Reading the post concerning football jigs got me to thinking about the different ways to stroke a jig.  When I first began doing this, the only way I knew was to jerk it up like I was setting the hook, and then letting it fall on slack line to the bottom. That is still a great way, but since then I've also had success letting it pendulum down on a semi-taught line, giving it a couple of quick, short hops before stroking it and dead sticking it after it hits bottom.  The last one will get me bit when most guys are throwing shakey heads, or drop shots.

What variations, if any do you employ, or do you basically stick to the quick lift and fall option?

PM your email and I will send you my In-Fisherman Horizontal Jigging Article, this is my most successful presentation.

Stroking is more a vertices impulse strike action, worth trying.

Tom

I remember Stacy King winning a BASS event on Toledo Bend using that technique.  The most productive retrieve for me is still a slow dragging while maintaining bottom contact.

I don’t fish very heavy jigs. 1/16-1/8-3/16 oz., a slow drag gets majority of my bites. I throw in quick twitches and hops. Crawdad. 

I don't stroke a jig at all and that probably is a mistake

Most of the time I will be dragging or giving the jig short hops.  I will stroke the jig if I have some open water.

Just put on the song “strokin” by Clarence Carter and it will all come naturally

I throw jigs exclusively during the prespawn in cold water which account for my best fish each and every year.

 

Never throw them after the spawn probably due to low fishing IQ.

Much prefer a slow drag, bouncing off stuff.

You mentioned Shakyhead, yes that's what I go to after the spawn for crawfish immitation.

13 minutes ago, Bird said:

I throw jigs exclusively during the prespawn in cold water which account for my best fish each and every year.

 

Never throw them after the spawn probably due to low fishing IQ.

Much prefer a slow drag, bouncing off stuff.

You mentioned Shakyhead, yes that's what I go to after the spawn for crawfish immitation.

My experience, jigs work all year round. That being said I think confidence in a bait might be as or more important than the bait itself. 

I throw jigs year round 

 

I stroke em, drag em, hop em, flip em, pitch em, punch em.

 

What ever it takes to get bit!

killer technique

A fistful of Pond's mois.... Oh nevermind 

1 hour ago, ironbjorn said:

A fistful of Pond's mois.... Oh nevermind 

never when I'm on the water fishing.

On 6/27/2023 at 11:36 PM, WRB said:

PM your email and I will send you my In-Fisherman Horizontal Jigging Article, this is my most successful presentation.

Stroking is more a vertices impulse strike action, worth trying.

Tom

*Would a standard 3/8th oz. ~ 1/2 oz. Arky style jig be the best jig style for stroking ?

2 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Would a standard 3/8th oz. ~ 1/2 oz. Arky style jig be the best jig style for stroking ?

 

 

Something I’m gonna do more 

I only stroke the jig at night, to keep my casting arm strong for the next days fishing.

Just make sure there aren’t any other boats around. 

You know what they say about boating etiquette, "if I can reach your boat you're too close"