Jigs

[fishingmachine]

Hey guys im getting more into jig fishing and was wondering what everyones favorite jigs r

[bcalvert]

I have been playing around with swim jigs this year. I have been using 1/4oz jigs from http://www.brovarneybaits.com/. I have had most of my success using the darker colors paired with their kicker grub. I find they are a good alternative for reaction bites when the lake conditions are too weedy to throw a spinner bait. They move through the weeds with out the extra salad coming to the boat.

I also find that I can pitch these at docks and pilings the same as I would a 3/8oz filppin jig but get a slower fall rate.

Other than that, Tag Watson turned me onto the Skinny Bear Griz Jig (http://www.skinnybearbassjigs.com/grizz.php) I have had best success with the black/blue & brown/orange. They are a durable jig at what i think is a fair price for quality.

[smoke14]

FM I just picked up on the shakey head jigs. I really enjoy using the shakey head, on rocks, under docks and around stumps. I usually use a curly tail worm on the shakey head , purple right now seems to be working on the east side.

[tagwatson360]

Like Brian, I like the Brovarney jigs when I am swimming a jig exclusively. For flipping and pitching, I like the Revenge Flip Jigs and the Vertical Lures Jig-X. For casting and fishing deep structure, I prefer the...hold on, phone call. OK, I'm back.

This time of year, I recommend using jigs in the 1/2 oz. to 1 oz. size. The faster fall has a tendency to generate reaction strikes from bigger fish that will often ignore the slow fall of a 1/4 oz. or 3/8 oz. jig. The heavier jigs penetrate pads and matted vegetation well and will also get into the strike zone faster in deeper water where a lot of the bigger fish like to reside during the day during the summer months.

Keep fishing that jig, FM!

[skeeter bassin]

Good stuff as always Tag!!

The only thing I would add is to keep in mind water clarity when determining the weight (rate of fall) of your jig. In stained to dirty water (less than 2' of visibility) I like to lighten up the jig and toss a 1/4 oz jig with a LARGE trailer. Using a trailer that will displace alot of water will help to slow the rate of fall, create a bit of vibration, and make up for the bulk lost when using the small jig. Alot of times this will give the fish time to zone in on it and take it in. For a bit more noise I will also add a rattle.

I am partial to the Skinny Bear Elite Football Jigs when not swimming them. With alot of jigs it is important to "doctor" them up a bit before using them. Mainly doing some trim work on the skirt to make it come alive while sitting on the bottom. I also make some minor adjustments to the hook angle and to the weedguard.

[tagwatson360]

Great points, SB. Just to reiterate, there are lots of little modifications you can make to your jig to generate more bites and increase hook up ratio.

Like Skeeter, I often trim and fan my weed guard. The exception is in extremely heavy cover where I will just shorten it a bit to add more rigidity. I also like to remove the stock skirt and hand-tie on my own custom skirts with copper wire, usually a mix of living rubber, a little flashabou and some silicone. Number of strands will depend on the fall rate I want to achieve and the bulk I am looking for.

One thing we haven't touched on, and it is by far more important than what jig you throw, is to use the proper tackle. Rod length/power/action, line type and lb. test, correct knot for the line, high speed baitcaster, etc. Using the correct tackle makes all the difference in making quiet, accurate presentations, and hooking/landing the bass that bite your jig.

Invest in a good flipping stick. Don't try to flip/pitch jigs into heavy cover with your "Senko Rod". This is a recipe for "the big one that got away" story. The mouth of a 7+ lb. bass is much harder and has a lot more meat than the mouth of a 4 pounder.

[Anglinarcher]

Great comments and suggestions above, but my favorite Jig(s) are the ones I make.

Sometime in the next 40 years of fishing you will find that you simply can't get what you want. Then the bug will get you and you will start buying your own molds and making your own jigs. Then you will start buying blank molds and having custom jig molds machined for you. Then............................. you find out you don't have the time anymore and you start buying them again.

OK, back to great comments above. LOL

[bcalvert]

Good post FM, some good information here.

What would be the best knot for tying on a flipping jig to get better hook up ratio?

[tagwatson360]

Brian,

The knot you tie on a flipping jig won't directly impact the hook up ratio but tying the correct knot properly will ensure that you don't break off fish on the hookset or during the fight.

There are many good knots out there, but I recommend the following due to impact strength, knot strength, ease to tie, etc.:

Fluorocarbon - San Diego Jam Knot or River's Inlet Knot (if you can tie it perfectly, not easy)
Copolymer - San Diego Knot, River's Inlet or Palomar
Braid - Double Palomar

The only knot I know of that will directly affect hook up ratio is a Snell on a straight shank hook for flipping and punching.

[kzoo]

Brian,

The knot you tie on a flipping jig won't directly impact the hook up ratio but tying the correct knot properly will ensure that you don't break off fish on the hookset or during the fight.

