jig fishing for bass

[bubbakat]

occasionally a fisherman I consider to be<br />well versed admit they have difficulty with, and little confidence<br />in jigs. It really isn’t the confidence in the jig. It’s the lack<br />of confidence that individual has in him or herself to work it<br />properly. Well ladies and gentlemen, jig fishing is not rocket<br />science. Get well acquainted with them because they will definately<br />increase your productivity on the water. This winter, leave everything<br />else at home and hit the lake with nothing but jigs and trailers.<br />Work rock ledges, stumps and tight to vertical or horizontal timber.<br /><br />Just keep pitching and winding. Work slowly. The old adage “when you<br />think you’re fishing slow, slow down some more” really does apply<br />when you fish in fifty-something degree water. Bass are just not<br />going to move far, or exert much energy to eat anything. Therefore,<br />the slowest approach is the best. Remember to keep the lure in constant<br />contact with some type of structure and on the bottom! After all, how<br />many crawfish have you ever seen swimming? They don’t. They scoot across<br />the bottom and that is where you should keep your lure.

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: jig fishing for bass

Bubbakat, Exactly what is a Jig, I have been fishing mostly with small Spinner baits, and some have been called Spinner bait jigs. Now if your fishing all up in the Limbs and bottoms, real slow, I'd stay hung up. ANY tips?

 

[bubbakat]

Re: jig fishing for bass

will take some pics and post them and show you how to make them weedless for the most part<br />

one of my favorites

<br />thread you a small grub color most natural with water on the hook with tip just under the skin and let it trail with jig and will keep you unhooked for the most part but in the winter when those big lunkers are laying on bottom they will hit it hard and then set hook and start playing

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: jig fishing for bass

Bubbakat I am one of those that has had problems with the jig in the past. I have found that a good copolymer line is good for detecting those subtle hits. I like to rig a 3/4 ounce jig with an uncle josh or a zoom superchunk trailer. I also like to experiment and trim up the weedgaurds and the skirts some, Sometimes I will glue a little piece of Styrofoam to the shank to make it fall slower. One technique that seems to work is bumping it up the side of a steep drop off.<br /><br />Tighlines Flathead

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: jig fishing for bass

i had never thought of takin it up a slope, but thats somethin to consider <br /><br />i don't have alot of confidence in that lure yet, so kudos to BK on the idea of limiting ones fishin to 1 lure. that is a great idea to make yourself experienced with it. <br /><br />i have caught a few bass under docks with a jig. the time i used it most, maybe 1/2 day, i used it right out of the store, as is.<br /><br />i did want to note that when i hear "jig" i think of the same thing that FH posted. <br /><br />another type of jig is great on my nearby lake, but they're normally a ball leadhead jig with a considerably larger hook for bass, threaded with a plastic body of fluke or finesse type worm. i have used those alot. down here, i guess you would call them all 'spotstickers' as spotted bass are the target.

 

[Matt O]

Re: jig fishing for bass

Jig fishing is awesome, 3 months ago if I had said that it would have been a lie. But now I am sold. I fished with a guide for 4 hours and he taught me how to pitch and flip a jig, how to retrieve it and how to feel a strike. I bought some Eakins jig and craws and brought them home. I fished nearly exclusively the rest of the season, and not only did I catch fish with them, but the fish I caught averaged bigger than my buddy who was fishing right next to me. Somedays I outfished him, 5-1. He is now in the process of learning from me what I learned. THe biggest thing in learning how to jig fish is use the right equipment, use a good baitcast reel, and the right rod and line to go with them. Good luck and don't be afraid to try them, they do work. And be sure and experiment with colors of the skirts and also the trailers that you use. <br /><br />Matt

 

[bubbakat]

Re: jig fishing for bass

FH good suggestion but I use braided line to get the soft touch as some would say. I use a 6 ft. rod with ceramic eyelets and I can feel a leaf catch that bait.<br /> Another one I use is a mepps with a small spinner and it seems to wake those big lunkers up on a slow day<br /> ebb work those slopes there are some big ones hiding there.<br />Matt I love working those docks on a early morning when its slightly raining and warming up for the spring

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: jig fishing for bass

Jig fishing is a good way to catch fish but personally I prefer to use a plastic worm over a jig about 98% of the time the other 2% is on a cold winter day when I want a bulky slow moving bait/falling. I usually upsize my pork trailer to slow the fall rate down and exactly as descibed sort of drag it across bottom. I personally think that here in the south that most of the time other baits will outfish a jig due to bass being active year round and other lures can be fished faster.

 

[Chuck7]

Re: jig fishing for bass

I've had many bites by using jigs but have found it the most difficult lure to set the hook on..here's my best bass so far..8.4 pounds

 

[gonefishie]

Re: jig fishing for bass

Nice fish Chuck and welcome to the forum. You dug up one hell of an old thread. I set the hook like I'm trying to rocket the fish out of the water. Every now and then, a shallow small fish does go flying.

 

[Chuck7]

Re: jig fishing for bass

Thanks man..

I'm on a big fishing forum and came in first place on an online bass tournament last year..One of my bass was caught on a jig. The jig bite can feel about 4 different ways.
A. like you are going across pebbles or marbles..Jack her jaw on this one..
B. Very suttle like a blue gill ..I get this when flipping / pitching
C. Like a wet sock as the fish sucks in the jig before it even hits the bottom and is swimming with it
D. Like you ran over a brick with a lawn mower..that's the one that always gets away] -: LOL