To jig or not to jig...

[leahcim_dahc]

Hi, all!

I have recently taken up jigging and almost to a point it is becoming an obsession. Not that it's a bad thing, but I seem to find myself in a quandary from time to time while messing with them.

The issue I have is determining the best environment to make the most out of them.

I was hanging out at a small pond this last weekend and worked the typical areas one would for those fatties; weed lines, edges of lily pads, etc., etc.. My first couple of casts weren't spectacular, since I was trying to bounce the jig. I then started to drag the bottom to see if my results would improve. First cast...nothing. Second cast...STRIKE! Holy crap! Set the hook and it was game on. Then it hit me...right in the chest. That sharp stabbing sensation when you make a fatal error...the line snaps. Son of a....ok, well learned my lesson on that one. Double check the line for flaws or damage, have the strongest line possible without throwing out a bunch of nylon rope...and ensure the jig is tied with a good and I mean gooooooood knot.

Anyrate...that two and a half seconds of adrenalin has me hooked. I have tried jigs at a couple different places since, but my results have been...lacking.

Not sure how many of you have fished Ohop, but that lake has quite a bit of weeds (millfoil I think) and this really fine green, slimy stuff. While doing some research, it is recommended to fish jigs the the nastiest of environments. Any time I cast out my jig...bring it back in it is almost always covered in this slimy crap. Upon occasion I can manage to find a break in the stuff and get my jig back, in fairly reasonable shape. The rest of the time....a two and a half pound ball of salad.

I am fairly certain, if jigs are fished in this manner...that's what is going to happen. However, is the intent while fishing this type of nasty crap to focus my fishing on the drop (of the jig) instead of the retrieval? Or in this type of situation...put the jig down and pick up the top water baits? Personally, I would just like to wander around a pond and sling lead and rubber for hours if that is going to get me into the fatties. But, there seems to be a fine line between fishing the slop and actually being productive.

What are some of your opinions? In a situation like that...put down the pork and pick up the popper? Thanks!


Chad

[CK14]

i think a texas rigged worm/lizard/creature would come through it better. spinnerbaits can work good, if the weeds don't cover all of the water column. if the weeds are right to the surface, i would try a frog.

[Anonymous]

I agree with CK14 -- but if you want to stick with jigs fish a lighter jig and fish it a little faster.

[cavdad45]

I see quite a few folks on this site that seem to focus on one lure or one technique and fish it ad nauseum . There are so many ways to catch a bass and it's a mistake to focus too long on one lure or technique. Go out and find some fish with your old favorites and then work on the new technique for awhile. If you start catching fish, keep at it. If not change up to something else.

Or maybe I am not a patient fisherman. I could not fish one lure over and over without result and not pick up another rod and try something else.

If you need to stick with that one lure, change colors, change weights, change trailers, change speed, change location, change up until something grabs.

[leahcim_dahc]

Thanks for the replies!

CK14 - I haven't tried out the texas rig yet, so I will give that a shot at some point in time and see how I fair. Never had much luck with a frog...but will give that some more consideration when fishing this lake.

Bass Tracker - Would a lighter jig be able to work its way through to the bottom, or would it hang there in the weeds? The primary size I use now is 3/8 oz, sometimes on this particular lake...it almost seems to hang out in the weeds and never really sink very deep. Once in a while, when I am fishing the jig it makes contact with the bottom and I can usually feel a difference in the initial movement to know whether the jig has gotten covered in weeds. Can't feel the rocks and the movement is lugged down and smooth. Then I am just dragging a blob of junk across the bottom.

cavdad45 - I'm not trying to fish a jig ad nauseum...just another technique I have been trying out (consistently three days now). Most of my jigging up to this point has been a couple casts and me saying this crap sucks...and picking up a spinnerbait or something else. I am basically forcing myself to learn the jig, just as I will force myself to learn other techniques. Basically, I don't need to stick with that one lure...just a new tool I am trying to learn about. Thanks for the tips on the colors, weights and such...I'll give that a whirl sometime.


Chad

[cavdad45]

Thanks for the replies!


cavdad45 - I'm not trying to fish a jig ad nauseum...just another technique I have been trying out (consistently three days now). Most of my jigging up to this point has been a couple casts and me saying this crap sucks...and picking up a spinnerbait or something else. I am basically forcing myself to learn the jig, just as I will force myself to learn other techniques. Basically, I don't need to stick with that one lure...just a new tool I am trying to learn about. Thanks for the tips on the colors, weights and such...I'll give that a whirl sometime.


Chad

I apologize. After rereading my response it did sound harsh and rude, that was not my intent and I am sorry.