There are many good knots out there, but I recommend the following due to impact strength, knot strength, ease to tie, etc.:

Fluorocarbon - San Diego Jam Knot or River's Inlet Knot (if you can tie it perfectly, not easy)
Copolymer - San Diego Knot, River's Inlet or Palomar
Braid - Double Palomar

The only knot I know of that will directly affect hook up ratio is a Snell on a straight shank hook for flipping and punching.

A good knot is very important for flipping, short distances with a heavy pole means a lot of energy and stress on knots, especially on the hookset. I've lost numerous fish due to this, biggest reason was trying different lines and not knowing what to tie. I was so frustrated I use to superglue my knots when jig fishing. I eventually went back to mono and tied regular trilene knots.

Thanks for the tips Tag:cheers:

[fishingmachine]

thanks tag i have a flipping stick with a shimano curado and 20lb flouro on it
Ive been having my luck with a 1/8oz skinny bear jig
I guess ill pick up some 1/2 oz and a few smaller than that.
Thanks tag.

[tagwatson360]

FM, is it difficult to pitch an 1/8 oz. jig with a flipping stick and 20# fluoro??? Are you using a larger trailer to add additional weight?

This time of year you definitely want to have some 1/2 oz., 3/4 oz. and 1 oz. jigs in your arsenal. Please trust me on this one.

I've got a story that first reinforced just how important rate of fall can be when fishing a jig:

About 6 years ago I was out at Big Lake late in the summer. It was a nice summer day with high sun and a very light breeze. I was catching the daylights out of the fish on a 3/8 oz. jig and a Bear Paw Craw Trailer. The fish were suspended just a foot or two down underneath the docks that were close to the water. The problem was I that I had only caught one fish in the 4 lb. range and most of the fish were in the 2 lb. range, not the type of fish I am looking for when fishing a jig. However, with the fish being suspended that close to the surface, I didn't want the jig to fall past them too quickly.

My good friend who had gotten on the lake an hour and a half or so after I did comes rolling up in his Triton with a big grin on his face. He asks me how I am doing and I tell him that I have caught over 15 fish but not getting much in the way of quality. He proceeds to pull three fish out of his livewell from 5-1/2 to just under 7 lbs. for me to snap a quick picture for him.

It turns out that he was running the exact same pattern as me and the exact same jig/trailer combination which I had turned him onto in the past. The only difference was he was fishing the 5/8 oz. version of the jig. I quickly switched to the heavier jig and caught four fish over 5 pounds that afternoon. The bigger fish were suspended a little deeper in the water column underneath the docks and apparently needed the faster fall to trigger the strikes on that particular day. That was a great lesson for me and a huge learning experience.

In the summer now I will usually start heavy and lighten up only if I have to for whatever reason.

[smoke14]

Tag,

After reading your story it makes sense, the smaller fish are picking it up prior to the bigger fish, due to their placement in the water column. I have been using smaller jigs, makes sense why the fish are smaller. Ill have to move to bigger jigs with larger trailers and see if it helps. Great info guys.

[bcalvert]

Thank you Tag for the information on the knots and some insight into the 'why's' of using a heaver flipping jig.

[skimpy]

This time of year you definitely want to have some 1/2 oz., 3/4 oz. and 1 oz. jigs in your arsenal. Please trust me on this one.

Agreed

I dont usually use the 1oz, but sometimes. 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz is where its at !!!!!!

[fishingmachine]

i can pitch a 1/8oz jig pretty well/.
Ill definately be picking up some heavier ones tag per ur advice.
Any suggestions on the type of skinny bear jig or other brand along with colors or trailers?
thanks

[tagwatson360]

i can pitch a 1/8oz jig pretty well/.
Ill definately be picking up some heavier ones tag per ur advice.
Any suggestions on the type of skinny bear jig or other brand along with colors or trailers?
thanks

FM, I really like the Revenge Flip Jigs and Vertical Lures Jig-X for flipping and pitching. I always remove the stock skirt and purchase the head only when i can. I only use custom skirts now after I saw how much difference little details can make on a jig.

Trailers are all over the map.

[fishingmachine]

tag what colors do you like and can you tell me more about the custom skirts

[tagwatson360]

tag what colors do you like and can you tell me more about the custom skirts

FM, the custom skirts consist of a mix of round living rubber, flashabou to add color and flash, and silicone for color accents. I keep the round rubber colors very simple: black, blue, brown and purple. Black, Black/Brown, Black/Blue, Brown, Brown/Purple and Brown/Blue are my standard base color combos. From there I add different colors of flashabou or tinsel and silicone skirt material. These additions are subtle but can really add "life" to your jig when utilized properly.

The number of skirt strands and skirt length are very important as this will affect bulk and rate of fall tremendously.

I secure the skirt material to the jig with copper wire. This makes the skirt virtually indestructible and helps the skirt flare.

[fishingmachine]

where do you get your materials tag?
im interested in this now
i wanna tie up some jigs and fish em
nothing like catching fish on something you made