That's something you'll have to let the fish tell you. Start out dragging it, that's easier for me, if your not getting bit, try hopping it, try mixing it up, drag, hop, hop drag, let it sit and just shake your rod tip a little. The only way i can't seem to have any luck with is swimming a jig. I know it will catch fish, i just can't seem to. I'll tell you this, i've fished over 300 tourn. On barren, nolin and rough. Any one who can fish a jig, is hard to beat... Tr