I am new to jig fishing, actually, only crappie fished on banks with a jig once maybe twice. I would like to try jig fishing next weekend when we are out at Navarro Mills. Looking for good advice on what to use and the best way to use them. Thanks in advance for any and all of your help!

Welcome to the jig side of the family. I've never fished Navarro Mills and hopefully someone who has will help you out. Right now I would try for the spawn bite with a jig and cork. If no luck there then move out to deeper water and look for fish staged on brush piles and timber. I know that's pretty generic but once again I've not been on that lake. Good luck to you.

Welcome to the addiction!! I've always done very well at NM with a blue and white jig.

Thanks Bush Hog and SlabbedSilly! Much appreciated.

Hawgfly the thing I see most when taking someone out to brush piles to learn to jig fish is they want to jig the jig. Most of the time fish want the jig straight down and hold it still.

I am new to this too. When you are using the cork and jig should I use a slow retrieve or let it sit a little while? I'm use to soaking minnows but just bought a 9' jigging rod to start working on that. all these tips help so thank you!

Hawgfly & jrsac to the addiction of Jig fishing.You will find that there is no cure but there is plenty of satisfaction if you practice & hone your skills. This time of year, on most of the N Texas Lakes,the use of the jig & bobber can be very productive. If you are walking the banks @ Navarro the trick is to be willing to stick that jig in some of the most nasty & Gnarly of places even at the risk of losing it. If you so happen to drop that jig in a Crappies den you`ll get hammered and it will probably be a male ( a Female if your lucky).I would suggest a 10'-12' rod,an assortment of jigs ,a few small bobbers that don`t create a wake when they hit the water (not those BIG OLD PLASTIC ONE`s),knee high boots & a bucket.jrsac don`t try to retrieve or you`ll just get hung up.Instead use a slight twitch (VERY SLIGHT) if you don`t get bit then just pick it up and set it down very gingerly from one place to another using the same technique. You can also use this technique without a bobber.

Are you putting tube jigs like this with the jig heads on them below the cork? I have used these before with a little success but usually only when its cold and they are deep. How far below the cork should I set this rig up at? I am more in East Texas. Most of my time is spent in a kayak or on the bank at Lake Somerville and Lake Conroe.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/bi...nfish-tubes-10-pack#repChildCatid=770025

You kind of have to let the fish tell you. When I first start out I will just let the cork sit still for a few minutes. If nothing happens then I will twitch it slightly. I will do this a few times and if still nothing then I will start a very slow retrieve. If I get a bite during any of these steps then that's what I will try to replicate while I'm still in that spot. If I change locations then I start the process over again. I like using a slip cork as it cast better to me. I've also found that you can shoot a cork and jig the same way you dock shoot and have a lot more accuracy than throwing an overhand cast. If you're fishing cypress trees you can shoot your cork and jig under the low hanging limbs which can be very productive. Good luck to ya.

Do a search of my user name. The lures shown catch ALL fish species most of the year. Here's an example:

lures that catch everything

and

more lure ideas that catch fish

One of the most important considerations using soft plastics or any other material is weight and hook size. Weight affects action and speed of retrieve; hook size affects lure action of soft plastics. Either can make or break an outing. Along with those two is line diameter which affects lure action and speed of retrieve.

Knowing the depth fished and bottom contour is important, but fishing from the bank can produce excellent catches as long as the lure is allowed to be worked at the right depth found by trial & error.

Good Luck

Good stuff must try this weekend.