A popular question among many fishermen is: How to fish a jig.
I wish the answer was simple, but it’s not. The reason this is a difficult question to answer is because there are so many different types of jigs. For example, there are swim jigs, football jigs, grass jigs etc. Each is unique and to be fished in a unique way.
In this post, I am going to try to give you a general overview of some of the most popular jigs and gives you some techniques on how to fish each one.
How to fish a jig
Swim Jig
The first type of jig that we are going to talk about is a swim jig. The one pictured above is the very popular Strike King Swim Jig.
As you can see from picture the head is comes to a point. This pointed head is not meant to be fished on the bottom, but rather to be retrieved through the middle water column. Also, you will notice that it has a vertical line tie and a weed guard. The placement of the line tie as well as the weed guard allows it to come through cover easily without getting hung up.
How to fish a swim jig? The best way to fish this jig is to fish it just like you would a spinnerbait. However, because it doesn’t have a blade you may need to give it a little action by changing up your retrieve. You can give it a start and pause retrieve, a twitching retrieve or whatever other way you can think of it to get attention. In addition, you can add a trailer to it to give it more action.
Finesse jig
The next jig we are going to look at is the finesse jig. As you can see, the head of the finesse jig is just a round ball head, with a thin skirt and weed guard. Because it is a little smaller than other jigs, I like to throw them when the biting is tough. These are situations in where the bass are holding close to cover and we need to bring the bait to them. A few examples of such situations are when the weather is a litter colder, a sunny day after a cold front or a day in which bass aren’t biting.
How to fish a finesse jig? One way to fish a finesse jig is to pitch it into an area and allow it to fall to the bottom. If you don’t get a fish to take it on the fall give it a few little twitches while it is in on the bottom. Basically you want your lure to look like a crawfish feeding on the bottom of the lake.
Another approach is the yo-yo approach. Allow the bait to settle to the bottom and yo-yo it back to the boat. Remember fishing finesse jigs is for when the fishing is tough. Don’t be afraid to throw the bait in the same area a few times to generate a bite.
Flipping Jig
A very popular jig is the flipping jig such as the BOOYAH Boo Jig. This jig equipped with a bigger head and a stiffer weed guard. Because of this design, it can come through heavy cover very easily. Many flipping jigs such as the one picture actually have a rattle integrated inside to make it an even more appealing meal.
How to fish a flipping jig? Flipping jigs are great to work those difficult areas where it would be very difficult or near impossible to fish it with other baits. Simply flip it into heavy cover or under docks and use your rod to give it action on your retrieval. Keep in mind the majority of your strikes will come on the fall. Add a big trailer such as the Zoom Junior Super Chunk to give is some more action and thus more bites.
Football Jig
As you can see from the picture, the reason this one is called the football jig is because the head looks just like a football. This is a jig that is designed dragged on the bottom. Ultimately your goal is to imitate a crawfish, or a bluegill that is feeding on the bottom.
How to fish a football jig? Football jigs are the easiest to work. Simply cast it out there. Allow it to sink to the bottom and slowly bring it across the bottom. Remember the more commotion and noise you make the better. If you feel like your jig hit something give it a little twitch to give it some action.
Grass Jig
The last jig we are going to look at today is the grass jig such as the All Terrain Grass Master Weed Jig. This jig has a pointed head and a thick weed guard. This pointed head makes it glide through heavy cover especially grass.
How to fish a grass jig? This grass jig is very similar to the swim jig. It is designed to be brought through the middle of the water rather than the top or bottom. A simply way to fish it is to bring it through in grass or heavy cover. Simply cast it out there and retrieve it back. Sometimes the fish want to the bait fast, sometimes they want it slow. The key is to listen to what the fish are telling you and adapt accordingly.
Final thoughts on how to fish a jig
Well as you can see the answer is complicated. It really depends on the kind of jig you are talking about and the conditions you are fishing. Nonetheless, bass love jigs. So go buy yourself a few different types of jigs, a few fat trailers and get out there on the water.
One tip I have for fishing the finesse jig… instead of using a traditional trailer, pinch a 5″ soft stick bait in half. I like the z-man zinkers but that is just because they last forever. Senkos work great cus of salt content but are pricey and tear after a couple fish. I picked up this tactic using only a mushroom head jig and that is called Ned rigging due to the innovator Ned Kehde of the Angling edge staff or the In-fisherman staff as they have been known. I like to throw them on s finesse jig tho when the bite is tough or even when the action is good but it works especially well in highly pressured waters or tough conditions. Basically I like to let it hit bottom and gently shake the bait in place not taking up any line then I let it settle again and drag it. Fish will often grab it when I begin to drag it a few inches or right before I start to shake it again while it is paused. It has very little built in action but when fish are cautious this plays well. Their natural forage does not have crazy wavy claws and many times a raw keeps its claws held together unless defending itself. I try to make my bait LESS noticeable and this translates into bigger, more experienced fish. The gentle shakes will cause puffs of silt to emanate from the bottom like a burrowing critter. Try it out on your next tough outing and get surprised