Jigging?

[bass2187]

I have seen a lot about jigging latly. When i think about jigging i think walleye or crappie. What are you guys using and how are you fishing the jigs?

Thanks,

Mike

[Guest avid]

WoW.

Your question is so broad.  There are books written about jig fishing.

I'll give you a few standard basics.

Black and blue rubber skirted arkie type jig with Black or dark blue plastic frog chunk

Trim the skirt back to the bottom of the hook curve.  trim and fan out weedguard.

1/4 oz. is a good all around size, especially for beginners.

Pitch so jig lands as softly as possible directly to the target.

Keep a little slack so jig drops straight down****

Most strikes occurr on the fall and can be very soft

This should get you started and catch you a few.

**** This is against conventional wisdom but I always recommend it for beginners

Keep the line tight.  Yes as it falls it will angle away from target but the hardest part of jig fishing is detecting the strike and reacting quickly.  

Good luck and have fun

avid

pS  Jig fishing can become addictive.  

[dodgeguy]

if you are just starting jig fishing start in the spring and fish wood cover before the weeds get thick.then fish shallow as the spawn comes.those are you're easiest times to catch fish on jigs.this way you will gain some confidence right away.i also suggest using sufix braid.

[paparock]

There is a lot of great information on the web about jig fishing but if you can find someone who does it to go with it will speed up your learning a lot. If not and there is a local guide that specializes in jigging bass that is a great option to learn the fast way. Also there are many types of jigs and where I am the vertical jigging deep lakes can pay off year round. Good Luck and as Avid said it is addicting!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Being new to this as well, I am not sure how much expertise I can lend to you, but this is what I did when starting with jigs at the end of this season. I bought a few 5/16th Booyah jigs in green, watermelon/green, and black/blue. Trim the weedguard down to just above the hook line. Along with those, I got some watermelon and black plastic craws as trailers. Put this on a 7' MH rod w/ 20lb. braid and didnt pick up another rod until I had caught a few fish. The first fish that picks it up, you will think, "Holy #@!&*, I think I just had a hit!!"

The guys that posted before me are correct, the bite is the hardest thing to pick up on. Once you get a few to hit it, however, you will be able to recognize the difference between a "plastics bite" and a "jig bite"

Wayne

[bubbler]

Great question!

I use them by casting to hore and letting them fall o the bottom on tight line. then jerk your rod from 10 o'clock to 11. when you feel a spongy feeling set the hook.

[Craw]

Don't forget to swim the jig in and around cover also. That's sometimes how the bass want it.