Jig Style Suggestion 2024
FL_Sharpshooter reply :
Alright, I fish a canal every day that is filled with milfoil (coontail moss). When I say filled, I mean it is FILLED, there isn't a clear spot in that canal, but it is not all on top of the water, just rests on the bottom, which catches on the baits when I let them sink. The only kind of baits I can use are top water and high suspending baits, such as shallow jerk baits, crankbaits, etc. I can use texas rigged worms with bullet weights, and I can usually shake what little milfoil accumulates on the bait or bullet sinker. Anyways, I've been trying to really get in the habit of working a jig in order to gain more experience in that area, but there's one problem. Both styles of jigs I have are not doing the trick. The only two types of jigs that I have are arky style and football style, as they are also the only two jigs I have ever thrown. I'm getting hung up in that really thick milfoil with both of them. As far as the depth of the water goes, I'd be surprised if the water was even 8ft, so the highest weight that I throw is a 3/8oz. I am also limited from throwing that much higher of a weight, since my only good rod is rated at 5/8oz, and to be honest, it doesn't excel at even throwing that, so I try to stay quite a bit under (I figure a rage craw adds a little weight, so I stay at 3/8). I absolutely love jigs, but I'm just not sure what I should be using, anyone got some insight here? Thanks.
endless reply :
I wish I could help but they do make grass jigs maybe try one of them?
All Terrain Tackle Grassmaster Jig
http://www.***.com/All_Terrain_Tackle_Grassmaster_Jig/descpage-ATTGJ.html#multiview
If that don't help maybe PM GMAN or River Rat316
Packard reply :
You could try a swim jig. I know Booyah makes a decent one that they sell at walmart. I've caught a few 3 pounders on it. It has a rattle and a weedguard. I like to put a tube as a trailer on it. I'm not sure this is the best solution but that's what I would do in the situation. They are only $2.99 so it's worth a try.
Packard reply :
Here's the one I have.
FL_Sharpshooter reply :
On 8/12/2011 at 3:15 AM, endless said:I wish I could help but they do make grass jigs maybe try one of them?
All Terrain Tackle Grassmaster Jig
If that don't help maybe PM GMAN or River Rat316
That looks pretty neat, I wonder if that point on the head will cut through that stuff..
On 8/12/2011 at 3:16 AM, Packard said:You could try a swim jig. I know Booyah makes a decent one that they sell at walmart. I've caught a few 3 pounders on it. It has a rattle and a weedguard. I like to put a tube as a trailer on it. I'm not sure this is the best solution but that's what I would do in the situation. They are only $2.99 so it's worth a try.
Oops, I actually forgot that I do have a swim jig, its a northstar one, they just don't seem to want any part of it though..
endless reply :
On 8/12/2011 at 3:19 AM, FL_Sharpshooter said:That looks pretty neat, I wonder if that point on the head will cut through that stuff..
Oops, I actually forgot that I do have a swim jig, its a northstar one, they just don't seem to want any part of it though..
Here you go this video explains the difference in jigs.
FL_Sharpshooter reply :
On 8/12/2011 at 3:28 AM, endless said:From what I notice with grass jigs they all seem to have that bullet head type head at least the ones I seen.
This could work. I read about punching skirts a while back, what is the real purpose/advantage of having a long skirt like that? Does it hang up less? Maybe I can pair those two together.
Packard reply :
Have you tried wacky rigging or dropshoting in there? I wouldn't think they would get hung up.
FL_Sharpshooter reply :
On 8/12/2011 at 3:38 AM, Packard said:Have you tried wacky rigging or dropshoting in there? I wouldn't think they would get hung up.
Yes, I have done both, they catch moss very easily on both of those techniques.
The canal basically looks like this, but there are some high points in the water where you have more room to work a bait. It isn't exactly like this, this picture is just for reference so you can understand how thick the stuff is.
senko_77 reply :
I see your from Florida, so you will probably be pretty skeptical about this........ Tubes. Pop it on an internal tube weight and flip that thing around those mats. There is no knot for the moss to get hung up on and it imitates the same thing a jig does. I promise you it will work and it barely snags grass. When it does, a simple pop will get it off. I've never understood why people down here in Ga, Fla, Al, don't throw tubes more. It's a killer bait.
