Need some help on how to fish a jig.

Not really as simple as cast and reel it in. I just reel, pause, reel, pause, twitch the rod a little. Every once in a while I will let it fall sometimes to the bottom especially if I am running past some cover. I was paired up in a tournament with a pro that did a lot of this last year, and I had some good luck with it as well. Try it out in the spring (april )when the typical spinnerbait bite is on, and the bass are seeing several dozen spinnerbaits a day. I've even had blow-ups on jigs thinking I was past the strike zone and burning it in.

Quick reponse here. The type of line will effect how well you can feel the jig expecially when fishing it deep. The amount of stretch that the line has will soften the feeling of the bite.

Maybe a non stretch line can help you stay in contact with the baits.

I am thinking back to when mono fishing lines started coming out and Dad and I switched from Braided lines to mono. I'll guess that it was sometime in the 1960's. When I was 8 I used braided fishing line as that was all they offered. And I remember it well because I use to constantly get what I called RATS NEST!. At times I hated fishing when I had to sit there and pick the line loops out of my birdsnetted reel. At times I would get the knife out and just cut the hell out of the line to get the birds nest fixed. Luckily we always carried more rods than you can shake a stick at. LOL That's one thing that dad did right. He ended up with over 60 rods in his collection. I am going to have to buy another BPS rod holder for the hunting and fishing room. I am tired off all the rods standing in the three corners of that room and up against the cabinet where I keep all my camping stuff. I had to organize that room as it was so full of camping stuff. I went out to Home Depota and bought one of them Black & Decker tall storage cabinets. And I managed to get most of my camping stuff in there. Now I need another one for the extra fishing gear. LOL .. the closet it almost too full to and any more hunting and fishing stuff.

Low stretch line is the way to go if you are fishing deep waters. That way you can get a better feel. But just remember that if the fish gets spooked and won't bite you won't feel the bite, just the bottom stuff grabbing the bait.

Sometimes a little stretch in the line will prevent the hooks from pulling out of the fish's mouth too. This is especially true with crappie who's mouth is paper thin. Then it pays to have a stretch in the line and to set the hook gently by just lifting the rod tip up from 9 oclock to say 11 oclock. A quick but firm hook set is important but you don't want to yank the fish out of the water in one pull. LOL

Set your drag on the reel accordinly. A good drag that's clean and smooth is critical IMHO. Even if you have a low end reel it's important to keep the reel's drag clean.

Glad to see you had some success with the jig. Catching some fish on any technique that is new to you breeds confidence and that is in my opinion a large percentage of the reason anyone catches fish consistantly...confidence, knowledge and a little luck is what makes for more of those memorable days on the water.

Jigs are a very versitile lure and one of the most high percentage if not the most high percentage of lures to catch you a fish on any given day. Like any technique though..it has its great days and its slow days depending on the mood and feeding patterns of the fish.

Now that you have caught some fish on the jig, keep expanding your knowledge. Jigs are very versitile and can be fished in virtually any depth of water. Don't limit yourself to just pitching and flipping or just hopping etc..is my advice. You are only limited by the limits that you put on yourself with this lure. Flipping/pitching, dragging, hopping, stroking, swimming all have their place and time. Jigs can imitate crayfish or baitfish...depending on the technique and profile of the jig you are using. There is a reason there are round heads, stand up head, bullet head, stroking heads, football heads on the market...that is versatility to fish different depths and different techniques. I keep and use jigs in my boat ranging from 1/8 ounce to 3/4 ounce. We flip, pitch, drag, hop, stroke (rip/slackline), swim and deadstick jigs as the situation/fish dictate.

My point here is this: Be versitile, keep reading, asking questons and above all keep experimenting with this lure.

Another thing I've learned over the past 27 years of tournament fishing. I use a jig quite a bit as well and I line watch more than anything when fishing a jig. What I mean is I watch my line from the rod to the water. If it moves from where it is in the water sideways one way or the other. I don't wait for a tap tap, I set the hook instantly. What has happened is a Bass has already taken the bait and is running for deep water. You have just not felt him pick up the bait and felt the tap tap yet. Another line watching way is while watching the line, you see the line twitch or jump just the slightest bit...A Bass has inhaled the bait and I set the hook asap and 9 out of 10 times I've got a Bass on the end of my line. So once you get used to feeling the tap tap tap of the Bass pulling on the bait. Then learn to watch the line and you'll be amazed at how many more fish you catch in a days time....When their biting that is....lol:)

Clyde that is a great tip. Most jig techniques definitely require line watching...if your not watching that line your gonna miss a lot of fish..some you will never even know you had and some you will get that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach as you pick up and feel that fish spitting it out.

