Jigs are available in numerous shapes and sizes. The most commonly seen are plastic bodies resembling bait fish, frogs, or insects; often brightly-colored or subdued colors may be chosen. Some jigs even resemble artificial fly patterns.
Wells noted that successful metal jigging requires high levels of skill. He suggested creating strong side pressure to replicate the movement of distressed baitfish.
Flipping
Traditional bass fishermen fished with jigs by skimming them under docks or trees or dragging them across the bottom through cover, but with today’s electronics they can pinpoint exact spots where bass inhabit thick cover; flipping and pitching have now become essential skills to their success when fishing jigs.
Bucktail jigs provide more realistic minnow action than soft plastic jig bodies and can be altered with various actions such as raising or lowering the rod tip, altering speed or changing timing to achieve different looks.
When selecting a flipping jig, look for one weighing between 3/8 and 1 ounce that features a compact yet recessed hook design with thick durable fiber guards that resist snagging. Bassmaster Elite pro Greg Hackney frequently modifies existing keeps to make them taller which helps increase hook set efficiency as well as adding rattles or ones integrated into the head of the bait itself.
Shad Jigging
Shad jigging is an excellent technique to use when fishing from a boat. Large river systems often feature dams with strong currents that gather shad, who tend to gather at these obstructions before gathering again nearby. Locate these spots and jig around their travel lanes as the fish continue their migration journeys.
A shad-colored bucktail jig can do the trick, and there are plenty of them on the market to choose from. From vibrant to muted colors and made for both freshwater and saltwater fishing environments – these lures range from mimicking dying baitfish to spinnerbait styles that move through water horizontally – there is sure to be one perfect for you.
Utilizing a fast-action rod will be key, and one effective technique to make the jig work is by snapping it up off of its base before letting it settle back down – this may trigger bites from fish who normally would have disregarded your bait! This erratic movement may stimulate bites from fish who otherwise wouldn’t bite.
Weighted Jigging
Skillful fishing of bass requires using a jig to trigger strikes with just a piece of metal. When fishing jigs for bass, one telltale sign of bite is feeling resistance or weight in your line; oftentimes this indicates the fish has either struck your lure and become scared, or maybe just got caught.
Simple jigs consist of a head or lure body connected by a hook. Heads come in various shapes and sizes with numerous add-ons; wobble and swim heads can be designed to wobble when worked; airplane and banana head jigs feature wings which capture water on their way down for spiraling action.
Slow Pitch Fishing involves slowly and erratically moving your jig in order to mimic the movement of wounded baitfish, creating an effective technique for fishing near structures or on ledges.
Drifting
Drift jigging requires understanding how your boat’s position and wind impact its trajectory. Practice dummy drifts at your favorite spots can help build intelligence about currents that forms the core of this strategy.
Bass can become familiar with common jig presentations, necessitating you to alter the way your lure is presented to trigger reaction bites. One effective method for doing so is stroking it back and forth.
This technique works well in both clear and dirty waters. A spinner-type jig can be fished at a slower speed to allow it to fall slowly with minimal action, or pulled up, allowed to drop, and let go again between long pauses in between long casts. A more versatile option would be using a football-head style of jig with its larger head designed to avoid being trapped under rocks or debris on the lake bottom.https://www.youtube.com/embed/TWBBsWensOM