If you refuse to put down the jig, try using a swim jig or or any other jig with a bullet shape. The All-Terrain jig that was posted about is a great choice. Brovarney makes AWESOME swim jigs. Check em out. After you tie your not, tie a simple overhand knot. Make sure the tag is pointing down when your done. What this does is eliminate that notch that is always between your knot and the tag end. That is what picks up all the grass. When you tie the overhand, the notch is facing down so it wont grab nearly as much.
Good luck 
senko_77 reply :
Oh and by the way, a swimming fluke crawled over the lake you pictured would be INSANE!!!!!! I about died when I saw that picture. Congrats on having access to that sweet lookin pond, man.
Jigfishn10 reply :
Grass jigs, flipping jigs, casting jigs, whatever you want to call them. As others have said, a jig wih a bullet type head is the way to go. The line tie angle should be at about 30*. Arky's are about at a 60* angle and will work in grassy cover, but I usually use those in the early spring/late fall when the vegetation isn't as thick. Arky's, however are a great wood jig. Football jigs have a 90* line tie angle, horrible in grass in my opinion, but great around rocks. Be careful with a swim jig, they usually have a light wire hook where a flipping jig's hook would be a lot stouter.
endless: Great loking jig, I'm gonna have to try that.
senko_77 is dead on with the tube. I find myself using one more and more and in weeds, it can't be beat.
Fl_Sharp, are you bank fishing or on a boat?
Fat-G reply :
On 8/12/2011 at 3:38 AM, Packard said:Have you tried wacky rigging or dropshoting in there? I wouldn't think they would get hung up.
A dropshot is one of the worst baits for "hanging" up.
endless reply :
Senko_77- I tried sending you a PM but said you can't receive messages. I left a comment instead on your BR page. I want to know more about the tube, internal weights and overhand knot?
Packard reply :
On 8/12/2011 at 5:09 AM, Fat-G said:A dropshot is one of the worst baits for "hanging" up.
Yeah I didn't think it was going to be as thick until I saw the photo. A lot shallower than I assumed too.
OP I fish a spot like that right off an island at my lake. I throw a KVD Squarebill in the pockets and rip it through the grass. Sometimes I get hung up but it attracts some nice bass.
FL_Sharpshooter reply :
On 8/12/2011 at 4:42 AM, senko_77 said:I see your from Florida, so you will probably be pretty skeptical about this........ Tubes. Pop it on an internal tube weight and flip that thing around those mats. There is no knot for the moss to get hung up on and it imitates the same thing a jig does. I promise you it will work and it barely snags grass. When it does, a simple pop will get it off. I've never understood why people down here in Ga, Fla, Al, don't throw tubes more. It's a killer bait.
If you refuse to put down the jig, try using a swim jig or or any other jig with a bullet shape. The All-Terrain jig that was posted about is a great choice. Brovarney makes AWESOME swim jigs. Check em out. After you tie your not, tie a simple overhand knot. Make sure the tag is pointing down when your done. What this does is eliminate that notch that is always between your knot and the tag end. That is what picks up all the grass. When you tie the overhand, the notch is facing down so it wont grab nearly as much.
Good luck
It's kind of funny you mentioned a tube, because I have tried those zoom tubes before paired up with bitsy flip jig, which ended up landing me a 3lb bass. That actually makes sense to try a tube, just curious as to what specific hook you use for those?
On 8/12/2011 at 4:44 AM, senko_77 said:Oh and by the way, a swimming fluke crawled over the lake you pictured would be INSANE!!!!!! I about died when I saw that picture. Congrats on having access to that sweet lookin pond, man.
Oh that's not where I fish, lol. I was just using that picture as an outside reference of what the canal I fish in does look like. Some people can't picture what I'm talking about, but you, being a Georgia fisherman, know exactly what I'm saying.
