Finesse Jig help 2024
TKFactory reply :
Ok, so I want to start Finesse jigging. I just want to finally learn to be comfortable with jigs because I am not. Jigs are like taking pills in the morning for me. They are a pain. I have a bitsy bug finesse jig 1/4oz. I have two types of trailers, rage menace and craw trailer. What do I throw, where and how? How long before should I toss the jig idea into the trash?
Mobasser reply :
The Bitsy Bug can be a good place to start jig fishing. Trim your trailer back slightly, and use either one. Cast and let it hit bottom, and retrieve with short hops. Fish it slow, and watch your line where it enters the water for strikes.Whatever you do, don't toss it in the trash. Practice on jig fishing.They are one of the best baits you can throw, and have a solid rep for catching bigger bass.Its not easy, but we'll worth learning.
TKFactory reply :
On 9/28/2018 at 7:00 AM, Mobasser said:The Bitsy Bug can be a good place to start jig fishing. Trim your trailer back slightly, and use either one. Cast and let it hit bottom, and retrieve with short hops. Fish it slow, and watch your line where it enters the water for strikes.Whatever you do, don't toss it in the trash. Practice on jig fishing.They are one of the best baits you can throw, and have a solid rep for catching bigger bass.Its not easy, but we'll worth learning.
Your the best, Thank you
bowhunter63 reply :
Try War Eagle finesse jigs with a baby Rage menace trailer.That has been a killer this year.Swim it or hop it,drag it.A great little bait.Darker colors when fishing it close to bottom,Shad colors when swimming it in the water column.
J.Vincent reply :
I like the Strike King Bitsy Bug 1/4oz with a Zoom Chunk Jr. Or a Zoom Swimming Chunk Jr. I've caught Bass in January in open water conditions in Michigan, just casting and hopping the jig every 20 to 60 seconds. When the weather is warmer and water temperatures are above 50 degrees, you can more quickly hop the jig along bottom to produce strikes. It's a very tedious process but when the bite is on it's like JJ Walker says....Dino-mite!
B_Rose12 reply :
Jig fishing is the way to go man! The past two times I’ve went fishing, which was last yesterday and Thursday. I was bank fishing at a pond not too far from my house after work, pitching jigs to isolates cover tight to the bank. Last week I got a 5lb 11oz and yesterday a 6lb 2oz.
They eat the jig man!
I use a 7/16oz stand up Arky jig, my go to trailer has been a Yamamoto Cowboy. Remember, the heavier the trailer, the slower the fall. But I also like Strike King Rage Craws, Netbait Paca Craws, I could go on for awhile lol. You’re missing out by not fishing a jig man. Get some strike king hack attack heavy cover jigs in black & blue and green pumpkin, some crawdads to use as trailers and you’ll be on em!
TKFactory reply :
On 9/28/2018 at 2:56 PM, B_Rose12 said:Jig fishing is the way to go man! The past two times I’ve went fishing, which was last yesterday and Thursday. I was bank fishing at a pond not too far from my house after work, pitching jigs to isolates cover tight to the bank. Last week I got a 5lb 11oz and yesterday a 6lb 2oz.
They eat the jig man!
I use a 7/16oz stand up Arky jig, my go to trailer has been a Yamamoto Cowboy. Remember, the heavier the trailer, the slower the fall. But I also like Strike King Rage Craws, Netbait Paca Craws, I could go on for awhile lol. You’re missing out by not fishing a jig man. Get some strike king hack attack heavy cover jigs in black & blue and green pumpkin, some crawdads to use as trailers and you’ll be on em!
Thank you for showing me these brother, love it
bigbassin' reply :
For finesse jigs I started with the bitsy bug, but quickly moved to the bitsy flip. I seemed to miss a lot of fish because of the 2/0 hook on the bitsy bug, switching to the 3/0 helped with that problem for me.
As far as how to fish them, read the pinned thread on jigs. There is some really good stuff in there. If you don't want to read that thread, just use your favorite craw bait as a trailer and drag it, hop it, or swim it like a t-rig.
At some point someone on here, I think @A-Jay, said they drag their jigs like it's a live crawdad that doesn't want to be seen. No big jumps, moving as slow as possible, hugging cover, etc.. Once I started using this mentality the number of fish I caught improved big time.
