I'm sure it varies from lake to lake, and depending on what the fish are wanting at the time.
But what's a couple right ways to fish a jig, slow and then slower?
Do you raise it up from bottom and let it settle back down?
Slightly slow twitching motion?
Kinda like worm fishing?

I used them but without much luck, any pointers or tips sure would be apreciated!
Thanks guys

Y'all have a great day!

I've been teaching myself jigs for the last month or two. First, they are a big fish bait, not really a numbers bait (or so I've read/heard).

Second, there are a few different types of jigs, and at least two ways to fish all of them. If you're flipping and pitching near docks, I've heard to try and match the crawfish molt at that time of year. Some people study crawfish transitions almost as much as they study other hatches or prey transitions because jigs are effective for the big bite.

Swimming, vibrating, football, heavy pitching jigs...there are a ton of types and things to think about. Then there are the different types of trailers.

I've had the most success flipping around cover and hopping, because crawfish swim backwards when they are threatened.

There are a lot of good youtube videos on jig fishing. Just google "fishing a jig on youtube". Only thing I would add is to throw to visible targets, rocks, stumps, laydowns when they are present. I like to drag a football jig. Drag it a few inches, let it rest, jiggle the rod tip, let it rest, repeat. Also, I sometime "walk a jig across the bottom" by making repetitive short hops. This will often trigger a strike. Good luck.

Then there's this:

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...g_color?#UNREAD

Think about the way a crawfish moves. Take water temp in consideration and mimic that. I almost drag mine with very small hops. This is true in cooler water.
There is also stroking a jig where you want large hops and very aggressively but that is a whole other deal right there.


I highly recommend you get some finesse jigs and throw them a bit in areas you are getting Texas rig bites. They fish very similar bite wise. Then move on to full size jigs. Biggest deal I can really stress to you is a LOT of jig bites are not outwardly obvious in terms of thumps. A lot of the time something just feels different. I truly think getting good with a jig is one of the toughest techniques to learn but it really is worth the time and effort.

Also DO NOT fall for the hype that they are only good in cooler water. That is 100% BS. They work year round and work well.

Get you a black/blue jig and some type of matching color and pitch it to the same places you would a Tx. rig. The lake I fish is full of timber so I target those with the jig. I crawl and shake it through the roots of the stumps. If your lake has grass I would pitch it into holes and pockets in the grass. If you find a stump surrounded by grass that is a really good place for a fish to be. Fish stumps along a creek channel. If you have thick grass, I like to pitch the jig into it and then rip it out. I pitch the jig out and let it go to the bottom. If you did not get bit on the way down, then I give it a short quick snap. I want the jig to snap up off the bottom but not move very far. If the bass is looking at it and you snap it in front of their nose they will usually eat it.

If you are fishing a place that is void of timber and grass then I would drag a football head jig. Sometimes you will get a good jig thump from the bass (I love those) and then other times you won't get a thump but your line just feels heavy...set the hook. Sometimes you feel nothing but see your line move....set the hook.

Colors to start with are black/blue, I like black/blue/purple a lot also, peanut butter n jelly (PB&J), various shades of green pumpkin, black/brown/amber. I like to have accent colors on my green skirted jigs like green pumpkin/orange or green pumpkin/purple. I also make my own skirts so I have some custom colors I like but those listed should work in many places you fish.
Good trailers to use...Zoom speed vibe craw, Grande Bass Mega claw, Berkley Chigger craw, LFT hyper freak, Netbait baby paca craw, Xcite Raptor chunk. Choose what you like best.
I have used many different brands of jigs over the years and have settled on 3 for pitching and football head jigs. MPack, Santone, and Viper XP.
Stick with it, don't give up. A jig usually is a quality bite. Some days they just don't want the jig. I used to try and force feed it to them but if the bass don't want it, they just will not eat it, so try a shakey head instead. But when they are on a jig bite, look out, it will be awesome.

This is what I did to learn how to fish a jig.

I went to the lake with nothing but a 7' heavy action rod/high speed reel, 20ibs line, and a 3 or 4 jigs.

I didn't have any confidence in it, until I forced myself to fish it. After a few casts I didn't have my other setups to fish.

You'll be glad you did, it'll pay off big! most all of my bigger fish have came on a jig.

This!

I didn't want to pick just one, so here are several videos...

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+fish+a+jig

I fish it like a texas rig and it works well for me.

Don't get hu


don't worry about a bunch of different colors. Black and blue will work anywhere get some 3/8 or 1/2 oz. I got my confidence fishing a small pond around grassline using a 1/4 oz bisty bug blk/blue. I have all colors there is blk/blue always work.

All I can say is once you've mastered it you will love it... I like throwing football jigs in deep water and just slowly dragging them or slightly bouncing them on the bottom.

Didn't think I would get so much great advice, and all of it sounds useful.
I'll have to watch those videos, thanks for sharing everybody
I enjoy worm fishing, 90% of the time I'm a shallow water fishermen
Good advice just carrying a couple jigs an trailers
Just have to get the feel it
Thanks again every body for sharing

Lot of good advice, but i would say cut your learning time down, call Andrew Grills on lake Fork, tell him what you are needing to accomplish and you will not be sorry. The boy is a jig guru!

This is a really useful thread. I too am new to this style of fishing and all of your advice is great. Thank you all.