Jigs Or Flipping? 2025
Greg Carlson reply :
I've decided to devote 2012 to learning two new techniques. I've decided one of them will be the drop shot. However I'm stuck on the second. I've narrowed it down to jig fishing or flipping (not the casting technique). What do you guys think is a more valuable skill. Any input is appreciated.
jkarol24 reply :
Without a doubt, learn to use the jig! IMO its one of the most important tournament baits you can throw, increasing quality and number of bites. It will be harder to learn, but i guarantee it will pay off in the end. One of the first baits i ever threw was a jig, and I've developed the feel for it and have tons of confidence. In fact, i have at least one tied on at all times. As well, it is the more versatile technique. You can throw a jig in 6" of water or 25' of water.
00 mod reply :
Jig.....without even considering anything else!
Jeff
Hooligan reply :
Don't bother with the dropshot, learn to use a jig to maximum potential. Then, and only then, should you move on to another tactic.
River Rat316 reply :
Jig, you can even flip with the right jig so you could cover both bases, but you can also fish a jig deep and anything inbetween. Most versatile bait there is.
wisconsin heat reply :
JIG
back when i was first learning how to fish, i had a handful of lures, i really liked using senkos but the jig always caught bigger fish, i didnt know why but it did. I caught more fish with other things so i shyed away from it. one day i was fishing with my family at a crowded dock with really clear water, i tried a jig and smacked a 17 1/2 inch bass. that got me hooked back onto the jig. Recently i bought some flipping heads and skirts because its cheaper and i like to play around with colors. I used BOSS finnesse flip heads matched with boss skirts. I really like them and usually have one tied on my rod at all times. 
go jigs.
Red reply :
Jig for sure, as everyone else has stated. I have two tied on now 100% of the time. One on a flippin stick for fishing flooded timber, the other is for football jigs fishing in deeper water in rocky areas.
Cliff
K_Mac reply :
On 1/23/2012 at 11:22 AM, River Rat316 said:Jig, you can even flip with the right jig so you could cover both bases, but you can also fish a jig deep and anything inbetween. Most versatile bait there is.
Yep. Flip, pitch, side arm or backhand cast, roll cast or overhand; shallow or deep; fast or slow; swim it, crawl it, shake it, hop it , rip it; warm water or cold; or any other way you want, it's all good. 
Jigfishn10 reply :
Jig, without a doubt. No need to delay your learning curve. You can learn pitching & flipping right now in your basement while the waters are iced over. Come spring you can learn the second part and be ready for the spawn.
South FLA reply :
On 1/23/2012 at 11:22 AM, River Rat316 said:Jig, you can even flip with the right jig so you could cover both bases, but you can also fish a jig deep and anything inbetween. Most versatile bait there is.
They are not mutually exclusive, as stated, so you can accomplish both feats!
Brand0n reply :
ive lost my biggest fish on a jig last summer, so im making sure its my new technique to learn more this year also
NCLifetimer reply :
Another Jig vote. When you get close to cover you can also practice flipping it.
Lucky Craft Man reply :
Definitely the jig, but don't abandon the drop shot. Here is what I would do if I were you. Go out fishing with two rods, one with a jig and the other with a drop shot, and fish that way for a few months. To learn the drop shot, that was the only rod I took with me for a good 2 months. I've learned to fish the drop shot in almost any situation that exists. I even learned how to fish a drop shot in shallow heavy weeds. Now when I fish, that drop shot is always rigged up and ready to go and if really produces fish for me. By the way, be sure to enjoy the learning process. This is the time where real satisfaction can be achieved. Good Luck!
Sam reply :
Interesting query.
Of course, like the guys above I will vote in favor of learning the jig & pig technique.
However, you also need to learn the Flipping and Pitching presentations.
And you can Pitch & Flip a jig.
Flipping and Pitching are easy to learn and master. You should be able to do this after three our four outings and practicing in your yard or driveway by pitching and flipping to a trash can lid or a paper plate.
As for the jig, there is a lot to learn about this simple bait. Please consider viewing the YouTube videos; purchasing a DVD on jig fishing; or getting a book on fishing jigs.
One of the lessons I learned about jig fishing is to "sweep" your rod to your left or right when setting the hook. Like you do for crankbaits.
Also, you wil need to learn about rods, reels, line, leaders, pigs, colors and then add this into your formula for water clarity, water temperature, time of the year, current weather conditions, the bottom you will be fishing and if you need to consider using a "swimming jig."
May I suggest keeping your selection of colors to a basic blue/black, orange/brown and white? You can then venture out with the other thousands of color combinations and pig selections.
As for pig selections, if you use the Rage Craw the pinchers move fast. If you use another type of pig the pinchers can move slow. It is up to you to figure out what the bass are eating that day.
Have fun and let us know how you do.
A-Rob reply :
Another vote for the jig.
Its just an awesome awesome lure.
If you get good at jig fishing, you won't have a problem transferring your skills to any plastic meant for flipping.
I love getting on a jig bite. I always start with a jig on my big rod and only change it if The mat is too thick and needs a plastic . Good luck dude!
tholmes reply :
Definitely learn the jig. IMHO, it's an essential technique to learn. Also very productive and versatile.
