Fall and Jigs.

[RandyFish]

I am still trying to master jigs, so would fall be good period to dedicate myself to them?

From what I have read here, I would go with a frog type look (would a white jig with plastic "pork" trailer work?)

Then pitch shoreline structure and docks and work inside edges.

I think my overall problem is that I fsih them too fast, so could I get away with more spped in the fall because of more aggresive bite.

Your thoughts all.

Randy

[sami0115]

where is Exude when you need him? he would be a great one to answer this..

in my opinion i would say stay away from white this time of year. i would stick with the "old standbys" like black, blue or purple. but i think a good combination could also be green. this time of the year the fish are moving in shallow not only to feed but because that is where the higher content of oxygen is. the weeds in the deep die sooner and so the fish move shallow. i would be throwing to fallen timber, rushes, milfoil etc. and i would think that you want to slow the presentation down a little.

just my opinion.

[Deitz Dittrich]

fall is a great time to fish jigs.. but then again.. so is spring and summer... Yes you can fish a white jig, but I would tend to go twards the natural colors.. Pick a color depending on water clarity!... Crawfish if in clear water.. black/ blue in stained... or just plain black/blue...

I would say rather than try and "get away" with fishing it faster... LEARN TO FISH IT SLOWER... patience!...

Its not that its a slow presentation... Make your cast or flip to the object, fish that object hard for a few feet or 30 seconds to a min and then reel in as fast as you want and move on to the next object...Jig fishing isn't always about fishing slow..

Thats my opinion and I'm sticking to it!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Patience sami... we were typing at the same time... LOL

Sami did bring up a good point to go along with mine... that you are casting to an object more this time of the year than any because the weeds are dying off... if you see a clump of lilly pads, clump of green weeds, wood, dock... thats your object, not just open water as you would maybe during the summer months fishinga weed line or such!

Keep the bait in the strike zone as long as you can, and it will reward you!

[delmuts]

randy. the jig can be a great bait in the fall. the white leans more towards a shiner or some type of bait fish look, but it mite be just what the fish want. i do stay with mainly the black and blue colors. locations can be green weeds, docks( especially the one geting most of the sun) pts, drop offs and trees. some times a jig with a rattle does better than with out, but at times the rattle will spook the fish. as far as speed; vary it! as the water gets colder i normally slow the presentaion down, but try faster too.i have very good luck swimming a jig in the spring in very cold water. there are no definetes (sp) , only variables to try! del

[sami0115]

ha ha ha ha.....

[sami0115]

so Exude...

do you actually work, or do you just sit in front of your computer at work like i do?

Andy

[Dan Wood]

jigs are great spring, summer, and fall... I use black/blue all year - clear water I will go brown/red sometimes.

[Wayne Ek]

Randy, here is a technigue I use with some of my clients this time of year. Since I'm in the front of the boat, I toss a buzzer to locate active/aggresive fish ( you just have to remember not to set on the fish) once I get a hit I have my clients toss to the area ( great with kids) they have a target and confidence that there is a fish there.

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Wayne
Agape Fishing Guides
www.agapefishingguides.com

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sami- I dont get down that way much.. I know I will be working the Cabelas winter expo on December 4th and 5th if you wanted to stop and say hi....

[Deitz Dittrich]

Yes Sami I do work.. but Not untill almost 9 am.... thats when my students come...(Elem P.E. Teacher) Thats how I end up with 3 straight months of fishing...

[sami0115]

it must be awesome to have 3 months off to fish... i'm envious. i do own my own business so i do have some extra free time when i needed it. good luck fishing this fall. if you are in Winona this fall i would love to go fishin' with you on the Mississippi. maybe you could teach me a thing or two.

Andy

[pisces]

RandyFish, the best way to learn to jigfish is when you are already "on" aggressive fish. Example: a week ago White bass were almost frenzy-like on the river, I spent two hours working a jig with crappie minnow and had a hit most every other cast. I knew the fish were there and made a practice session out of it. Same when you find panfish in the spring during that "hot week". Catch a bunch of sunnies on a small jig and you'll learn more than a month of throwing a jig and catching nothing.
Learning to fish jigs is about learning to "read the telegraph" that you feel in the rod and from the line. How long do you "hold the glide"? What feels different between a hit and touching the bottom? What hookset seems to hook the most? Do I set right away, or "drop and set"?
You'll get all this from working smaller fish when you know they are there, as well as gaining confidence in jigging. A sunnie hit feels about the same as a Bigmouth hit.
Hope this helps. Try it next spring and then you'll be ready for next fall. PS: worm fishing is just a variance of jig fishing.