When Would You Ever Use A 1/4 Oz. Jig?

[amishnightmare88]

I have not fished jigs to much mainly because i have been scared to use them. I just started fishing them last spring. didnt have to much luck with it. i mainly have 1/2-3/4 oz. I do have a couple 1/4 oz jigs. when would you use the 1/4 oz? I have a friend that he usually uses a 1/4 oz. im pretty green at jig fishing but hearing and seeing how anglers love them really makes me want to dive a little farther into fishing jigs but mainly fish them right! Thanks for all your help!

Tim

[aavery2]

I use them in shallow water and when the fish seem to be keying in on baits with a slower fall rate.

[flippin and pitchin]

Shallow clear water when you want a smaller profile and slower fall. Power finesse if there is such a thing.

[Bryce C]

I use them for skipping under shallow docks or when I need a slow fall rate. Most of my shallow water jigging is done with a 3/8oz jig though.

[Ern]

I guess you havent seen the 1/16 oz Bitsy Bugs from StrikeKing. Smallmouth hate'em.

[ww2farmer]

I used to fish 1/4 jigs a lot in the early spring, when the water was still cold but the fish were on shallow cover. Last year I switched to 3/8's, mainly because I was an idiot and forgot to restock the 1/4 oz'ers over the winter.......caught just as many, in fact I bumped up to a 1/2 oz many times with no ill effects to my catching. Now I don't know when I'll use 1/4 oz jigs, I'll still have some, and maybe like always start with them early and go heavier as the water warms. Oddly enough though, in the fall, going down in jig size resulted in fewer bites, 1/2 oz was king, 3/8 was ok, 1/4 hauled water. This is just around shallow cover mind you, docks/wood/pads etc. Deeper water/cover I have a completely different jig philosophy.

[Darren.]

Like you I'm "green" on jig fishing, but have had some cold-weather success this year, so I added a few to my kit.

Will use 1/4 oz when I'm throwing on my spinning gear, or lighter baitcasting gear. Agree on the Strike King Bitsy jigs, picked up two more this weekend in 3/16th oz. I tend to the finesse side of things, so probably would use 1/4 and lower more often than the heavier jigs.

Good luck this year.

[jig]

i like useing them early spring and also on grassy bottom.Comes through better without collecting grass

[craww]

i like useing them early spring and also on grassy bottom.Comes through better without collecting grass

Absolutely! I fish alot of places that have filemtous algae and its 1/4oz or less. Ive considered getting some custom jigs made with 5/0 or 6/0 hooks for a bigger profile, but never have gotten around to it.

[K_Mac]

I don't use them as often as should. For years I thought 3/8 was a heavy jig, now I go with 3/8-3/4 most of the time. For me one of the biggest advantages to a lighter jig is it forces me to slow down. When bass are holding tight to cover or structure a slow falling jig can be deadly. The down side is keeping track of it in the wind can be a challenge. I also tend to use spinning gear for 1/4 jigs more than I used to. I get better control with less effort. YMMV.

[K_Mac]

Absolutely! I fish alot of places that have filemtous algae and its 1/4oz or less. Ive considered getting some custom jigs made with 5/0 or 6/0 hooks for a bigger profile, but never have gotten around to it.

Craww I fished for a few hours yesterday at a local lake that has ever increasing amounts of filamentous algae. What a serious pain...

[grimlin]

I have better luck on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs when the water is calm and the fish are spookish.3/8-1/2oz when they are aggressive and feeding.

River current also plays a role in what size weight I need to be using as well.

[Vinny Chase]

First off, why would you be "scared" to use them? Do you mean you just don't have confidence?

Like others have mentioned already, I use a 1/4 in colder water conditions when I want a slower rate of fall..In fact I will even go down to a 1/16 oz bitsy bug if I am fishing around boat docks.

[amishnightmare88]

First off, why would you be "scared" to use them? Do you mean you just don't have confidence?

Like others have mentioned already, I use a 1/4 in colder water conditions when I want a slower rate of fall..In fact I will even go down to a 1/16 oz bitsy bug if I am fishing around boat docks.

thats what i ment. i have never fished them enough to have confidence in them

[Red]

thats what i ment. i have never fished them enough to have confidence in them

Next time you go fishing, leave EVERYTHING except for your jigs and jig trailers at home. Force yourself to learn jigs. Thats how I did it, now it is my favorite bait to fish and very productive, especially for big fish.

Cliff

[amishnightmare88]

sounds like a plan! thanks

[BassAssassin85]

i agree with most on here about where and when to fish colder waters, really hot waters, when fish tend to be more sluggish. i fish a 1/8 ounce and 1/4 ounce bitsy bug on the lake that i fish on but its relatively small 350 acres with a lot of boat traffic on tournament days (sunday). i really learned how to fish these primarily because i fished out of the back of my buddys boat where his motto is "if there is money on the line there is a jig on mine" when you fish tight to areas it gets tough to fish anything else so i was forced now i can skip an 1/8 ounce jig under docks with a bait caster, <---- with relatively good gear as well though. It actually just becomes routine and the bites are always fun! if you try it, it will be frustrating at first, but definitely gets easier and then you can add that to your arsenal of presentations. good luck to you, jim

[amishnightmare88]

Thanks man! thats what i am affraid of. but thanx man

[whitwolf]

I usually fish them because there are pressure Issues and as much as that no one around here fishes a jig that small.

[hookset on 3]

i like useing them early spring and also on grassy bottom.Comes through better without collecting grass

Ditto.

Also, home lake has roughly 6ft of visability, so I'm trying for a smaller compact profile, while making long pitches or side-arm casts.

[amishnightmare88]

ive seen on most of the articles ive read that they trim the weed guard and trim around the head of the jig. and are rage trailors the way to go? I have some KVD craws but from what ive read on here is most perfur the rage. what do ya think?

[NorcalBassin]

Thay may also work as the "weight" for a drop shot rig.

[Hooligan]

I fish a lot of 1/4 ounce and lighter jigs, most usually in a finesse type jig. They're key for smaller profile, fishing on top of gras and dropping in holes, fishing around shallow docks and rock. Pitching to laydowns, weed edges, bed fishing... They're another tool, that's all there is to it. Why anyone would limit themselves because of a pre-conceived notion about what won't work is beyond me.

[iceintheveins]

Quarter Ounce Jigs are big in my arsenal, especially in shallow water or anytime a slow fall is needed. I pitch or cast them on 14 pound mono and use a fluoro leader in really clear water.