This weekend I tried fishing with jig-n-craw rigs on rocky bottoms, fishing from shore -- so I was reeling in uphill.  I lost the first jig to a snag on the first cast, and the second one after about three casts.  That's the first time I ever tried fishing with jigs, and it was a little discouraging.  Can anyone give me any tips on avoiding snags with jigs, esp. on rocks?  I'm wondering if my technique was the problem.  I was just barely twitching them along the bottom, a few inches at a time, resting for a few seconds between twitches.

It's sort of hard to explain, it's something you have to see, but you have to keep your line slack... but tight at the same time, almost like having a slight bow in your line. I do this by letting it fall but lift up on my rod a little as it drops. Rocks are a pain and I lose a lot of jigs in them. You might want to switch to a lighter jig. What style were you using? I try and use swimming jigs or jigs with a pointy end when I'm in the rocks. Football heads and rocks don't mix for me... I'm not a very skilled jig angler though so take my advice for what you will I know enough to be dangerous, but I know most of these guys on here would smoke me with a jig haha.

What style was I using? Hmm. Uh... lol! Man, I'm so clueless.

Round head, brown and green rubber skirt, head covered in something glittery, weed guard of stiff plastic bristles. I think I got it at Dick's, maybe Wally World. I could give you more details when I get home tonight.

Well if it was round and oblong (like a football) it may have been a football head jig or it could have just been a standard ball head jig too. Either one is great, but I like jigs with thinner heads when fishing rocks (like swim jigs, they aren't just for swimming you know!)

If you look back through this section, there is at

least one thread on jigs on just about every page.

Here's a great one with additional links from page 3:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1276832195

Thanks.  I did go back and read some of the older posts before I posted -- I even read that one you linked to -- but I didn't see much specifically about avoiding snags.  There's some good stuff on technique, though.  Thanks again.

Okay...

If you fish from a boat you can usually get them

back with a lure retriever. From the shore you might

get them back using braid or jigs with a thin wire

hook that bends. Otherwise, you need to stick with

soft plastics.

Don't be afraid to lose them.  Fish them from shore, and your catch size will increase makeing it worth a little lost money.  Have fun out there.  If you are fishing larger rocks, such as off of a dam, Jump it a bit more; you dont want it to find every crevice to get stuck in. 

When I'm working mine through rocks I get fewer snaggs if I fish it a little fast. I try not to let it settle. With the my rod tip high I just bump the rocks as I hop it along.

OK, thanks.  Good tips.  Keeping them moving to keep them out of the cracks makes sense to me; I just wasn't sure if you could fish 'em that way. 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1268449182

I'm not sure if that will help you with exactly what you are looking for or not, but it is a decent little technique.

When I'm working mine through rocks I get fewer snaggs if I fish it a little fast. I try not to let it settle. With the my rod tip high I just bump the rocks as I hop it along.

I agree...i would go buy some cheap football heads and fish it faster.  Ive never had trouble with jigs, but with shaky heads!!!!!!!!!! Man, i have lost so many jig heads over the past few years!  Also, mabey try a really bulky trailer....something that might give it some more lift??? 

Also.  Check this site out for your jigs.  Prices are right and quality is great. a BR member makes them.

http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/