How to Fish a Jig – Basics of Jig Fishing for Beginners
Fishermen have been using jigs for a very long time. Still, it took me several years understanding what kinds of jigs work on certain types of bass and what doesn’t. I also learned how to properly use each kind of jigs. After years of fishing using jigs, you are bound to develop strategies in catching those big fishes.
Experience is a good teacher but learning bass fishing using jigs from other people also helps a lot. It helps you avoid committing the mistake they did and shortens your learning curve. Here are some simple tips on how to fish a jig based on my experience and other fellow anglers.
Things That You Will Need
No doubt you will need the right gears and equipment to catch the big fish.
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Having the right trailer will help you catch more and bigger fishes. They come in a variety of colors and combinations.
Bass jigs or flipping jigs are the most effective lures for both smallmouth and largemouth bass. The light weights are ideal for smallmouths while the heavy lures are for the largemouth and for flipping.
Bass jigs usually have some type of weed guard which is usually made up of fiber or plastic. Most of these lures include an internal rattle.
The jig hooks commonly use include both strong wire and light wire types. A typical jig hook is bendt on its shank by about 60 to 90 degrees before the eye. The extent of the bent usually decides the way it rides through the waters.
I usually used the long shank hooks for rigging lures that include lizard, tubes, soft plastic critters, and worm jigs. But the shorter shanks are more effective with live minnows.
Hooks with thinner diameters are recommended for waters that have brush piles and cribs. The thicker ones are used for weedy and rocky locations.
The ones you see placed directly behind the jig head is called jig collar. You can use it to attach jigs that include feathers, hair, rubber or silicone material including tinsel.
This dressing is usually tied to the jig collar, which can a bass or other predatory fishes misinterpret as a body. Materials used for this purpose include hair, bucktail, marabou, and mylar as well as tinsel. Some of these dressed jigs have an attractant such as fish scent.
They worked perfectly in cold weather especially when the bass doesn’t have much strength chasing after fast-moving jigs.
For floating jigs, you can use both soft and hard-bodied types. Floating lures a generally use as live baits.
You won’t have much trouble using weedless jigs in water with covers of weeds and brush. The hook guard is constructed to allow the hook to simply ride over much of the underwater obstructions.
You need a rod suitable for using jigs and durable enough to tackle on big and heavy bass.
You need at least a 50-pound braided line but if you are fishing around heavy wood or heavy vegetation, a 65 pound is better. Braided lines don’t stretch as much allowing for maximum hook penetration.
A 7:1 gear ratio reel or even higher than that are usually recommended ratio for jig fishing. This enables you to pick the line much faster once the bass bites the jig.
Steps on How to Fish a jig
1. Use the Right Trailer
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Trailers are helpful in jig fishing especially when the colder months start to set in. Cast the jig on your best fishing spot and let it sink down the bottom. You should not move the jig around too much.
Just cast it on your favorite spot and let it sink to the bottom for a while. It could take you a few hours to get a bite.
Once the water gets warmer, the bass becomes active again. Your jig should behave the same, a few hops and include some drags too for good measure.
2. Jig Fishing Technique
You can use the jig as “drop bait”. First cast the line to the bank and engage the spool. Drop the rod tip once the jig settles to the bottom.
To move the lure, reel up the slack and draw the line back slightly. Once the line twitches, you may have a bite which means you need to quickly set the hook.
Jigs can work as casting lures. You can use them in grassy areas or around logs or stumps. You will need a weed guard if you intend to fish on waters with plenty of covers.
You can “swim” the jig by casting it out and retrieving it in a slow and steady pace at a 10 0’clock direction. To a bass, the jig will appear like swimming baitfish. This method is quite effective when fishing during spring on the flat waters.
3. Pick the Right Colors
Use light colors such as white or green when fishing in clear waters. Transparent jig skirts and trailers will not appear threatening to the bass you are trying to catch.
Black, brown or any contrasting dark colors work best when you are fishing in murky waters. You can change the trailer’s appearance by altering its colors.
4. Using a Suitable Jig Weight
For clear waters, combined the lighter weights with the appropriate tight line and spinning tackle. The recommended weight is around 1/8 or ¼ ounce. But for deep and murky waters, you will need to use a heavy lure from 3/8 to 5/8 ounce.
With a heavier jig, it’s better to use a tackle with a heavy line. This will enable you to detect a strike even with the wind blowing your line.
Additional Tips on How to Fish a Jig
To get a clearer picture of to how fish using jigs, you can watch this video
Conclusion
Fishing with jigs is an old method but many anglers are not yet familiar with it or don’t have the proper training. There are several kinds of jigs that you need to know about. In addition, each type of jig can give you an advantage in any season or fishing spot.
