Hi everybody,

Thanks to a lot of you, this newbie has his rod and reels picked out, the line for them and a great selection of Senkos ( thanks to some advice from RW that I found in the forum ).

I need some help with jig selection. My head is swimming with all the selections out there. Can anyone help me get a baseline to build off of? Maybe just some hints on size, colors and types of trailers that are known producers. I thought about going the route of buying one of the jig and trailer kits at BPS, what to you all think? Thank you all so much.

This is going to get moved, but like my signature says i always stick with four colors of jigs: Natural green/brown, Natural green/brown with a flash of a bright color, Black, and Black/Blue

90% of the time i use the natural green or brown.

When it comes to sizes i like to use a very light 1/16 oz finesse jig when there is no wind and it just flutters to the bottom. I like to flip these jigs by the docks and cover.

I use the heavier jigs when there is windier conditions or i am fishing a deeper area and i need to get the jig down there quickly

As far as trailer i only use two different trailors. Paca chunks/tiny paca craws and Zoom chunks

Hope this helps!

BTW always remember to match the size of your jig with your trailer make sure they are similar in size

It is easy to get overwhelmed when looking at jigs. There are several different kinds.

This is a standard type, all around jig. It can be flipped, pitched, hopped, dragged, stroked, swam, etc.

The more streamlined or pointy the jig head, the better it will come through the vegetation. Finesse jigs are best when a smaller profile, and lighter bait are desired. Football head jigs look just like they sound and are less prone to hang up in rocks, but will not do as well in heavy vegetation. There are also swimmin' jigs that have heads designed to give them some lift.

Most people prefer sizes between 3/8 oz. and 3/4 or even 1 oz. depending on the desired rate of fall and profile, cover, (heaver will go through thick stuff better) and depth.

Most all of them will come with a large plastic weed guard made of several fibers. Depending on how the cover is, how your hookups have been and what you like, the weed guard can be trimmed and thinned out. Most people cut the guard about even with the hook point, and fan it out a bit. Some people may remove some of the fibers.

There are a few color groups you should focus on. Blacks, Greens, and Browns. Find out what works best, then get several variations with different colors mixed in. Jigs are easy to lose, because they are made to be fished in heavy cover, rocks, and brush, etc. If you don't lose some you are being too conservative.

There are two categories of trailers- pork and plastic. Some die-hards prefer pork, with the argument that the action is superior, it gives a slower fall, the fish hold longer, etc. Most would agree that pork excels in cold water and finicky situations. It is hard to manage pork, in the jar, out of the jar, back in the jar, etc.

Plastics are getting very good and there are a billion choices. Choose what you think looks good. Larger more flappy things, like hogs and kreatures, etc. give a larger profile and slower fall as the appendages are flapping around. There are also chunks that are intended to look like crawfish claws. Personally, I think the more buoyant the claws are, the better, as they will resemble a defensive crawfish.

Some jigs come with rattles, and if not you can add them. I always try to remember whenever I am fishing that there are no rules. Common sense based on knowledge about the the fish, the forage, the weather, the season should guide your decisions when choosing a technique, but after all, someone had to invent all these methods. If the fish are biting, you are doing it right.

I like jigs in natural colors personally, black n blue, browns, green pumpkins, penut butter and jelly, and watermellons.

I generally use three types of jigs. The first is the finnese jig which is usually 1/4 to 3/8 oz. in size and is made for pitching/flipping in cover it has a smaller profile with a sparse skirt for when the fish are less than aggressive.

Secondly when the bass are more aggressive I will us a 1/2 to 3/4 oz traditional flipping jig for a faster drop and a fuller skirt.

Thirdly when I am fishing offshore I use a football head jig anywhere between 3/4 and 1 oz depending on water depth. I use either a complimenting trailer color or an opposite trailer color depending on water conditions. I also carry two sizes of trailers because that has an effect on the drop rate. I carry the 2.5inch and 3.25 inch trailers.

You would probably find a good assortment of the flipping/finesse jigs and trailers in a BPS kit, but might have to get a few football heads separate if you plan on fishing them offshore.

These are my personal preferences, and I am sure you will get some better responses as well. This is what I have settled in this past season. It was my first one really devoting time to learning and using jigs myself. I really fell in love with the all terrain finesse jigs personally.

Stick with 3 or 4 basic colors as Vinny suggested. Natural greens/browns, brown/orange, and black/ blue are my basics with white/light blue thrown in for variety.

3/8 and 1/2 oz are my primary weights. 3/4 or 1/4 oz when the fish insist. : Bass Patrol makes a good cheap(er) football jig. Booyah Boo jigs are my all round favorite, and Strike King Denny Brauer jigs are also good IMHO.

Paca craws and chunks are my favorite trailers. Match the color with the jig (more or less).

Good luck 8-)

Stick with 3 or 4 basic colors as Vinny suggested. Natural greens/browns, brown/orange, and black/ blue are my basics with white/light blue thrown in for variety.

3/8 and 1/2 oz are my primary weights. 3/4 or 1/4 oz when the fish insist. : Bass Patrol makes a good cheap(er) football jig. Booyah Boo jigs are my all round favorite, and Strike King Denny Brauer jigs are also good IMHO.

Paca craws and chunks are my favorite trailers. Match the color with the jig (more or less).

Good luck 8-)

Mine as well. I also use the SK Bitsy Bug ALOT!

Hi everybody,

Thanks to a lot of you, this newbie has his rod and reels picked out, the line for them and a great selection of Senkos ( thanks to some advice from RW that I found in the forum ).

I need some help with jig selection. My head is swimming with all the selections out there. Can anyone help me get a baseline to build off of? Maybe just some hints on size, colors and types of trailers that are known producers. I thought about going the route of buying one of the jig and trailer kits at BPS, what to you all think? Thank you all so much.

Well to give you good advice it would be better to know the bottom composition, cover, depth, and water clarity that you typically fish.  Many people fish deeper and use heavier jigs.  Some people fish mainly rocks and use mainly football heads.  The best thing to do is to learn the different types and find out how each type will work in the cover that you fish.

As for colors I fish browns and greens. 

Trailers are paca chunks/craws or rage chunks/craws when I want more action and when I want less just a regular chunk like zoom makes.

See my signature below for the what I've found to be the best jigs at the best prices.

id suggest a small finesse jig (bitsy bug, eakins) with a 3" craw trailer in a green pumpkin type color to build confidence.

try baby paca craw, yum craw papi, baby rage craw trailers. ive had good luck with zoom tiny chunks too.