What size jig, or weight for texas rig, do you use for shallow water pitching to bushes and weeds and what not

For normal cover, 1/2 or 3/8 oz. for jigs. 1/4 or 3/8 oz. for T-rigs. If the cover is heavy, I'll go up to 1-1/2 oz. on a T-rig.

I always have one rod with a 1/2 oz jig and another rigged with a 3/8 oz. and will switch back and forth to see if the fish have a preference.

3/8oz to 1/2oz jig is what I normally go with, if the fish are just tapping it and spitting it out or if they grab the trailer I'll downsize to a 1/4oz jig or maybe even a 3/16oz finesse jig depending on how deep and how thick the cover is. If you are wondering how you can tell when the fish grabs just the trailer, it is pretty easy to tell and just about everyone who throws a jig regularly has had it happen. You know it when the line moves like the fish has got it and is taking off and you set the hook and nothing, usually when they have the jig a run with it you got a good bite and if you don't land the fish you will hook it. I had it happen to me on time in clear water and I saw the fish with just the trailer, this is also a reason that the legs or claws get pulled off a lot and is a good signal to downsize.

My jig fishing is a work in progress. Last year I fished 3/8oz about 75% of the time and 1/2oz about 25%. This year, I'm more like 3/8oz (10%), 1/2oz (20%), 3/4oz (40%), 1oz (30%).

I've been using the 3/4 and 1oz jigs alot lately, pitching them into really thick stuff with my 805C. You really need the extra weight when fishing the slop. If I need to slow the fall rate on it, I'll put on a more lively trailer like a Havoc Craw Fatty.

I am a little different than most and prefer to throw the lightest weight I can get away with - 1/4 -3/8 oz in shallow cover.

I am a little different than most and prefer to throw the lightest weight I can get away with - 1/4 -3/8 oz in shallow cover.

Me too!

I usually throw 3/8 oz. jigs about 90% of the time. If I am in a lot of weeds I will downsize.

The tendency is to go to something smaller...I've found that sometimes go heavier. You'll get that reaction bite..they don't have that much time to see and when heavy jig flies passed them, they'll kill it.

i usually only use 3 sizes, 1/2, 3/4, and 1oz so it depends. if im throwin football jigs i usually always throw a 1/2. i do throw 3/8 also but mostly 1/2. for pitchin, ill use 3/8-1/2 depending on cover and how fast of a fall rate i want. ive used 3/4oz at times but rarely. if im punchin mats or slop, im goin with a 3/4-2oz tungsten sinker with a punch skirt and various plastic baits.. i dont like standard jigs for punchin.

I usually throw 3/8 oz. jigs about 90% of the time. If I am in a lot of weeds I will downsize.

As the weeds get thicker you go lighter on jig weight? Why?

Depends on the lake/water clarity. Some of our lakes just don't produce big fish and get lots of pressure, I fish a 5/16 or 1/4 most of the time at those lakes. Other lakes with bigger fish it's a 3/8 or 1/2 oz, only go bigger than that with football heads in deep water.

I tend to go lighter on texas rigs than jigs. Its rare that I'll use more than 1/8 on a T rig. Jigs 3/8 is my all around jig. Deeper water I'll go up to 3/4, certain ponds and streams I'll drop down to 1/8.

As the weeds get thicker you go lighter on jig weight? Why?

Lighter weights don't bury down in the junk as much.

1/2 oz 100% of the time. If that doesn't work I throw something else .

I like heavier jigs for the most part. About 90% of the time I use 3/4 to 1oz. But If I need to I will use jigs as light as 1/4oz.

_Depends.

_{Sometimes 1/16 and other times 3/16.}

_{Fast fall or slow fall.}

_{Keep on bottom or let it move up and down off the bottom.}

_{I like the jigs with the 3/0 hooks. I use one of the pros jigs (and other supporters of this Forum) and love 'em all.}

I agree with using the lightest weight you can get away with to a certain extent. I typically start with 1/2 though. But back to my point, there are times when the faster fall gets the job done

There's no "most used" size for me. It's all dependent upon cover and water depth. If I'm in Shallow hard cover, I'm going to be fishing 3/16, 1/4, or 5/16. If I'm in Shallow soft, it may be a 5/16, 3/8, or 1/2. Deep water will find me with anything from a 3/8 to a 1.5 ounce jig. It just depends on the situation.

Lighter weights don't bury down in the junk as much.

Often, once you penetrate the junk at the top, the base is wide open. Hence the popularity of punch rigs. But yeah, picking a bait that just rests on the leaves is deadly, especially when fish are just hanging up in the weeds, and not tight to cover.

Vinny probably has it right...fish the lightest jig you can get away with. In some cases that might be a 1oz jig. Cover and depth both play a factor in that decision. Wind plays a partial factor also. It's hard to control a 3/8oz jig correctly with 20lb flouro and a 15-30 MPH wind. The elite series, FLW and Everstart tourneys on Okeechobee this year were all won pitching 1oz jigs in 2-4 feet of water. Obviously cover and wind (always windy in Florida in the spring) were the determining factors in jig size for those anglers, not water depth.

My last trip to Okeechobee in my boat I caught a 26lb bag doing the exact same thing...1oz jigs pitched in 2-4 feet of water. I started fishing with 1/2oz and 3/4 and they just weren't getting to the fish. I had to go 1oz to adequately control my jig and get through the vegetation down to the fish.

I'm with Vinny on this one, 1/4-3/8 oz for me.

Often, once you penetrate the junk at the top, the base is wide open. Hence the popularity of punch rigs. But yeah, picking a bait that just rests on the leaves is deadly, especially when fish are just hanging up in the weeds, and not tight to cover.

Absolutely. I use the lighter jigs more due to the vegetation around here coating the bottom like a carpet. A horizontal presentation with over 3/8 is no beuno once they thicken. Head design of the jig has a lot to do with it.

Yep, the heavier jig thing is definitely a vertical, reaction thing. Fish has to bite, or miss the opportunity to eat.

I am a little different than most and prefer to throw the lightest weight I can get away with - 1/4 -3/8 oz in shallow cover.

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