Jig fishing - favorite football jigs, line, and other tips?

[lafalot]

Made it a goal to move out of my confidence baits and jig fishing has always been at the top of my list. Any tips would be hugely helpful but I have a list of questions if anyone has any insight they want to share:

1. Looking at football jigs, the debate is Tungsten vs Lead.. where are you all leaning and what are your favorite jigs? What trailers.do you all like best?

2. Braid to leader vs straight fluoro. Thinking about 14-15 lb fluorocarbon.

3. Tips for fishing rocks etc and not getting hung up all the time.

I'm mainly fishing manmade lakes but also do a lot of shallow river fishing in the Susquehanna for smallmouth.

Thanks in advance for sharing!

[UmairF]

Beast coast baby dozer for me. If you’re in open water they have an open water football jig too. For finesse football jigs I like the keitech one in a 1/4 oz (weedguard doesn’t do much it’s basically for show lol). For the larger football jigs go 16lb sniper fc. Dont really use braid if I’m dragging on rocks because it’s not gonna be as abrasion resistant as fluoro. You could go braid to a long fluoro leader (which is what I like on my of my setups when I can), but just be mindful of your rod. You don’t want a flipping stick to drag in my opinion. Either have give in the rod or the line and keep your hook gauge in consideration as well.

[Jeff Hahn]

If you are fishing small rocks and gravel areas, then I'd go with tungesten. If you're fishing larger rocks, then go with lead. Tungsten is too darn expensive to lose a bunch of jigs that get wedged between big rocks.

I have never seen the need for fluorocarbon line, compared to mono or copolymer. Not only is fluoro line expensive, it has lots of issues that I just don't need to mess with. I do use a leader on my C-rigs that is made of fluorocarbon leader material, which is much tougher than fluoro line. Instead, I use 15 pound Izorline Platinum, a copolymer. It's inexpensive and tougher than nails. I would never go with straight braid as rocks will cut it quickly.

In terms of not getting hung up a lot, generally, fish a lighter jig and it won't get stuck as bad as a heavier jig.

[Jig_Man]

I fish highland reservoirs with lots of rocks and wood. For jigs I use fluorocarbon line in 10,12, and 15#. I mostly fish 3/16, 5/16, and 7/16 oz jigs. All of my jigs are lead and antimony. I use different setups for the different weights. My favorite trailers are twin tail grubs and beavers.

As Jeff stated adjusting the jig weight to the water depth and bottom composition will lessen hang ups. However, fishing where I do you better plan on losing a half dozen jigs a day.

[lafalot]

Thanks, I placed an order for a bunch of the beast coast jigs that were recommended.. they have a lead version but it didn't seem to be any cheaper so just went with the Tungsten. I'll start off throwing the 3/8 oz and see how it goes... I'm typically fishing in 15 ft or less but there is some current so we'll see how that goes.

I am hoping I don't lose as many jigs as Jig Man otherwise I'm going to go broke!

[DaveBrabec]

1/2 oz most of the year. Sometimes in summer 3/4 fishing deeper. 17 lb test here. 12-15 at other local lakes. Twin tail grub trailer gets bit everywhere Craw type trailer with a bigger profile some days. Only need a couple colors. Black and brown. Add color with trailer

[UmairF]

Thanks, I placed an order for a bunch of the beast coast jigs that were recommended.. they have a lead version but it didn't seem to be any cheaper so just went with the Tungsten. I'll start off throwing the 3/8 oz and see how it goes... I'm typically fishing in 15 ft or less but there is some current so we'll see how that goes.

I am hoping I don't lose as many jigs as Jig Man otherwise I'm going to go broke!

You’ll love them! I have a whole box dedicated to beast coast jigs. My favorite is their lil magnum for when I’m fishing in grass.

[willwork4fish]

Beast Coast OW Sniper is my favorite. I also buy the Keitech Tungsten heads and tie my own skirts. Most of the time I cut off the weed guard.

[scotty34]

GRT jig 1/2-3/4 oz ALX dragger and 14lb flourocarbon

[lafalot]

Reporting back.. spent all Sunday last week throwing the finesse jigs and getting tiny pecks from very small fish. I know this because following up with a small finesse presentation on every instance lead to a dink at the end of my line. Where do you all see the most success on small football jigs?

