Fred Raby
Volbasser@att.net
Pensacola
Blue
Angels
Bass Page
hook.
com
"FISHING WITH FRED"
covering tidal waters and impoundments
JIG FISHING AREA RIVERS
One of the most productive bass lures in our arsenal is the jig. It is also one of the most misunderstood and often the most overlooked baits. When is the right time to fish a jig?
Traditional wisdom is winter but in fact the right time is any time as far as seasons go. A jig will produce good fish year round, however there are probably more fish caught in the cooler months when the bass naturally slow down and we fishermen take a slower approach.
Many tournament fishermen will stay with a jig all day throughout the tournament. A local angler told me recently he has not used anything but a jig since August and has finished in the money every time he has fished.
The versatility of the jig makes it productive. You can swim it, shake it, or hop it thereby using it in all types of cover and fishing situations. In the spring when fish are actively feeding a swimming jig will produce some of your best stringers. After a cold front when you have those high blue skies and the fish are tight to cover shaking a jig in their face will anger them into a strike. Other times when fish are hard to find pitch the jig in the heaviest cover, hop it and shake it and be alert, the strike may only be a mushy feeling or the fact that the jig did not fall after one of the 'hops'.
Pitching and flipping a jig is my favorite application. Presenting the bait under docks, overhanging branches and under willow trees with no splash and a gentle fall has been my most productive technique. This will take some practice. I prefer a 7'0" rod with a heavy action and 20 pound test. Before you go to the river practice with a coffee can (or cup if you really want accuracy) in the back yard. Start at about 5 feet and pitch the jig until you hit every time, then move back to 10, 15, 20 etc. be sure you can hit your target. When you pitch the jig hold your rod tip high, drop the jig down just above the reel and hold it in your left hand, then point the rod tip at your target and swing the jig like a pendulum to the target thumbing your spool to control your distance. This will take practice, but hitting the target gently is one of the most important parts of jig fishing.
I like darker colors most of the time. I use a lot of black and blue with a blue flappin' dad trailer. My second favorite color is pumpkin, green, and black with a root beer flappin' dad. I also try to use the lightest weight jig that I can easily flip and will fall in the current to reach my target usually a 3/16 oz. Rattles and attractants are a good rule, they do get the attention of the bass.
There are a lot of articles on jig fishing, but the best way to learn is to get on the water and experience it. Remember the strike is much more subtle than that of any other bait, if it feels different…set the hook. Good luck and good fishing.
Good luck and Happy Holidays,
Fred Raby
