Jig!!! What did I do wrong?

[BassinTx]

I went fishing this evening and threw nothing but a pumping seed jig. I haven't thrown too many jigs in the past and wanted to practice. I came up on a tree that had fallen into the water and pitched my jig next to it and worked it along side of the tree. I got a bite but didn't get a good enough hook. So I through back into the same spot. I got a bite again this time I dropped my rod tip reeled up the slack and set the hook pretty hard. It came off again. What am I doing wrong and what can I do to fix it?

[fishfordollars]

The first thing i do with a new jig is trim the fiber weed guard back. Just above the hook point. Try it and see if it will help.

[CJ]

There's many things that this could be. First thought in my mind is that it may have been a smaller fish. If it was tap tap tap, then my guess is that it was a small fish. Probably not even getting the hook in it's mouth. A bass with any size to it usually will inhale a jig, leave you feeling only a tick and then may run with it or a big fish may just sit down on it.

Then there is the reasons a fish may have short struck it. Sometimes a neutral or negative feeding mood of a bass will only draw a short reaction bite not allowing the best of jig fisherman enough time to get a good hookset. Normally with a jig, if you get a bite, you probably have the color and weight of the jig suitable for the fish.

The most important feature of a jig is it's hook. Make sure you have a super sharp hook on it. Trimming the weed guard, as fishfor$ mentioned is a good idea to help. Don't remove from the length, remove the whole strands by clipping them off near flush with the jighead.

Don't give up. Jig's will catch fish and big ones at that. Just learn that most of the time you will need to be quicker than you would be with a t-rig. I really believe by what you posted about getting bit twice off the same tree, it was probably a smaller more aggressive fish that was only getting the trailer in it's mouth. I think for people who are just learning to fish jig's, given if they are fishing within 10 ft. of water, to start out with smaller finesse jigs. You'll get more bites and fish may hold on to them a little bit longer.

[BassinTx]

I forgot to mention that I did see the Bass both times. It jumped out of the water and thats when the jig came out. It was about 1lb or so. I fished the same jig setup this morning and lost another one. After losing my 3rd fish I put the jig on a heavier and longer rod.(went from 6'6" MH to a 7'6" H ) This seemed to fix the problem or so I hope because I caught two 3lb after switching to my other rod. I totally forgot about trimming the weed guard I usually do but didn't this time so thank you for reminding me.

[Vinny Chase]

There's many things that this could be. First thought in my mind is that it may have been a smaller fish. If it was tap tap tap, then my guess is that it was a small fish. Probably not even getting the hook in it's mouth. A bass with any size to it usually will inhale a jig, leave you feeling only a tick and then may run with it or a big fish may just sit down on it.

Then there is the reasons a fish may have short struck it. Sometimes a neutral or negative feeding mood of a bass will only draw a short reaction bite not allowing the best of jig fisherman enough time to get a good hookset. Normally with a jig, if you get a bite, you probably have the color and weight of the jig suitable for the fish.

The most important feature of a jig is it's hook. Make sure you have a super sharp hook on it. Trimming the weed guard, as fishfor$ mentioned is a good idea to help. Don't remove from the length, remove the whole strands by clipping them off near flush with the jighead.

Don't give up. Jig's will catch fish and big ones at that. Just learn that most of the time you will need to be quicker than you would be with a t-rig. I really believe by what you posted about getting bit twice off the same tree, it was probably a smaller more aggressive fish that was only getting the trailer in it's mouth. I think for people who are just learning to fish jig's, given if they are fishing within 10 ft. of water, to start out with smaller finesse jigs. You'll get more bites and fish may hold on to them a little bit longer.

My thoughts exactly. Once you start killin them on jigs you will know when you have something other then a baby bass or bluegill.