Need some help with Jigs.

Jigshot · October 08, 2007, 12:34:58 PM

Alright, I have really been wanting to get my first bass off of a jig for a while now, but I really don't know too much about them. The water I fish is partly stained,more on the clear side. My main spot I fish is a peninsula by a marina, which has numerous hydrilla beds, steps leading all the way down to a dropoff about 15 feet down, a few boat docks and an underwater tree which is about 6 feet from the shore that me and my friend put out. So, my questions are, where do I fish it? How do I fish it? What does a bite feel like? What colors should I use? Trailer?

My jig colors include: black w/ blue(5/16), brown w/ orange(5/16),black w/ chartreuse tip(5/16), pink w/ black(3/16),and green w/ black(1/8).

coldfront · October 08, 2007, 12:54:31 PM

Here's a suggestion: go to walmart...buy a mushroom head jig with the wire weedguard in 1/8 oz(used to be I'd get the Bobby Garland Rocker heads)...thread on a watermelon/red flake chompers 4" spider grub...toss it out and work it back real slow...rod at the 10-12 o'clock position...just shake the rod tip to move the jig...it'll cause the tails/skirt to tremble and give off a subtle 'searching' action on the bottom...the bite will feel like a soft 'tick' (think of the fish inhaling the bait and it hitting the back of the fish's throat-you may even see the line jump at that point)...reel down to 9 oclock...feel the fish, set the hook.

If the fish is serious about taking the bait, he'll be there. The light wire hook will penetrate the fish's mouth...this is a great bait for numbers and the occasional larger fish , if it's there...

Personally, I prefer the 4: BPS XPS twin tail skirted grubs in green pumpkin with a little Smelly Jelly (Craw/Anise) scent...but the Chompers have a whole lot of garlic...and work too..

scatch1 · October 08, 2007, 12:57:46 PM

go to KA LA RU he will make any color combo you want.

tmiller2 · October 08, 2007, 02:37:40 PM

Quote from: scatch1 on October 08, 2007, 12:57:46 PM
go to KA LA RU he will make any color combo you want.

im with scatch1 im about to order some custom colors myself

Lipripper · October 08, 2007, 04:01:35 PM

Basscountry stop by karulures and check his stuff out not just because he's one of our sponsors around her but because he makes good lures and not just jigs and like scatch and tmiller he will work with you and make just about anyone you might want.

karulures

Nickk · October 08, 2007, 04:30:16 PM

Sounds like you already have some jigs, if they have a fiber(plastic) weed guard hold the jig with the hook up and chop the guard straight across with some wire cutters just above the hook point(about 1/16"). That will give you better hookups. Use the black and blue and the green and black and a matching chunk. Toss into weeds and under docks, give it a little drag and couple little pops and let it sit a bit.

See first response for hookset!

ShawnDee4 · October 08, 2007, 04:46:25 PM

Zoom super chunk in sapphire blue as the trailer on black and blue jig.

kickurbass · October 09, 2007, 08:40:29 AM

A couple good suggestions above.
I myself went bank fishing with ONLY jigs many times this year. I took NO OTHER BAIT with me period. It forced me to learn the different styles of jig fishing. When I got bored of the same jig, I switched to a different style jig (Swimming style, flipping style, football head style, etc..) so I can see the different actions they give off. I ALSO experimented with MANY different types of trailers.

I suggest throwing the lightest jig you can get away with unless your trying to PUNCH thru vegetation. Throw it out, let it sink, give a couple twitches up a down, and pause. Do it slow. IF that doesn't work after a while, then swim the jig. Basically twitch it a few times and reel back to you slowly but not letting the jig sink to the bottom.

Jigs are fun but just like worms, you have to take your time so SLOW down the presentation unless your swimming it.

I'm a fan of KARU LURES but it seems like you have plenty of jigs to play with for now. Especially when your just trying to get technique down. After you feel comfortable and your catching some fish, check out the array of high quality jigs out there. You wont believe the difference in skirts, hooks, and head designs.
Good luck and next time you go fishing ONLY BRING jigs with you...NOTHING ELSE.

coldfront · October 09, 2007, 08:49:12 AM

Quote from: Nickk on October 08, 2007, 04:30:16 PM
Sounds like you already have some jigs, if they have a fiber(plastic) weed guard hold the jig with the hook up and chop the guard straight across with some wire cutters just above the hook point(about 1/16"). That will give you better hookups. Use the black and blue and the green and black and a matching chunk. Toss into weeds and under docks, give it a little drag and couple little pops and let it sit a bit.

