Pro-Fishing Tips - Fishing Articles for Pro-Fishing Success
Jigs Year Round
Versatile Baits For Big Quality Bass
Justin Kerr
Every angler fishes a jig certain times of the year. However, Jigs are successful during all seasons. Jigs will often catch big quality bass at times when many other baits will only produce smaller fish. They can be fished to represent all types of bass forage crawdads, blue gill, shad or any other baitfish.
Even though the jig has been proven to work year around, my favorite time of year to fish a jig is late spring and late fall. The jig is often most productive following a spawn or just prior to the fish moving deep for the winter. I have three different ways that I like to fish a jig during these times of year.
Finesse
First I use a 1/4 ounce brown jig with a Roboworm Kickin’ Craw trailer or pork rind trailer. This jig is best used in grass areas when the fish are suspended prior to pushing out deeper for the winter or suspended following the spawn. I prefer to fish this bait on a 7-foot, medium heavy, G-Loomis rod with 10 to 14 pound Sunline fluorocarbon line. With the finesse jig I tend to slowly drag the bait back to the boat. Maintain focus on the bait because often times with a finesse jig the bite is more of a “mush” bite than a “thump” bite. I have had success using this combination in areas of northern California, such as Clear Lake or the Delta or in my local lakes of Southern California, Casitas or Castaic.
One-Tons
Another jig that works for me is a 3/4 to 1 ounce “spider jig.” A spider jig is a Yamamoto twin tail grub with a hula skirt combo. It can be used in a deep off shore structure in order to find deeper bass. It can also be casted into shallow water in order to create a reaction strike from bass that have moved up to feed. It is best used on a 7 foot to 7 1/2 foot G Loomis rod with 14 to 20 pound Sunline fluorocarbon. With a one ton style spider jig I “hop” or “pop” the bait in and out of the grass or structure looking for a reaction strike from the quick movement of the bait. This technique proves very successful in the Colorado River chain of lakes.
Swimming the Jig
Lastly, I use a swimming jig to catch bass feeding on bluegill or shad. I start by fishing a 1/2 ounce jig with a brown, chartreuse and green pumpkin skirt with a Roboworm Kickin’ Craw trailer or Yamamoto single tail grub. I use it on a 6 1/2 foot, medium-heavy, G-Loomis rod with 16-pound Sunline fluorocarbon. I swim this jig, keeping the bait barely off the structure or bottom. My favorite type of areas for this technique is near isolated cover or grass patches. This technique has been very successful for me in tournaments all over the west.
Just about everyone throws a jig during one time of year or another. However, with their versatility jigs are a valuable tool for big quality fish pretty much year around. They can be finesse fished, power fished or even fished more along the lines of a swimbait. However you fish them, they are one of the best tools in your tackle box to put a giant bass in your livewell. Jigs......they are the kerr-licous choice!
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