It always seems like some people prefer to fish a worm and some prefer to fish a jig. I know that most folks say the jig produces larger fish on average, and worms are for more numbers on average. I'm just curious which one do most of y'all pick up first. I almost always use soft-plastics before a jig-n-pig. I've never caught many fish on a jig, but that may be because I just don't use them enough.
Any thoughts?
I like throwing a jig but in the summer time, I have a hard time putting down the big worm. I've caught to many big fish swimming that worm around brush to not have confidence of getting bit. Spring and fall I go to the jig.
I typically have 3 to 4 jigs tied on and one or two worms on most lakes that I go to.
I use different size and color jigs depending on water and cover I am fishing. I am a big fan of swim jigs.
If am looking for a limit though, I usually throw a compact skinny bear jig. I can catch a limit on a small compact jig as quick as I can a worm and sometimes faster. You can alter the trailer and skirt to fit your needs. I like to take a 1/4oz skinny bear jig and stick 3"s of a 5" yamamoto cuttail on the back of it or the back half of a baby brush hog. You get a compact finnesse bait that usually gets me as many bites as a worm. I fish it on 20 to 30lb braid. With a spinning rod you can skip it waaay under docks, overhangs, pontoon boats, etc. and you get something a lot of fish haven't seen.
However, there are times and types of structure that I will use the worm first. If I am fishing ledges in July, I will pick up a 8 or 10" texas or carolina rigged before I pick up a jig and throw at the ledges. If that doesn't work then I am going to take a 1/2oz swim jig with a 6" yamamoto twin tail and slow roll it off the ledge. That big trailer moves a lot of water and puts out a different sound than a slow rolled spinnerbait.
I think in the end it probably comes down to confidence though.
Take care,
Steve
I agree with David, Spring and Fall I throw a jig (or tube) in summer and big worm. I usually have a couple of different sizes and trailer styles tied on at any one time.
Down here we don't fish many jigs and worms are usually second nature.
Caught some of my bigger ones on jigs, but have caught more on a Texas rigged worm. probably because after the Beetlespin (40 errr years ago), worms are my comfort bait...Golfish
Texas rigged worms year round....I like to also use a Jig N' Pig in the fall
The jig does seem to produce less fish, but most are big....but the t-rig produces lots of fish for me...
I confess I give up on the jig too early sometimes. If I am fishing heavy cover or small targets I tend to use a jig. I go to worms where I feel I am covering more of an area.
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I use both, year round, and allow the fish to tell me what they want on any day.
In cold water, I tend to fish jigs more all day and a lot slower. I crawl them and keep them in one place a long time. I still fish worms as well, but use more straight worms and smaller worms in deep water.
In warmer water, I will fish the jig at night and early morning, then switch to a worm when the sun gets up if I need to after the topwater bite
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Glad to see you posting again Don... Hope that you are starting to feel better.
Look at the forage base in the lake you are fishing. If it is Baitfish 1st, crawfish 2nd, worms will produce better on average. If the lake is crayfish based 1st and baitfish 2nd... jigs will usually outshine a worm. It's all about the forage!!!
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