My old friend that guides on Fork has a major jig manufacturer as a sponser but if you go fun fishing with him...you'll never see him tie on a jig. This is what he taught me...He uses a pegged tungsten flippin bullet weight (the kind with the little skirt keeper)...a skirt (of course), and an offset weighted swimbait hook....he grinds/sands/files the bottom of the weight on the swimbait hook flat, so it sits on the bottom flat and t-rigs his bait. You essentially have a jig without weedguards, strange-shaped heads, and other jig problems. Works for me but mileage may vary. Good luck.

Blake,


Actually got a new jighead I have been messing with. Will be happy to build a few jigs for you.

The weed guard for me does make a difference I use them as part of my color scheme . For instance I have a perch colored jig I make the skirt material stays the same color but for clear water ill use a black weed guard wich will give the appearance of a dark backed perch in stained water ill use a olive color wich matches the pale back of dirty water perch. Some people will say that is going to far but I truly believe it makes a difference.

As far as a good jig my favorite by far is a plain ole boss swim jig head it works for me in most cover. I like a pale colored watermelon with a black accent( won't give up my exact colors) with this color you can use a trailer to change profiles of a jig. Add a zoom watermelon swim chunk die a little bit of the tails chartreuse and you have a perch . Put on a green pumpkin or watermelon craw flip the skirt and you have a craw fish color that will be in range of most lakes.

Other than that learning how to fish the jig the way the fish want it on a particular day or lake will be the most important.

Once you get used to jig fishing you will be hard pressed to give it up.
I use a jig about three quarters of the time I fish and believe I can catch at least a few fish anywhere anytime of year on one.

Good luck on the jig fishing!! Once you get used to that jig thump you'll be hooked.

Thanks Mark, I'll take you up on that. I'll shoot you a PM.


Hog Hunter I'm an old school Crappie man that went to the dark side so I know I love the thump. I can fish a vertical suspending jig with ease, it's just when that jig hits the bottom I lose my confidence in working it the way it should be worked, main reason is I don't know if it's laying on it's side looking like a fool or if it is working like a champ . Thanks for your input. This is an interesting topic for sure.

www.elkriverjigs.com, quality hand tied jigs, great selection or custom made

If you want to gain confidence in jigs and get lots of bites try the Santone finesse jig in river bream with a green pumpkin speed craw trailer. Use it almost every time I fish and seldom don't catch a fish on it.

OK

Thanks Heath I saw you flipping those tire reefs on Honeyhole with those.

+1

Fantastic jigs, fantastic people!!

ok might be little expensive but i wouldn't worry with color just buy (x)amount of jigs that you wanna try out preferably whatever size u fish most and what trailer you use the most and put them all in a glass fish tank if u have one, if not if possible look for a cheap one then decide which one looks the best to you stands up straight may even want to put it on some line and pop it up and down see which ones look most realistic...
otherwise you will get (x)amount of opinions on here and leave you second guessing which one you want...
Just my .02

I've never been much of a jig fisherman but used one alot in february and caught fish with them and built my confidence up...

Bass assault jigs
www.bassassualt.com.

I agree with Heath. The best way to learn a jig for someone without confidence in them is a finesse jig. YOu will get more bites on one and jigs catch bigger fish in general even finesse. Stick with a natural green color or black/blue. Don't worry about other color variations till you gain confidence in the drop rate and feel of the jig. Worrying about color right now will only lessen your confidence.

Yep!

Haha False. Ray Bob is a good jig lake.

Ray Bob is one of the best for jigs!

Heath T said all you need to know to start out. Santone is the best out there, IMO!

I use 3 colors. Black/blu, watermelon colored blend, and white ice.