Ha! Not quite what I had in mind...

Normally when I am fishing a FBJ I keep my rod low to the water in the hook set position and use the reel to move the bait ever so slowly. I reel pretty steadily along until I hit some brush then I may pause for just a second or two. A 3/4 oz works good for 20-30 feet. If it is windy don't be afraid to go up to a 1 ounce.

I fish mine on 17-20# Seaguar InvizX unless I'm on CB then it's nothing but 65 braid.

Is there a time of year you guys do this? Or a certain time of day?

I throw a football jig in the same areas I would a Texas rig or Carolina rig. If I get snagged, slowly try to work it free. Can't be afraid to get hung up or you won't fish it right.

When the fish are relating to the bottom. I throw it mostly in the summer sun up to sun down. I do throw other baits during that time also unless they are really on a jig bite, then I will just stick with the jig. Roads, rigdes, humps, pond dams, points are good places look for fish.

I don't think there's only one way to fish any bait. Fish want different things to different times. So vary your presentation but just make sure it is contact with the bottom quite often so you stay in the strike zone. So drag or short hop it or stroke it, but keep it down there the majority of the time.

Use a longer rod. 7'3-7'6 will give you a much better hookup in deep water. You can move more line on a hookset.

I know you didn't ask this, but it reminded me of this: Anytime we can't catch 'em, my son casts out and literally puts the rod down. He ALWAYS gets bit after that. And he ALWAYS uses a jighead with a Yamamoto Hula Grub (gp). Never fails. Crazy.