Tom
Brand0n reply :
caught my first bass of 2012 and first bass on a jig today! definitely a technique you gotta learn. it makes me wanna buy more styles and sizes and use them all the time.
telmomarques reply :
learn both by flipping the jig
jignfule reply :
yep, jig fishin is fun
Bassin_Fin@tic reply :
About as fun as watching paint dry but it still needs to be learned.
telmomarques reply :
intersting people's thoughts about that topic, learn flipping by using jig, u can learn 2 ways with only 1 lure
hatrix reply :
For sure learn how to fish a jig and get a good feel for it. As for the drop shot I don't really think there is to much to learn. It is pretty straight forward on how to work it. The only tuff part some times is learning the hook set on it. I tie drop shots on for the kids and they catch fish all day with it. The jig is another story though....
Greg Carlson reply :
Upon much consideration, i think jigs are not the way to go. Here is my reasoning, plastic technology. There are plastics to cover all bases these days. Where jigs catch mainly large fish, plastics catch more fish, increasing your odds of big fish. Another deciding factor are my current confidence baits, grubs, sencos and magic worms. So i feel emphasis should go towards learning these baits to their fullest potential.
gobig reply :
I think it would be narrow minded to not throw a jig into the mix. One of the reasons a jig is known for catching so many big fish is the simple fact that it is one of the most versital baits out there. It can mimic several types of prey and they can be fished in so many situations its crazy.
The first thing that you need to understand is that a jig is not a technique. It is simply a tool that is applied to techniques. There seems to be some sort of misconception that there is a magical way of working a jig that needs to be learned. This is simply not true. I am not saying that you cannot hone your ability to work and become intimate with a jig but If you can fish a spinnerbait you can fish a jig. If you can fish a texas rig you can fish a jig, this list goes on. Don't over complicate things. The next time you are going to throw a spinnerbait put on a jig instead and fish it just like you would the spinnerbait. Same goes for dragging a worm, switch out the worm with a jig. You are simply using a different bait that is applied to a technique you already know. You will gain confidence in a jig fairly quick if you approach it this way.
The other thing mentioned is flipping. Flipping is a technique, plain and simple. Notice there is no mention of the bait. You can flip a tube, a jig, a swimbait, a dropshot, again the list goes on. Once you learn to flip you can use what ever bait fits the situation and conditions. I know it seems like splitting hairs but I think it is important to differentiate techniques from tools. As already mentioned you can kill two birds with one stone. You could learn to flip with a jig.
ClackerBuzz reply :
Def the jig. Start out easy with vertical fall bites. Fish love to kill it on the initial fall. If they don't take it on the fall, let it hit the bottom, bounce it off, and swim it back. They like to smack it on the swim retrieve. You will have instant success without snagging/loosing jigs. Learning how to work them thru heavy cover w/o getting snagged is another story..learn to jiggle softly thru wood. Reeling too hard or jerking ur rod too hard will just set ur hook into a log.
"One of the lessons I learned about jig fishing is to "sweep" your rod to your left or right when setting the hook. Like you do for crankbaits." great advice. A lot of guys set the hook so hard they blow the fishes mouth open with the weight of the jig. I was taught to reel into them while slowly sweeping to the side.
Boss jigs are a great recommendation. Buy direct from FishingSkirts.com. I like 3/8 oz with a 4/0 hook w/ recessed eye or vertical eye for an all purpose jig.
natalex1208 reply :
On 2/6/2012 at 12:39 AM, Greg Carlson said:Upon much consideration, i think jigs are not the way to go. Here is my reasoning, plastic technology. There are plastics to cover all bases these days. Where jigs catch mainly large fish, plastics catch more fish, increasing your odds of big fish. Another deciding factor are my current confidence baits, grubs, sencos and magic worms. So i feel emphasis should go towards learning these baits to their fullest potential.
You are free to do whatever you want, but you are overthinking it. Jigs no doubt are the play here. Versatile, big numbers, big fish.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/6/2012 at 12:39 AM, Greg Carlson said:Upon much consideration, i think jigs are not the way to go. Here is my reasoning, plastic technology. There are plastics to cover all bases these days. Where jigs catch mainly large fish, plastics catch more fish, increasing your odds of big fish. Another deciding factor are my current confidence baits, grubs, sencos and magic worms. So i feel emphasis should go towards learning these baits to their fullest potential.
Some experienced anglers may tell you that the desire and willingness to learn, experiment and improve your skills as a fisherman could help you enjoy this sport to its fullest.
I believe that you'll learn what size fish jigs catch - by fishing them.
A-Jay
lmoore reply :
Personally, I wish more fisherman would limit themselves to learning X numbers of new techniques every year. It would make things a whole lot easier on the tournament trail. It would be quite easy for me to write a whole article about this, but let me just say that the first year I fished tournaments was my sophmore year in college. Of the 7 tournaments I fished that season as a co-angler, I was introduced to 4 techniques that I had never done before with any kind of regularity. Rather than doing wht I knew I could do, I learned as much as possibe from the boater I was with. The fishing weather here lasts about 8 months, plenty of time for experimenting with new techniques if you'vegot the drive and determination to become the best.
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