I'm Just Not Getting The Jig 2025
MIbassin reply :
Hey guys,
As the title says, I just am not getting the jig no matter what I do.
I try pitching it, casting it, flipping it and more. I have not gotten a single bite and have spent some money on good quality jigs and trailers. Do you have any tips? Anything you need to know I will tell you!
Can you only fish the jig when it is calm? Should I not fish it from a moving boat? I can't feel what the jig is doing on the bottom it just feels like the line is slack....
I need help! It's been 4 months and i still haven't caught anything except for muck and weeds
Thanks
MarkH024 reply :
Muck and weeds call for grass jigs or swim jigs. My other guess would be you're probably fishing too fast. If you're fishing lake bottom with muck you're going to have a hard time feeling bottom contact. I know because my home lake is all muck and weeds except a few small spots. Just stick with it. You'll figure it out.
What is your jig set up?
Gaerith reply :
Feeling the bite on a jig is tough, many times when a fish picks up your jig you won't feel it. It is really helpful to watch your line for bites.
It would also help if you could share with us how you fish your jigs, what trailer, colors, water clarity etc.
Also, remember that when you reel in a jig it is still an effective lure. Keep working the jig like you would a spinner while reeling it in and you can get bites then too. I think that is helpful to remember...I too am still pretty green with fishing jigs and swimming the jig back in has got me fish, which keeps the frustration factor down so that I'll keep at it.
MIbassin reply :
I did forget to add that i do have lots of success swimming a jig, just not hopping it on the bottom, which is the way i see most guys catching the real big ones.
And also Mark, my jig setup is not ideal by any means. It is a St. croix Mh fast rod with a diawa pro caster and 20lb braid. I have some north star jigs and i use rage craw trailers.
hoosierbass07 reply :
You aren't the only one that has not had much success with jigs. I'm back to thinking jigs are over rated. But if they work for you then go for it!
MarkH024 reply :
Set up seems fine. I think that your expectations are off because of the muck bottom you fish. I rarely throw a bottom hopping jig in a soft weedy lake. Try it on a body of water with rock and gravel if that's possible for you. You will notice a huge difference in the feel alone. Don't force applications where they simply don't fit. As Gaerith said, line watching can be key too.
5fishlimit reply :
What kind of jig head are you throwing? If you are using a football jig on a soft bottom you're using the wrong type. Try a grass jig like MarkH024 said.
NEjitterbugger reply :
Like others said, use certain types of jigs for certain situations... In my experience with jigs it did take me a little while to get my first fish, and I was doubting the jig. Saying that I couldn't feel the bottom, it doesn't feel right, etc.", but once I got my first jig fish my confidence shot WAY UP and I continued to catch fish on jigs... I have no problem feeling the bottom now (using the same setup as before), and caught bass on them regularly, they are one of my favorite things to throw... It's all in the mind, confidence, just slow down, be confident, and you WILL catch fish.
travis23 reply :
More practice! Take some jigs and trailer (nothing else) with you and don't put it down until you figure it out. Seriously, if you don't catch one the first day, go back and do the same thing until you do. I did this with the jig and every other bait I was unfamiliar with or had little to no success with. I do know that when I caught my first one with a jig I pitched into some wood cover from the bank, and let it sit for about 5 seconds, BAM, fish on. I did this, watched my line, and kept a finger on the line at all times for the first few times with success. Once I got that down I started dragging, hopping, etc...PATIENCE!
I do hope this helps a little, because my understanding was you throw them in there and go crazy hopping them, but this wasn't the case for me at first. Good luck!!
ez4u2say01 reply :
The biggest problem with any lake now is the fact they are overfished so the fish get adapted especially when seeing the same thing each and everyday. A jig and a spinnerbait are my 2 favorites year round and I can tell you from alot of trial and error the solution for me.