[leahcim_dahc]

cavdad45 - No need to apologize...no blood, no foul...but thank you none the less. I understand your point about fishing one particular technique far too long with no results. I find myself guilty of this much too often. One can get in a comfort zone, so to speak...and I can see this causing more harm than good. Thanks!


Chad

[bob johansen]

A lighter jig will fall slower and many times the bass will hit it on the fall. Be an avid line watcher and you will quite often see a little "tic" in the line as it falls. Set the hook immediately and hard. I do not think a jig needs to hit bottom to be effective. When it is too weedy, start jigging it back to the boat before it reaches bottom. One method I like for jigs is to cast it up onto a dock and drag it slowly off the edge and let it fall straight down. Docks are ambush points and I think a jig falling softly off a dock sounds like dinner to Mr Bass. Give it a try.

[cavdad45]

I like those little swim platforms that are no more than 4'x4'. Just bounce the jig up there and allow it to make a good thump followed by the rollerball sound as it gets to the edge. Then slide it into the water. It won't hit bottom if there are a few bass hiding under it.

[the1fishingpro]

I would recommend only using top water lures if you see surface action, such as jumps or boils. Bass wont typically hit a top water lure unless there is already top water action present. I would stick to using jigs as you mentioned you would like to stick with. Like Cavdad said, Try to switch up the colors and maybe even the trailers. Different trailers have different actions and also different weights. Im guessing that by using a texas rigged worm, you are more likely trying to trigger a strike by getting a agressive bass to bite. remember the saying though, "Slow but steady wins the race." Go with your instincts and Im sure something will work out.

P.S - keep us updated on your next couple outings. and good luck!

[Bigbass Dez]

I like those little swim platforms that are no more than 4'x4'. Just bounce the jig up there and allow it to make a good thump followed by the rollerball sound as it gets to the edge. Then slide it into the water. It won't hit bottom if there are a few bass hiding under it.

Cavdad , i always tear up those platforms the same way .. i cant wait for that bait too roll off the edge and awaiting for the strike to happen on the fall .. (lil tip) For a bigger bite , duplicate the same thing with a small spinner bait .. just let it fall all the way down , if no hits on the fall , burn it off the bottom .. this appears too bass that a wounded bait fish just came back too life and is trying to swim off .. (HUGH BASS) love that oppertunity !! i also do the same thing when slow rolling a spinnerbait and i miss a strick , kill the bait let sink to bottom and then burn your reel handle .. works all the time !!! BBD

[cavdad45]

I like those little swim platforms that are no more than 4'x4'. Just bounce the jig up there and allow it to make a good thump followed by the rollerball sound as it gets to the edge. Then slide it into the water. It won't hit bottom if there are a few bass hiding under it.

Cavdad , i always tear up those platforms the same way .. i cant wait for that bait too roll off the edge and awaiting for the strike to happen on the fall .. (lil tip) For a bigger bite , duplicate the same thing with a small spinner bait .. just let it fall all the way down , if no hits on the fall , burn it off the bottom .. this appears too bass that a wounded bait fish just came back too life and is trying to swim off .. (HUGH BASS) love that oppertunity !! i also do the same thing when slow rolling a spinnerbait and i miss a strick , kill the bait let sink to bottom and then burn your reel handle .. works all the time !!! BBD

Do you remember those jigs they had out a few years back that had a willow leaf blade under their skirt (not Roadrunners, these were made by Stanley)? I used to switch the blades out for a thumping Colorado blade and slay 'em. Wish I still had some of those. Can't find them anymore, but they were great for all sorts of dock work and tree stumps.

By the way, that spinnerbait tactic is a killer in a stump field!

[Bigbass Dez]

I would recommend only using top water lures if you see surface action, such as jumps or boils. Bass wont typically hit a top water lure unless there is already top water action present. I would stick to using jigs as you mentioned you would like to stick with. Like Cavdad said, Try to switch up the colors and maybe even the trailers. Different trailers have different actions and also different weights. Im guessing that by using a texas rigged worm, you are more likely trying to trigger a strike by getting a agressive bass to bite. remember the saying though, "Slow but steady wins the race." Go with your instincts and Im sure something will work out.

P.S - keep us updated on your next couple outings. and good luck!

False : bass dont just hit topwaters only when there is activity present ...
False : texas rigging is not a tecnic for agressive bass feeding ....
false :"slow but steady wins the race"...

almost everything you said is not true and that tells me your leval of experience on the water ... KEEP TRYING YOU WILL GET THERE ONE DAY "FISHING PRO".... BBD

[Bigbass Dez]

I like those little swim platforms that are no more than 4'x4'. Just bounce the jig up there and allow it to make a good thump followed by the rollerball sound as it gets to the edge. Then slide it into the water. It won't hit bottom if there are a few bass hiding under it.

