Jig Fishing Presentation

[boomdigity]

I have been jig fishing for a year now and have read every arcticle on the web on jig fishing but there is really nothing describing the most common techniquies. I have found that the lift and fall is effective but it took awhile to figure out how high to lift the pole. Crawling is another favorite but there again there really was not much on how to do these.

My lift fall is simple: cast or pitch the jig out on a semi-slack line and follow the jig down with the tip of the pole. Wait for it to hit the bottom wait 5-10 seconds. Then hit the thumb bar on the baitcaster and feed out line till rod tip is just past paralle to the water. Engage the reel and take up any slack. Lift the rod tip from what would be the 2:00 position to the 1:00 position. Let the jig fall back on semi-slack line. Repeat process till jig is out of the zone your fishing. Sometimes I will incorporate a shake or jiggle with the rod tip when the jig is sitting still or falling.

For the crawl: I cast or pitch it out let it settle to the bottom and sit for 5-10 seconds on a semi slack line. I then engage the reel take up the slack and start reeling slowly very slowly. By that I mean I will turn the handle from one point on the star drag to the next in about 3-5 seconds. Stop the reel move the rod tip to either side about 1/2" as to simulate the crawfish turning and looking around. then reel to the next point on the star drag and repeat. If I come up against a rock I will try to get the jig to knock on the rock a little before hopping over or on top.

Let me know what favorite presentations and how you guys work them. It might help someone new to jig fishing.

Also, I like 1/4 oz jigs with pork trailers. Black works the best for me.  

[Incheon Basser]

I have been jig fishing for a year now and have read every arcticle on the web on jig fishing but there is really nothing describing the most common techniquies. I have found that the lift and fall is effective but it took awhile to figure out how high to lift the pole. Crawling is another favorite but there again there really was not much on how to do these.

My lift fall is simple: cast or pitch the jig out on a semi-slack line and follow the jig down with the tip of the pole. Wait for it to hit the bottom wait 5-10 seconds. Then hit the thumb bar on the baitcaster and feed out line till rod tip is just past paralle to the water. Engage the reel and take up any slack. Lift the rod tip from what would be the 2:00 position to the 1:00 position. Let the jig fall back on semi-slack line. Repeat process till jig is out of the zone your fishing. Sometimes I will incorporate a shake or jiggle with the rod tip when the jig is sitting still or falling.

For the crawl: I cast or pitch it out let it settle to the bottom and sit for 5-10 seconds on a semi slack line. I then engage the reel take up the slack and start reeling slowly very slowly. By that I mean I will turn the handle from one point on the star drag to the next in about 3-5 seconds. Stop the reel move the rod tip to either side about 1/2" as to simulate the crawfish turning and looking around. then reel to the next point on the star drag and repeat. If I come up against a rock I will try to get the jig to knock on the rock a little before hopping over or on top.

Let me know what favorite presentations and how you guys work them. It might help someone new to jig fishing.

Also, I like 1/4 oz jigs with pork trailers. Black works the best for me.

Wow .. Lite jig...

I fish a jig this way...

clear water...

I'll fish 3/8-5/16 oz green pumpkin finesse jig or Missouri craw..(I'm in Missouri) with a small matching trailer that is very realistic. action trailer in summer and fall, non action trailer in spring and winter..

always have as many rattles as possible on your jig for me it's two.

Casting: Roll casts or long pitches.. I let the lure fall straight down on a semi slack line. since 80% of strikes happen on the fall i reengage the bail as soon as i feel i have sufficient line out to let the bait drop freely and am watching the line very careful to make sure it is falling free and a consistent rate (ie not to the side or stopped before bait should have hit bottom if it does i set the hook).

Retrieve: As soon as the bait hits bottom I'll lift the jig 1" off the bottom to see if it's mushy if it is i set the hook, if it's not I'll let it sit a sec and then lift it a foot with a quick shake at the top of the retrieve and then let it fall straight down... and repeat.. If short slow pulls in cold water. long faster pulls in warm water. Once I'm out of the strike zone i real it in... for me in clear water the strike zone is a 4 foot circle around the piece of cover I'm fishing.

Stained water:

Cast: 5/16- 1/2 oz in green pumpkin or brownish colors like PBJ... med size trailer with same warm or cold water type trailers.. can get away with less realistic types. same as above. but all pitches.. long to short depending on density of cover.

Retrieve: same as above but slightly longer pulls and strike zone shrinks to 2&1/2 foot circles.

Heavily stained or murky water, extreme heavy cover & night.

Cast: short pitches & flipping, Black, Blue, Blk/Blu, 5/16- 3/4 with large trailers with same warm or cold water type trailers.. can get away with even less realistic types.

retrieve.. same as above but strike zone is now a foot or less and it will be one maybe two pulls before reeling in and recasting.

anytime i hit a piece of cover i will shank the jig on it before moving it to get those rattles working.

[Quitlimpin]

Most of my jig fishing is done at <10ft.  Quiet entry is a must.  Let it lie dead at the base of the target for 20-30 secs, then lift/shake the jig up just enough to pull the slack out.  Rinse & repeat.  I generally don't retrieve all the way back to the boat.  

[Raul]

Jigs are not just for bottom hopping, igs are also for vertical jigging and for swimming, so the basic three would be those:

Bottom hopping

Jigging

Swimming.

Bottom hopping, pretty much as described by IB.

Vertical jigging, place yourself above a likely place, lower your jig to the depth you belive the fish are holding plus a foot and lower and rise your rod, not the most galmorous fishing method but it catches fish.

