1.
Unpainted ball head jigs by far are jigs you can always count on starting in size from 1/32 - 1/8 oz.
2. Lure size can be anything from 3/4" - 3" for many fish species and fish sizes - especially pan fish and bass.
3. Line diameter should be thin to allow best lure action and casting distance. None better IMO for light jigs and small lures than 8# test
braid.
4. Rod action should be light to ultralight. I prefer 6' but my partner loves his 5'6" ultralight Shakespeare.
5. Many soft plastic lures can be used under a float when used with small soft plastic lures.
examples (note the grub grip wire attached to the jigs):
Remember - light jig heads can also be used with plastic worms like the Kut Tail and my own
cello tail creation.
There are [u thousands[/u] of different lures capable of catching fish and many species of fish using a ball head jig as seen above. My buddy refuses to fish with any other lure than a red/ chartreuse Crappie Magnet on a 1/24 oz ball head jig and keeps up with me
fish for fish. Right now he's too lazy to change to braid from 8# test fluorocarbon but will if he keeps snapping off lures.
The key is to work lures slow and making hundreds of casts to many areas (hopefully from a boat). Knowing the depth your casting to is essential
: where in the lake you fish is as important and the lures you cast.There is no such thing as a season for jigs and lures. If what you use works, it works no matter.
Time of day can matter in summer. We get on the water at 7am and catch fish until it gets too hot - 1pm. Two days ago I counted
76 fish between us: 9-12" crappie, perch, nice sunfish and small bass. It's rare when we don't catch at least over 100 fish and me alone catching over 50 fish.
I wish I knew the above when I fished lakes in northern Texas in the four years I lived there. Man the fish I would have caught ! Hope at least some of it helps.