Contributed by Ben Smith
Going into the 2013 fishing season I had made my mind up that I was going to add jig fishing to my arsenal. We all have heard that jigs catch big bass. I went to the store and bought some jigs and was ready to go, so I thought. Let’s just say 2013 did not go as planned. I had no problem getting bites. I either would miss the hookup or lose them half way back to the boat. I only landed roughly 20 percent of my fish. This past winter I went to work reading every article and watching as many videos as I could on jig fishing technics. After hours of dedicated research I came up my list of jigging essentials.
1) Rod– It is an absolute must to have the correct rod for jig fishing. It requires a big rod with a stout backbone and sensitive tip. I chose the All Pro Heavy 7’6” Flippin Stick. The heavy rod gives you the power to set the hook through the top of the mouth. The sensitive extra fast action of the rod allows you to feel everything the jig head comes in contact with.
2) Reel & Line– I use a 7.1:1 Lew’s Tournament Pro Speed Spool with 30# braid tipped with a 12# fluorocarbon leader. The high speed reel makes it much easier to keep the slack out of the line, which is very important. Unlike when fishing soft plastics you want to fish the jig on a tight line. The braid and fluorocarbon helps me to feel the slightest bite while giving me all the strength to pull them out of the thick stuff.
3) Jig- I prefer a True South Custom 3/8oz football jig. These jigs are made with medium weight hooks, which help to increase hookup ratio. I trim the weed guards down so they barley reach the tip of the hook when pushed down. I prefer the football jig for several reasons. When the head of the jig bumps rocks or timber it will bounce off different every time. It’s just like flipping a football into a tree, you have no idea which way it will bounce off. This action seems to trigger more bites.
4) Trailer- I prefer to use a crawl trailer with a good amount of action. My best success has come with a Net Baits Baby Paca Craw. On days when the bass are finicky you can let the jig set on the bottom and the claws will go up in a natural defensive position. If the bass are really aggressive you can bounce the jig quickly across the bottom and the claws will have an incredible amount of action.
If you are not using a jig you are truly missing out on some great action. A jig is the most versatile bait you can use. Jigs will catch big bass in lakes and rivers, in any season, and any condition you might face. 2014 has been my best year of fishing. I caught my personal best smallmouth and my biggest tournament largemouth. I was able to take home three 1st place finishes, 2 Big Bass awards, and Mountain State Kayak Anglers AOY all because jigs catch pigs.
2 thoughts on “Jigging for Pigs”
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Ben,
Thank you, this was helpful. I’m still trying to become more confident throwing a jig. I’ve caught fish on jigs, but still don’t feel completely confident using that presentation compared to others. I feel like it’s still a real hole in my fishing game and plan to devote more time to it in 2015.
Ben,
Great write up… Good advice to all!!! It was obvious to all during our tournament series that if you were not able to fish with jigs, you were not going to fare well. The guys that could always finished high. I appreciate all the advice you and others have provided in jigging this year… I hope my learning curve is just a little faster Chris Schafers and yours was so I can keep you both from winning the Mountain State Kayak Angler of the Year Title (Kidding)… See you on the water soon!!!