gotta be careful out there.  Be glad to get back down there....especially since my grandson, Jackson is there!!!

Way to go on the jig catching!!!  Sure is fun to feel the thump!

[spraycrew]

Congrats on your fish!

Glad to see i'm not the only person who doesn't use a jig much. I never used one growing up and now i really regret it. I know they catch really big fish from all the videos and stuff i've read on them in magazines, but i have zero confidence in using them. I forced myself last fall to use a jig for a couple of days in a row, and by forcing myself i honestly only took my jig box and some trailers. I knew if i didn't leave my other tackle at home the jigs would be off of my reels in a heartbeat. I caught a few fish, but really didn't gain much confidence in it.

[.dsaavedra.]

nice job. i still can't manage any jig fish...

[fishermantony]

Congratulations!  The jig is awesome!

[BigEbass]

Yeah, I have been fishing for 2 years now, and every time you take on a new bait, it is a confidence hurdle.....good job in making it happen!!  I am trying big swimbaits now (first time was saturday) and got my first swimbait bite which felt like a victory of itself (fish somehow came off though, I think I was a bite late) - if others can catch on a given lure so can we  ;D

[ArcherJohnny]

All these comments about frustration with jigs makes me smile:)  My old room mate used to fish CIRCLES around me with jigs when I couldn't get a single bite with em!  He tried and tried to show me how he was doing it, but I never could get it until this year with any kind of consistency. 

What I do now is attach a soft plastic grub to the jig head and just work it like a swimbait.  I still can't seem to get a bite with the "work along the bottom" retrieve, but I don't care.  Jigs and plastic grubs are cheap and pretty effective as little swimbaits.

Johnny

[Fishing Rhino]

All these comments about frustration with jigs makes me smile:) My old room mate used to fish CIRCLES around me with jigs when I couldn't get a single bite with em! He tried and tried to show me how he was doing it, but I never could get it until this year with any kind of consistency.

What I do now is attach a soft plastic grub to the jig head and just work it like a swimbait. I still can't seem to get a bite with the "work along the bottom" retrieve, but I don't care. Jigs and plastic grubs are cheap and pretty effective as little swimbaits.

Johnny

Where is it written that jigs must be dragged across the bottom and other lures must be fished any particular way?

When the fish "ain't" playing by the rules, break the rules.  I enjoy fishing baits in ways that are contrary to "standards".  It's amazing how frequently and how well they work.

Don't lose that spirit of experimentation. 

[ArcherJohnny]

Couldn't agree more, Tom.  I try not to give fish too much credit for smarts.  If something in my box looks like something a bass might find appetizing, I'm gonna throw it out there and work it until something happens.

Johnny

[Beastie Bass]

I snap a finesse jig off the bottom in two or three snap bursts, before letting it settle for a bit. It really pays off, when the ol lift and drag aint workin.

[kikstand454]

thanx for all the encouragement! i now find myself planning on throwing a jig constantly!!  hahah.  i know better. but still its gratifying to make something work that you KNOW other people kill with. not to mention actually make all those jigs in my tackle box worth the money.....

p.s. deb-  yeah talquin is a great lake. it fishes weird and in the summer you might as well just bring a c-rig and a crank rod cause all youre doing is fishing in 15+ft of water... but its nice. funny you mention the name jackson......our lake jackson here in tally has finally gotten back to full pool and is producing MONSTER catches for a lake that was mostly dried up for 10 years.   last weeks tourney there was won with 30+lbs and one of the fish was 12+!!  just another suggestion to fish when you come down here next time!

[SausageFingers23]

Nice job!  I finally got my first three jig fish this season.  Problem is, I think Im rapidly becoming addicted to throwing them.  I want to stay diversified.

[YNCBASSMAN]

I feel your pain on the jig fishing.  I went out last Sunday and threw a jig for about 4 hours straight, I was so determined to get a fish.  I caught 3 with the biggest one around 3lbs.  I was proud of my progess and how tired my arm was afterwards, lol.  Of course I put the jig down and catch 10 more on a senko in 30 mins.

[BassThumb]

Good work, fishing he jig until it got bit.  At one point I had to do that to convince myself that jigs weren't worthless.  Now I spend at least a little time with the jig on literally every trip.