A-Jay reply :
On 9/29/2018 at 8:51 AM, bigbassin' said:
At some point someone on here, I think @A-Jay, said they drag their jigs like it's a live crawdad that doesn't want to be seen. No big jumps, moving as slow as possible, hugging cover, etc.. Once I started using this mentality the number of fish I caught improved big time.
Yup - I will often work the bait back while attempting to as little as I can with it. Definitely not looking for a reaction strike this way. The mind set that anything on the basses menu is trying pretty hard not to draw any attention to itself so that it can avoid that end game scenario.
It's the basses world; she knows it's there whether I hop it, drag it or just inch it along.
If she wants it - she find it & hopefully eat it.
Can sometimes turn pressured or wary fish into temporary Live Well Guests.
A-Jay
WRB reply :
On 9/28/2018 at 3:28 AM, TKFactory said:Ok, so I want to start Finesse jigging. I just want to finally learn to be comfortable with jigs because I am not. Jigs are like taking pills in the morning for me. They are a pain. I have a bitsy bug finesse jig 1/4oz. I have two types of trailers, rage menace and craw trailer. What do I throw, where and how? How long before should I toss the jig idea into the trash?
What type or rod, reel and line do you plan to use? Smallmouth or largemouth bass?
Tom
TKFactory reply :
On 9/29/2018 at 10:38 AM, WRB said:What type or rod, reel and line do you plan to use? Smallmouth or largemouth bass?
Tom
Tom, I plan to use the rod I am most comfortable with, 6'6 medium heavy with blackmaxx reel and 20lb mono. I want to start finesse so small presentation. Don't want to go to heavier jigs just yet.
TKFactory reply :
Would anybody be willing to show me a short video of the technique of fishing a jig? Like hopping it and such.
Choporoz reply :
This a a great place to start
NHBull reply :
Don't look for the hole in the donut and KISS
To start, stick with 2 colors, B/B and GP.
A couple craw trailers is all you need.
Reach out to @Siebert Outdoors
......the arcky head is pretty universal.
With smaller jids I like lighter wire hooks and that will improve your hook-up ratio.
My primary retrieve is a hop-n-drag, repeat...until I find a pattern.
Don't get discouraged, for many, detecting the bite is challenging and remember, swings are free........which is why folk tend to spend more money on sensitive rods.
I use braid to leader on a fast real as I find it easier to set on baits, 30 yards away and 25 feet deep.
Have fun!
WRB reply :
On 9/29/2018 at 11:32 AM, TKFactory said:Tom, I plan to use the rod I am most comfortable with, 6'6 medium heavy with blackmaxx reel and 20lb mono. I want to start finesse so small presentation. Don't want to go to heavier jigs just yet.
20 lb mono is way to heavy and stiff to cast a 1/4oz effectively and keep in contact with a light weight finesse, result you may not be able to detect a high percentage of jig strikes. My suggest is 10 or 12 lb with 15 lb being the max Big Game line.
The 2 common techniques to fish finesse jigs is 1) horizontal* cast the jig and retreiving along the bottom, 2) pitching the jig into or under cover laydowns and docks. If you fish from a boat you have more options then a shore angler.
There a long thread on this site answering jig fishing questions, suggest you start reading it.
You can present a finesse jig the technique used for T-rigged soft plastics with a bullet weight. A jig is a more compact lure the a T-ririgged worm do bass tend to reject quicker, so strike detection is critical.
Tom
* search Old School Horizontal Jigging for the presentation I use.
TKFactory reply :
On 9/29/2018 at 11:46 PM, WRB said:20 lb mono is way to heavy and stiff to cast a 1/4oz effectively and keep in contact with a light weight finesse, result you may not be able to detect a high percentage of jig strikes. My suggest is 10 or 12 lb with 15 lb being the max Big Game line.
The 2 common techniques to fish finesse jigs is 1) horizontal* cast the jig and retreiving along the bottom, 2) pitching the jig into or under cover laydowns and docks. If you fish from a boat you have more options then a shore angler.
There a long thread on this site answering jig fishing questions, suggest you start reading it.
You can present a finesse jig the technique used for T-rigged soft plastics with a bullet weight. A jig is a more compact lure the a T-ririgged worm do bass tend to reject quicker, so strike detection is critical.
