So I've seen these around forever and I've heard a lot of good things on here about them but I've never tried one. The smallest jig I usually throw is a sniper or a BOSS mini ball. Am I missing out not having the bitsy bug in my arsenal? How many of you still throw these?

I’d recommend the bitsy flip instead, much better hook (cheap 2/0 vs decent 3/0) imo and my hookup ratio is much better.

 

If you aren’t set on strike king, my favorite flipping jig for 1/4 or 3/8 oz is the Missile Baits Ike Mini Flip. Solid 4/0 hook, good skirt, comes through grass and wood very well.

 

With that said, the bitsy bug is the easiest of the three to find and it gets bit. You can also find them for $.88 fairly regularly vs. $3.00 for the bitsy flip and $4.00 for the mini flip. 

6 minutes ago, bigbassin' said:

I’d recommend the bitsy flip instead, much better hook (cheap 2/0 vs decent 3/0) imo and my hookup ratio is much better.

 

If you aren’t set on strike king, my favorite flipping jig for 1/4 or 3/8 oz is the Missile Baits Ike Mini Flip. Solid 4/0 hook, good skirt, comes through grass and wood very well.

 

With that said, the bitsy bug is the easiest of the three to find and it gets bit. You can also find them for $.88 fairly regularly vs. $3.00 for the bitsy flip and $4.00 for the mini flip. 

I'm looking for that smaller size. For a jig the size of the mini flip I use a siebert sniper or boss finesse flip.

11 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I'm looking for that smaller size. For a jig the size of the mini flip I use a siebert sniper or boss finesse flip.

Are you targeting green bass or brown bass?

I really feel you miss a lot of largemouth, especially in cover, with the bitsy bug. I don’t think it gets you any additional strikes either.

 

Personally I’ve stopped fishing the bugs for largemouth.

 

 Now where the size of the bitsy bug was useful for me was targeting Suwannee bass. 9” is about average, 12” is a stud and their mouths are proportioned to their bodies the way a smallmouth’s is. Hookup ratio was the same between the bitsy bug and mini flip, number of strikes were a little higher on the bug.

If your goal is to catch creek bass or a species of smaller redeye bass, they should work fine.

My local lake is predominantly largies but there is a decent amount of smallies as well. Guess I'm looking at it more as a cold water tool.

The Bitsy Flip is a great jig. I would say it’s definitely worth having some in your bag. I use them all year, mostly with Zoom Super Chunk Jr as a trailer. I have caught multiple 5 and 6lb lmb on them, and lots of smaller fish too. Smb hit them well too. The compact size looks a lot like small bluegills and craws. It’s been a mainstay for me for years.

Hook up ratio is incredible with them. I prefer them to the bitsy bug for the reasons stated above. Hook, and weed guard are both beefier on the flip than the bug.

They make great cold water jigs.

I still throw bitsy bugs, even though I pour jigs, for the price I just buy these. (lost all my inventory in a fire three years back and I had a ton of little Arkys that served the same purpose)

 

I still use larger bullet jigs for other applications, but in clear water with not too much vegetation these are the ticket. I throw them on medium spinning tackle, 20 lb braid to 14 lb copolymer leader. 

6 hours ago, waymont said:

They make great cold water jigs

 

I like em in cold water with Zoom's Swimming Chunk. I tread the chunk on like a Craw Worm which gives it a small profile.

I've been throwing the regular 3/16 Bitsy Bug with great success this summer. I sometimes swap out skirts, and finding the right size matching trailer takes a little work, but I've been very happy with the results. Been throwing it mostly on an MBR-783C with 12# fluoro.

I fish with the 1/8 ounce bitsy bug and the 3/8 bitsy flip on a regular basis. This time of year I use them in the vegetation, especially the 1/8 ounce. 

I've used the Bitsy Bug for years. I.like them in fall, cooler water, with a small zoom chunk or trimmed down 3" craw as a trailer. Blk/blue has been my best color.