Well everyone has had some great insite on jig fishing. I can tell you that i used to just no have any confidence in fishing a jig, mainly because i would not give it a chance. I even had those times when i said i am going to fish a jig all night until i start catching fish on it. I fished the jig that night most of the night and not a bite. Then i said heck with it and started throwing my old faithful power craw and i caught 4 smallies in like and hour so then that really killed my confidence. But i stuck with a jig later and now i have to say i fish it more often than any other bait for bass. I also fish it several different ways and i try to stay versatile. Early in the spring when the fish are moving close to the bank in ponds or lakes when the water is starting to warm i will parallel the bank and swim a jig a lot. When the fish are up there sunning it seems that is the best way for me to catch them. When the fish are a little deeper i use a lot of small hops and drops to find out where the fish are. If you throw the jig to teh bank and you are getting hits right as the jig hits the water then fish closer to the bank if you are fishing it all the way back to the boat and say letting the jig fall down the ledge of break and the fish are out farther then back your boat off a little more. If you are catching the heck out of fish shallow say on some rip rap but they all seem to be small back off and fish the jig a little deeper and you may pick up a bigger fish. Really there is no wrong way to fish a jig you just have to experiment and let the fish tell you how they want it. I will agree with the dirty water a rattle will help and also a bigger profile jig. I fish small jigs almost all the time my go to is a 3/16 oz. Black and Blue Strike King Bitsy Bug with either a 3" power craw of a tiny paca chunk. I match the color of trailer to the jig. Sometimes the trailer i use is night and day on the amount of hits i get. The paca has a lot more action and a different scent. I think i catch more smallies on the power craw trailer though. Now if i fish in a lake that is know for bigger largemouth and does not have smallies i will bump the jig up in size and go to my new favorite bigger jig which is a war eagle. I have alot of different colors of jigs but day in and day out it is hard to beat the old standby black and blue. Most likely that is because i just have the most confidence in it and that i night fish for bass a lot. I am going to try to broaden my horizons more this year and fish more greens and browns and try some of the D&L jigs that i have. Well that is more than enough talking your ear off but ust stick with it and it is a very good and versatile bait.

A lot of great information contained in this thread. I to am also new to jig fishing and since it is to COLD outside for me to go fishing today, I have been surfing around the internet and found an ONLINE BOOK "Jig Fishing A to Z" by "Russ Bassdozer". which looks quite interesting, and appears to contain a range of good jig information for a novice such as myself.

You can down load it to your computer and then read it as you have the time. I started to print it out, then noticed it is over 100 pages in length.

See the following link: http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/jig-fishing.shtml

Good Fishing to All,

Gary

[QUOTE=Boone;313346]A lot of great information contained in this thread. I to am also new to jig fishing and since it is to COLD outside for me to go fishing today, I have been surfing around the internet and found an ONLINE BOOK "Jig Fishing A to Z" by "Russ Bassdozer". which looks quite interesting, and appears to contain a range of good jig information for a novice such as myself.

You can down load it to your computer and then read it as you have the time. I started to print it out, then noticed it is over 100 pages in length.

See the following link: http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/jig-fishing.shtml

Good Fishing to All,

Gary[/QUOTE]

Couldn't find an edit option, so reposting. After reading further, the book is a little commercial, But Still A Good Read.
Gary

[QUOTE=AndyG;313354]I wasnt clear. I meant the primary way to fish a jig is to pitch it, and get a reaction strike. I have done about as much research as I can, and I feel that is the way to fish the bait period. If I catch a fish swimming a jig, I'll put on a crankbait and put the jig down. If I catch one on a slow retrieve I'll put on a t-rig paca craw. Just my opinion, and something I wish I had come to believe earlier, before wasting good days on the water chunking a jig out and winding it back.

I know people like to swim white jigs in the fall. I dont.
No offense or anything.[/QUOTE]

None taken. As ole Dave said confidence is the best lure any fisherman has. Without it you just don't fish the same, it's important to believe whole heartily in what you are doing.

I have enjoyed this thread. Thanks everyone. Good questions and great answers.

I also like the D&L with the Sweet Beaver trailer, they have a good selection of both at Backwaters in Lexington. I like the black and blue in stained water and the ooops color in clear. Let it fall and feel for the tap and watch for line movement. If you are using the 3/8oz, pick it up every second or two and if it weighs more than 3/8oz SWING!!!!:)

this threads really informative to even me and i dont go one day without a jig tied on