Tom
* search Old School Horizontal Jigging for the presentation I use.
When you say horizontal, keep the rod parallel with water?
WRB reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 12:29 AM, TKFactory said:When you say horizontal, keep the rod parallel with water?
No, casting a jig horizontal verses a short cast that relies on strike as the jig fall vertically in lieu of being retrieved along the bottom.
I do hold my rod parallel to the surface unless lifting the rod tip up the move the jig over obstacles or to shake it. The reason for pointing the rod tip at the jig is to reduce and control slack line in the air and water to increase strike detection when making long cast.
Jigs are not a panacea to catching bass, sometimes the bass want something else.
Tom
Catt reply :
Bitsy Bug is an excellent jig to start with, I would get a half dozen 3/16 & 1/4 oz. Keep colors simple like Black-N-Blue & Green Pumpkin.
Trailers I would suggest something small like Zoom's Ultravibe Speed Craw, Swimmin Chunk, or Rage Tail's Baby Craw.
Do ya know how to fish a Texas Rig?
Fish the jig the same way, dragging on the bottom, hopping it, stroking it.
Your tackle is fine ????
TKFactory reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 5:54 AM, Catt said:Bitsy Bug is an excellent jig to start with, I would get a half dozen 3/16 & 1/4 oz. Keep colors simple like Black-N-Blue & Green Pumpkin.
Trailers I would suggest something small like Zoom's Ultravibe Speed Craw, Swimmin Chunk, or Rage Tail's Baby Craw.
Do ya know how to fish a Texas Rig?
Fish the jig the same way, dragging on the bottom, hopping it, stroking it.
Your tackle is fine ????
Walk me through how you would fish a jig. Please and Thank you brother.
Paul Roberts reply :
Keep throwing them. You'll learn to love them.
TKFactory reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 7:50 AM, Paul Roberts said:Keep throwing them. You'll learn to love them.
Hahahahahahah will do man. One of these days I will find try happiness in fishing this jig.
Catt reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 6:20 AM, TKFactory said:Walk me through how you would fish a jig. Please and Thank you brother.
Like a Texas Rig there's no wrong way to fish a jig!
Like A-Jay mentioned you can crawl slowly along the bottom by either using your rod or your reel.
I'll make a cast & let the jig sit for about 10-15 seconds. Then I'll hop 3 times real fast & the let it sit again. I'll repeat this all the way back to the boat.
A-Jay's mindset is a crawfish unmolested meandering along the bottom.
My mindset is a crawfish that's frightened & fleeing the area.
Both represent natural movements of a crawfish
Munkin reply :
This is my #1 finesse jig period, 5/16oz GP with matching Zoom Super Chunk Jr. I have probably caught 1000's of fish on this exact jig.
Allen
TKFactory reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 9:40 AM, Munkin said:
This is my #1 finesse jig period, 5/16oz GP with matching Zoom Super Chunk Jr. I have probably caught 1000's of fish on this exact jig.
Allen
Thank you for showing me this man, I am a hands on learner and seeing this really helped. Your the best.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 9/29/2018 at 12:31 PM, TKFactory said:Would anybody be willing to show me a short video of the technique of fishing a jig? Like hopping it and such.
I don't hop a jig a lot. I subscribe to the same idea as A-Jay, I usually drag my jigs like a craw or something trying NOT to be seen, which I generally assume they don't want to be. Bass seem to have no issues finding my bait.
WRB reply :
TKFactory, did search and read my articial OldSchool Horizontal Jigging?
There isn't any set retreive pace, it's trail and error and tends to change during the same outing as the bass activity level changes.
If you already have 1/4 oz Bitzy Bug jigs use them, just sharpen the hooks, always time to find what works for because you will be replacing jigs.
Tom
TKFactory reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 11:32 AM, WRB said:TKFactory, did search and read my articial OldSchool Horizontal Jigging?
There isn't any set retreive pace, it's trail and error and tends to change during the same outing as the bass activity level changes.
If you already have 1/4 oz Bitzy Bug jigs use them, just sharpen the hooks, always time to find what works for because you will be replacing jigs.
Tom
Thank you, I will check out your article ASAP. Thank you Thank you Thank you for this help.
