Step onto any professional bass fishing angler's boat and you will find a setup dedicated to just jig fishing. Skirted jigs have become a staple in the bass fishing arena and many tournaments around the nation are being won using them.
Jigs are extremely versatile and come in what seems like a million different options. Don't get too overwhelmed by the multitude of choices though. Once you understand their differences you'll find that the selection of the right jig gets a whole lot easier.
Below we'll cover the main lineup of jigs on the market and some details about each to help you choose the one right for you.
Football Jigs
There are two main reasons as to why you should fish a football jig.
The first reason to fish a football jig is to figure out what is actually below the surface.
Thanks to its bulky, dense, oblong shaped head you can drag this jig through just about anything and get a good feel for what's beneath the surface.
Football jigs deflected off of rocks have a very sharp DINK feel vs dragging the jig into a submerged tree will have a softer THUD feel.
Secondly, football jigs match the angle of whatever object they come in contact with. This feature gives the jig a very appealing real-life profile. Football jigs are very effective at imitating crawfish for this very reason.
Unlike a fish which is always in a vertical position, crawfish will change their orientation with the angle of whatever object they are maneuvering across.
Think of it like this: If a boulder sits on a 45° slant, the crawfish moving across the boulder will also be at a 45° moving across the boulder, if that makes sense.
A football jig does the exact same thing giving bass a very realistic look at how an actual crawfish would be moving across objects.
These jigs are often fished one of two ways.
They can be slowly dragged across the bottom or hopped. When hopping the jig expect the bites to happen on the fall when you're retrieving slack line.
Our choices
Z-MAN CrosseyeZ Football Jig (https://amzn.to/3GHJVc4)
Reaction Tackle Tungsten Football Jig (https://amzn.to/3PUqrW3)
Jig trailer options
Strike King Rage Tail Craw (https://amzn.to/3m2YE8f)
Berkley PowerBait Chigger Craw (https://amzn.to/3x81EGD)
Swim Jigs
In times where you find yourself fishing around a lot of grass or using a steady retrieve, consider using a swim jig.
Swim jigs are equipped with small, bullet-like jig heads and often have lighter weed guards and hooks. Some anglers choose to trim or cut off the weed guards to help with ensuring better hook ups with each bite if fishing in areas where snags aren't as common.
These jigs typically imitate baitfish and are mostly fished with a steady retrieve. Both ribbon tail and paddle tail soft plastics make for great trailers when fishing a swim jig.
However, don't be afraid to switch up your retrieve. You can also imitate a struggling bait fish by lightly shaking your rod tip during the retrieve.
Another retrieving option, especially in heavier vegetation, is to rip the jig. Reel through vegetation until you feel the resistance of vegetation and then RIP your lure through it. Retrieve slack on the fall and repeat the process.
Our choices
Z-Man Crosseyez Snakehead Swim Jig (https://amzn.to/3NdQbeg)
Reaction Tackle Tungsten Swim Jig (https://amzn.to/38JJ0eY)
Jig trailer options (shoot for trailers around 3" in length)
Zoom Fat Albert Grub (https://amzn.to/38K02JW)
Strike King Rage Swimmer (https://amzn.to/3m5LFT6)
Casting Jigs
Casting jigs are designed to act as the well-rounded option for jig fishing. If you're not interested in buying jigs for specific situations this is the skirted jig for you.
Casting jigs typically have a flat bottom to the jig head to help with keeping the bait upright and off the bottom allowing bass to easily engulf the lure. Most casting jigs come with a strong hook and weed guard, and some will even include a rattle.
Rattles are great in murky water situations when fish rely on sound and vibration as opposed to sight. If you are fishing clear water or simply don't find a need for the jigs rattle, they are typically very easy to remove.
Our choices
Googan Squad Juicee Casting Jig (https://amzn.to/3x75Whk)
Booyah Boo Jig (https://amzn.to/3GHIYk1)
Jig trailer options
Berkley PowerBait Chigger Craw (https://amzn.to/3x81EGD)
Zoom Fat Albert Grub (https://amzn.to/38K02JW)
Finesse Jigs
When the bite is slow it may be time to switch to a finesse jig.
Finesse jigs are great in cold weather conditions and in fisheries that are heavily pressured by anglers. These jigs are typically smaller in size and weight and are designed to be an easy meal for a bass.
Finesse jigs are often equipped with fewer skirt strands and shorter jig skirts to reduce the size profile of the lure. You will oftentimes see these jigs paired with a football jig head to increase the jigs performance.
They are fished much slower than other jigs. Using your rod tip, consider slowly dragging the lure or performing subtle hops for best results.
Our choice
Strike King Tour Grade Football Finesse Jig (https://amzn.to/3zhlukp)
Jig trailer options
YUM Wooly Bug (https://amzn.to/3FNkINb)
Z-MAN Finesse TRD (https://amzn.to/3GYgzXr)
Flipping Jigs
Flipping jigs are designed to outlast the rigor of heavy cover and places that other lures would easily get snagged in.
These jigs include heavy heads (typically 1/2oz or heavier), a heavy-duty hook, and a thick weed guard. Depending on how heavy a flipping jig is, the term will sometimes be interchanged with a punching jig.
When fishing a flipping jig consider target fishing. Identify a patch of grass, a brush pile barely sticking out of the water, or a dock and focus your attention on just one or two hops or movements of the lure. Find another piece of cover and repeat.
Our choice
Strike King Hack Attack Fluorocarbon Flipping Jig (https://amzn.to/3NaiGtk)
Jig trailer options
Berkley PowerBait Chigger Craw (https://amzn.to/3x81EGD)
Strike King Rage Bug (https://amzn.to/3MdHOy6)
*****
Still need help picking the right jig trailer for the right situation? Check out Largemouth Bass Fishing: Choosing the Right Jig Trailer here!
Comments