04-22-2004, 11:37 PM
When Is The Right Season For A Bass Jig?Jigs are a top bass bait throughout the year and it's never a bad choice to use one. There are no magic lures of course, and some days a crankbait might work better, or a spinnerbait; it's up to that day's experience to tell you which. Jigs are great in cold water, when slow presentation is essential, or in delicate situations when bass are otherwise hard to catch. But don't think of jigs as strictly a cold-water bait. They also work exceptionally well in spring and summer. Use a bass jig anytime, anyplace with confidence.
There is no wrong season to use a bass jig. It can be worked in the variety of places bass are holding, in cold water drop-offs or around weed beds in late summer. Jigs are just a great bait a lot of fishermen don't use because they've never taken a little time to learn to use one.
How To Retrieve Bass Jigs?Bass jigs are worked slowly across the bottom, across structure and objects which might hold fish. Sometimes you might cast a jig into a good-looking location and let it settle a few moments before starting the retrieve. A bass will sometimes snatch up the bait where it lies.
But most bites occur when a jig is falling, either on the initial cast, or after a little jigging by the angler. A good way to imagine how to retrieve a bass jig is to imagine a cat responding to a ball of string being twitched across the floor. Work the jig slowly, with anticipation, as if bass were actually a cat hiding behind your living room couch, waiting to pounce on the bait.
Don't cast and retrieve jigs quickly, as with other baits. Each cast should take a little while. The strength of bass jigs is in their ability to be twitched and hopped along slowly, tempting a bass into taking the bait.
Bass jigs are great for going into heavy brush, and coming out with a fish attached. Don't be afraid to cast into fearsome-looking places with a bass jig, and retrieve the bait slowly, alert for strikes. Bass jigs are surprisingly snag-proof. If you do get into trouble, try jiggling the bait free instead of attempting to jerk it loose. It's uncommon to get snagged for good with a bass jig.
Jig Sizes Keep in mind two factors when selecting sizes. [ul] [li] Smaller baits are generally best whenever they can be used. [li] Being able to 'feel' the action of a jig is essential.[/li][/ul]
These two factors guide your choice of jig size. Remember smaller, slower baits and thinner line with low visibility will almost always catch more fish than their big counterparts. Keep this in mind when you select sizes. You want to use the lightest bait and line you can. But if you can't tell what's going on with your bait underwater because it's a windy day or there's a strong current, switch to a heavier jig. Or maybe you're fishing deep water and a light jig simply takes too long to sink. Use a jig as light as possible as long as you can still feel what's going on.
Heavier line affects the rate of fall of a jig: light line makes a jig fall faster, heavier line slower. If you can still feel the action of a 1/8-ounce jig on a particular day, keep using it. Don't be intimidated by someone else using a monster bait with the idea that big bass only take big baits.
In tough situations like after cold fronts, in the winter, or during heavy angling pressure, a light jig will out-produce a heavier one.
Detecting StrikesWhen a bass strikes a jig, often it's an uncertain sluggishness or gentle pull on your line. Sometimes your line feels lighter because the bass has lifted the bait. Remember that bass usually pick up the jig on the fall, so keep a tight, careful line between your jig and rod.
The strike differs from the feel of when a bass hits a spinner or plug bait which is often unmistakably hard, and the line seldom zips away, like when a bass picks up a plastic worm. Set the hook with a quick snap of the wrist (it doesn't need to be a wild exercise of the entire body like on the fishing programs). Set the hook anytime you feel something odd on the line-usually it's a fish. After a little practice you'll recognize strikes as surely as when a bobber goes under.
What To Add To A JigMany of us know bass jigs as jig-n'-pigs because a pork rind trailer has been hooked onto the jig to create extra appeal. Usually these have been cut in a wedge shape like a frog, and these trailers are often called pork frogs. But pork eels can be productive as well, especially in deep water. All are sensitive to drying out, so if you quit fishing for a while, take it off the hook and replace it in the jar, or keep it wet otherwise.
Light jigs usually call for light pork rinds. The same goes for a dark jig, which usually gets a dark pork rind. Sometimes a local behavior trend will upset the cart and anglers will swear a strange light/dark combination is best right now, but stick to the old combination as a rule. If you have a dark blue jig, a black pork trailer might be appropriate.
Use a smaller trailer instead of a bigger one if you hope to get more bites. It seems bigger fish do like large trailers, but experiment for best results.
It's not wrong to skip adding a pork trailer altogether and to fish the bass jig just plain. Plain jigs will catch bass sometimes. But it's a little like baking a cake and not bothering to add icing-you're better off with something on it.
Plastic crawfish have become an increasingly popular trailer for jigs. The plastic claws stand up when the jig is resting on the bottom, since the crawfish is hooked onto the jig by the tail, and it adds a great appeal for jigs. Pick a small size for these trailers also, and follow the same color combination guide lines for pork frogs.
ColorsAs a rule, light colors are a good choice for bright sunny days. Dark colors are best for overcast days or at night. Often a particularly bright or unusual color with a dark combination will also work well on bright days. Strong sunlight is also a good condition for the sparkle of Mylar jigs. Bass will prefer certain colors at some locations under specific conditions-but minor color preferences are for every fisherman to argue about. Why someone might use a red-and-black jig over a red-and-brown jig is often a matter of preference.
