32 replies to this topic

[Davis]

Now I have some smaller jigs that I plan on using next year. But how big would you guys go up in jig size? The place that I fish that some of you have heard me speak about before is a nice size creek that flows into Erie. Smallmouth are huge that come up creek. They take 7" powerworms with ease. So I'm wondering if a nice size 3/8 jig or even a 1/2 could land me a monster. Just looking for different options besides tubes and powerworms. The creek has some nice flat rock and gravel bottoms that I think would be great to fish a jig and craw on.

[roadwarrior]

For whatever reason, smallmouth seem to have a preference for hair jigs as opposed to rubber or silicone. Try both and see what works best for you.

[Davis]

For whatever reason, smallmouth seem to have a preference for hair jigs as opposed to rubber or silicone. Try both and see what works best for you.

Heard that somewhere as well.
RW do you have any preference as far as the hair jigs go? Roadrunners? Or just a plain balljighead with a hair skirt?

[roadwarrior]

I don't have a preference, but I will share a trick that will improve your fishing about 300%...

If you can find ANY crawdad, under rocks or in the gullet of a fish, match that color combination and size with your jig and trailer. Surprisingly, crawdads have a multitude of color schemes and change with water conditions and season. Other colors will still work, but if you can match the local dad population, you have struck gold!

[Davis]

This past year anyway....the crayfish are mostly a dark olive color. Thanks for the tip. Simple advice that can make a huge difference.  

[CJ]

It's the profile,not the weight.A bulky profiled jig(like most 1/2 oz.)works fine for me.I have caught smallmouth on 3/4 oz. as well(I was fishing 30 ft. deep).Go with a 3/8 oz. if the river isn't deep and you want a larger profile.Sure,you can also adjust your fall rate and whatnot.I still prefer a tube.

[bassnleo]

I often use a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig w/ good results. A few tricks, most jigs have alot of strands in the skirt, I thin the skirt out then trim it shorter, to the back of the hook. I also use a much smaller profile trailer, my favorite is a Zoom Ultra Vibe trailer.
I mostly use this type of jig in clear water situations.

[Bob Kavanaugh]

Bitsy Bugs and Bitsy Flips with swimming chunks do well here. They look fantastic on the fall around bluffs.

[Munkin]

Color and thickness of the skirt depend on water clarity and temp. Hare jigs are the way to go for water below 40 degrees. For warmer water the jig weight, color and thickness of the skirt all depend on the conditions. If fishing cooler water (45-60 degrees) I use a lighter weight like 1/4oz but for a reaction bite I use 1/2oz in 3' water. Water clarity determines what color and thickness of the skirts I use for jigs. For clear water I like a small profile jig like the Eakins Jewel with a small trailer in a natural color. Stained water I still use natural colors but I will either move up to a full skirt jig or add a larger trailer to the Eakins jig. Muddy water I only use a solid black jig and trailer with a micromunch skirt because it gives me the largest profile.

Allen

[Bronzefly]

Tru-Tungsten makes some very nice jigs that can give you some added weight without added bulk.  I use them in many East TN rivers with current where there are some big bruiser smallies with excellent results.  I've gone up to 3/4 oz. in swift water situations when fishing eddies and shoals.  Dont know exactly how much or how little current you're dealing with, but the tungsten does offer a fantastic solution when you want to maintain a smaller size and still fish current!

[Davis]

Tru-Tungsten makes some very nice jigs that can give you some added weight without added bulk. I use them in many East TN rivers with current where there are some big bruiser smallies with excellent results. I've gone up to 3/4 oz. in swift water situations when fishing eddies and shoals. Dont know exactly how much or how little current you're dealing with, but the tungsten does offer a fantastic solution when you want to maintain a smaller size and still fish current!

It depends on the spot. There are places were there isn't even a ripple and than there are places where you get in the whitewater and everything in between. Its pretty neat actually to have all these different situations on one fishing creek. I catch smallies in all of those situations. Probably mostly going to be fishing shakey heads in the calmer parts. Seems like the smallies like the look of something digging into the gravel. Most of my luck in the rapids as weird as it may seem has been power worms 7" weightless. Tossing them upstream in the rapids and letting them float down as been a "big" smallie producers for me. Like I said though.........wanting to get as many techniques down as possible. I don't want to get stunk on just one or two presentations.

If you look in my avatar picture.......this is the creek that I fish. That spot behind me is a big smallie spot. Up a bit is where the rapids are.........they then dump out into this calmer part of the creek. The creek is made up of different kinds of rock beds and shale. They love it.

[zachvii]

Most any jig will do for smallies, the main thing i like to do is keep the profile down. I dont like a huge trailer because a smallie is more apt to short strike and miss your hook.   I have had great luck on anything earth tone and my size of choice is 3/8 oz skinny bear jigs.

[Del from philly]

Bitsy Bugs and Bitsy Flips with swimming chunks do well here. They look fantastic on the fall around bluffs.

i agree this is all i use, the tiny ones.....get em for 99 cents!!!


they are the best,. just let me sit, and then jump them, like a scared crawdad....


caught about 5 bass over 2.2 lbs on jigs this year in the river alone

[Boett43]

Find yourslef a spider jib made by gizit i belive ..i used it today it was my first time serious jig fishing and caught 3 wich i dont think is to bad for a first time...Trust me on this jig let me know if it works for you