Jigs: Not Just Another Lure in a Pretty Skirt

Flippin', pitchin', castin', tube baitin', gitzit, creepy crawler...yep, it all means one thing - the jig. It seems odd that what is the most versatile lure available in almost every fisherman's tackle box is the least used. Perhaps it's the lures own versatility, its biggest strength that makes us shy away.

What color jig should I use, where should I throw it, under what conditions do I fish it, what sort of trailer should I put on it, when is a good time to serve Bud Light to my friends? There is but one answer to all of these questions. It is so simple, but yet we make this three-letter word ever so complicated; the answer is "any". That's right, anytime, anywhere, you can throw a jig (or serve Bud Light to your friends), and I'm here to tell you how.

WHAT COLOR JIG SHOULD I USE? This really depends upon what color fish you want to catch. Are most of the fish you want to catch green to brown in color? If so, I would suggest using a black and blue jig. Seriously, it's the "go to" color in my tackle box. I never knew if this was the "right" color for all conditions, so I did a little research...thank goodness for Bassin' Magazine. It turns out that if limited to one lure, both Tim Horton and Larry Nixon, one of the all time leading bass tournament money winners, would both reach for a black and blue jig² . I've always maintained that you can't argue with data. Their combined winnings provide enough convincing data for me.

Other pros prefer something more in the brown to pumpkin color, mostly for the natural appeal. The jig looks like nothing you would see in nature, although most argue it resembles a shad, so why try to make the color look natural - black and blue; it's a winner.

About the only time I stray from this color combination is in the early stages of the spawn. Little baitfishies are doing some egg munching around the bass beds, and big daddy is on the prowl looking to do what he can to protect that nest. The white flash gives off a look of one of a baitfish, and it makes daddy bass's blood boil. He's on it like a bull is on a one-legged matador. Someone is going to get gored.

Cloud cover, sunny day, rainy, windy, blood red moon, I'm going to throw black and blue. Early spawn, you might catch me tossing white, but otherwise I'll be the guy sticking with what I know best - black and blue jigs catch fish.

WHAT'S THE BEST LOCATION FOR FISHING JIGS? How about throwing a jig over there? No wait, how about over there? Oh, that spot looks yummy, try that. No wait, I saw a better spot - try that! You guessed it. A jig can be thrown just about anywhere. I will fish a jig in the shallows, in and out of structure, swim it from shallow to deep, or toss it right into deep water. It goes anywhere I want it to go.

When throwing into the shallows, I prefer a light jig - something in the 1/4oz range. Its light weight allows the lure to flutter toward the bottom a little slower than a heavier version, which keeps it in the strike zone longer. The longer I can annoy a bass by keeping a jig in its face, the better the chances that I'm going to get bit. When in the shallows, I'm not afraid to throw the jig right on top of cover. If I can't get right in there, I'll throw as close as possible to the structure and slowly work the jig back toward the boat. Again, the key is to keep the jig in the strike zone as long as possible.

Another one of my favorite jigging techniques when fishing shallow, especially in clear water, is hopping the jig. This is most effective post-spawn through early summer. Hopping the jig consists of fast rips. With my rod tip at about 10:00 I give the rod a really good rip up to about 1:00, which is just behind my head. Following the lure down with semi-slack line, I let the jig fall again, bringing my rod back to the 10:00 position. Unlike most jigging, hits won't necessarily come on the fall of the jig. Most taps and thumps will be felt when the jig hits the high point of the rip, as if it were holding still waiting for gravity to kick-in. This method has been so effective I've almost forgotten where I keep my spinnerbaits. But, all good things must come to and end, and all good bass must move deeper off their structure, enter mid-summer.

Ah, the versatility of the jig - my summertime savior. Fish have moved deep, and I need to put my jig there. To accomplish this, I'll pull out something a little heavier than my finesse jig. I want something that is going to break through cover, but not rocket to the bottom faster than the NASDAQ of 2001. 3/8 to 1/2oz - that's about as big as I'll go.