Down size. Small baits catch more fish and the big fish will and do bite small baits as well. Large jigs also have faster fall rates which can cost you fish if their not in attack mode. I hate to tell you to buy more lures but I will tell you what I use and it's a cheap and simple set up. Natural colors unless the water is just plain muddy go to black and blue. Also if you are using braid try using a mono or fluro leader and there is a video showing an easy way to add leaders which I use every day and yet to have one slip. The smaller jig sinks slower, looks more natural to them and the size is more life like, it also makes much less of a commotion when entering the water there fore less spooking of the fish. So here is what I use and my lake is only 3500 acres with tournies several times a week and it works for me when peopel are zeroing I am usually still catching fish. The key to a jig is drag slow and hop drag and hop. SLOW
p.s. I always use a craw scent and recharge about every 30 casts or so.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1201062&productVariantId=127549&WT.srch=1&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=google|120345_Fishing+Jigs+%26+Rigs_Bass+Jigs|USA&rid=20&WT.z_mc_id1=43700001030785297&gclid=CI3Luqum7boCFRFo7AodbAwAPg&gclsrc=aw.ds
http://www.***.com/Strike_King_Baby_Rage_Craw_3/descpage-SKRBC.html
( notice baby rage )
start at 3 min mark to see how to tie on a leader the same applies to braid
Good Luck !!
Catt reply :
First is location, ya have to be where the bass are!
Second is timing, the bass have to want a jig!
MIbassin reply :
All the jigs I have are grass jigs, I even find it hard to feel bottom in light breeze.. Should I only use them when it is calm?
Toeshots reply :
Can't add much that hasn't already been said. Try to slow down and watch your line. Many times the bass, especially bigger ones, will suck in the jig and start swimming around slowly. Many times it can be tough detect these bites if you aren't keeping an eye on your line.
Don't give up yet. That first jig fish changes everything!
Teal reply :
On 11/18/2013 at 10:43 AM, Catt said:First is location, ya have to be where the bass are!
Second is timing, the bass have to want a jig!
My point exactly. Its hard to swollow that you haven't had a single bite. So its probably a combination of not being in the right places and nor not detecting the bite.
I like a tad bit heavier line but your set up does sound ideal. A 7' MH is probably the most popular rod today and is ideal for jigs.
Stick with it. Slow down and be patient.
MIbassin reply :
Ok I will! I probably just haven't detected the bites, do you fish them when there is a ripple on the water?
Toeshots reply :
You can fish them at just about any time, although it can be tough when the wind is really blowing as it creates bows in the line and you lose the feel/connection with the jig. Fluorocarbon can help alleviate this somewhat as it sinks and is more dense than braid which not only floats but is also much more effected by the wind.
Catt reply :
On 11/18/2013 at 11:09 AM, MIbassin said:Ok I will! I probably just haven't detected the bites, do you fish them when there is a ripple on the water?
Yelp, dead calm or hurricane 
Jrob78 reply :
If you're having trouble keeping contact with a jig, use a heavier one, switch to fluoro and slow down.
MacP reply :
+1 to Jrob. Fluoro, lighter weights and slowing down.
Don't get disheartened. I don't like jig fishing that much. I dead stick or texas rig brush hogs/sweet beavers where most would fish jigs. I do like swim jigs though.
alberto-1 reply :
Just keep at it. The way I learned was to leave everything else at home but trailers and jigs.
Insanity reply :
Yea your getting bit il bet. It's the Procaster rod if it's anything like the one I have. (I bought It used for the reel) it would make a good crank bait rod maybe. Tap the tip lightly on the floor if you can't feel it, that's the problem. If you want to feel what you've been missing step up to the Team Diawa worming rod. You will feel them with wind blowing your slack line. I no that rods sensitive.
My good rods were stolen and funds are limited rite now. So I'm using a lightning rod. I wouldn't recommend it but its better then the Procaster.
MIbassin reply :
it's a Diawa pro caster reel that I have not the rodOn 11/22/2013 at 10:37 AM, Insanity said:Yea your getting bit il bet. It's the Procaster rod if it's anything like the one I have. (I bought It used for the reel) it would make a good crank bait rod maybe. Tap the tip lightly on the floor if you can't feel it, that's the problem. If you want to feel what you've been missing step up to the Team Diawa worming rod. You will feel them with wind blowing your slack line. I no that rods sensitive. If you don't want to spend that much. Heck I've got a lighting rod and with braid on it it's better then a Procaster.
Insanity reply :
Oh geesh! I don't no how I misread that. It was plain enough. I was speed reading apparently. Lol.
