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Jig Fishing Techniques

Jig  Fishing  Techniquessuccess with it in several local tournaments
in cold water as well as in the summer. The
By Steve vonBrandtToday's soft plastic lureSpotsticker has a bigger hook than most, and
market is booming with new styles and colorsit handles larger bass well. In warmer, clear
of baits, but when you are looking for thewater, we like to use a grub or swimming worm
biggest bite of the day, the fish thatas a trailer, this is very effective when you
consistently win tournaments; then anglers inare trying to imitate a crawfish. In colder,
the know go to the bait that has been provenor more stained to muddy waters, we like a
over time to catch the biggest bass; thebulkier trailer, as they displace more water
venerable  jig-and-pig.and make it easier for the bass to home in on
the bait.The design of the jighead is another
20 years ago, this bait was reserved for thething you have to think about. They need to
sluggish bass, or for fishing in the heaviestbe matched to the type of cover you are
cover, or for bottom fishing techniques.fishing. A jig that has a head that is more
Today, this bait is being used at all timespointed, with its eyelet coming out of the
of the year, in a variety of differentfront rather than the top, is going to pull
fashions.This bait has remained relativelythrough weeds better than a broad shouldered
the same over the past 30 years. It has gonejig. We like to use a Jungle Jig, by
through some cosmetic changes, such as betterNorthland, or a Terminator Pro's Top Secret
hooks, livelier skirts, and a broaderjig for this. The Terminator has a recessed
spectrum of colors and sizes, along witheye, as does Mann's Stone jig designed by
plastic trailers, which enable a widerMike Iaconelli, and they all come through
variety of color options, but this bait,this cover well.These jigs helped us win the
dressed with either plastic or pork,Big Bass World Championship several times.
continues to catch bigger bass when otherThey were very effective here in the
baits fail. Because of the popularity of theNortheast, in some of the heavier, weedy
flipping technique used by most of thecover. When we fish around rocks and wood, we
veteran anglers today, the jig has remaineduse a jig with more shoulders to help stop it
among the most popular baits in many anglerssometimes. Many companies make this type of
tackle boxes. Because of so many recreationalfootball or stand up jig, which is great for
anglers concentrating on the flippingthese situations. When you pull it over an
technique, the jig's universal effectivenessobject, the jig tips, adding more action. We
has been overlooked.Many people havehave used these jigs effectively on many of
forgotten that casting a jig is an effectiveNew Jersey's reservoirs such as Spruce Run.
technique also. The jig can be presented at aYou must also match the size of the line to
lot of different depths and around a varietythe size of the jig hook you are using. A
of structure. You are really limitingheavy-duty jig hook requires a stronger hook
yourself if you only focus on the flippingset, so you need heavier line to handle it.Of
aspect of it. Many times during the summercourse, it helps to know when you're getting
months, we have come in behind other anglersa bite. Big bass really thump a jig with the
flipping obvious targets, or casting moresame vigor they do a plastic worm, and many
traditional summer lures, and we have caughtother strikes are felt simply as spongy
bass making roll casts, and looking forsensation, or just like you're dragging
isolated pieces of cover that other anglersweeds. That's why it is important to set the
have missed.DIFFERENT SIZESJig sizes havehook on anything that feels unnatural, it
changed in recent years, along with skirtcould be weeds, or it could be a seven
material and colors. The 3/8 ounce sizepounder!JIG COLORSWhile a black and blue jig
remains the most popular, with smallerseems to be the favorite, we like to match
versions are being used more and more withjig colors to the water conditions. A dark
great success. The smaller finesse type ofcolored jig with a big crawfish trailer,
jigs are much more effective in clear water,moving on the bottom, does a great job
while the heavier, bulky versions are greatimitating a crawfish, but a white jig
for fishing stained to muddy water. Not thatswimming over cover and around boat docks
the heavier jig isn't effective in somedoes a good job of imitating a baitfish. This
shallower, open water, but a more compact 1/2is great when bass want a slower
ounce bait is more effective, than thepresentation, or when you can't fish a
bulkier style. I use a shorter trailer forcrankbait or jerkbait with ease. Many times
this. This is especially true when fishingwhen bass are feeding on shad, but want a
some of the finger lakes of New York State,slower presentation than a spinnerbait, this
or any of the waters where smallmouth bassis the best choice. It can also catch the
are also present. The heavier jig is morebigger bass that are ignoring the
effective when the bass are aggressive, as itspinnerbait. The new "Sweet Beavers" by Andre
allows you to fish it faster and cover moremoore's company, "Reaction Innovations", have
water. When the fish are suspended, or youbeen the hottest and most productive soft
need to keep it in the strike zone longer,plastic this year all over the country.We
the lighter jig is more effective. We alwayslike the plastic trailers in the summer
keep experimenting with several sizes,months, and the pork in the winter.The new
letting the bass tell us what they want. InUncle Josh Pork is more pliable in cold
the summer months, when we swim the jigwater, while plastic gets stiff. In places
around boat docks, we opt for the lighter 1/4where many anglers cast tubes or small
ounce size, with a plastic trailer, tofinesse worms, such as clear water flats, we
imitate a crawfish or baitfish. Swimming thecast jigs in neutral colors, and catch bigger
jig is a very effective technique that isbass. Many times when bass ignore other
overlooked by many weekend anglers. Mostbaits, the jig will trigger a strike. This is
small jigs don't have a big enough hook toalso a great bait for night fishing.Big Bass
handle quality bass, which is why we use aWorld Champ/De NAFC Hall Of Fame Owner of
Spotsticker handpoured Jighead. We have beenAnglers Radio, Delaware Tackle, and
using this bait since 2002, when we had greatReeltimeanglers.



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