I learned from Jimmy Houston, one of the most recognized and respected bass fisherman today, bass do not move into deeper water in the summer months, they simply move deeper on the cover². A bass that was holding to a stump in 2' of water during the spawn will probably still be by that same stump come late summer, but he'll be sitting in 10' of water. This makes my job easier. I can still cast into the cover, and work the lure down the side of the structure into the deeper water. I'll do this enough times on the same piece of lumber, point, or rock - whatever I'm fishing, to get the fish's attention. They're not the big bad biters they were a few months back, but that can be antagonized into putting a big chomp on a jig that gets in their face one too many times.

If fishing your favorite structure doesn't work, it's probably a good time to look into flippin' and pitchin'. Take the time to spot a pocket in a weed bed. If you happen upon an 8' by 8' bed of weeds, and in the middle of it is a bare spot about 2' in diameter, chances are there's a bucket mouth sitting down there looking for an easy meal. It's time to switch back to a lighter jig. Lightly toss the jig into the pocket using your favorite flipping or pitching technique. The key is to minimize splash of the lure upon entry into the water. A 1/4oz lure will flutter it's way down into the pocket, greeting each suspended fish it sees on the way down with a "Hi, I'm annoying...eat me!" Follow your line through the free fall. If you don't, you're going to miss the ultra sensitive taps. The bass are more interested in wine tasting this time of year than they are pounding a few brews with the guys. Stay with your line, and I guarantee you success in the deep.

Early summer hopping in the shallows, or late summer flippin' into the pockets, anyplace is the right place to use a jig.

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH A TRAILER ANYWAY? Ah, the trailer...the question that keeps me employed more than any other. Most common is the question of what trailer color to use. If I'm fishing a black and blue jig, I should probably use a contrasting color, right? WRONG! Never forget this. Don't confuse this with anything else you've ever heard. It's so simple; the trailer should match the color of your jig. Simple, simple, simple - say it with me, "the trailer should match the color of your jig." Were not talking about Geranimals here, we're talking about black on black, pumpkin on pumpkin, white on white - the trailer matches the jig. Here are the exceptions to this rule. Oh, wait - my mistake - THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. Trailer color matches the jig - there will be a test on this later.

The types of trailers that can be used on jigs vary as much as the jigs themselves. Grubs, twin tailed grubs, tubes, pork, chunk, worms - all excellent choices for trailers. Some of my personal favorites include a twin-tailed grub or a plastic chunk. The twin-tail gives your jig that little bit of extra action that fish didn't see from the boat in front of you. If the only twin-tails you can find come in the form of a hula grub, cut off the hula grub skirt before putting it on your jig, otherwise the lure gets to bulky to have any profitable action.

I prefer a chunk to pork only for the reason that I don't like to handle pork. I don't like trying to dig them out of those little jars, I hate the smell, and more often than not I end up with glitter all over my forehead. Don't ask me how or why - I just do. I stick to the plastic chunk providing the same action, with less mess, and no glitter. I also tend to stab myself less when trying to get a chunk on a fishhook. My trying to put pork on a hook without hurting myself is like Geoffrey Bodine trying to win a race - it's just not going to happen.

The one trailer I avoid is a worm. If it takes a worm on a jig to promote strikes, I may as well be using a worm. The fish are telling me that they want worms, so why not give it to them?

The idea behind the trailer is take the jig look like something more than it really is - something that blends well with a fish's natural surroundings. It also gives a frigid bass a little more incentive to give the jig a little extra attention and maybe give a few more taps than it otherwise would. By matching your trailer color to your bass, and using the trailer you are most comfortable with, you're sure to add to your jigging success.

Anytime, anyplace, anywhere - it's all the right time to throw a jig. So, crack open your favorite Bud Light, serve one up to your friends, and dust off the jigs you've so often overlooked in your tackle box. The jig, it's more than just another lure in a pretty skirt.

Bob Wood³

1. David Hart, "Bassin', Hot Baits Special 2001"
2. Jimmy Houston, "Caught Me a Biggun': and Then I Let Him Go"
3. Special thanks to Jeff Stegner, Missouri Pro. He is my mentor and a good friend. Without him, the jig would still be the overlooked lure in my tackle box.