Bass Jigs

  • tom_gursky
    Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iron Mountain)
    Posts: 4751
    June 15, 2012 at 4:36 pm #1321609

    There are more and more young bass fishermen joining our ranks so I thought I’d pass along a tip on jigs…

    I just got in some additional 3/16 P B & Berry finesse jigs from my friend Jack Hall at Elk River jigs Elk River … These are especially effective for lakes around here with the Louisiana Red Craw (invasive species) and summer Rusty Craw. Jack ties a gorgeous and reasonably priced jig!

    The Smallmouth are doing their best to eliminate these bright colored crustaceans…

    The first thing I do with most jigs is trim back the weed guard. These are glued in full length and can inhibit hook ups on bass. The back jig is in its original condition…

    Notice on the front two I trimmed the nylon guard just past the hook point on the front two and then flared the guard to the sides, opening it like a fan. Sometimes the jig will fall on its side…eventually hanging up or snagging. The flared hook guard helps minimize this. I am excited to get out soon and fish these. Currently, the cool rainy post spawn still has bass near the shoreline cover… but the rising water temps will increase crawfish activity and these babies will produce…

    I keep a pair of scissors in the boat and will trim back the skirt also, usually to the hook bend depending on the trailer used. The gorgeous custom craws are created by my friend Scott Taylor of Revolution Baits, also for the Red Craw presentation.

    My favorite jig set up…

    hard bottom, open water rock/gravel flats…

    MedFast 7-7’6″ casting rod… 10# flouro

    flooded timber,log laydowns etc…

    HeavyFast 7-7’6″ casting rod… 30# Ghost Braid

    If anyone wants to add some jig wisdom to this thread feel free


    hairjig
    Cudahy, Wis.
    Posts: 937
    June 15, 2012 at 5:16 pm #1076297

    WOW Tom, he really has those jigs “dialed” in !! Outstanding quality..

    Ralph Wiggum
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 11764
    June 15, 2012 at 5:50 pm #1076322

    Those look nice, Tom. Do you have any experience with their swim jigs? I’m an addict and am always looking for a new swim jig

    BBKK
    IA
    Posts: 4033
    June 15, 2012 at 6:09 pm #1076325

    Very nice.

    Who made your 709 craws?

    tom_gursky
    Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iron Mountain)
    Posts: 4751
    June 15, 2012 at 6:41 pm #1076329

    Quote:

    Very nice.

    Who made your 709 craws?

    Those are 3.75″ Kickr Craws in Yooper Red
    Scott can make you anything you want…

    Revolution Baits

    tpmorgz
    Central Iowa
    Posts: 257
    June 15, 2012 at 6:49 pm #1076331

    Good info

    tom_gursky
    Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iron Mountain)
    Posts: 4751
    June 15, 2012 at 9:19 pm #1076353

    The 709 is a common mold BBK…

    Scott handpours all of his plastics and mixes his own colors, but the good craws are just the right softness for lively pincer action…thats where the plastic recipe comes in… Scotts have raspberry scent and work great!

    I’m not surprised they have a craw that color in La. thats where the Louisana Swamp(red) Craw comes from!

    southwind
    Posts: 29
    June 15, 2012 at 9:57 pm #1076357

    The colors of those three jigs in the first picture look identical to the craw spit up in my live well yesterday!!!

    Outstanding!!!

    tom_gursky
    Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iron Mountain)
    Posts: 4751
    June 15, 2012 at 11:23 pm #1076366

    That color is called P B and Berry… Click on the link in my initial post…they have a great website with lots of color pics and jig styles!

    BTW…I am not on Jack’s Pro Staff or anything… he is just a good guy!

    tom_gursky
    Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iron Mountain)
    Posts: 4751
    June 15, 2012 at 11:26 pm #1076367

    Quote:

    Those look nice, Tom. Do you have any experience with their swim jigs? I’m an addict and am always looking for a new swim jig

    Yes, they have flippin and swim jigs, also Football, Grass, Finesse and a brush jig that goes through cover well!

    swim jigs

    I have to add RC and Brovarney also make awesome swim jigs…I have some of em all for swimmers!

    johnlaqua
    Pool 3/Pool 4
    Posts: 92
    June 16, 2012 at 1:03 am #1076372

    Quote:

    If anyone wants to add some jig wisdom to this thread feel free

    i trim all weed guards, first thing i do, another thing ive done in the last couple years ill trim individual strands, like every other couple, of one color to fade that color a little more, also changes the profile, i do that primarilly to my bluegill/sunfish, or crawfish colored jigs, whether i want a little more blue, gree, or red depending…its kinda fun

    tom_gursky
    Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iron Mountain)
    Posts: 4751
    June 16, 2012 at 3:01 am #1076386

    Good point John!
    When I feel the weed guard is too stiff I will also trim out some individual fibers…
    Like my Cheq Bay buddy Chris Beeksma likes to say…”its all about the trailer”. If you are adding a craw, single or double tail grub, you need to trim enough skirt to fully expose the seductive tails or pincers.

    adam-bartusek
    New Prague, MN
    Posts: 578
    June 16, 2012 at 5:14 am #1076398

    Quote:

    Those look nice, Tom. Do you have any experience with their swim jigs? I’m an addict and am always looking for a new swim jig

    Nothing better than a solid swim jig

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    June 16, 2012 at 10:08 am #1076404

    Darn it Tom, just when I think I an done spending money on lures you go and show me these

    Oh well, you can’t take it with you

    Nice looking jigs and great color combinations.

    Ron

    youngfry
    Northeast Iowa
    Posts: 629
    June 27, 2012 at 5:28 pm #1079179

    I would like a little more info on swim jigs. We fish very clear lakes in late July and it seems like they should work there. Both species in the lakes and usually in the same locations. Depth varies from 8-20 feet where they tend to focus depending on the year. Would swim jigs be a good presentation to try? Do you want a trailer with some movement or just to add bulk? Is it a match the hatch sort of scenario? Thanks in advance

    Randy Wieland
    Lebanon. WI
    Posts: 13475
    June 28, 2012 at 12:00 am #1079312

    I work swim jigs from 1-35 fow. I make my own, so the cost is obviously less. I range each color from 1/4oz to 1oz. As for trailers, yes! I agree with the match the hatch type thinking. More so, match the color scheme or enhance the scheme with your trailer. The beauty of a swim jig is the multitudes of ways to present it. Cast/retrieve like a crank, twitch / retrieve like a jerk bait, pitch/pull/fall like a flipp’n jig,….and so on. I really haven’t come across too many places where swim jigs don’t work. However, color can make a huge difference. If bright colors don’t work, don’t hesitate to make another pass with the same presentations in dark colors.
    As for trailers to use… the skies the limit. Pulse-r’s, paddle tails, 5″ K grubs, (one of my favorites) Mullets by Riptide …and so on. With a hand full of different swim jigs and a dozen different trailers you can have 100’s of different color combinations.



    iceman35
    upstate New York
    Posts: 423
    June 28, 2012 at 12:09 pm #1079421

    great info Tom and everybody. I haven’t really seen and “red” craw here in NY… But… I do get fish on red cranks SSoooo… I may have to try it out!!
    great sites Tom… I have so many jigs right now and so little time to fish…
    My next tourney is in 4 weeks… gonna be a grinder… gonna get in the basement and find those red craws…

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