On 8/12/2011 at 4:53 AM, Jigfishn10 said:Grass jigs, flipping jigs, casting jigs, whatever you want to call them. As others have said, a jig wih a bullet type head is the way to go. The line tie angle should be at about 30*. Arky's are about at a 60* angle and will work in grassy cover, but I usually use those in the early spring/late fall when the vegetation isn't as thick. Arky's, however are a great wood jig. Football jigs have a 90* line tie angle, horrible in grass in my opinion, but great around rocks. Be careful with a swim jig, they usually have a light wire hook where a flipping jig's hook would be a lot stouter.
endless: Great loking jig, I'm gonna have to try that.
senko_77 is dead on with the tube. I find myself using one more and more and in weeds, it can't be beat.
Fl_Sharp, are you bank fishing or on a boat?
Yeah, I've noticed that too with football heads, I do really well in extra rocky areas with them. I'll still try and give the bullet shape a fair try. However, the tube idea is pretty cool, I'll give that a try later tonight. I fish from the bank into a canal that is about 2 blocks down from my house, when I get the chance, I'll snap a picture. It's the spot that you see in my avatar(not that you can see the water).
On 8/12/2011 at 6:29 AM, Packard said:Yeah I didn't think it was going to be as thick until I saw the photo. A lot shallower than I assumed too.
OP I fish a spot like that right off an island at my lake. I throw a KVD Squarebill in the pockets and rip it through the grass. Sometimes I get hung up but it attracts some nice bass.
Haha, don't get me started on kvd squarebills! I was absolutely slaying them on the bluegill color 1.5 last spring. You can fish those, but sometimes they just want a very different type of bait, the fish in the canal are very weird. You have to really be down there every day or every other day to really understand them.
senko_77 reply :
FL_Sharpshooter: You can use any wide gap hook with a slip sinker. I prefer using Gamakatsu hooks and I'm real partial to using Tungsten for my weights. You also can use any of the internal tube weights that they sell. Go to *** and check out their terminal section. They have a whole section just for jigheads made for tubes. I use the Biteme models. They are pretty affordable and use good enough components. Never had an issue with them.
FL_Sharpshooter reply :
On 8/12/2011 at 8:22 AM, senko_77 said:FL_Sharpshooter: You can use any wide gap hook with a slip sinker. I prefer using Gamakatsu hooks and I'm real partial to using Tungsten for my weights. You also use any of the internal tube weights that they sell. Go to *** and check out their terminal section. They have a whole section just for jigheads made for tubes. I use the Biteme models. They are pretty affordable and use good enough components. Never had an issue with them.
I'll try out the internal weights, the EWG hooks make the tube like all bunch up on the hook, because of the hollow part. Thanks for your suggestion .
powerman970 reply :
I'd definitely try a swim jig like this one:
Another good alternative might be a brush head:
Both of those are from www.rockhardtackle.com.
hookset on 3 reply :
There are a variety of grass jigs on the market that work well. Attached is a picture of a Netbait Paca Jig.
The things to look for in a good grass jig are: low weedguard angle and hidden line tie.
As someone mentioned, a 30 degree vertical line tie is the best at coming through weeds.
hookset on 3 reply :
Brett, you should give the Sizmic Jungletoad Flippin bait a try.
Here is picture and a video on how to rig it. Essentially the billet weight hangs from the bottom of the hook shank. This set-up goes in and out of milfoil beautifally.
http://www.unclejosh.com/video/unclejosh_video.html
endless reply :
How did you do? Did you try another style of jig, tube or whatever else was suggested? Any success?
Catt reply :
Keep the presentation as vertical as possible, keep your flip/pitches to about 5-10 feet?
During the early 70s the Hydrilla/Milfoil/Coontail Moss on many southern lakes started really getting thick so you either learned to fish grass or learned to enjoy getting skunked. Jigs with craw worm trailers were invented and techniques refined to effectively fish for bass in grass.
