How To Entice A Jig Strike? 2024
Preytorien reply :
Yesterday was a slow, and I emphasize SLOW, day on the water.
After trying a number of weightless soft plastics, and then also running some lipless crankbaits around (getting no bites), I decided to throw a great looking Sibert Jig, a custom colored one, in a frog pattern with a green RageTail craw trailer, all dipped in JJ's Magic clear garlic dip.
After a while, I kept noticing the bass would follow my jig up to the shoreline (I was bank fishing), and they would stop about 3 feet from shore, and just eyeball my jig as it sat on the bottom, sometimes coming within inches of the jig. Whenever they'd back off, I'd twitch the jig and they'd come in again for an inspection, but never once would they actually bite it, they just inspected it.
I've fished this body of water mulitple seasons and seen bedding bass here, these weren't bedding bass, they were just following the jig up to shore.
Any ideas of what they were doing? Any ideas of what I could do to draw them into a strike? 
frantzracing0 reply :
As simple as it sounds, when Im getting bass that follow but dont take the bite I change one very simple thing at a time to try to intice a strike. First I would change my cadence on the retrieve. Heck even try to swim the jig in between drops. Next I would try a different color or even downsize. They are intrigued but not enough to strike, they just werent looking for exactly what you were presenting
Catt reply :
It's called fishing & not catching! 
Sometimes despite our best efforts the bass simply don't want what we are throwing.
Shane J reply :
I would have played the sit still game out in the deeper water. Instead of drawing them in, work a little longer out further. In other words, fish slower, with periods of no movement. Or maybe switch to a shakey head or drop shot.
mjseverson24 reply :
downsize... more erratic retrieves work too, i try and think like a crawfish trying to flee from a bass...
Mitch
frogflogger reply :
try pork
eyedabassman reply :
On 4/11/2014 at 9:06 PM, Shane J said:I would have played the sit still game out in the deeper water. Instead of drawing them in, work a little longer out further. In other words, fish slower, with periods of no movement. Or maybe switch to a shakey head or drop shot.
I would downsize first, and try to keep them out. it could be a color of the jig but I would think it could be your trailer is too much action or not enough?
A-Jay reply :
They were being Bass ~ and it sounds like they were in a neutral mood and not totally negative.
The fact that they at least followed your bait is somewhat encouraging.
Though I hate to do it, "down sizing" your presentation sometimes helps.
And don't forget your line is part of your presentation also, so you may want to consider a lighter one at times.
A-Jay
Preytorien reply :
All great ideas. Thanks guys.
I didn't attempt the same actions in the deeper water. I figured since they were following it up to the bank I'd at least be able to observe how they reacted, and never thought to throw to deeper water.
I had a 1/2oz jig tied on to the only rod I brought (I hate carrying more than one rod while on the bank), which was a Curado/Crucial with 50lb PowerPro on it. Next time I'll use a 1/4jig with my spinning rig (8lb copolymer) and try to just fish it slower and change up colors if need be.
Thanks for the help guys
frogflogger reply :
we do a thing we call "tremble" we use it with jigs and worms when bass are iffy - lift out slack and try to let the jig/worm tremble without moving it toward you - harder to explain than to do - it's easier now that I'm old and tremble naturally
slimshad reply :
I don't remeber who told me this, but as a youngster I was told if a bass follows and doesn't bite, change color. I don't know just something that stuck in my memeory banks.
eyedabassman reply :
On 4/11/2014 at 9:32 PM, frogflogger said:we do a thing we call "tremble" we use it with jigs and worms when bass are iffy - lift out slack and try to let the jig/worm tremble without moving it toward you - harder to explain than to do - it's easier now that I'm old and tremble naturally
I know what you mean with the tremble of a jig. Preytorien when you get to be our age you will be able to put great action in a jig! 
Without trying!
Drewski73 reply :
I wouldve tried "stroking" that jig in deeper water. MAKE them eat it when theyre like that. If they think "crap hes getting away", they may eat it.
Cast out, let it sit for 10 seconds without moving it, then shake it, then grab the butt of your rod with your reeling hand, and RIP it 2-3 feet up and off the bottom, then reapeat. Making it jump after shaking it, the next time you shake it, they think its getting ready to jump again. Ive caught a lot of fish doing this.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 4/11/2014 at 9:07 PM, mjseverson24 said:downsize... more erratic retrieves work too, i try and think like a crawfish trying to flee from a bass...
Mitch
I fish jigs a lot and I normally don't get them close enough to me to see fish following but in shallow water I'll often move the jig and see a small swirl alerting me that a fish is there. When I see that and don't get a strike I usually make a pitch to the same spot and leave it sit for about 10 seconds and give it a single big hop and if that doesn't get it to commit I will tie on a smaller jig. If I'm using a full size 1/2oz jig and that happens I go right to a 1/4oz, and 99% of the time that works, I used to drop down to a 3/8oz and it did work but not a lot, most of the time I'd get the same reaction but surprisingly when I'd go to a 1/4oz it would get hit quickly.
