Ok guys, I admit I dont fish a jig as much as I should. I know they work, but I cannot seem to make them produce effectively. I have caught a few fish on them but nothing to make me want to throw a jig. How do I make myself have that confidence in a jig?
do what I did I took my flipping stick only and only took my jig box..For about 4 trips that I all I fished with..I started catching fish then i started catching goood fish..You need to build your confidence.
that is what I plan on doing if I get a day off this week. take the jig rod only and catch some fish
I like the smaller 1/4 oz- 1/2oz jigs..I've caught big fish on them.And the spots seem to like the smaller jigs..
I finally had to go fishing with a guy that is great at jig fishing and watched him outfish me about 4:1 with a jig and then realized I have to learn how to be effective with one!
I have found each person has their own style on how to fish 'em from "jigging" them to just draggin them on heavy braid and BIG rod (7'9" swimbait rod).
make sure to pick a calm day to learn as the bite can be very different from almost any other bait.
Where are the BIG ones? When are we going?
LOOKING for a Great deal on a Slightly used 20-21' Boat.
Just tell yourself your going to go and throw a jig and a jig only and catch you some fish on it. Once you get confidence in it, it will be about the only thing you want to throw, at least for me it worked out like that.
I would go about it a little different. Fish an area with your normal tactics....I.E. a texas rigged worm or drop shot etc. Once you find the fish, switch over to a jig. Fish a similar color to the bait you were previously using through slow down the retrieve a bit. It will help since you know fish are in the area and willing to bite. It should allow you to focus a bit better.
+1 what RETRO said but only take your flippin stick cause if you get fed up you'll wanna pick up something else.
Fish slow with a sensitive rod and some floro....once you cross a few of their eyes, you willl have all kinds of confidence..
my 2 cents worth..i started fishing jigs about 5 years ago and and havent looked back.use braid 30 to 50 pound and loomis rod.i have caught more big fish on this then anything i ever used and i been fishing for 40 plus years.i have caught a lot of big fish up north on other rigs,southern illinois and ind, but wish i had used this years ago! the people that i know that use jigs usually have there own way.personaly i bring mine in with very slow and light lift like i to 3 inches of the bottom.whatever works for you use it! they are one of the best fish catching ways..good luck
larry
I decided that yesterday i was going to focus on using a jig as you guys point out. I have never, until yesterday, landed a fish on one. But I am at this point sold on this being a goto lure. At one point I had 3 strikes and caught one fish in about 5 pitches....
My issue is losing fish. I lost 5 fish in 30 minutes when they came to the surface. The hook was set, but once they started shaking their heads they'd come off. ??? I was using a 3/8 bps enticer jig w/ a chiggercraw trailer. The hook was out of the box sharp, and i had already trimmed the weedguard down to the hook point and removed about 1/2 of the bristles....
I was fishing it on a 6-10 quantum code MH rod w/ a 7.1 reel.
Am I trying to get them in too quick maybe? Is bringing them in slow a better way?
What kind of line were you using and what type of cover were you fishing? On a long cast you need a line with as little stretch as possible for a good hook set. If the fish had the jig entirely in they mouth (to the crushers) when you set the hook, you didn't move the jig enough to stick the fish good. Jig bites vary, the other day I was fishing and could not get a hook into a fish with a convertional hookset. The only way to get a hook in them, was as soon as you felt a tap, reel like hell until you got some weight on the rod then set the hook.
I was mainly in shallow boat docks, 4-6' deep, and I was pretty much on top of them, maybe making up to a 25' pitch on the long side. my reel is spooled w/ 14# mono. I tried fluoro earlier this year but gave up on it already because it was so frustrating. I like braid, but was kinda thinking mono would be less visible. I could be wrong. Maybe I was not taking up enough slack, but I was reeling down to where it felt right. The fish never really slammed the bait. Mostly i just felt some pressure or a tick, or it would just be swimming around with it.
The plus side to braid is that there is no stretch so when you set that hook, you'll rip right through that weed guard and get that hook through their lip.
Glad to see you're gettin some though!
Yes use braid..Alot of times they will holde jig tight in thier mouth and not able to set the hook..I sharpen my hooks all the time..Switch to braid.
It sounds like you just need a slightly stronger hookset or possibly a heavier action rod if you continue to lose fish, under the same circumstances.
I use yellow power pro (I cant see the green) and have caught just as many as before. Doesn't seem to hinder the bite at all
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