I have been fishing for years, but this is something that I have been scared of for years. I have only fished jigs when i have found beds never in open water, and i feel like i am missing out on a lot of really good fish. I would love some advice on color choices, how to fish themin deeper water and any opinionated advice would be great. I will be fishing at coleto creek and choke canyon this weekend, and I am only taking jigs and crank baits, so either i am coming back with fish or it is gonna be a long weekend. please help.
tex

If I only had jigs and crankbaits I would throw the cranks until I caught 2 or 3 in an area, then I'd say, what the heck, I'd rather catch some more fish than drown a jig all day, I'm going to keep throwing the crank.

The real bass fishermen probably would have a different opinion.

My son loves to throw a jig and he catches a lot more bass than I do.

thanks, and i agree i love the crankbaits but I really need to learn the jig. Thanks again.

Right now, look for fish with a jig in a creek channel back in the coves. Creek bends will naturally be the best bets because the water is in the low 50s in most lakes right now. Brighter colors in muddy water, more subtle colors in clear water. As the water warms into the high 50s to 60s you can start flipping shallow laydowns and shoreline brush as the fish are getting closer to the spawn.

Lakeguide gives great advice on fishing.

The surface temp at Choke Canyon is 66-69 degrees.

I was on Choke all day yesterday and only got one bite on jig.

The majority of our fish came on crankbaits and 1/2 ounce rattletraps

Wow, didn't realize the water was that much warmer down there, wish it was here! I'd probably stick with crank baits and soft plastic jerk baits in that warm of water. If the fish are post spawn, try the jig out deeper off secondary points and in the outer creeks. Bring it all, and just have fun! Good luck!

Use the jig as you would any worm. As some have said locate some bass and throw the jig. Try to get bigger fish.

If you use the jig long enough, youll start catching bigger fish!!! Start throwing them in the grass and trees like you would with a worm!!

just think of a jig,...as a worm with whiskers.........

Looks like a big meal. Big fish.

I have used Jigs and had lots of success. I fish it like a plastic worm, sometimes just raising the rod tip 10 'oclock and sometimes twitching a little for a reaction strike. Really like pitching them at trees or any type of submerged timber. Also if you have a hump in the middle of the lake just jig it straight up and down.

As for colors I use blue/black or crayfish colors, never had any luck with white ones. Put a craw trailer or pork trailer, rattles are nice too. Good luck let us know how you do.

use rattles and dark colors in muddy water; finesse jigs no rattles in greens and pumpkins in clear water. In cold water light jig with real pork trailer for a slow fall, in warmer water heavy jig with plastic trailers. let it fall on slack line and watch for your line to jump. most bites happen on the fall

I did as many folks have suggested already, just last saturday at Fork. I was tossing a red trap, and caught a nice 3lber. After I released her, I picked up my jig rod and picked apart the area and caught another one, but bigger (4lbs) with a green pumpkin jig and black trailer.

I'm a jig newbie too, but I have learned that you MUST watch your line. This fish just moved the jig sideways about 2 inches, and I didn't feel a thing til I set the hook.

Good luck.

What is the deepest water that you would use a jig?

Ok, so I use the jig like a worm. My biggest problem is I am a finesse angler most of the time. I like bigger crankbaits and spinner baits, but smaller plastics. Any advice for jig selection and mono line size. I do not like braid except for a few applications.