WRB reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 11:49 AM, TKFactory said:Thank you, I will check out your article ASAP. Thank you Thank you Thank you for this help.
Forgot to follow up on the question regarding; do you catch bass using a T-rig? do you fish from a boat?
Tom
Catt reply :
What I find interesting about the thread is the title, "Finesse Jig help".
To me a 1/4 oz Bitsy Bug Jig is not a "Finesse" jig, it's simply a small jig.
For me it's standard operating procedure, unless I'm fishing extremely heavy cover a 1/4-3/8-1/2 oz jig is normal.
A "Finesse" jig to this dumb Cajun is 3/16 or 1/8 oz with a light wire hook!
I guess a lot gets lost in translation ????
TKFactory reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 12:57 PM, WRB said:Forgot to follow up on the question regarding; do you catch bass using a T-rig? do you fish from a boat?
Tom
I have only caught a Northern Pike on a T-rig. So not to comfortable fishing T-rig. I bank fish.
WRB reply :
I prefer using a T-rig with sliding painted brass bullet weight, glass facet bead between the weight and hook, when fishing form shore. Jigs can be fished uphill but it takes a lot of practice not to continually snag them. Lighter weight jig with larger size trailers are easier work from the bank, they tend to get snagged less. 1/4 oz Bitzy Bug is a good choice. You may need to hop the jig with the rod held about 2 o'clock vs dragging it.
I don't have a lot of experience with pike, my guess is you may be working the T-rig too fast attracting the pikes attention.
Good luck,
Tom
Munkin reply :
On 9/29/2018 at 12:31 PM, TKFactory said:Would anybody be willing to show me a short video of the technique of fishing a jig? Like hopping it and such.
Kick over some rocks in a local stream and watch the way the crayfish swim react. Imitate what they do with your jig and you are set.
Allen
J.Vincent reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 8:29 PM, Catt said:What I find interesting about the thread is the title, "Finesse Jig help".
To me a 1/4 oz Bitsy Bug Jig is not a "Finesse" jig, it's simply a small jig.
For me it's standard operating procedure, unless I'm fishing extremely heavy cover a 1/4-3/8-1/2 oz jig is normal.
A "Finesse" jig to this dumb Cajun is 3/16 or 1/8 oz with a light wire hook!
I guess a lot gets lost in translation ????
After reading your comment, it actually got me thinking......and I agree somewhat because when I first got involved in the sport of bass fishing; 1/4 oz was pretty much standard weight for any lure I used and 1 oz was at the most extreme end of the range. But presently, and since the industry began gravitating towards selling and using 2 and 3 oz lures far more commonly (Alabama rig, punch rigs and custom SwimBaits) , my repertoire and range of lures has changed. I throw more 3/4oz and heavier lures now than I did 20years ago, and oddly enough, I know consider 1/4oz to be light tackle. It's probably an incorrect definition for me to have of finesse , but it's almost as if the industry unintentionally redefined finesse by introducing so many monstrous lures. Could this be the reason some of us now consider 1/4oz to be finesse?
WRB reply :
Go to Tackle Wharehouse and look at “Finesse jigs”. Trying to define finesse isn’t possible anymore imo in the bass fishing world.
We have 1/8 oz dart, ball, shaky, wacky heads all used for light line finesse presentations.
Tom
Catt reply :
On 10/3/2018 at 2:26 AM, WRB said:Go to Tackle Wharehouse and look at “Finesse jigs”. Trying to define finesse isn’t possible anymore imo in the bass fishing world.
We have 1/8 oz dart, ball, shaky, wacky heads all used for light line finesse presentations.
Tom
Agree with that ????
Paul Roberts reply :
On 9/30/2018 at 8:29 PM, Catt said:What I find interesting about the thread is the title, "Finesse Jig help".
To me a 1/4 oz Bitsy Bug Jig is not a "Finesse" jig, it's simply a small jig.
For me it's standard operating procedure, unless I'm fishing extremely heavy cover a 1/4-3/8-1/2 oz jig is normal.
A "Finesse" jig to this dumb Cajun is 3/16 or 1/8 oz with a light wire hook!
I guess a lot gets lost in translation ????
