How To Fish A Jig
What Is A Fishing Jig?
A jig is a delivery tool for live or artificial bait. Typically made of lead or tungsten molded around a fishing hook. They vary in weights and sizes depending on the species you are targeting. Manufacturers produce jigs targeting specific species.
What Is A Walleye Jig?
Walleye jigs are lead-head modeled around a live bait hook. A walleye jig is used to deliver live bait to the depth you are targeting the walleye. Varying the weight of your walleye jig allows you to target suspended fish or fish that are holding tight to the bottom. Walleye jigs are available in several different weight and hook options. Hook options are dictated by the type of live bait you are using.
What Is A Bass Jig?
Several families of bass jigs. Examples: swim, football, grass jig, structure jig. Bass jigs typically have a brush/weed guard to allow you to target the cover the bass live in and a bait keeper to secure artificial lures on the jig. A brush guard is used to target the cover that the bass live in. Choosing the right bass jig is based on the cover you are targeting the bass in. Examples: Submerged Vegetation, Emergent/Floating Vegetation, Stumps/Laydowns, Submerged Brush, Docks, Rock Piles. The weight of your jig is determined by the depth of the water you are fishing in.
>Read much more on Bass Jig Fishing
What Is A Crappie Jig?
Crappie jigs are a delivery method for artificial or live bait. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes to mimic the small forage that crappies feed on. Crappie can be used suspended below a float or bobber or used in conjunction with live bait or artificial bait to target schools of suspended crappie in deeper water.
What Tackle To Use With Bass Jigs
Bass Jig Setup
Rod
General jig fishing tackle to be used in conjunction with a bass jig is a 7 foot+ casting rod, MH to H power, fast to extra-fast action. 30-50 pound braided line or 15-22 pound fluorocarbon.
Reel
Use a casting reel with a higher gear ratio (7:1:1 to 8:1:1) is preferred when jig fishing for bass.
Line
Some anglers choose to combine the two using braided line with a fluorocarbon leader.
Choosing The Right Bass Jig Type
| Habitat/Cover | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submerged Vegetation |
Emergent/Floating Vegetation |
Stumps/Laydowns | Submerged Brush | Docks | Rock Piles | |
| Swim Jig | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Football Jig | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Grass Jig | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Structure Jig |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Choosing The Right Bass Jig Trailer
| Water Clarity | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Temperature | Muddy | Stained | Clear |
| <50 degrees | Chunk | Chunk | Chunk |
| 50-60 degrees | Chunk/Subtle Kick | Chunk | Chunk |
| 60-70 degrees | Kicking | Subtle Kick | Chunk/Subtle Kick |
| 70+ degrees | Kicking | Kicking | Subtle Kick/Kicking |
What Tackle To Use With Walleye Jigs
Walleye Jig Setup
Rod
Most common tackle used in conjunction with a walleye jig is a 6 foot to 6'8" spinning rod in ML to M power, fast to extra-fast action.
Reel
Use a spinning reel in a 1000-2500 size class. 6-8 pound monofilament line or 6-10 pound braided line or 6-8 pound fluorocarbon.
Line
Some anglers choose to run braided line with a fluorocarbon leader for versatility.
Choosing The Right Walleye Jig & When To Use It
| When To Use | |
|---|---|
| Live Bait Jigs | When using live bait |
| Weedless/Brush Guard | When fishing around weeds/brush |
| Sled Head | Drifting/Dragging/Soft Plastic Swimbaits |
| Underspin | Current and Murky Water |
| Bucktail | When fishing weeds or anytime you want a slower falling presentation |
| Floating | Rig on 2-6 foot leader behind bottom bouncer |
| Glowing Jigheads | Night Fishing/Dirty Water |
| Air Plane Jig | When you want an aggressive presentation or want to trigger reaction strikes |
Choosing The Right Walleye Jig Weight
| Wind/Current | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5MPH or No Current |
5-10MPH or Light Current |
10-20MPH or Moderate Current |
20+MPH or Heavy Current |
|
| 0-5' | 1/32 - 1/16 oz | 1/16 oz | 1/16 - 1/8 oz | 1/8 oz |
| 6-12' | 1/16 - 1/8 oz | 1/8 oz | 1/8 oz | 1/8 - 1/4 oz |
| 13-20' | 1/8 oz | 1/8 - 1/4 oz | 1/4 - 3/8 oz | 3/8 oz |
| 20-30' | 1/4 oz | 1/4 oz | 1/4 - 3/8 oz | 3/8 oz |
| 30-40' | 1/4 - 3/8 oz | 3/8 oz | 3/8 - 1/2 oz | 1/2 - 3/4 oz |
What Tackle To Use With Crappie Jigs
Crappie Jig Setup
Rod
Tackle associated with fishing a crappie jig is a 5'6" rod to 6'6" rod with a fast action, ultra-light to light power.
Reel
Use a 500-1000 size spinning reel.
Line
4-6 pound monofilament or flurocarbon. Some anglers choose to run braided line with a fluorocarbon leader.
