Bass Jigs

[curls]

I just started using bass jigs this year (thanks to a similar post I made early this season here on F-H.net!). So far, I absolutely LOVE them.

I've always jigged walleye but the technique for LMB isn't much different:

patience (let it sit sometimes for 60 seconds without moving it!)

subtle twitches of the rod tip for movement (practice in 1' of water to see just how little rod movement can produce a nice subtle action of the skirt and claws)

HARD hooksets. (Hooksets have to be BIG and forceful. No subtlety or patience here!. If you feel a tick or see your line move, WHAM - hard over the shoulder hook set. You are trying to cross the fish's eyes here since it's a thick gauge hook with large barb that can sometimes not make it all the way through on a wussy hookset.


I've tried pork (Uncle Josh) and YUM Chunk's, and like them both. YUM is easier to use since it's plastic, but the real pork has a lot more bulk and floatation for slowing the fall rate of the jig (a good thing). I carry both with me and use them fairly equally.

For jigs, I stocked up on BooYah swim-n-jigs and boo-jigs (about 6 swim-n-jigs and 12-15 boo-jigs), in 3/8oz. and 1/2oz. sizes. I have two Bitsy-jigs for finnicky fish on those days that nothing else works.

I have caught LMB in less than 1' of water and as deep as 15' of water this year. My personal "favorite catch" on a jig this year was a 3lb. smallmouth in 40+ feet of water on a very steep rock bottom that went from 0 - 60' within 100' of shoreline. Rock = crayfish, and jig = crayfish, and smallies love crayfish. I tossed it into about 10' of water and let it slowly slide down the steep rock face. I noticed the line twitch back "up" the slope, so I hammered the hookset and within 5 seconds had 2 aerials and a really nice display of smallmouth acrobatics.

Good luck!

[cprince]

Thanks for the reply Justin...

I started a reply ... then re-read yours... I said out loud... OOooohhhh.....

LOL!

Thanks for the clarification.

Tell me... are you ultra aggressive with your hook set? Ever break off?

Thanks for letting me pick your brain!

[JustinHoffman]

Cprince,

Very aggressive on the hookset - the boat usually shakes when I fire back on the rod...

You want to get the fish moving in the direction of the boat, so it is a "hook set and winch" motion right from the start. If you give a decent largie any slack line when working heavy cover, it can quickly turn into game over...

The only time I have broke a fish off on the hook set is due to a nick in my line - if the equipment is fine, it rarely ever happens.

A heavy action, flipping-specific baitcast rod is definitely mandatory. A rod of this stature will help get fish out and away from cover, allow you to use heavy line, and are designed to be used with flippin' and pitchin' techniques.

I currently use a Kistler Helium 2 LTX 7'6" Flipping stick, as well as a Kistler Magnesium 7'8" All Day Flipping and Pitching stick. In terms of line, 25 lb test mono is my choice...has a bit of give to it for close-range hook sets, which I prefer as opposed to braid.

Hope this helps.

Good Fishing,

Justin

[DropShotr]

Thanks for all the excellent responses.

I have reconsidered and will go with 3/8 & 1/2oz offerings.

I have the heavier weights covered with Title-SHot jigs. The weightless & very light weight look is being taken care of.

I plan to do a bit of comparison between brands and color match as best as I can. I see a pattern here with the colors, that helps with keeping the costs down by getting the colors right the first time.

Although I believe in buying local. I will be going back home to my beloved Pennsylvania for a week of deer hunting. Being Millersburg born and raised makes the BPS store in Harrisburg "local" right?

Again I'd like to thank everyone,
DropShot'r

[colossalboom]

Another thing to consider...what colour would you use under different conditions? For example, what colour would you use in stained water vs. clear water, or on clear days vs. overcast days?

I'm fairly novice to jig fishing specifically but I've heard darker colours, such as black/blue, in darker conditions and lighter colours, such as watermelon, in lighter conditions.

Any opinions?

Justin, I noticed in your jig photos that you just hook the Yum trailer through the body onto your hook. Do you ever thread it, or some other trailer, on to your hook for a smaller profile?