To me "finesse" has come to mean, down-sized on light tackle. Weight of the head has less to do with it than overall package size. Down-sizing the package size of the lure gets important when the water gets cold. I fish all winter here and small package jigs (1-1/2 to 2-1/2" long) catch really well. For my waters (<15ft deep) I'm fishing jigs that weigh 1/16 to 1/8oz. But if I fish deeper, a 1/4oz could still be a "finesse" sized jig. And, during the warm seasons, I often fish a 1/8oz swim-jig, but it's a full sized package, 3 to 4" long.
GReb reply :
I’m not a finesse jig fisherman by any stretch. But I know people rave about the Dirty Jigs finesse jig.
The little Strike Kings are pond killers. That’s what I learned on as a kid 15 years ago. But like @Catt I wouldn’t consider it finesse.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 9/29/2018 at 11:32 AM, TKFactory said:Tom, I plan to use the rod I am most comfortable with, 6'6 medium heavy with blackmaxx reel and 20lb mono. I want to start finesse so small presentation. Don't want to go to heavier jigs just yet.
I don't think you can finesse fish anything with 20 lb mono
TKFactory reply :
On 10/3/2018 at 4:53 AM, TnRiver46 said:I don't think you can finesse fish anything with 20 lb mono
Explain to me why, I am new to fishing so please give me your reasoning. Teach me
TnRiver46 reply :
On 10/3/2018 at 5:43 AM, TKFactory said:Explain to me why, I am new to fishing so please give me your reasoning. Teach me
Thinner line is more sensitive, thus better for "finesse" presentations. I like fishing jigs on 65 lb braid, but that's not at all finesse. I would take finesse to mean a small jig on light line. Like 3/16 oz on 8-10 pound florocarbon. 20 lb mono is about as thick as fishing line gets unless you are offshore tuna fishing
TKFactory reply :
On 10/3/2018 at 5:52 AM, TnRiver46 said:Thinner line is more sensitive, thus better for "finesse" presentations. I like fishing jigs on 65 lb braid, but that's not at all finesse. I would take finesse to mean a small jig on light line. Like 3/16 oz on 8-10 pound florocarbon. 20 lb mono is about as thick as fishing line gets unless you are offshore tuna fishing
I guess where your losing me is when I see youtube video of the bass master guys fishing jigs, they always say there are using crazy heavy line. Are they not finesse jigging?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 10/3/2018 at 5:54 AM, TKFactory said:I guess where your losing me is when I see youtube video of the bass master guys fishing jigs, they always say there are using crazy heavy line. Are they not finesse jigging?
No they are not. Although like @WRB said, the definition of "finesse" has become cloudy over recent years. In my mind if you have a baitcasting combo in your hand, you aren't finesse fishing. To me Finesse is drop shot on 4-8 lb line. Or skipping a 2.5 inch tube under docks with light line. About 2 years ago people just started calling every jig that wasn't a football head a finesse jig. Methinks it was an attempt to sell more jigs
WRB reply :
If you use Tackle Warehouse as a guide they offer 52 different "finesse" jigs that range from 3/16 oz to 9/16 oz....take your pick! Bitzy Bug isn't listed under finesse jig on TW, it listed under "casting jigs"....just to add to the confusion.
Tom
Catt reply :
@WRB
Tackle Warehouse under Finesse Jigs with vertical line tie.
Fitzgerald Fishing Texas Jig
1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4 oz!
Mobasser reply :
On 10/3/2018 at 8:28 AM, Catt said:@WRB
Tackle Warehouse under Finesse Jigs with vertical line tie.
Fitzgerald Fishing Texas Jig
1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4 oz!
Catt, like you said, the whole finesse fishing thing has gotten confusing. Those jigs to me are not finesse type jigs.Those are more for pitch, flip, and some casting too. I've noticed this trend too. Finesse jigs keep getting heavier! For me anyway, I'm drawing the line at 1/4 oz. For a true finesse jig more like 1/8 or 3/16 is it.Maybe the line tie position changes the definition of a finesse jig?
Paul Roberts reply :
On 10/3/2018 at 5:43 AM, TKFactory said:Explain to me why, I am new to fishing so please give me your reasoning. Teach me
Since you are asking about line weights for jigging... try this video. It explains why fishing line diameters are so important. And what's going on with the fish during those times when we need finesse presentations.
Glenn reply :
Here's my finesse fishing tips. Hope they help!
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