Water clarity and waves also affect the amount of sunlight bass receive. Consider other factors besides clouds when picking out a color for your jig. For instance, a bright jig would be a good muddy-water choice, even on a cloudy day.
A Basic Color Guide![[Image: colortable.gif]](http://www.jal.cc.il.us/~timbaker/colortable.gif)
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There is no wrong season to use a bass jig. It can be worked in the variety of places bass are holding, in cold water drop-offs or around weed beds in late summer. Jigs are just a great bait a lot of fishermen don't use because they've never taken a little time to learn to use one.
How To Retrieve Bass Jigs?Bass jigs are worked slowly across the bottom, across structure and objects which might hold fish. Sometimes you might cast a jig into a good-looking location and let it settle a few moments before starting the retrieve. A bass will sometimes snatch up the bait where it lies.
But most bites occur when a jig is falling, either on the initial cast, or after a little jigging by the angler. A good way to imagine how to retrieve a bass jig is to imagine a cat responding to a ball of string being twitched across the floor. Work the jig slowly, with anticipation, as if bass were actually a cat hiding behind your living room couch, waiting to pounce on the bait.
Don't cast and retrieve jigs quickly, as with other baits. Each cast should take a little while. The strength of bass jigs is in their ability to be twitched and hopped along slowly, tempting a bass into taking the bait.
Bass jigs are great for going into heavy brush, and coming out with a fish attached. Don't be afraid to cast into fearsome-looking places with a bass jig, and retrieve the bait slowly, alert for strikes. Bass jigs are surprisingly snag-proof. If you do get into trouble, try jiggling the bait free instead of attempting to jerk it loose. It's uncommon to get snagged for good with a bass jig.
Jig Sizes Keep in mind two factors when selecting sizes. [ul] [li] Smaller baits are generally best whenever they can be used. [li] Being able to 'feel' the action of a jig is essential.[/li][/ul]
These two factors guide your choice of jig size. Remember smaller, slower baits and thinner line with low visibility will almost always catch more fish than their big counterparts. Keep this in mind when you select sizes. You want to use the lightest bait and line you can. But if you can't tell what's going on with your bait underwater because it's a windy day or there's a strong current, switch to a heavier jig. Or maybe you're fishing deep water and a light jig simply takes too long to sink. Use a jig as light as possible as long as you can still feel what's going on.
Heavier line affects the rate of fall of a jig: light line makes a jig fall faster, heavier line slower. If you can still feel the action of a 1/8-ounce jig on a particular day, keep using it. Don't be intimidated by someone else using a monster bait with the idea that big bass only take big baits.
In tough situations like after cold fronts, in the winter, or during heavy angling pressure, a light jig will out-produce a heavier one.
Detecting StrikesWhen a bass strikes a jig, often it's an uncertain sluggishness or gentle pull on your line. Sometimes your line feels lighter because the bass has lifted the bait. Remember that bass usually pick up the jig on the fall, so keep a tight, careful line between your jig and rod.
The strike differs from the feel of when a bass hits a spinner or plug bait which is often unmistakably hard, and the line seldom zips away, like when a bass picks up a plastic worm. Set the hook with a quick snap of the wrist (it doesn't need to be a wild exercise of the entire body like on the fishing programs). Set the hook anytime you feel something odd on the line-usually it's a fish. After a little practice you'll recognize strikes as surely as when a bobber goes under.
What To Add To A JigMany of us know bass jigs as jig-n'-pigs because a pork rind trailer has been hooked onto the jig to create extra appeal. Usually these have been cut in a wedge shape like a frog, and these trailers are often called pork frogs. But pork eels can be productive as well, especially in deep water. All are sensitive to drying out, so if you quit fishing for a while, take it off the hook and replace it in the jar, or keep it wet otherwise.
Light jigs usually call for light pork rinds. The same goes for a dark jig, which usually gets a dark pork rind. Sometimes a local behavior trend will upset the cart and anglers will swear a strange light/dark combination is best right now, but stick to the old combination as a rule. If you have a dark blue jig, a black pork trailer might be appropriate.
Use a smaller trailer instead of a bigger one if you hope to get more bites. It seems bigger fish do like large trailers, but experiment for best results.
It's not wrong to skip adding a pork trailer altogether and to fish the bass jig just plain. Plain jigs will catch bass sometimes. But it's a little like baking a cake and not bothering to add icing-you're better off with something on it.
Plastic crawfish have become an increasingly popular trailer for jigs. The plastic claws stand up when the jig is resting on the bottom, since the crawfish is hooked onto the jig by the tail, and it adds a great appeal for jigs. Pick a small size for these trailers also, and follow the same color combination guide lines for pork frogs.
ColorsAs a rule, light colors are a good choice for bright sunny days. Dark colors are best for overcast days or at night. Often a particularly bright or unusual color with a dark combination will also work well on bright days. Strong sunlight is also a good condition for the sparkle of Mylar jigs. Bass will prefer certain colors at some locations under specific conditions-but minor color preferences are for every fisherman to argue about. Why someone might use a red-and-black jig over a red-and-brown jig is often a matter of preference.
Water clarity and waves also affect the amount of sunlight bass receive. Consider other factors besides clouds when picking out a color for your jig. For instance, a bright jig would be a good muddy-water choice, even on a cloudy day.
A Basic Color Guide
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