Jigs: An update

A while back I made a thread about my struggles with jigs. After a lot of time and practice, I decided to circle back to the topic.

I really only started fishing jigs around the beginning of June or so. At first, I exclusively used a 1/2oz All Terrain Tackle Rattlin AT in a green pumpkin color. For a trailer I used a 3.75″ Z-Man Goat, also in geeen pumpkin. I fished this jig on a 7’3″ Heavy action St Croix Victory rod, a 7.4:1 Curado DC and 17lb Sufix advance fluoro.

I caught quite a few fish on this setup, mainly fishing the first weedline/dropoff in around 8-14ft or so.
I started playing around with my options, though.

The first major change I made was downsizing to 14lb Advance Fluoro. I found that casting directly onto windblown points was not ideal with 17lb fluoro. In my opinion, the 14lb has identical strength, but without the added diameter. This helped me significantly reduce backlashes, as well increase my casting distance, too.

The second change I made was the jig itself. I got INCREDIBLY lucky in the sense that my nearby Gander Outdoors had a 50% off fishing blowout sale, meaning that everything in the fishing department was half off. I took that opportunity to scoop up some pricey Outkast Stealth Feider jigs, as well as different sizes of Rattlin ATs. Without that sale, I doubt I would’ve ever picked up those pricey pieces of silicon and tungsten, but I’m glad I did. I found that the Stealth Feider was more versatile than the Rattlin AT jigs, meaning I could throw it in more places. I also found that it was slightly more weedless than the AT. What I really liked about this bait, though, is how compact it is. I mainly fished the 3/8oz model, and it was smaller than I originally expected. I did find myself catching noticeably more fish on it due to its compact size. One advantage the AT had, though, was the average size of fish that ate it.

As far as retrieve and cadence go, I didn’t do anything too special. I simply let the bait hit bottom, popped it 2-4 times, took a few cranks, and then let it touch bottom again.

Now that I have experience with both jigs, here’s how I deploy them.

I fish both jigs on the same combo I mentioned earlier, on 14lb Sufix Advance. I tie a Palomar knot directly to the jig I’m fishing. I fish a Z-Man Goat on both jigs, with a few drops of super glue (I’ve found that Loc-Tite gel works best with elaztech baits) at the collar. This allows me to get 30-45 fish per trailer with no readjustments necessary.
If i’m fishing anything shallower than 8 feet, the stealth feider gets the nod.
If I’m fishing deeper than 15 feet, AT gets the nod.
If I’m around rocks, AT gets the nod.
If I’m around wood, stealth feider.
If I’m in brackish water, AT.
If I’m trying to fill my limit, feider.
If I’m kicker hunting, AT.

Keep in mind that this was all stuff I figured out over the span of the last month or so.
Feel free to ask any questions you might have, or drop some advice.

Big chicken hair jigs are next on my list shhhhh

Good stuff. I struggle with those dumb things too. Sounds pretty much the same way I’ve been using them, minus the bites….

Great post fish-You could even find and respond to the original post, that brings it back to the top, people had some really good jig tips last year.

mahtofire14 wrote:

I struggle with those dumb things too

I struggle so mightily with them I hardly even try to use them anymore.

gim wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
I struggle with those dumb things too

I struggle so mightily with them I hardly even try to use them anymore.

The horrible part is the few fish that I have caught on them have been literally the biggest of my year each time……

My son is a jig guy. I’m a 1/2 oz Tx rig guy. We both catch fish. I just have better luck with the T rig. If I fished a jig more, maybe I’d like it better. A weed less rigged Tx rig does cut through the weeds better it seems.

ssaamm wrote:

My son is a jig guy. I’m a 1/2 oz Tx rig guy. We both catch fish. I just have better luck with the T rig. If I fished a jig more, maybe I’d like it better. A weed less rigged Tx rig does cut through the weeds better it seems.

Best I’ve used as far as coming through the weeds is a 1/2 oz All-Terrain Grassmaster jig. I don’t jig fish a lot, but sometimes you just have to..

gim wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
I struggle with those dumb things too

I struggle so mightily with them I hardly even try to use them anymore.

I’m in this same boat. I’m a terrible jig fisher. Not sure if it’s wrong place and time or if I’m just bad. My confidence is definitely not there

I have learned if my spinnerbait is not working to throw a skirted bass swimming jig with either a craw or swim tail plastic and cast in the same areas. Lights out sometimes. Do not have the best luck with the football jigs on bottom though.

I’ve done pretty good with a bladed/vibrating jig if that counts lol

Have confidence in jig worms, but as the water warms they want the fast fall and big package of a jig-think they also like the heavy contact with bottom.

I can’t get the feel of the swim jigs. I can’t ever tell where my jig is. I have friends that absolutely crush with them though.

If I get a known, high percentage off-shore spot starting in July/August I like to throw a 1/2 oz Mop Jig with the big floppy Megadaddy craw. Too much to throw as a search bait or in thick weeds, but over a rock pile, weed point, etc they get fewer but bigger bites.

Ive been with guys who can skip a jig under a dock. I usually skip a weightless senko-style bait or shaky head. The jiggers seem to catch bigger ones.

ssaamm wrote:

Ive been with guys who can skip a jig under a dock. I usually skip a weightless senko-style bait or shaky head. The jiggers seem to catch bigger ones.

I really enjoy skipping under docks and usually catch biggest fish of the year that way. That said, I don’t like to skip jigs with lead that Klang off dock posts, pontoons, etc. Scares fish and ticks off cabin owners. I’m all for weightless plastics or Nekos you can bury the lead into. Nothing but a “thud” if you hit a goal post or two…

totally agree.

I hate skipping with spinning rods lol.

I have been fortunate enough to fish whitefish chain a lot, if you want to catch fish your going to have to learn how to skip docks. Rusty the first month after that summer is fun with skipping jigs!

“I hate skipping with spinning rods lol”

I made the switch about 5 years ago but thx to various Daiwa SV spools, all I skip from weightless plastics up to 1/8 oz are on baitcasting set ups. I find it easier to get fish out and away from cover once hooked.

FryDog62 wrote:

“I hate skipping with spinning rods lol”

I made the switch about 5 years ago but thx to various Daiwa SV spools, all I skip from weightless plastics up to 1/8 oz are on baitcasting set ups. I find it easier to get fish out and away from cover once hooked.

Yup totally I agree, I love my Daiwas. I find my self trying to whip a spinning rod vs let the jig or plastic do work.