Preytorien reply :
On 4/11/2014 at 9:53 PM, Drewski73 said:I wouldve tried "stroking" that jig in deeper water. MAKE them eat it when theyre like that. If they think "crap hes getting away", they may eat it.
Cast out, let it sit for 10 seconds without moving it, then shake it, then grab the butt of your rod with your reeling hand, and RIP it 2-3 feet up and off the bottom, then reapeat. Making it jump after shaking it, the next time you shake it, they think its getting ready to jump again. Ive caught a lot of fish doing this.
That's interesting, I've never heard of that technique. Sounds effective, I'll have to try that next time.....which happens to be this evening!
SirSnookalot reply :
On 4/11/2014 at 9:00 PM, Catt said:It's called fishing & not catching!
Sometimes despite our best efforts the bass simply don't want what we are throwing.
If you want to catch bass you listen to a bass fisherman ^^^^^^^^
rowyourboat reply :
megastrike..... that is all
Bassguytom reply :
If I have followers but no takers on a jig I throw a follow up bait usually a wacky rigged senko. If the fish are going to bite this usually gets it done.
eyedabassman reply :
This is a perfect example of let the fish tell you what they want! If the bass were not interested or in a negative mood they would not chase the jig but just let it go by or swim away from the jig! But they did follow it so there was something that caught there attention,weather it was the jig's color,action,size,speed! So now you have find out what will trigger them and that is called catching! How many times have you fished a spinnerbait and get a few fish follow it to the boat and the same thing is true,could be blade color,size,speed,action! Watch the pro's fish a jig and if that would happen to them 99.9% they will catch them fish because they can be caught! And it would be with the jig or a follow up bait!
basscatcher8 reply :
Don't forget if you can see them they can see you too. Not saying it did but always a factor to remember shallow.
ColdSVT reply :
On 4/11/2014 at 9:32 PM, frogflogger said:we do a thing we call "tremble" we use it with jigs and worms when bass are iffy - lift out slack and try to let the jig/worm tremble without moving it toward you - harder to explain than to do - it's easier now that I'm old and tremble naturally
Yessir!
Or i will drag the jig on the bottom as slow as i possibly can
Catt reply :
On 4/11/2014 at 11:48 PM, eyedabassman said:This is a perfect example of let the fish tell you what they want! If the bass were not interested or in a negative mood they would not chase the jig but just let it go by or swim away from the jig! But they did follow it so there was something that caught there attention,weather it was the jig's color,action,size,speed! So now you have find out what will trigger them and that is called catching! How many times have you fished a spinnerbait and get a few fish follow it to the boat and the same thing is true,could be blade color,size,speed,action! Watch the pro's fish a jig and if that would happen to them 99.9% they will catch them fish because they can be caught! And it would be with the jig or a follow up bait!
Bassmaster Elite Table Rock
108 "Elite" Anglers
97 th place: Dean Rojas
Guess he couldn't entice em?
eyedabassman reply :
On 4/12/2014 at 1:47 AM, Catt said:Bassmaster Elite Table Rock
108 "Elite" Anglers
97 th place: Dean Rojas
Guess he couldn't entice em?
Dean Rojas is know as a frog man! At table Rock the bite was the wiggle wart,JIG,jerk bait,crankbait!
Catt reply :
On 4/12/2014 at 3:36 AM, eyedabassman said:Dean Rojas is know as a frog man! At table Rock the bite was the wiggle wart,JIG,jerk bait,crankbait!
Ok so I guess we should ignore his videos about crankbaiting on youtube...he thinks he's pretty good!
WRB reply :
Bass are curious fish and just because they are interested in a lure doesn't indicate they want to eat it.
If these bass were 3+ lbs! they may strike a jig! smaller bass maybe not, do to the large size claws.
If you dead stick the jig, the bass turn and leave, they are just curious or they see you.
Live nose hooked big night crawler fly lined would be a game changer, if these bass are hungry!
Tom
eyedabassman reply :
On 4/12/2014 at 3:48 AM, Catt said:Ok so I guess we should ignore his videos about crankbaiting on youtube...he thinks he's pretty good!
Catt, i am not saying that Dean is not good at what he does and that he is a very good crankbait guy! In that tournament it came down to choice's and water fished.The top 12 caught them on the said baits but found productive area's to fish. In fact there alot of guys that had there 5 fish each day and culled alot! But I think we went off track to the post.I agree that if they are small bass that they are just curious to the bait. It could have come down to down size the bait or speed or color ,action. We where not there at the time. I just offered some help to the man who made the post.
Brian Needham reply :
On 4/11/2014 at 9:25 PM, Preytorien said:. Next time I'll use a 1/4jig
when I think downsizing I don't always think less weight...... I think smaller trailer, and trim the skirt.