I'm still betting its the rod though. Tap the tip on the floor. And see if you can feel it. My point being I don't care what the rod cost if you cant feel the tip on the floor your missing fish. I had an all star and falcon rod both I bought for jig fishing and both are sitting in the corner with dust on them. Lol
How about sent? I leave the jig on my rod and haul around in the truck.gets lord no what on it I'm sure. If I get bit and spit. A quick spray of sent will make them hold it.
WRB reply :
My post has disappeared, no problem. My questions were; are you catching bass on T- rigged worms in the same locations you can't catch bass on bottom bumping jigs? what the type of lake bottom you are fishing. Flat mud with weed cover or sloping hard bottoms? And what weight jigs are you fishing and how deep?
Tom
MIbassin reply :
yes, I usually catch bass on a Texas rig in the same spots. I am fishing about six feet of water and it is a weedy bottom with stumps I alternate between a 3/8oz and 1/2oz jigOn 11/22/2013 at 11:40 AM, WRB said:My post has disappeared, no problem. My questions were; are you catching bass on T- rigged worms in the same locations you can't catch bass on bottom bumping jigs? what the type of lake bottom you are fishing. Flat mud with weed cover or sloping hard bottoms? And what weight jigs are you fishing and how deep?
Tom
WRB reply :
Michigan the water must be getting iced over by now or close to it, so this is a subject for next season.On 11/22/2013 at 9:13 PM, MIbassin said:yes, I usually catch bass on a Texas rig in the same spots. I am fishing about six feet of water and it is a weedy bottom with stumps I alternate between a 3/8oz and 1/2oz jig
To sart with you are trying to learn to fish a traditional jig with weed guard and trailer, the trailer being a Rage design. From what I have read your tackle shouldn't be an issue. The fact you hook and land bass on a T-rigged worm is a giant step in the right direction.
My suggestion is; start with your T-rigged worm, when you locate bass switch the worm for a Zoom Brush Hog in the same color as the worm on the T-rig and see if bass react to a creature instead of the worm. Then tie on your 3/8 oz jig and use the same color combination as the T-rig and fish the jig exactly the same way as the T-rig.
Jig bites are often different than a T- rig due to the weight may be heavier and it goes into the basses mouth, so they reject it faster.
If you don't have or detect any strikes with your jig/ rage trailer, put the brush hog on your jig. Sometimes more soft plastic helps the bass to hold onto the jig longer. If that happens, you need to learn how to detect strikes better. One technique is feel your line using the tip of your index finger as you work the jig.
Tom
Catt reply :
Drop down to 14 oz & use the same plastic as your Texas Rig.
Ratherbfishing reply :
I gave up using "jigs" after getting hung up about a dozen times without catching anything on them. Instead, I texas-rig a crawdad bait (sometimes putting a skirt in front of it and sometimes not). These are cheaper and, at the same time, a lot more weedless. They are better for swimming than most other jigs, too.
5dollarsplash reply :
If your still getting out in your neck of the woods, good on you! I think I'm about done for the year here in WI since the snow is on the ground and sticking.
Downsizing is a good idea, especially in cold temps. Line watching is a must, and keeping a finger on the line is great too. Oftentimes thats the only way I'll notice my jig being picked up. Go as slow as you can, and then try to be slower. Its tough, especially for those who enjoy moving baits like a crankbait or spinning bait.
Muck bottoms are tough, and like Mark said, most lakes around the Northern Midwest have it. Going heavier will let you feel the bottom but, you'll be pulling through that muck and getting hung up a lot. As you develop a feel for where the fish are at you can become more picky about where you throw that jig.
Take a look online to see if you can find lake maps with marked bottoms. Over the winter is a great time to do this, find lakes with streches of rock, gravel, sand, all of which are much more enjoyable to fish a jig on than mucky weedy mess.
MacP reply :
For that depth, I'd fish lighter jigs like Catt suggested. Swim Jigs and Chatterbaits work well. Don't be too upset about not getting them to work. Like I said previously, I fish texas rigged brush hogs/sweet beavers where most people would fish jigs. I just do better on them. Weightless brushhogs around cover are ridiculous here.
Weightless or Pegged weight, A T-Rig is completely weedless and nearly the same presentation as a jig.
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