2 hours ago, RHuff said:

 

 I would throw a lighter jig then maybe a 3/8 and hop it instead of drag it..  I bet rocks like that are smallmouth heaven..

Correct.

 

I fish some rock piles like this and bounce a football-head bladed jig across them. I've also fished these with a Jika Rig.

 

No reason you couldn't do the same with a jig! 

I’m gonna flip cover more.  And fish a glide bait, looking for that big one.  I said I’d do that last year, but didn’t.

 

And fish jigs.  I rarely do, so may force myself to throw nothing but a jig one day and see if I can build some confidence in that.

8 minutes ago, The Baron said:

And fish jigs.  I rarely do, so may force myself to throw nothing but a jig one day and see if I can build some confidence in that.

 

You and me, buddy.

I used to struggle with jigs. Late last year I got good enough at pitching that they started working well for me.   So now the only common bait type that I still struggle with are topwater.  

I’ve caught fish a few fish with poppers and a Choppo, so I’ll definitely use those.  I also have some buzzbaits and spooks, that have gotten swiped at but haven’t caught anything yet.  I’d like to change that this year.

On 1/14/2025 at 8:59 AM, gim said:

Elite Evo Tungsten version.

 

I was able to snag one at the very end of last season, and use it for 2 outings in October.  Extremely effective lure.  It showed me enough to buy another one and use it in 2025 more.

 

Time to revive this one.

 

I've been using the Elite Evo Tungsten off and on this season and it has produced some quality fish, including a 4.5 pounder last week.  I like it better than the jack hammer and the standard Evo with lead jig heads.

 

Fall is when I really do some damage with bladed jigs though.  That season is rapidly approaching as the water cools.

 

 

Still haven't caught a bladed jig fish myself. Definitely tried a bunch. 

19 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

Still haven't caught a bladed jig fish myself. Definitely tried a bunch. 

Ya know, I’m not sure if I have either.

 

Mostly because I rarely throw them.

 

Similar moving baits I mostly throw swimjigs or spinnerbaits.

 

I’ve got 1/2 a dozen jackhammers I need to try them.

Good reminder @gim! I need to break these out next time on the water. 

 

Also need to break out the swimjigs @HawkeyeSmallie. 

 

I love me a spinner-bait...but there are times when they just aren't producing. 

 

8 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Good reminder @gim! I need to break these out next time on the water. 

 

Also need to break out the swimjigs @HawkeyeSmallie. 

 

I love me a spinner-bait...but there are times when they just aren't producing. 

 

 

My spinnerbaits were on fire in the spring, but have since cooled. 

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

My spinnerbaits were on fire in the spring, but have since cooled. 

 

They will bear fruit again when the water cools off.

10 minutes ago, gim said:

 

They will bear fruit again when the water cools off.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I still cast one from time to time to see if they're working again. Our nights are consistently in the low fifties, so I expect they'll be on fire again soon. It's weird how my underspins have worked all summer long, given how similar they are to spinnerbaits. 

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Thanks for the heads up. I still cast one from time to time to see if they're working again. Our nights are consistently in the low fifties, so I expect they'll be on fire again soon. It's weird how my underspins have worked all summer long, given how similar they are to spinnerbaits. 

 

Yesterday had a spinnerbait vibe written all over it. You could see it in the trees and feel it with your lungs.  :)

 

In fact, I only took ONE fishing rod with me, and ONE lure. Which if you knew me, I like to bring everything including the kitchen sink.

 

I caught at least 10.

 

There's not much out there that can beat a spinnerbait bite.

I formerly had only a paddle kayak, but my dad got an actual boat and I got a pedal kayak. Over the last number of years I got away from throwing subsurface moving baits often, aside from swimbaits in late June/early July, or in the fall, or at night.  So i was trying to throw more of these at all times since I can now cover more water. 

 

The main baits I have thrown have been bladed jigs, hybrid hunter jr, a 3xd, and a rapala twitchin mullet.  So far this has mostly worked, but right now and from about Aug 14th onward, this has died right down. The fish are either too deep or buried in grass/aren't willing to chase. 

 

One nice side effect is that I have caught a few super nice walleye (and many less nice pike). I target bass, but if I am around 5 lb+ walleye or 35+ inch pike/muskie I like to have a chance of catching them.

@gim a bladed jig to me is like a dropshot to you. 😂