We must approach each type of grass and each grass bed individually, so there is no predetermined distance. The distance we cast to maintain a vertical presentation is determined by the height and thickness of the grass. The reason for maintaining a "near" vertical presentation is to reduce the amount of grass you will be forced to pull the bass through. If we are casting into grass that is well below the surface then a less than vertical presentation is required because we can gain control of the bass by bringing above the grass. But as we approach the "matted" grass the more difficult becomes to get the bass above the grass so we are better served going more vertical and less horizontal.
Terry Oldham’s Eye-Max Jigs are the most effective Grass Jigs Made!
The tapered upturned head and line tie eye are designed to slice through heavy vegetation
Stoutest Hook on the market: these jigs have a 5/0 Siwash Salmon Hook in black chrome specially designed and produced for Terry Oldham
Excellent Skirts: Incredible color selection of the finest quality skirts available.
FL_Sharpshooter reply :
On 8/29/2011 at 9:31 AM, hookset on 3 said:Brett, you should give the Sizmic Jungletoad Flippin bait a try.
Here is picture and a video on how to rig it. Essentially the billet weight hangs from the bottom of the hook shank. This set-up goes in and out of milfoil beautifally.
http://www.unclejosh.com/video/unclejosh_video.html
Neat rig, thanks for the advice 
.
On 8/29/2011 at 11:14 AM, endless said:How did you do? Did you try another style of jig, tube or whatever else was suggested? Any success?
I haven't got to try a jig yet, but I did try to the tube idea, but to no success. I like the way it is coming through parts of the thick milfoil though. I'll keep trying it.
On 8/29/2011 at 5:18 PM, Catt said:Keep the presentation as vertical as possible, keep your flip/pitches to about 5-10 feet?
During the early 70s the Hydrilla/Milfoil/Coontail Moss on many southern lakes started really getting thick so you either learned to fish grass or learned to enjoy getting skunked. Jigs with craw worm trailers were invented and techniques refined to effectively fish for bass in grass.
We must approach each type of grass and each grass bed individually, so there is no predetermined distance. The distance we cast to maintain a vertical presentation is determined by the height and thickness of the grass. The reason for maintaining a "near" vertical presentation is to reduce the amount of grass you will be forced to pull the bass through. If we are casting into grass that is well below the surface then a less than vertical presentation is required because we can gain control of the bass by bringing above the grass. But as we approach the "matted" grass the more difficult becomes to get the bass above the grass so we are better served going more vertical and less horizontal.
Terry Oldham’s Eye-Max Jigs are the most effective Grass Jigs Made!
The tapered upturned head and line tie eye are designed to slice through heavy vegetation
Stoutest Hook on the market: these jigs have a 5/0 Siwash Salmon Hook in black chrome specially designed and produced for Terry Oldham
Excellent Skirts: Incredible color selection of the finest quality skirts available.
Interesting jigs, your picture pretty much sums it up on what the canals look like, LOL. Thanks for the jig suggestion, I'll check some of em out.
endless reply :
On 8/29/2011 at 5:18 PM, Catt said:Keep the presentation as vertical as possible, keep your flip/pitches to about 5-10 feet?
During the early 70s the Hydrilla/Milfoil/Coontail Moss on many southern lakes started really getting thick so you either learned to fish grass or learned to enjoy getting skunked. Jigs with craw worm trailers were invented and techniques refined to effectively fish for bass in grass.
We must approach each type of grass and each grass bed individually, so there is no predetermined distance. The distance we cast to maintain a vertical presentation is determined by the height and thickness of the grass. The reason for maintaining a "near" vertical presentation is to reduce the amount of grass you will be forced to pull the bass through. If we are casting into grass that is well below the surface then a less than vertical presentation is required because we can gain control of the bass by bringing above the grass. But as we approach the "matted" grass the more difficult becomes to get the bass above the grass so we are better served going more vertical and less horizontal.
Terry Oldham’s Eye-Max Jigs are the most effective Grass Jigs Made!
