So the last two days I've experienced with 2 baits I've never had tied onto my line, a jerkbait and a jig. I threw them over and over trying to work them different ways at different speeds and have absolutely zero confidence with throwing these baits. Did any of you have the same problems with either of these baits before you finally felt comfortable with them? If so what did you do to overcome this problem? Thanks for any advice you can give me because I know these are great baits for big fish

For years I would only try new baits or spots when my old stand by's were not working. I think it's better to fish new baits when the fish are biting.... U can actually learn the bait. In my opinion a jig is the best big fish bait there is. I always fish a jig slow, drop it along any structure, let it hit bottom and then short hop it. Watch and keep contact with your line.... Alot of times the bite is very subtle. Good luck!

Do some research on the baits you are wantinmg to learn and try to impove the technique with each cast. Jerkbaits and jigs can be tough sometimes so don't get discouraged if you don't catch 20 dinks like you do with a plastic worm. You are going for quality over quantity. Look up and Denny Brauer video online for jig tips and any Edwin Evers stuff for jerkbaits.

Some guys will also tell you to use ony those baits until you gain confidence and start catching fish. I'm not going to be one of those guys but it makes sense.

Keep at it. You will start to develop a second sense relationship with both to where you know exactly what the bait is doing at all times and will be able to detect more bites.

Good luck nd tight lines.

For me learning to fish a jig was one of the hardest things I have done fishing. I always kept one tied on and would fish it every time I went out, even if it was only a few casts. I knew eventually I would catch a fish on it and gain confidence. One day I was pre fishing for a tournament and caught my first fish on a jig. Went out the next day and won our club tournament throwing it. Now I love jig fishing And have much more cofidence in it.

Take one rod only jig. Fish you spots Coves, The dam, rip-rap, lay downs, dock, points, humps, roadbeds. Concentrate on making contact with bottom, distinguishing what your fishing over and how each feels.

Pay close attention to anything unusual;line jumping, mushy feeling, slack in line, not being able to catch up with your line, pitching or casting your jig, and it doesn't hit bottom or extremely long time for it to settle to the bottom.

I count down my 1/2 oz jig, usually sinks 1.5' per second. Always remember "Set the hook when in doubt"
Good Luck!

When I first started with jigs, I found fishing lighter and smaller jigs was a good way to generate bites and build confidence and then move up from there

I would go to a pond that you know has a lot of fish that are easy to catch and stick with those 2 baits. Thats what I do to get my confidence up in a bait.

only bring a jig and jerkbait rod. find the heaviest cover on your lake, tie that jig on, trim the skirt, trim the weedguard, pitch that sucker into that heavy cover and hold on!

the jig this time of year is work it slow slow. Subtle bite, they may just swim away with it... Jerk bait I have 0 confidence with if it isn't clear water. I work a cadence and then pause, if you feel ANYTHING, a bump, a pull whatever set the hook, if it isn't anything then you just jerked to start your next cadence. I like suspending jerk baits best

To me with a football jig, if I'm not feeling the bottom then I'm not doing it right basically I feel more confident when I can feel the rocks etc.

The only baits that got on my line for years was anything I could tie on to a Carolina Rig. The past 2 years or so I have expanded to Jigs, Jerkbaits and squarebills. It was tough and I did struggle but I stayed with those baits and fished lakes that had known success for those baits, once I gained confidence and used the baits I liked then I did expand it to lakes that was not known for those baits but still caught some quality fish with them.