I have heard a lot of guys talk about going light (1/4 or even 1/8) in spring and fall and then going heavier in summer. Why light in spring and fall?

I usually just stick to 1/4 oz year round when I fish docks, rocks, and brush. Then go to 3/8oz in heavy cover, and 1/2oz. in deep water.

You have to remember that those are just guidelines. All jigs are not created equal. Some 1/4oz jigs weigh more than 1/4 and some less than 1/4. Also thickness of strands and the number of strands plays a role on a jigs fall rate. Plus your trailer as well. But that is basically what it comes down to, the fall rate. Lighter jigs can be better in colder water due to slower fall rates. In warmer water a faster fall rate can be better. I have noticed this several times this year.

Keep in mind that it is a general guideline, but not a rule. Use what you are comfortable with, and when you are catching lots of fish, experiment around with heavier jigs to see if they keep biting.

Well big jigs do work in the spring and fall.But I have had better results with a 5/16 Booyah jig with a reg. size Paca Chunk in the spring and fall.Can't really explain it but that has been what has worked for me.

I throw an Oldham's Lures Trailer Hitch Jig, 3/8-1/2 oz. regardless of season, water depth, or cover. If I want to change the rate of fall I simply increase or decrease the size of my trailer because I believe a larger profile jig will produce larger bass. In the rare instances that call far a small jig I opt for a Bitsy Bug Flip but no lighter than ¼ oz. with a larger than most trailer.

I reorganized my jigs on Wednesday and used a scale that weighs in parts of ounces.

I was surprised to see that all of the 1/4 ounce jigs weighed 1/4 ounce; and the 1/2 ounce jigs weighed 1/2 ounce; and all in between weighed the same no matter the manufacturer.

As for throwing jigs, I always thought the lighter weighted ones were to be used in cold water and the heavier ones in warm water and then you change around depending on the bite and water (lake, pond, river) and the cover (grass) and structure (wood).

I also plan to experiment with the plastic and pork trailers.  

Thanks for the post.

I've only been jig fishing for around 4 months or so now, but will not fish below a 3/8oz and rarely above 1/2 oz (occasional 3/4oz). I don't like throwing anything below 3/8oz though.

What you want to accomplish in cold water is a slower drop rate along with a bulkier profile which can be accomplished with larger jigs, double skirts, and bulkier trailers. Lighter weight jigs will produce a slow rate of fall but is limited in the amount of bulkiness that can be achieved because of their overall size. This is not to say small jigs will not produce; it says to experiment with your jigs till you learn how to accomplish the fall rate you desire.