The tapered upturned head and line tie eye are designed to slice through heavy vegetation
Stoutest Hook on the market: these jigs have a 5/0 Siwash Salmon Hook in black chrome specially designed and produced for Terry Oldham
Excellent Skirts: Incredible color selection of the finest quality skirts available.
I have fish some areas like this too. When does come to jigs. How do work through grass, a slow retrieve or tiny taps? Any ideal what to look for a grass matts over this spot might hold bass this spot I don't think so? Or do you just cast and work everywhere you can?
Catt reply :
You look for structure under the mat, this picture happens to be a creek channel cove.
Main objective is to keep that jig in contact with the bottom at all times, something most anglers fishing grass fail to do. When faced with weeds many anglers opt for the lightest weight possible; I go the exact opposite using “at least” a 3/8 oz shaking my rod tip forcing the jig through the grass. When bass are located in grass they are not on top of the grass but buried up inside the grass; they will move to the outer edges or make a quick run to the surface to feed.
When I feel my jig is getting a bit tangled I simply apply pressure, then release, apply a tad more pressure, then release; if this doesn't work I apply pressure while shaking my rod tip. Once my jig breaks free I pause for a good 15-20 seconds cause before I can count to 20 I done got bit!
Many anglers think a silent approach when fishing jigs in grass is the proper approach; by that I mean they want the jig to fall quietly through the grass and come through the grass cleanly. My approach is to be noisy, that is I want my jig to cause a disturbance by moving grass as it falls and when its coming though the grass.
I think of it like this, unless the bass is facing your jig as it enters the grass with the silent approach your jig will likely go unnoticed but create a little commotion and that bass will not only notice your jig turn but turn and swim towards your jig.
The most difficult part of jig fishing is feeling the bite, many will tell you it aint like the bite you get with a Texas Rig but it is so get that notion out of your head. But like a Texas Rig those bumps, thumps, tics, & taps are the easy ones to detect it’s the ones where the bass inhales your jig without any tell- tale sign or line movement. I say now is the time to bring forth all the expertise on feeling subtle bites stored away in your brain from Texas rigs, Wacky rigs, Drop shots and so on.
You will also hear "bass don't hold a jig long", don't be surprised when a 2 lb bass inhales your 1 oz jig without any tell-tale line movement and proceeds to sit there until you apply to much pressure at which time they spit it.
The art of feeling a worm/jig bite is a fine combination of watching your line and feeling for unnatural sensations of what your lure shouldn’t feel like.
Pay close attention to the depth you're fishing, any sudden change in the amount of line you're using could mean you’ve been bit. For instance, if you're fishing 6 feet of water and the lure suddenly stops at the 3 depth, it's possible a bass has taken the lure. If you're fishing 3 feet of water and 6 feet of line sinks chances are good a bass is traveling with the lure. This is extremely true on the initial drop and no line movement maybe noticed.
A-Jay reply :
You're received some great advice from some very knowledgeable folks.
I've had little success fishing any style jig in those conditions. So I have gone to a what is essentially a lighter version of a punching rig. You may very well need an actual punching rig (complete with 3/4 to 1 oz weight) to penetrate that mess.
For me this rig is much more weedless and especially snag free. The ridge hook of an actual jig just does not come through that stuff very well.
From the line to the hook here's this rig -
- A stopped knot (I use a double uni-knot made from left over braided line)
- A small bead to keep the knot from slipping through the weight.
- A 1/2 oz tungsten weight
- a Boss Punch Hub - this is placed inside the skirt collar
- The skirt of your choice
- A parasite clip (optional, but does help prevent the plastic from sliding down the hook)
- A 5/0 Owner wide gap plus EWG hook (#5139 - very stout, I love this hook)
- Your favorite soft plastic - pictured is a Power Bait Beast
Hope this helps
A-Jay
Jigfishn10 reply :
NIce set-up A-Jay! I'll have to try that one out. 
