Tutelage for jig and pig fishing?

[carlcmc]

I have never caught a bass on a jig or jig and pig. I just bought a boat and sonar unit and will be giving them a work out this summer.

Can you guys post tips on how to fish a jig/jignpig to a newbie to give me a chance on how to hook up and the best areas of a lake to fish it?

[FlipR70]

Carl,

I've been jig fishing for only a couple years now and I really catch a lot of nice bass using jigs. They've become a major part of the rigs I always keep on deck.

The way I finally got into jig fishing was going fishing with my buddy on Big Marine. He was using tubes and hammering the bass. I used the same tube and started catching fish until I actually ran out of tubes. I then switched to a jig which was roughly the same size & color. Not long after trying it, I starting getting fish, but they seemed to be bigger than the ones my friend was catching. He tried tying on a jig and his first fish was 3 lbs. Since that year, I've been an advocate of the jig.

Here's my $0.02 about what to expect ...

I'd done quite a bit of soft plastic fishing and I'm making the assumption that you've done some as well. There is a difference in the bite between a jig & soft plastic. With a soft plastic, I usually get a tapping-type bite. It feels about the same as if you feel a sunfish or bluegill tugging on a small jig with a minnow or worm under a bobber. The bass jig bite, in my experience, is generally different. What I usually get a single THUMP. After I feel the thump, I lift up on the rod until I feel weight, and then I reel down and set the hook - HARD.

As far as colors go, I usually focus on two or three colors. I usually use black & blue, watermelon, & pumpkin. In the spring, I choose the color jig that matches the bottom of the lake. Start with a 1/4 or 3/8 oz jig for open water and 1/2 or 3/4 for heavy cover (pitchin' & flippin').

Choosing which jigs to buy. One of the most important things I look for in a jig is the hook. I like an extra wide gap hook. My favorite is something like a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG on a 3/8 oz jig. If yo get smaller hooks, you can have your trailer gum up the hook and I've found that you don't hook as many fish. I would recommend jigs from M&N tackle in Orono MN, Outkast jigs, or Picasso jigs. I would also look for a jig with a streamlined head to part it's way through grass & lilly pads.

I would start with 2-6 jigs and fish them until you know what you're looking for. I made the mistake of buying 20 jigs before I figured out exactly what I was looking for and ended up not liking many of them.

Hope this helps,

FlipR70

[panolo]

Flip... Excellent response. Thanks.

[carlcmc]

Thanks for the tips! I'll try to put it to use!

[delmuts]

carl a couple of other things i want to add. i do trim the fiber gaurd down a little so it is just about a 1/8 to a 1/4 of an inch above the hook, and i tend to thin out some of the bristles( unless i am in heavy brush) this just makes for a little less resistance that the fish may feel. also be sure to watch your line. i have had fish just pick up the jig and swim with it.never felt a thing. del

[Guest]

Denny Brauer the super guru of jig fishing for bass says the most important thing is if you think even slightly that there is a fish than drop the rod, reel and set immediately.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I suggest only brining jigs with you on a few trips.. Make your self fish them... Often times, when you are not successfull right away you will often abandon fishing a jig to something you are more successfull. Its just like learning to walk you got to fall a few times before you find success.

Flipr70 gave some great advise. The only thing I would add is make sure you are using a stout enough rod. Because a jig creates more resistant and is usually heavier it usually takes a little more to move the jig and get it to hop and drag. Some days the fish really want to hoped hard(rip jigging) some days they just want to dragged....

Best of luck....

[Coach Dog]

Some great tips guys! Delmuts had a good point on sometimes you can't feel the bite. I try to pay close attention on wtching my line. You'd be surprised on how often the line moves from side to side and you can't feel a thing. One thing I like to do is keep your rod tip at about 11 o'clock or noon. For me anyway, I can feel the most out of what my jig is hitting on bottom. This also leaves you a lot of line to reel up before you set the hook, giving you a better hookset. And remember, set that hook as hard as you can!
Jig fishing is one of my favorites. If you are patient, you will be rewarded.

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GIT-R-Done!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Hooksets are free... if something doesnt feel right set the hook...

[Granny]

Great advice!
I have not tried the jig/pig but that is one thing I am going to try to focus on this year. Do you guys use a braid (Power Pro) with this jig or do you stick with heavy mono?

[Banger]

Good advice guys I don't have anything to add but just repeat practice makes perfect. You have to force yourself to use something new to get some confidence in it. As for the line I use when fishing jigs, I prefer mono about 15 pound test for most applications. Although I do go with a 50 pound braided line when fishing docks and heavy cover, my experience is that the braided line skips better and having no stretch really lets you haul the big ones out of the "jungle"

[EBass]

This is great advice, keep it up. I suck with the jig. I'm more of a spinnerbait soft plastic guy.

What are some deep weed tactics? Like that 14-16 foot deep coontail edge on tonka.

[Deitz Dittrich]

For most deep open water situations I use 15 lb P-line CXX mono.. but for shallow heavy cover I go with either 50-65 lb Power Pro braid... I dont think shallow fish are as line shy, because shallow fish are usually on the feed... thats just my opinion!

