I have 3-4 jigs, and they all have different head shapes. Some are what I believe is arkie heads, Some are more rounded and without a trailer, wouldn't rest verticle if at rest on the bottom. I don't know what I'm doing here, I'm just throwing jigs and hopping them long the bottom. Any tutorials explaining the differences and what they are best suited for?

 

I assume I can use any head for any technique I want?

90% of the time I am fishing a jig I am just dragging it along the bottom. I only really hop it if I feel the jig come up to a tree limb or something that stops it from being drug then I hop the bait over said structure and continue dragging. lol

I'm doing a combination of very small hops and dragging.

Some heads come through grass better than others. Some heads are made to stand up better than others. Plenty of people on here should be able to help. We have quite a few members who love jigs. 
 

Also, if you’re looking to buy jigs you won’t find a better product than what @Siebert Outdoors makes!

1 hour ago, IYAOYAS said:

90% of the time I am fishing a jig I am just dragging it along the bottom. I only really hop it if I feel the jig come up to a tree limb or something that stops it from being drug then I hop the bait over said structure and continue dragging. lol

Interesting. I’m a mostly hopper myself. I’m very curious what everyone else does.

Any jig head can do anything you want. It may not do it the best but it will do it. Don’t overthink it. Arky style heads are a really really good All around jig. 
 

you’d be surprised how well a swim jig works for all around. I get a ton of fish hopping and dragging the bottom with a swim jig. It’s very versatile and I don’t have to carry a ton of jigs with me. 

This video covers head shapes well. That being said, I don’t tend to switch head shapes throughout the day just because I’m around different cover. Very often, I swim jigs that are not ‘swim jigs.’ I will use ‘flipping jigs’ around sand and rock. I really don’t care, as long as I think it will get the job done. The most universal head I have found is Oldham’s Trailer Hitch jig. You can use it for literally anything. I also like Coda Lures Apex jigs and some Siebert offerings. I tend to use jigs that work in a variety of cover and also have characteristics that contribute to a higher hookup ratio. 

22 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

This video covers head shapes well. That being said, I don’t tend to switch head shapes throughout the day just because I’m around different cover. Very often, I swim jigs that are not ‘swim jigs.’ I will use ‘flipping jigs’ around sand and rock. I really don’t care, as long as I think it will get the job done. The most universal head I have found is Oldham’s Trailer Hitch jig. You can use it for literally anything. I also like Coda Lures Apex jigs and some Siebert offerings. I tend to use jigs that work in a variety of cover and also have characteristics that contribute to a higher hookup ratio. 

Very well said 

When you see that a jig can be hopped, dropped, shaken, dragged and swam, the various head shapes and hook arrangements will make more sense.  You can find a jig for every scenario.  The style and trailer options are endless.  Define what you want your jig to do and match the head style and then the trailer.  You can haul fire wood in a Corvette but using a pickup makes more sense.

Let’s simplify this a coupe things:

 

- Any jig can be working in a bunch of different techniques, some more easily than others.

 

- Go to siebert outdoors and ready the descriptions for each of the jigs.  when you’re ready to buy a new jig, just get one there that matches what you want to do.  I’ve got a box full of mike’s jigs and they are fantastic across the board.

 

- Pointy nose jigs come through grass better.  Flat bottom jigs slide across brush better.  Football heads are a special breed.  Everything else is a variation on a theme.

 

- The line tie in the front is better for forward movement.  A 90 degree line tie is better for going ‘upward’.  Grass jigs normally have a pointy nose, front line tie, and a vertical line tie, all of which promote streamline cutting through grass.  An Arkie style has a flatter bottom, weight behind the line tie, and an angled up line tie, all of which promote sliding up over things.  

 

All that said, you could just use an arkie for most everything.   Thick grass might be tougher, but otherwise it will work to swim, drag, hop, you name it.  A football head is the most specialized and will hurt a lot in grass, but isn’t awful in wood.  A swim jig does most so long as it is moving, but will stick into corners a little worst.  

I used to be super big on jig head shape and bite gap but now I pretty much just think about the hook, the jig weight and profile.

 

I use some jigs for a compact profile with a smaller weight and I try to have a variety of weights.  Some jigs I use for a bigger profile and I try to also have a variety of weights for those as well.

 

The hook is important because a smaller hook will allow for smaller plastics and are better for compact profiles.  A bigger hook will accommodate bigger soft plastics and will work great for a bigger profile.

 

Lighter weights are better for working higher in the water column and fishing slower in shallow water.  There are times when a lighter jig head is essential to get a slow rate of fall when fish prefer that - dirty water, low light, suspending fish.

 

Heavy weights are better for working through heavy cover and working the bottom.  They are also much better in clearer water situations and are better for getting reaction strikes from weary fish who have seen a lot of 3/8 and 1/2 oz jigs.

 

Rate of fall is impacted by the jig weight, skirt bulk and the trailer so you have to experiment to find some stuff you like.

 

I don't worry too much about color or action in general.  Green pumpkin skirts pair well with everything and seem to work in all water clarities.  

 

I think it's more about rate of fall and profile if you are fishing it at shallow targets.

 

If you are swimming it - rate of fall and action and profile matter more.  I tend to use swimbaits the majority of the time when retrieving a jig.  If I'm casting a jig at a target and letting it fall - I'm more apt to use something with flappy arms.

 

Jigs are fun!

 

For the most part these days I could get by with the sniper and grass jigs from Siebert.  They cover most of my bases.  The grass jig comes in some great heavy weights that have caught me some huge fish.  3/4, 1 oz, 1 1/2 oz all have unique applications and are especially good for triggering reactions on the fall in very clear water.

I have a lot of different jig molds.  Over the years I have settled on three types and use them.  They are football head, the Midwest Finesse head and the Troker swim jig.  I make them in a variety of weights 1/16 to 1/2 oz and hook sizes from #2 to 4/0.

My hack-  use a football jig around  wood because it's easier to make solid contact with the cover and get a deflection.  I save flipping jigs for the thick stuff.

I appreciate all the advice. Thank you all!