See first response for hookset!

There is another way to handle the brushguard: I like to separate it into two 'halves' (left and right)...put my thumb into the 'V' and bend/force the two halves toward the eye with firm pressure at the base of where the weedguard joins the head...this spreads out the weedguard like a 'fan' and gives the jig a bit more stability (side to side) plus it 'thins out' the weedguard making it easier to get a gook in the fish...

Finally, as trailers I really, too, like the Zoom Super chuck products...but when using them I like to thread the body onto the hook/keeper like a would a curlytailed grub...makes the jig a little more compact and works better 'for me'...flat side down by the way...

Jigshot · October 09, 2007, 03:55:01 PM

Thanks a bunch guys, I guess I am going to wait on trying the jig since I have heard that it works a lot better in colder weather, I can probably do it this weekend.

coldfront · October 09, 2007, 04:51:35 PM

sorry about the typographical error in previous post...I did not intend to imply any racial slurs...

bass1cpr · October 10, 2007, 10:27:08 AM

basscountry jigs work year round so set aside the myth of when they work best.

To get better hook ups with a jig open the hook point about 5 or ten degrees, lay it in the palm of your hand and start to close your hand around the jig if you feel the hook point as soon as you start to close your hand you have it wright. Now you can spread the weed guard like Coldfront said and your hook ups will improve greatly. It elimanates having to trim the weed guard unless it's exceptionally long.

Zoom Super chunks baby, I do mine the same as Coldfront. Flippin Blue is my number one choice but I will use a Saphire Blue too sometimes they want the flake.

IF I change to an Eakins style jig I'll opt for a Zoom Lil' Critter craw for a trialer, for football style heads it's a twin tail grub.

coldfront · October 10, 2007, 10:37:12 AM

Quote from: bass1cpr on October 10, 2007, 10:27:08 AM
Zoom Super chunks baby, I do mine the same as Coldfront. Flippin Blue is my number one choice but I will use a Saphire Blue too sometimes they want the flake.

IF I change to an Eakins style jig I'll opt for a Zoom Lil' Critter craw for a trialer, for football style heads it's a twin tail grub.

love that flippin' blue...also trying a special color I ran across: flippin' purple. and yes, when I run out of flippin' blue, I go to saphire blue as well...great points on the Eakins/football trailers...

PaulRoberts · October 14, 2007, 07:44:19 PM

Basscountry,
Do a search on Jigs on this site and you'll come up with plenty.
Paul

Jigshot · October 14, 2007, 08:04:39 PM

Well... I caught 2 this weekend off of jigs.

Thanks a bunch for helping me out guys. You can go check out the pics. in the catch of the day section of the site.

BassHunter69 · October 15, 2007, 06:31:57 AM

Quote from: kickurbass on October 09, 2007, 08:40:29 AM
A couple good suggestions above.
I myself went bank fishing with ONLY jigs many times this year. I took NO OTHER BAIT with me period. It forced me to learn the different styles of jig fishing. When I got bored of the same jig, I switched to a different style jig (Swimming style, flipping style, football head style, etc..) so I can see the different actions they give off. I ALSO experimented with MANY different types of trailers.

I suggest throwing the lightest jig you can get away with unless your trying to PUNCH thru vegetation. Throw it out, let it sink, give a couple twitches up a down, and pause. Do it slow. IF that doesn't work after a while, then swim the jig. Basically twitch it a few times and reel back to you slowly but not letting the jig sink to the bottom.

Jigs are fun but just like worms, you have to take your time so SLOW down the presentation unless your swimming it.

I'm a fan of KARU LURES but it seems like you have plenty of jigs to play with for now. Especially when your just trying to get technique down. After you feel comfortable and your catching some fish, check out the array of high quality jigs out there. You wont believe the difference in skirts, hooks, and head designs.
Good luck and next time you go fishing ONLY BRING jigs with you...NOTHING ELSE.

hey kick great post when i learned jigs i fished with only jigs for a year so i could get good with them i'm a firm beliver in once you try a new bait work that bait till you know its ins and out so you can fish that bait by more then sight but by feel blindfolded if you had to. start taking those jigs night fishing this will force you to learn exactly what that jig feels like so you learn the differnce between weeds ,and a fish,hitting and bumping rocks and a bass etc....