| Jig Fishing Techniques | | | | has a bigger hook than most, and it handles larger |
| By Steve vonBrandtToday's soft plastic lure market | | | | bass well. In warmer, clear water, we like to use a |
| is booming with new styles and colors of baits, but | | | | grub or swimming worm as a trailer, this is very |
| when you are looking for the biggest bite of the day, | | | | effective when you are trying to imitate a crawfish. |
| the fish that consistently win tournaments; then | | | | In colder, or more stained to muddy waters, we like |
| anglers in the know go to the bait that has been | | | | a bulkier trailer, as they displace more water and |
| proven over time to catch the biggest bass; the | | | | make it easier for the bass to home in on the |
| venerable jig-and-pig. | | | | bait.The design of the jighead is another thing you |
| 20 years ago, this bait was reserved for the sluggish | | | | have to think about. They need to be matched to |
| bass, or for fishing in the heaviest cover, or for | | | | the type of cover you are fishing. A jig that has a |
| bottom fishing techniques. Today, this bait is being | | | | head that is more pointed, with its eyelet coming out |
| used at all times of the year, in a variety of different | | | | of the front rather than the top, is going to pull |
| fashions.This bait has remained relatively the same | | | | through weeds better than a broad shouldered jig. |
| over the past 30 years. It has gone through some | | | | We like to use a Jungle Jig, by Northland, or a |
| cosmetic changes, such as better hooks, livelier | | | | Terminator Pro's Top Secret jig for this. The |
| skirts, and a broader spectrum of colors and sizes, | | | | Terminator has a recessed eye, as does Mann's |
| along with plastic trailers, which enable a wider variety | | | | Stone jig designed by Mike Iaconelli, and they all |
| of color options, but this bait, dressed with either | | | | come through this cover well.These jigs helped us |
| plastic or pork, continues to catch bigger bass when | | | | win the Big Bass World Championship several times. |
| other baits fail. Because of the popularity of the | | | | They were very effective here in the Northeast, in |
| flipping technique used by most of the veteran | | | | some of the heavier, weedy cover. When we fish |
| anglers today, the jig has remained among the most | | | | around rocks and wood, we use a jig with more |
| popular baits in many anglers tackle boxes. Because | | | | shoulders to help stop it sometimes. Many companies |
| of so many recreational anglers concentrating on the | | | | make this type of football or stand up jig, which is |
| flipping technique, the jig's universal effectiveness has | | | | great for these situations. When you pull it over an |
| been overlooked.Many people have forgotten that | | | | object, the jig tips, adding more action. We have |
| casting a jig is an effective technique also. The jig | | | | used these jigs effectively on many of New Jersey's |
| can be presented at a lot of different depths and | | | | reservoirs such as Spruce Run. You must also match |
| around a variety of structure. You are really limiting | | | | the size of the line to the size of the jig hook you |
| yourself if you only focus on the flipping aspect of it. | | | | are using. A heavy-duty jig hook requires a stronger |
| Many times during the summer months, we have | | | | hook set, so you need heavier line to handle it.Of |
| come in behind other anglers flipping obvious targets, | | | | course, it helps to know when you're getting a bite. |
| or casting more traditional summer lures, and we | | | | Big bass really thump a jig with the same vigor they |
| have caught bass making roll casts, and looking for | | | | do a plastic worm, and many other strikes are felt |
| isolated pieces of cover that other anglers have | | | | simply as spongy sensation, or just like you're |
| missed.DIFFERENT SIZESJig sizes have changed in | | | | dragging weeds. That's why it is important to set the |
| recent years, along with skirt material and colors. The | | | | hook on anything that feels unnatural, it could be |
| 3/8 ounce size remains the most popular, with smaller | | | | weeds, or it could be a seven pounder!JIG |
| versions are being used more and more with great | | | | COLORSWhile a black and blue jig seems to be the |
| success. The smaller finesse type of jigs are much | | | | favorite, we like to match jig colors to the water |
| more effective in clear water, while the heavier, | | | | conditions. A dark colored jig with a big crawfish |
| bulky versions are great for fishing stained to muddy | | | | trailer, moving on the bottom, does a great job |
| water. Not that the heavier jig isn't effective in some | | | | imitating a crawfish, but a white jig swimming over |
| shallower, open water, but a more compact 1/2 | | | | cover and around boat docks does a good job of |
| ounce bait is more effective, than the bulkier style. I | | | | imitating a baitfish. This is great when bass want a |
| use a shorter trailer for this. This is especially true | | | | slower presentation, or when you can't fish a |
| when fishing some of the finger lakes of New York | | | | crankbait or jerkbait with ease. Many times when |
| State, or any of the waters where smallmouth bass | | | | bass are feeding on shad, but want a slower |
| are also present. The heavier jig is more effective | | | | presentation than a spinnerbait, this is the best |
| when the bass are aggressive, as it allows you to | | | | choice. It can also catch the bigger bass that are |
| fish it faster and cover more water. When the fish | | | | ignoring the spinnerbait. The new "Sweet Beavers" |
| are suspended, or you need to keep it in the strike | | | | by Andre moore's company, "Reaction Innovations", |
| zone longer, the lighter jig is more effective. We | | | | have been the hottest and most productive soft |
| always keep experimenting with several sizes, letting | | | | plastic this year all over the country.We like the |
| the bass tell us what they want. In the summer | | | | plastic trailers in the summer months, and the pork in |
| months, when we swim the jig around boat docks, | | | | the winter.The new Uncle Josh Pork is more pliable in |
| we opt for the lighter 1/4 ounce size, with a plastic | | | | cold water, while plastic gets stiff. In places where |
| trailer, to imitate a crawfish or baitfish. Swimming the | | | | many anglers cast tubes or small finesse worms, |
| jig is a very effective technique that is overlooked | | | | such as clear water flats, we cast jigs in neutral |
| by many weekend anglers. Most small jigs don't have | | | | colors, and catch bigger bass. Many times when bass |
| a big enough hook to handle quality bass, which is | | | | ignore other baits, the jig will trigger a strike. This is |
| why we use a Spotsticker handpoured Jighead. We | | | | also a great bait for night fishing.Big Bass World |
| have been using this bait since 2002, when we had | | | | Champ/De NAFC Hall Of Fame Owner of Anglers |
| great success with it in several local tournaments in | | | | Radio, Delaware Tackle, and Reeltimeanglers. |
| cold water as well as in the summer. The Spotsticker | | | | |