33 replies to this topic

[airborne_angler]

Is fishing a jig really all that complex? I think people(myself included) over analyze it. I have yet to boat a fish on a jig but next week I'm gonna leave everything behind and try to learn what jig fishing is all about. Anything I need to pay particular attention to as I attempt to learn these baits?

[J Francho]

Pay attention to what it feels like when you're not getting bit. If it starts to feel different from that, SET THE HOOK!

[Lrbergin]

I personally don't think it is that complex. I would say some people might have a hard time initially because it just "feels" a little different then the soft plastics they are used to and there is a learning curve. Just takes some time to get familiar with the bait and build confidence in it. The reward is worth it though as jigs produce quality fish.

[craww]

Keep an eye on your line at all times. Try to get a idea of what it feels like to move or lift the jig. Stick with it, soon it'll become a very, very valueable tool your arsenal.

[Vinny Chase]

The bite is usually pretty aggressive, so either you will feel a "THUNK" or if they just pick it up, make sure to watch your line to see if it is moving.

[smalljaw67]

I often say that a jig is the easiest lure to fish yet the hardest to learn. A big problem is confidence, you know they catch fish but until you get one the cofidence is a little shaky and when it gets like that you tend to only use it for a few casts and then put it aside. This is a lure that will also show you the difference between a waqlmart special rod and a good graphite stick. If you truly want to learn the jig and catch fish on it then you need to get some small jigs like Booyah baby boo jigs or strike king bitsy bug jigs along with normal 1/4oz, 3/8oz and 1/2oz jigs as you will have a jig for just about every situation. The best part about fishing a jig isn't shown on T.V. or even in magazines, what we see is anglers flipping and picthing and moving along at a fast pace but the jig is great in that you can keep it in the strike zone right next to a piece of cover and do very little and it is still appealing to the fish. The next time you are out I suggest a 1/4oz jig with a rage chunk trailer and target laydowns or the edge of a lilypad field or holes in weedbeds but somewhere you can feel the jig without having to decipher what is grass and what is a bite. Once you catch a fish make note of the cover and how deep the fish was and by hitting different spots with similar cover and depth you should be able to pattern the fish. After a day of that it will give you a basic understanding of how to use the jig and where it will work, and another thing you will learn is that a jig for the most part isn't a numbers bait but a big fish bait, in a days time you may find you catch less fish but you'll notice an uptick in the average size of the fish you catch. Good luck and don't give up, you will see why so many fish a jig.

[roadwarrior]

Pay attention to what it feels like when you're not getting bit. If it starts to feel different from that, SET THE HOOK!

I think it is complex. My strong suit is soft plastics, but it took me 2 years
to learn how to fish a jig. Today, I fish a jig even when I KNOW a soft
plastic would be a better choice!

I recommend fishing NOTHING but a jig on selected outings in order
to "learn" the jig. Save yourself some time and watch flukemaster's
jig video learn more.

http://www.bassresou...ig-fishing.html

[Bluebasser86]

They are a difficult lure to learn. They are very simple once you get them down but tough to learn. I'm still learning them after fishing them for years. They are about my favorite way to fish now though. I had to go out with nothing but a jig and make myself learn before youtube was big so I was just reading up what I could and running blind. The lakes around here get lots of pressure so the bite is pretty soft a lot of the time so you really have to weigh your bait every time you lift it. Some of the biggest fish I've caught on a jig it just felt a little bit lighter or heavier than it should so I set the hook. Worse case senerio you set the hook into a tree something and lose a few bucks if you break off your jig.

[Big-O]

Is fishing a jig really all that complex? I think people(myself included) over analyze it. I have yet to boat a fish on a jig but next week I'm gonna leave everything behind and try to learn what jig fishing is all about. Anything I need to pay particular attention to as I attempt to learn these baits?

Make sure it's on the bottom, make sure when you move the jig it's on the bottom or stays within 1 or 2 " from the bottom, be the bait or emulate a Crayfish slowly crawling on the bottom.

Not to say that swimming a jig isn't effective some time but many of those fish can be caught on other baits such as spinnerbaits, cranks or swimmers. As you slowly search out any given area with a bottom bumper, you'll feel the variety of structure types that are there. Then when you get bit, you'll realize where and what the fish are holding on.

Does this sound like the same technique you use when slowly fishing a worm... It should because it's is the same basic presentation. Fish eat jigs with regularity because they eat Crayfish regularly. Think of what excites a Cat to pounce... Movement gets his attention and most of the time it's on the pause that the Cat pounces. Keep it simple and you'll be successful.

And the Hoopla is all about the Hooping and Hollaring you'll be doing when you start Slamming steel to those hungry fish

Hope that helps!

www.ragetail.com

[airborne_angler]

Love your enthusiasm Big O...

[iceintheveins]

Jigs do feel different going through grass, weeds, and other cover than soft plastic baits. Familiarize yourself with the way this feels, and then you can distinguish what these feel like and will be better able to know what a bite feels like.

Usually the bite is either a tap or the line will twitch. Jigs work better for bigger fish IMO and are a great choice in dingier water or for working heavy brush, rocks, or timber. The slower the fall most of the time, the better. But again, that's not always true.
Fluorocarbon will help detect light hits as well, and as the others have said, a good graphite rod helps. But if your ever in doubt, a hookset is free. And once in a while it pays off with an extra fish you might not have otherwise caught.

[hatrix]

This might seem obvious but... Hold your line and use that to detect bites. I keep my index finger under the level wind. I am sure having a great rod helps but regardless of that for me it's pretty much what the line tells me.

[Nitrofreak]

I don't think there will be an answer better than Big-O's, one thing I will add however is patience, and lots of it !!

There are so many times a jig will work and others won't, cold fronts come to mind when the fishing is slow, and the presentation needs to be slow as well, the jig is an all year round bait for all depths of water, and works in almost any condition.

I would suggest starting with the bitsy strike king jig around older boat docks and other types of cover, these are great lures that can be skipped under and around various areas and can really be very effective while learning to fish a jig.

Don't forget to add some JJ's to the trailer, even though the jig itself is very effective, that little extra will go a long way while trying to build confidence with the jig.

Good luck and be safe !!!

[Jnichols76]

I recently started fishing jigs also and have caught less numbers but bigger size. I'm not familiar with lakes in AZ but imagine deep, clear, and rocks with light cover. I would suggest a small football head jig (1/4 or 3/8) in brown, green, or bluegill color. I'm still experimenting with trailers but I would start with a zoom little critter craw for finesse or a zoom creepy crawler for a little more action - both in brown or green variants. Keep the retrieve simple and on the bottom - I prefer to just slowly drag it and keep contact to feel the bait. I would suggest a 7'+ MH rod and the more sensitive the better. A 7:1 reel and 12 lb fluorocarbon works for me along with patience. Hope this helps and good luck.

[Al Wolbach]

I will keep my advice simple, fluorocarbon line. It will make a difference, especially with the lighter jigs.............................Al