New to fishing with jigs

[basssmasher*]

I need help bigtime in this area as I'm not very experienced with using jigs with /withought trailers... Dunno where or when to try em, I'm usually a plastics /spinnerbait topwater guy... the more info I can get on here the better!! Thanks!

[Craigums]

Whew, were to begin? I LOVE throwing jigs and have one tied on at all times. If you just starting out I would use a lighter jig that falls slower, I started with a 1/4oz and used a berkley chigger craw for a trailer the thing falls super slow and gets alot of bites. Toss them to the shady sides of docks, isolated logs or edges of hardstems and you will get bit. One thing that I discovered that really helped me out is to make sure that youve got good contact with your bait at all times. Try to keep the line relatively tight without moving the jig.

[MuskieFever]

I agree with all of the above. When I first started out with jigs, that was all I would fish so I was forced to learn or get skunked. I usually stick with 3/8-1/2oz black/blue jigs with a 4" chigger craw. When you throw it out, be sure to strip out some line so it falls on slack. ALWAYS watch your line fall, when it jumps, SLAM IT BACK! I tend to hop jigs with a slight shaking action to it. Like stated above, always keep your line semi snug in order to detect bites. When you feel a thunk, drop the rod, reel down, and slam it. Hope this helps! By far the most versatile technique out there.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Pretty much what they said. Just start throwing them. It might be frustrating at first while learning to decipher between, weeds, rocks, bass, bluegill but you'll figure it out and it will make you a better fisherman overall. Oh and hooksets are free! when in doubt set the hook, especially when first learning. You dont want to miss fish because you're unsure.

I spent one summer with a jig always tied on and had to force myself to learn it. Once you figure it out, like many bass guys, you'll always have one tied on because its one of your go to baits.

[HellaBass]

Used to fish mainly plastics, now I love jigs, my advice is to start small and light, get some bites, build confidence and work from there

[bemidjibasser]

Tie one on and leave the rest of your rods at home...you will learn to fish it better/faster that way because it will be the only bait you have with. They are very versatile. You can fish them anywhere in the water column and get bit.

[RK]

Tie one on and leave the rest of your rods at home...you will learn to fish it better/faster that way because it will be the only bait you have with. They are very versatile. You can fish them anywhere in the water column and get bit.

Excellent advice. Sometimes the only way to get out of a rut is to make the rut unavailable. Having one option will also force you to experiment with what you do have. The biggest mistake I think people make when trying to learn something new is only trying it when what they're confident in isn't working.

Learning to fish a jig is an invaluable skill. Start simple with a few jigs in a proven color (Green Pumpkin works every as near as I can tell) and keep at it. You will get bit. Jigs aren't always the first thing I reach for, but they're almost always the second... Confidence I have in them is off the charts.

[thatoneguy]

Tie one on and leave the rest of your rods at home...you will learn to fish it better/faster that way because it will be the only bait you have with. They are very versatile. You can fish them anywhere in the water column and get bit.

Yep. Take a variety of sizes and colors with you, go to a spot where you know there are active fish, and experiment. Hop it, swim it, let it sit for two minutes without moving it (that's a hard one for me), rip it...lots of different ways to fish a jig, and they're all fun.

You'll learn to really watch your line closely as well. My favorite part of bass fishing is a big blow-up on a topwater; my second favorite thing is seeing your line start to move and knowing I can reel down and rip a big hookset

[Doufish2]

I have to agree with leaving all other rods at home and just fish with one rod setup with a jig. Either green pumkin or standard black/blue with some type of craw trailer. Start with something you can feel. 3/8 oz usually works. Like someone said earlier, dark sides of docks, stumps, trees are good areas to start with. I started on a rock pile with a 3/8 oz. Fished it every time I went to this lake. Used nothing else. You get to know the feel of the bottom and the feel of a strike. One thing I don't think enough people do is skip jigs under docks, trees or into brush. For some reason, IMHO, it seems to let the bass know something is invading their territory and they better smack it!!!

[basssmasher*]

Thanks for all the advice guys!! Trouble is I'm boatless and would want to "experiment " with jig fishing before I fish in tourneys as a non- boater.. Anyone have any suggestions or want a fishing partner for a day.. I'd split all gas ect

[thatoneguy]

There's still enough ice we could walk out on Leech and drop some jigs down a hole