Cavdad , i always tear up those platforms the same way .. i cant wait for that bait too roll off the edge and awaiting for the strike to happen on the fall .. (lil tip) For a bigger bite , duplicate the same thing with a small spinner bait .. just let it fall all the way down , if no hits on the fall , burn it off the bottom .. this appears too bass that a wounded bait fish just came back too life and is trying to swim off .. (HUGH BASS) love that oppertunity !! i also do the same thing when slow rolling a spinnerbait and i miss a strick , kill the bait let sink to bottom and then burn your reel handle .. works all the time !!! BBD

Do you remember those jigs they had out a few years back that had a willow leaf blade under their skirt (not Roadrunners, these were made by Stanley)? I used to switch the blades out for a thumping Colorado blade and slay 'em. Wish I still had some of those. Can't find them anymore, but they were great for all sorts of dock work and tree stumps.

By the way, that spinnerbait tactic is a killer in a stump field!

I know which baits your talking about , i have made some myself using older spinner bait (not the same) ..and yeah in the stump fields , killing that spinner bait is deadly , knocking it off those stumps and BAMM BABY !! ..LOL ..funny story my first LM bass this year out on shadow in everett came from stump i hit on my second cast ..lol / ...bbd

[cavdad45]

Cavdad , i always tear up those platforms the same way .. i cant wait for that bait too roll off the edge and awaiting for the strike to happen on the fall .. (lil tip) For a bigger bite , duplicate the same thing with a small spinner bait .. just let it fall all the way down , if no hits on the fall , burn it off the bottom .. this appears too bass that a wounded bait fish just came back too life and is trying to swim off .. (HUGH BASS) love that oppertunity !! i also do the same thing when slow rolling a spinnerbait and i miss a strick , kill the bait let sink to bottom and then burn your reel handle .. works all the time !!! BBD

Do you remember those jigs they had out a few years back that had a willow leaf blade under their skirt (not Roadrunners, these were made by Stanley)? I used to switch the blades out for a thumping Colorado blade and slay 'em. Wish I still had some of those. Can't find them anymore, but they were great for all sorts of dock work and tree stumps.

By the way, that spinnerbait tactic is a killer in a stump field!

I know which baits your talking about , i have made some myself using older spinner bait (not the same) ..and yeah in the stump fields , killing that spinner bait is deadly , knocking it off those stumps and BAMM BABY !! ..LOL ..funny story my first LM bass this year out on shadow in everett came from stump i hit on my second cast ..lol / ...bbd

I like to crash a single-bladed spinnerbait into a stump and then let it helicopter down. If nothing hits, I burn it to the next stump and crash it, and let it helicopter down...

Sometimes if the water is cold I'll use a jig and do the same thing, but instead of burning it, I'll hop it out a couple feet. Then swim to the next stump and try the same thing again.

[leahcim_dahc]

Thanks for all the tips...very interesting techniques that I am interested in trying out. I am shore bound...but I am sure I can position myself to use those tactics in a few areas/situations.


Chad

[the1fishingpro]

I would recommend only using top water lures if you see surface action, such as jumps or boils. Bass wont typically hit a top water lure unless there is already top water action present. I would stick to using jigs as you mentioned you would like to stick with. Like Cavdad said, Try to switch up the colors and maybe even the trailers. Different trailers have different actions and also different weights. Im guessing that by using a texas rigged worm, you are more likely trying to trigger a strike by getting a agressive bass to bite. remember the saying though, "Slow but steady wins the race." Go with your instincts and Im sure something will work out.

P.S - keep us updated on your next couple outings. and good luck!

False : bass dont just hit topwaters only when there is activity present ...
False : texas rigging is not a tecnic for agressive bass feeding ....
false :"slow but steady wins the race"...


almost everything you said is not true and that tells me your leval of experience on the water ... KEEP TRYING YOU WILL GET THERE ONE DAY "FISHING PRO".... BBD

BBD ,
All of my information comes from 1 lake which is called Lacamas. I was only talking about off the bank rather than in a boat. Plus I was recommending slowness since its already fall and I heard that Bass like it slower rather than fast. Like I said on other posts, I dont know everything. So stop criticizing me!

[A9]

1fishingpro,
You said earlier that you KNOW ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW about bass fishing. You ask questions then you don't take peoples answers and you say you ask questions to test people.

[hookorcrook]

You mentioned you haven't tried the Texas rig yet. Do you mean at that particular lake, or in general?

[the1fishingpro]

Ok... lets hold on for a second. Lets not make another Locked Discussion PLEASE!