The last fish I caught was the 7.2 on December 22, and when 2011 left us, it took my jig bite with it. I've really been struggling to start off 2012. Heck, not struggling to get bites, but struggling to get a hook in them. Lots of missed fish, bad hooksets, stretchy line, rods that are too short/not powerful enough, and reels that are too slow. Struggling to learn a new technique, winter probably isn't the best time to try and gain confidence in something new! I really needed to go back to a technique that I know I can catch fish on... the jig!

I got on a pretty good football jig bite for a couple of hours. Air temps in the 30's with freezing rain all day forced me to suit up in the Carhartt coat, bibs, and insulated boots. Fished the pond where I caught my biggest in 2011, about an hour away with a creek flowing in and plenty of brushpiles to suit my needs. I was working the jig pretty quickly along a drainage pipe that has a dropoff and rockpile close by, and the fish were SLAMMING it. No "deadweight" bites today despite the horrible conditions.

After a while I moved over and threw the jig into the creek and worked it back out; water depth ~3-4'. I missed what could have been (and probably is) the biggest fish to ever bite my little jiggy. When I missed the hookset due to a long cast and STRETCHY 20# flouro, she actually made a big wake in 4' of water. I saw her head and part of her body - I don't want to be "that guy" , but she was way over 10 FO SHO. I'll get her next time.

While it's certainly no monster, this little dude really helped to turn my confidence around. Him and his six little amigos put me in a good, confident mood.

Wish this pic came out better to show how pretty this little dude was. That was the main reason for taking a picture, LOL.

BTW - I'm never going to use anything but braided line for jigs again. If I remember correctly, that's the 8th BIG fish I've missed because of stretchy line.

BTW - I'm never going to use anything but braided line for jigs again. If I remember correctly, that's the 8th BIG fish I've missed because of stretchy line.

now you're talking bud. make 'em pay!!! good fish in your pic too. hate you lost the biggun, but there will be other chances. the clock is ticking. it's just a matter of time now that you know her address. i'd say her days are numbered. tick, tick, tick, tick....................................................

now you're talking bud. make 'em pay!!! good fish in your pic too. hate you lost the biggun, but there will be other chances. the clock is ticking. it's just a matter of time now that you know her address. i'd say her days are numbered. tick, tick, tick, tick....................................................

Hell yeah paul! I was inspired to post this after reading yours earlier. Wish the pic had come out better to show how purty he was. Only a dink, but it felt good! Biggest today was ~2, but that was probably the best 2 pounder I've caught in a long time!

Got a pm coming your way here soon.

Gettin' jiggy with it! Another 7 or bigger is in your near future for sure...

your onto the bigun'! atta boy G!