Does anyone have and/or know of a cheat sheet (doesn't have to be exact) for jig weights for specific depths and/or ranges of depths? For example, say I'm fishing a pond that I know is no deeper than 10ft. Is there a chart somewhere that I could reference that might offer suggestions for jig weights at that depth (e.g. bottom jig, 1/2 ounce; swim jig, 1/4 ounce with a trailer, etc.). 

There is no "chart" or "rule of thumb" I have caught fish in 30 feet of water on a 1/8th oz jig, and I have caught fish on the bank with a 1 oz jig. 

 

Many factors go into selecting what size jig is best for the situation..........more so than I can probably list here and keep it from turning into a book.

I would probably use a 3/8. If there is grass or muck/gunk/etc you could go lighter so the jig doesn't dig down in it. I personally don't do well using jigs lighter than that, unless I'm fishing a finesse jig, but that's a whole different ballgame. This time of year, I would be dragging a compact football jig with a twin tail grub trailer. SLOWWWWW

I can tell you what I use and why regarding what most bass anglers refer to as a jig and just defining that is complex. Jig; molded lead or tungsten head shape onto a 3/0 to 5/0 standard wire hook with fiber weed gaurd, silicone strand skirt and soft plastic trailer.

No wind to light breeze or no current, 12-16 lb mono or FC line; 1/4 oz to 5/8 oz in water depths 1' to 40'.

Windy conditions and slow current, 7/16 oz to 1 oz, water depths 1' to 40'.

Tom

There's really no way for anyone to pinpoint this, what line is used will vary this, what type of jig, make of jig, its amount of strands in the skirt, and the skirt material itself will vary this as well. what trailer, if any? to many variables to consider,... BUT,...

  I fish the lightest jig that I can still feel on bottom.

I generally go with a 1/4 ounce jig in 15 feet of water or less unless the wind is blowing good, then I'll bump up to a 3/8. Anything over the low 20s I'm almost always using a 1/2 ounce or heavier. Keep in mind this is just a general rule. At times fish want a fast fall, so go with a heavier jig. Heavier line will slow the fall as well, so you may have to up size.

Thanks guys!

Fishing 10 to 20 foot deep with a bass jig and trailer I'm comfortable with 1/4 to 1/2 ounce jigs . 3/8 being a good choice to start with .

Lately using 3/8 with chunk and trimmed skirt on heavy rod and 65lb braid on 15 to 20 fow.

 

Hard to maintain contact with bottom.  If i use 16ln flouro itd be a different outcome. 

 

Basically what im saying is that it has a lot to do with your tackle

1. I assume I will use 3/8oz unless conditions dictate lighter or heavier. This is dictated largely by the consideration that a 3/8oz jig+trailer happens to "feel right" on my main jig rod.

 

2. I go lighter whenever I want:

(A) a slower fall rate (with the same trailer), or

(B) I want to avoid burying the jig too deeply in piles of grass, or other kinds of cover

 

3. I go heavier whenever I want

(a) a faster fall rate with the same trailer, or

(B) I want to move the jig faster while keeping it at the same depth

 

So I guess the point is, it's not absolute water depth I worry about, but rather what speed I'm looking for and what cover I'm around.

Just do like my dad and only throw a 3/4 oz. lol