Swimming, cast the jig and allow it to sink to the depth you think the fish are holding, retrieve, either slowly cranking in the bait or by carnking a certain distance, stopping and shaking the rod tip to reel in steadily again.

[J Francho]

This article would be on my list of required reading before asking any jig questions: http://www.***/articles/jig-fishing.shtml.  Jig fishing is just too broad a topic.

[Uncle Leo]

This article would be on my list of required reading before asking any jig questions: http://www.***/articles/jig-fishing.shtml. Jig fishing is just too broad a topic.

This is a definite must read, by far the most concise information on jg fishing I have ever read. THANKS

[Jig Man]

Try swimming that jig.  I have been catching a lot of bass swimming a 1 oz jig with a 5" trailer.  Just throw it out and crank it back keeping it off the bottom.  

[Paul Roberts]

This article would be on my list of required reading before asking any jig questions: http://www.***/articles/jig-fishing.shtml. Jig fishing is just too broad a topic.

Another great article by Russ. He really knows his fishing and his products.

[adclem]

That is a great article.  Another good one I found is a 2 part special Hank Parker had on the VS channel a while back.

Later,

[Incheon Basser]

Jigs are not just for bottom hopping, igs are also for vertical jigging and for swimming, so the basic three would be those:

Bottom hopping

Jigging

Swimming.

Bottom hopping, pretty much as described by IB.

Vertical jigging, place yourself above a likely place, lower your jig to the depth you belive the fish are holding plus a foot and lower and rise your rod, not the most galmorous fishing method but it catches fish.

Swimming, cast the jig and allow it to sink to the depth you think the fish are holding, retrieve, either slowly cranking in the bait or by carnking a certain distance, stopping and shaking the rod tip to reel in steadily again.

Vertical Jig i tend to do with a spoon.. I'm old school like that... but it does work...

Jig fishing so versatile it would take hours to describe all aspects of it. that's probably why there really isn't a comprehensive article or video...

I mean the jig it;s self comes in four types. Flipping, Grass, Football, Swimming, What i wrote about pretty much just covered flipping.

Each type could have a hour long video on just it...

i mean for swimming alone you can rip it, slow roll it, yo yo it, burn it,

some times i fish it like a frog if the mats are real heavy cast on to the mat hop it to a hole and then let it drop wham. big bites... or burn on top of the mats and watch them blow through ...

I love the jig for this reason... i can fish it to my imaginations content... i use them as drop shot weights too... yet to catch a double but i know it's coming..

[Catt]

This will come as a major surprise to many who thought they knew something about my fishing style.

Jig fishing time breakdown:

Flipping a Jig: 10%

Pitching a Jig: 15%

Casting a Jig: 75 %

I'll flip a jig or any bait only during the spawn; I flip to specific cover letting my lure sit for 15-20 seconds then shake it a couple times and then retrieve.

I'll pitch a jig or any bait during pre-spawn to post spawn; I pitch to specific cover letting my lure sit for 15-20 seconds then shake it a couple times and then retrieve.

I also pitch jigs or plastics in matted vegetation during warmer months; I pitch to specific targets letting my lure sit for 15-20 seconds then shake it a couple times and then retrieve.

The strongest part of my repertoire is working deep water structure which I'll do year round day and night.

I work a jig the same way I work a Texas Rig which is Ole School with the only difference being the hops are smaller.

1) Make a long cast

2) Strip 3 or 4 arms length of line, this will assure a vertical fall

3) Count the bait down, 15' of water count to 20 to make certain the bait is on the bottom, do it in your head if need be

4) Pause a good 30 seconds after the bait reaches bottom

5) Lower your rod to the 2 o'clock position while reeling slack & feel for anything unusual

6) Move the rod from 2 o'clock to 1 o'clock in three motions

7) Pause 30 seconds & feel for anything unusual

8) Repeat 5, 6, & 7 all the way back to the boat

Some times I'll simply drag the jig along the bottom really really slow

Many anglers think a silent approach when fishing jigs in grass is the proper approach; by that I mean they want the jig to fall quietly through the grass and come through the grass cleanly. My approach is to be noisy, that is I want my jig to cause a disturbance by moving grass as it falls and when its coming though the grass.

I can not tell y'all how many bass I've caught by casting my jig into the thick outer edge of a grass mat and then simply applying pressure, releasing, applying pressure, releasing until my jig springs free. The instant the jig clears the grass BAM a bass nails it with such aggression you might think it was ticked.

I think of it like this, unless the bass is facing your jig as it enters the grass with the silent approach your jig will likely go unnoticed but create a little commotion and that bass will not only turn but swim towards your jig.

I use this approach when using Texas rigged plastics around grass which is the main reason I do not peg my weight; I want my plastic separated from my weight, I want my plastic to get tangled up a little bit.

If the bass can't see it they darn sure aint gonna bite it

[boomdigity]

Thanks for the all the great resonse on this thread. I was hoping it would bring out the diffrent style in jig fishing and show newcomers that a lot of the time it is personal preference. I am a finiesse jig guy where as someone elese is a power jig guy. There is no wrong ways only not to fish this bait.

[Jeff C.]

Do any of you guys trim the skirt,. or the weed guard?

or both ?

[TheHammer84]

Do any of you guys trim the skirt,. or the weed guard?

or both ?

both

[Jig Man]

Since I make my own, I trim the skirts to match what I want be it finess with fluffy collars or full bodied.  I do not trim weedguard.  I may flare it but not trim it.

[twitchfish]

Is there a really good jig fishing video? I have used the BPS video library and watched a few on Tackle Warehouse, any others?