I've fished jigs off and on for a few years, and never had so much as a nibble. Well, I watched a TylersReelFishing video where he fished KVD's pond and even though KVD said it was heavily fished, Tyler did well with a jig.

 

Today, I fished Freeman Lake, partly with a jig. I didn't catch anything, but I had a bass come up and swipe at my jig as I was fixing to take it out of the water.

 

Then I decided to go to the private pond I fish, which has very little pressure. I fished a bit with other things getting some smaller ones. Then I decided to try the jig which was still tied on. I made a few casts and moved down the bank. Then, in a spot I know holds fish, I cast the jig out, and I was hopping it off the bottom back to shore, when, about 8 feet from shore, thump! A strike unlike other lures, it was harder than other strikes. I set the hook with a right sweep, and I had a fish on.

 

Almost immediately the fish started peeling drag. My 10 pound Trilene Big Game started coming off in a hurry. I played the fish briefly as it made a run for some cattails. Then I pulled it towards shore and slid it up on the bank. As soon as it got on the bank my line broke just above my knot. I grabbed the fish by the lip before he had a chance to backtrack.

 

Not quite a tie with my PB (which is 4-11 currently) but a very solid 4lb7oz.

 

Without further ado:

 

 

 

I've been studying on jigs for a while, and have fished them a fair amount with no success. I did have one fish last year on a swim jig, but that's really a spinnerbait without the arm than the way I think of a jig.

 

I had heard someone say that a jig is a big fish lure, and my first fish on a jig certainly attests to that.

 

I have always wanted to learn, and master, jigs. I see so many people talk about how great they are, but having not had success with them up until now, I've just took it with a grain so salt. This fish cemented the desire to master the jig.

If you want to get good with a jig, leave everything else at home.

Yes, jigs are the best. I have the addiction. I usually carry 2 out every trip, sometimes more. Heavy, brush, finesse, swim, etc. 

 

If on a lake during spawn, try a heavy jig. Fish don't see them often around here, and the different action gets bites. Also, @Pat Brown came up with theory I agree with that a bass on bed can't 'blow' a heavy jig off bed, which leads to them eating it. Definitely seems to be the case compared to finesse jigs, which are also fun. 

 

So many jig options, techniques, etc you can definitely spend many hours testing and learning. Swim jigs are still my favorite, especially for ponds. @Siebert Outdoors 3/8 swim jig in a shad looking color, tweaked to your water and forage, worked slowly at various points in the water column will wreck some pond bass! 

 

Have fun! 

I love fishing jigs. I really suck at it. I need to just put everything else down and let my jig flag fly. 😂

Jigs are pretty fun!  I throw them pretty much every time I fish and have for years.  I basically fish them like a Texas rig and sometimes they get smaller fish and t rigs win and sometimes jigs catch bigger fish and jigs win.

 

Ya never know which is gonna be which so I tend to have both tied on 365 days a year and both get lots of bites and catch bigger fish.

 

I like jigs when I want a more compact offering and I want a slower rate of fall.

 

Jigs have a very good hook up ratio.

 

Jigs come through a lot of types of cover pretty well.

 

They're pretty dang sweet.

 

I pretty much exclusively fish shad color skirts at this point and fish paddle tail trailers even when I'm flipping and pitching jigs a LOT.

 

I don't fish swim jigs much but I do swim my jigs almost every trip - sometimes fish like a horizontal presentation and sometimes fish like a vertical presentation and heck sometimes I fish them right below the surface like a buzzbait with no blade.

 

All the ways have caught me fish big and small!

 

Enjoy!

Nice jig fish. 

Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

Here is the video I mentioned where Tyler fishes KVD's pond. This really made me think that a jig might be effective - 

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1 hour ago, F14A-B said:

Nice jig fish. 

Thank you!

Just now, Bazoo said:

Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

Here is the video I mentioned where Tyler fishes KVD's pond. This really made me think that a jig might be effective - 

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Thank you!

You’re welcome..

Great fish!  

Congrats. I’m a swim jig addict myself. 

Well done! I could not agree more with @Jig Man and @Pat Brown

 

im somewhat the opposite of Pat. I fish a swim jigs a lot. But don’t always swim it. I’ll hop it, drag it, swim it whatever. Even pitch it if the cover is close and thin. A jig is so versatile. Trailers are endless. Depending what you are trying to mimick. I will say though the paddle tail is deadly. 
 

and I did it just like jigman said. I took nothing but a jig and one rod. And made it work 

5 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

Great fish!  

Thanks!

13 hours ago, Jig Man said:

If you want to get good with a jig, leave everything else at home.

That concept can apply to nearly any specific lure or presentation.

 

It makes you learn.

Jigs are good. One of my favorite baits to throw. I fish them mostly in timber. Siebert only. I always have a jig tied on and in the boat. 

Congratulations! Jigs are my favorite way to fish.

I shared these in the Latest Catch Thread.

 

Confidence is nearly 100% now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I catch my biggest fish of the year almost every year on a Jig.

Well this year a fluke has the that title so far 😄 

Great catches! Nothing quite like  jig/swim jig bite. I’d take that any day over other baits. 

Excellent catches! I enjoy a good jig bite.

Very nice! What color is that jig in the OP? I like it!

46 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Very nice! What color is that jig in the OP? I like it!

I'm not sure what it's called. I got it for Christmas a couple years ago, so it either came from Walmart or Academy. If I can find it in store to get the make and color I will report back.

When I began fishing jigs is when I really got serious about bassin. Most every tournament I cashed in, a jig/craw or chunk was my go to.  I almost beat out one of our mods for big fish on the last official BR Road trip pitching a jig.

Stick with learning different retrieves, a jig is a serious, big fish tool. You won't be disappointed. 

8 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

When I began fishing jigs is when I really got serious about bassin. Most every tournament I cashed in, a jig/craw or chunk was my go to.  I almost beat out one of our mods for big fish on the last official BR Road trip pitching a jig.

Stick with learning different retrieves, a jig is a serious, big fish tool. You won't be disappointed. 

Thanks Joe.

On 6/14/2025 at 12:58 PM, Bazoo said:

I shared these in the Latest Catch Thread.

 

Confidence is nearly 100% now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit late to the party but what trailer is that?

3 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

A bit late to the party but what trailer is that?

Howdy, it is a Zoom Z hog JR. I like it quite a bit. I've also fished it just as a creature bait.

 

https://zoombait.com/z-hog/z-hog-jr/