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What jigs are best for smallies

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So i fish a lot of east Tn lakes which are full of smallies but have just started trying to catch them on jigs. I have been catching some on hair jigs but they are really light jigs like 1/8 ounce jigs with hair and some rubber skirt. Just wondering what jigs everyone elses uses for smallies?

I tie my own, I generally use real light ones, 1/16th or so. Patterned after the Spro Live Bucktail ones only much smaller. Have some of my own patterns too but all of them are 1/4 oz on the heavy end, 1/32 on the light. You dont need a cannonball to get down there

Punisher Lures has some nice Hair Jigs for Smallies. They work pretty good. I lost all the ones I had so recently I have been throwing regular jigs for Smallies.

I just trim the skirt a tad longer than the Hook and trim the weed guard down a bit and put a smaller trailer on. I like a Baby Paca Craw or a small Twin Tail grub for trailers. For colors I like Green Pumpkin, Dark Watermelon Seed and Brown.

  • Super User

I have hundreds of hand tied bucktail jigs in lots of color patterns and many different sizes but the smallies don't care a whole lot for them.  

Most of the smallies I catch on jigs are on a brown 1/2 oz football head with a double tail grub but around here jigs don't compare to 4" tubes.  I find the smallies to be much more agressive than spots or lmb and they don't care what size bait they see.

I have hundreds of hand tied bucktail jigs in lots of color patterns and many different sizes but the smallies don't care a whole lot for them.

Most of the smallies I catch on jigs are on a brown 1/2 oz football head with a double tail grub but around here jigs don't compare to 4" tubes. I find the smallies to be much more agressive than spots or lmb and they don't care what size bait they see.

And they are just the opposite here. Tubes dont compare to grubs and the like. Bucktails seem to only produce when the water is below like 40 or 45°

I say use what you have confidence in. I just don't get the hair jig deal but to each his own. I fish a 5/16 ball jig, weedless, gourd green with some blue or purple.

O forgot the best part part. Nothing but a Uncle Josh pork trailer.

i have good luck river fishing with 1/4oz green craw bitsy bugs with 3" craw trailer

  • Super User

5/16oz Eakins style jigs in natural colors like browns or greens. Hair jigs in black with a uncle josh 101 work well for cold water.

Allen

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

thank for the info. I been using some tied hair jigs with a little skirt in them. They seem to be working pretty good.

I love the strike king bitsy bugs in glo-pumpkin with a Zoom Rootbeer Swimmin' Chunk! It is awesome on Norris for smallies. I fish Boone some and they work there too! Cast it down the rock and work it back slowly!  ;)

I like the 1/4 oz jigs I make in the winter time and 3/4 oz football jigs I make in summer!  Natural craw colors and watermelon/green pumpkin.

a tip for smallies:

i ALWAYS trim my jigs.  i trip so that the outer skirts are short and the skirts near the hook remain untrimmed.  Then i trim a portion of the weedguard off to decrease lost fish from wimpy hooksets.

i also add a crawdad trailer onto my jigs.  i personally prefer the ones that show a lot of detail (like the claws, head, antennas, etc).  the trailer should be no more than 2 1/2''.  Remember... for smallmouths, you gotta downsize.  

Cast one of these modified jigs into riprap, jiggle it a bit, and you'll get a strike i guarantee it.  Doesn't hurt to also spray your favorite bait scent onto your jigs.  also doesn't hurt to spray some reelmagic or KVD lure and line spray to get the most from those silicone or rubber skirts.

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