SirSnookalot reply :
Doesn't make any difference If Dean Rojas is catching fish or not, only thing that matters is if you are catching fish. Some days fish are on and others days they aren't, it's that simple. I've got a lot of nice bass in the canal behind my home and canal fishing is as easy as it gets. The other day a guy was fishing a live worms and bobber, not a strike, I caught only 1 on a fluke. The day before the bass were jumping onto my hook, and yesterday they just followed my EZ swimmer and veered off.
Comfortably Numb reply :
shakey head
Catt reply :
On 4/12/2014 at 5:40 AM, eyedabassman said:Catt, i am not saying that Dean is not good at what he does and that he is a very good crankbait guy! In that tournament it came down to choice's and water fished.The top 12 caught them on the said baits but found productive area's to fish. In fact there alot of guys that had there 5 fish each day and culled alot! But I think we went off track to the post.I agree that if they are small bass that they are just curious to the bait. It could have come down to down size the bait or speed or color ,action. We where not there at the time. I just offered some help to the man who made the post.
My point is it doesn't matter if it's you, me, or KVD!
If they don't want to bite you can not "ENTICE" em into to bitting.
Y'all are giving the OP half a story, as much as I try to instill confidence in my students, I also teach them reality!
Jeff H reply :
But, you don't know (for sure)) that they don't want to bite, just that they don't want to bite that jig. Before accepting that they don't want to bite anything, I'd have thrown something else at 'em if they were of size I needed. If that fails, I keep moving and maybe come back later.
Smallmouth Hunter reply :
Try letting it sit more. I found that I get much more bites on jigs (during all seasons) when I work it slower. Cast it out and drag it a few inches and just let it sit. 10 - 20 seconds will do usually. Most of the time, they will hit it as soon as you start to drag it again because you are basically pulling it away from them. Imagine that they are staring at your jig the whole time. That is the mind set that will help a lot.
Another thing is when you feel cover of any sort - timber, rocks, or even a change in material on the bottom whether it be gravel to sand or whatever - just stop the jig on a dime and twitch your slack. Don't overwork it though. After twitching it a few times, pull the line tight so you can feel the jig, but don't move it. Then let it go slack again and do a few more twitches. Then stroke it swiftly over the cover a foot or so through the water. Sometimes the bass will react violently to this and nail the jig.
Good luck and hopefully this helps. For the most part, just slow down and experiment with your retrieve.
eyedabassman reply :
On 4/13/2014 at 10:13 PM, Catt said:My point is it doesn't matter if it's you, me, or KVD!
If they don't want to bite you can not "ENTICE" em into to bitting.
Y'all are giving the OP half a story, as much as I try to instill confidence in my students, I also teach them reality!
I agree to what you said and I should have said= at times you can get get them to react to a bait even if they are not feeding~ If a bass is on a bed and has no plans to feed,it may hit a bait out of reaction or they may even get mad enough to hit. And what I was trying to say was the tournament on Table Rock the first day it was air temp of 80 and low 50's to mid 50's days 2,3,4 post front,high winds and blue bird sky's = negative fish but yet they did well.Mike McCelland won it, and he did make the same cast to the same spot 10 to 15 times at different angles and caught bass that he knew were there! He would fish a creek or cove for along time and at times a hour or two in one creek and for a reason. That is what I am trying to say!!
Catt reply :
Quote eyedabassman "watch the pro's fish a jig and if that happen to them 99.9% they will catch them fish because they can be caught."
Uh! No they wouldn't! At least not 99.9%!
I say 50-50!
Several times a year I fish with some of the best Pros around as well as dozens of anglers that do very well on the Bass Champs, Bass n Bucks, Redman, Texas Team Trail & others.
Ya know what some days they struggle like us!
Are those bass uncatchable! Maybe!
But I aint saying I wouldn't try to catch em!
eyedabassman reply :
On 4/14/2014 at 10:47 AM, Catt said:Quote eyedabassman "watch the pro's fish a jig and if that happen to them 99.9% they will catch them fish because they can be caught."
Uh! No they wouldn't! At least not 99.9%!
I say 50-50!
Several times a year I fish with some of the best Pros around as well as dozens of anglers that do very well on the Bass Champs, Bass n Bucks, Redman, Texas Team Trail & others.
Ya know what some days they struggle like us!
Are those bass uncatchable! Maybe!
But I aint saying I wouldn't try to catch em!
Ok I think we agree and I was wrong to the 99.9% of the time and it is more like 50/50. I too have fished with some of the big names and I will say they are relentless!
Jeff H reply :
On 4/13/2014 at 10:13 PM, Catt said:Y'all are giving the OP half a story, as much as I try to instill confidence in my students, I also teach them reality!
I like the last part of that statement!
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