[RandyFish]

I am in the same boat as Carl, just learning to jig.

The advice has been great so far, particularly about jigs vs. plastics.

Two questions, though.

1. I am confused about where you want your jig to be, the majority of the time.

Should jigs hop just along the bottom (imitating crayfish), or do bass hit them on the fall? Which is likely?

2) Ever tried to use a slow-fall approach to jigging. I have read an article about it, and at least it makes sense, meshing with what I have done before with tubes.

Any color, weight, trailer suggestions?

Randy Fish

[EBass]

I've only caught them on the fall to, but my buddy can catch them dragging it or hoping it. He's a jig master. He's not a FMer though.

[Daze Off]

EBass,

I'm no expert on fishing the depths but here are a couple of things I have had success with: Carolina rigged 6" lizard; 3-4" grub on a plain ol' round jighead; and deep-running cranks in bluegill or firetiger. Jigs work well too. Can add some splitshot a foot or so ahead of the bait and it will go deeper. Never had any luck with countdown minnow baits but they should work too.

If all that fails ------ dynamite always succeeds....LOL (just kidding of course)

Daze Off

[Banger]

RandyFish

I have most of my luck fishing jigs on the bottom. It all depends on the mood of the fish in how I work my jig. If the fish are agressive I work it fast with sharp twitches and if they are not too agressive I almost drag it much like a carolina rig. As for bass hitting it on the fall, it happens to me alot when fishing in deep water (15 plus feet) when bass are schooled up and feeding agrressivly. I have also experimented with swimming jigs over the top of cabbage patches but I have had a whole lot of luck with that, seems a spinner bait or lipless crank puts alot more fish in the boat.

[Yaeger Guide]

Carl,

When trying something for the first time, try it when the bite is hot! No sense in trying something new when the old reliables are not working. Spray the jig n' pig with tons of stink spray...then lock into it! Good luck.

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God bless,
Judd Yaeger
Yaeger Guides (Twin Cities Guides) www.yaegerweb.com/guide

[Guest]

Several years ago I was like alot of people, plastic worms, spinnerbaits, cranks. I then tried a jig for the heck of it. Now 95% of the time I use a jig. Whether fishing for pleasure or money, I have found that it will reward you if you have the patience. I repeat patience. Some little things I have learned over the years are:
1. Use the lightest jig you can get away with- Alot of people use to heavy of a jig. Obviously conditions will dictate. (wind,cover,depth) If you can slowly hop/shake the jig while maintaining botton contact, you're O.K.
2. Fish deeper in clear water- it amazes me at blast off on the morning of a tourney at how many boats head for the shallow water and stay there all day. 10'-18' weed lines/rock piles are magnets at all times of day.
3. Use a quick powerful hook set- any tick, thump, or resistance warrants a quick hook set. If you are waiting and wondering if it's a strike, Then it's to late. The fish already spit the lead.
Jig fishing takes as I said, patience. It is a style that takes a while to learn but has great rewards. Color preference is something that I have not experimented with. I only use one color combo and I have stuck with it. Just some thoughts...

trident

[Dan Wood]

Ditto on using the smallest jig you can get away with. I typically use 1/4, sometimes 1/8 oz.

When in doubt, set the hook - hard!

[Clay.P]

Something about size. I don't know that I totally agree with using the lightest jig possible. It is something that the fish and water clarity should dictate. If the water is clear you definately do not want the fish to get a good look at a slow falling jig. You want that jig to drop fast so the fish has to react to the bait. In dark water you want a slow falling jig that will displace some water and give the fish time to find it. One thing that I try to do with a jig is keep it simple. I fish four colors and three sizes. Black/blue, White, Brown and Green Pumpkin, sizes 3/8, and 1/2. I do use some 1oz. for thick vegetation. By trimming the skirt of using different trailers you should be able to get a jig to fall as fast or as slow as you want. The hard part of fishing a jig is maintaining a visual image of what your bait is doing. Keeping your choices simple will help your concentration.

[Dan Wood]

Good points Clay... I was giving more of a general guideline that has worked for me, not a rule. Many guys will chunk 3/8 oz. jigs regardless of conditions. Your missing the boat if you don't switch up sizes depending on a variety of conditions.

If you are tossing through the thick stuff, you need a heavier jig to get through. I still go as light as possible MOST of the time for the situation. If I can penetrate the canopy of vegetation with a 1/2 oz., I won't go larger typically. You need to let the conditions dictate size. I will go up to about 1 oz. in certain situations (mainly just for very thick canopys).

If the fish are real agressive or deep, you can generally size up. Just have a few different sizes and colors and see what they want. Sometimes that slow fall is what it takes - and sometimes you can get a reaction bite on a faster falling jig. Just experiment a bit and you will know what they want.

[Clay.P]

Right on the Money Dan! Great minds think alike!

[sami0115]

i am a newbie to jig-n-pig fishing also... so i really appreciate this forum... very helpful.... now we just need the season to open...

[carlcmc]

how do you guys select your pig for it? How do you put it on the jig. I tried putting on real pork trailer and it took me 5 minutes to push the hook through!