[ECobb91]

Keitech Model II and beast coast OW sniper are the ones I use most. I was making my own with Hyabusa shooter heads but those are now discontinued.. will probably start making them with the keitechs.

for a rod I use 2, both I built as casting rods

NFC MB 704-IM with 20lb braid to 10lb leader for 3/8oz jigs
NFC XRay SJ736 with 30lb braid to 12lb leader for 1/2oz jigs

Big fish eat small jigs. Think about how often a bass eats a 3-4” crayfish compared to a 4-5” one.. much more natural presentation. Haven’t had a problem only catching small fish on them, really every good outing I’ve had has been with those small jigs. It’s my confidence bait

[lafalot]

Keitech Model II and beast coast OW sniper are the ones I use most. I was making my own with Hyabusa shooter heads but those are now discontinued.. will probably start making them with the keitechs.

for a rod I use 2, both I built as casting rods

NFC MB 704-IM with 20lb braid to 10lb leader for 3/8oz jigs
NFC XRay SJ736 with 30lb braid to 12lb leader for 1/2oz jigs

Big fish eat small jigs. Think about how often a bass eats a 3-4” crayfish compared to a 4-5” one.. much more natural presentation. Haven’t had a problem only catching small fish on them, really every good outing I’ve had has been with those small jigs. It’s my confidence bait

To be fair it was more a reflection of my ability to get on big fish than a reflection on jigs not working. Committed to adding this to my repertoire this year so keep the tips coming all. So far I'm chucking a jig wherever there's slightly rocky bottom.

[PatriotAW4]

I don't use football jigs at all. I like the Booyah boo jigs in 3/8 and 1/2 oz, cheap, they come through cover much better than a football jig and they don't cost much to replace when you loose one. For the trailer a Zoom speed craw, Z craw JR or twin tail grub works great. 7'3" heavy rod with 17 lb test P line CXX.

[squib]

Fish one a lot. Pour my own from a Do-It mold. Mostly throw 1/2 ounce but go to 3/4 if over 25 foot of water. Have caught a ton on 1 ounce in the wind or in water deeper than 30 foot. Green pumpkin mostly but also do a PBJ in stained water. Paca craw trailer seems to work well but also twin tail grubs or a Yamamoto cowboy or other DT-type. I fish braid to leader mostly. 17 FC on the light end; 20 more often. I’m fishing deep rocks/ledges around some brush so I want the ability to get the fish out of cover quickly. My average size fish on a FB jig will beat out my average on just about anything else.

[Basshunter67]

I like pouring and building my own football head jigs I fish all types of cover with them. I don't fish mono maxima heavier than 4,6,8,10
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[MainelySmallmouth]

Beast Coast OW Sniper is my favorite. I also buy the Keitech Tungsten heads and tie my own skirts. Most of the time I cut off the weed guard.

Second this one ALL DAY LONG.... I don't know for open water that there is a better option to throw. Simply put, it gets bit!

[MainelySmallmouth]

Keitech Model II and beast coast OW sniper are the ones I use most. I was making my own with Hyabusa shooter heads but those are now discontinued.. will probably start making them with the keitechs.

for a rod I use 2, both I built as casting rods

NFC MB 704-IM with 20lb braid to 10lb leader for 3/8oz jigs
NFC XRay SJ736 with 30lb braid to 12lb leader for 1/2oz jigs

Big fish eat small jigs. Think about how often a bass eats a 3-4” crayfish compared to a 4-5” one.. much more natural presentation. Haven’t had a problem only catching small fish on them, really every good outing I’ve had has been with those small jigs. It’s my confidence bait

DITTO!! 100% Agree...

[lafalot]

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Stuck my first nice jig fish this past weekend. Thanks for all the tips!

[Aruss1984]

Agreed. Its unbelievable how many smallmouth Ive caught on it. I actually go to it when Im scoping vs a drop shot, thats how much confidence I have in it. Im also thankful most of the guys in my area havent picked up on it yet. Ive probably caught many hundreds of smallmouth on it. The key that Ive found with the OW is pulling it very slowly. Dont hop it, pull it. When you think youre going the right speed, youre still moving it too fast. Let it walk over the rocks and sand. The bites are violent. My fav trailer is the Max Scent Super Trooper...or Lil Super Trooper....which ever one has the big flapping claws... I cant remember.

Second this one ALL DAY LONG.... I don't know for open water that there is a better option to throw. Simply put, it gets bit!