Fred Raby
Volbasser@att.net
Pensacola Blue
Angels
Bass Page
hook.
com
"FISHING WITH FRED"
Covering Tidal Waters And Impoundments
Tough Conditions
Tough conditions, high water, a jig is a good bet to find consistently bigger fish. Too many fishermen do not utilize the jig. On a recent trip my partner wanted to slow crawl a worm, he said he had never caught a fish on a jig and just wasn't comfortable with a strange bait. I finally convinced him to try it and he ended up doing well in the tournament.
If you have never flipped a jig, you should get some practice at home before going to the water. I like a 7 ½' rod with a heavy action and 25 # test line. Hold the jig just above the reel seat on your rod and swing the rod tip toward the target releasing the jig to swing like a pendulum to the target. You want the jig to enter the water without a splash as you will be literally dropping it on the fish many times. The strike is often hard to detect. You may feel a ‘peck' as your jig falls, see your line twitch or move off, or just have a ‘spongy' feeling, or you may notice your lure has stopped falling …set the hook!
Jig fishing is much faster that a plastic worm. You are target fishing, working a specific spot and moving to the next one. You may find a lay down with the trunk in two feet of water and the top in twenty feet. By working the base of the tree all the way out to the outer branches you can effectively locate what the fish want and what depth they are holding.
Another ideal place to drop a jig is in grass, around pads and the drops near by. Be extremely careful when working these areas to make a soft entry and be prepared to set the hook quick. I have found a lot of fish will catch the jig as soon as it touches the water and hold it, it will never fall…set the hook!
Color and trailers will depend on the water you are fishing.
My preference is to start with a black and blue with a black and blue ‘Flappin' Dad' trailer, I prefer a 3/16 oz jig.
The lighter weight that will get the job done the better.
It will give you better feel and a smoother entry.
With some practice and a few misses you will find the jig to be a very valuable tool on those tough days, and even on some good days. So give it a try, and don't forget to practice.
Good luck
Fred Raby