A-Jay reply :
On 8/30/2011 at 1:18 AM, Jigfishn10 said:NIce set-up A-Jay! I'll have to try that one out.
Thanks - I've been doing Very Well with this one.
If there is such a thing as a go to bait, this is it for me.
btw- am I going to be sorry I posted this ?
A-Jay
endless reply :
Nice A-Jay. Does the bullet weight still slide or just the bead? But I do like this how does it work in lilies?
Jigfishn10 reply :
On 8/30/2011 at 1:27 AM, A-Jay said:Thanks - I've been doing Very Well with this one.
If there is such a thing as a go to bait, this is it for me.
btw- am I going to be sorry I posted this ?
A-Jay
Nahhh! 
Being sorry would be posting my spinnerbait with 2 blades on an interlocking clevis system (no rear blade on a swivel) made with a tungsten weight, red bead and treble hook with the bottom facing down hook removed. That will get some laughs...as well as some bass...LOL
A-Jay reply :
On 8/30/2011 at 4:26 AM, endless said:Nice A-Jay. Does the bullet weight still slide or just the bead? But I do like this how does it work in lilies?
The weight and bead do not slide. They are held in place by a stopper knot tied in front of them on the main line. The knot is the first item listed regarding this rig. It's a little hard to see in the second photo, but it's there.
For me, a sliding weight is undesirable when fishing in heavy or snag prone cover. The rig has a better chance of getting into and more importantly, out of, structure when it remains as one compact unit. A weight that slides and separates from the plastic may not penetrate as deep into the cover and may also hang up a bit more.
And - since the soft plastic is skin hooked, it comes through just about anything, including the lilies.
A-Jay
Bass Junkie reply :
A-Jay, where'd you get those Beast? I've been looking for those for quite a while!! Killer trailers, those.
A-Jay reply :
On 8/30/2011 at 6:30 PM, Bass Junkie said:A-Jay, where'd you get those Beast? I've been looking for those for quite a while!! Killer trailers, those.
Yup - Beasts are a fan favorite (for this fan anyway)
I made a Mass Purchase back when they were still in production.
Sadly, though, supplies are running low ~
A-Jay
Catt reply :
There are two distinctively different approaches when fishing matted vegetation 
The first is the silent approach, these anglers want their lure to fall quietly through the grass & come through the grass cleanly.
The second is to be noisy, these anglers want their lure to cause a disturbance by moving grass as it falls and when its coming though the grass.
Divers have went out to the grass flats & dove under to see what was there, what was found were tunnels, caverns, & caves under the surface matted grass. But more importantly what was noticed was when lures fell through the mat silently unless it landed in an open area the lure when unnoticed. Whereas with noisy approach the bass may not have visually seen the lure but the disturbance caused by moving grass as it falls the bass not only notices your lure turn but turn and swim towards it.
With the popularity of the silent “Punch” rig or the pegged Texas rig it is certain that most anglers will be using this approach so I’ll opt out for a Jig-n-craw or an un-pegged Texas rig.
I do the same with my plastics selections, when most anglers opt for silent “Beaver” type lures I prefer Rage Lobsters, Smokin Rooster or Stanley’s ItzaBug
Bass Junkie reply :
On 8/30/2011 at 10:02 PM, A-Jay said:Yup - Beasts are a fan favorite (for this fan anyway)
I made a Mass Purchase back when they were still in production.
Sadly, though, supplies are running low ~
A-Jay
I have one of each size saved in original packaging... Thinking about trying to get a mold made for 'em......
A-Jay reply :
On 9/1/2011 at 9:24 AM, Bass Junkie said:I have one of each size saved in original packaging... Thinking about trying to get a mold made for 'em......
Sounds like a good plan and if you do, I'd like to place an order please . . .
A-Jay
Bass Junkie reply :
I'll keep you in mind if I do get one made
A-Jay reply :
On 9/2/2011 at 3:33 AM, Bass Junkie said:I'll keep you in mind if I do get one made
Thank you very much.
I do appreciate it.
And I am serious.
A-Jay
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