Several types of jigs are used for bass fishing, including swim jigs, football jigs, flipping jigs, punch jigs, finesse jigs, vibrating jigs (chatter bait), and hair jigs. I fish all my jigs with a fluorocarbon line or braid with a fluorocarbon leader. Hooks should be regularly maintained and sharpened to ensure the lure performs optimally. Keep up the maintenance with all your lures, rods, and gear.
A swim jig is a good bass fishing jig. It consists of a lead or tungsten head and a silicone or rubber skirt and is designed to resemble a swimming baitfish. It is typically fished with a straight or a slow, jerky retrieve and can be used to target bass in various cover and water conditions. It is best used when bass are actively feeding, as they will often strike the lure out of reaction. Add a trailer to the swim jig to give the bait more action. The best swim jig bass fishing setup is a solid baitcasting rod and reel. Use a stout medium-heavy 7-foot rod to get a reasonable casting distance. This rod type should be paired with a baitcasting reel spooled with 15lb to 20lb fluorocarbon or braid with a fluorocarbon leader line. Experiment with different weights and trailer sizes, and types. If you want to get deep and slow roll on the bottom like a heavier swimbait. A 3/4 – 1 ounce jig is a good choice. I like a 3/8 to 1/2 jig. Get out there and give it a try to see what you like.
A football jig is a type of bass fishing lure typically made of lead or tungsten with a flat bottom shaped like a football. It is designed to imitate a crawfish or other baitfish and is generally used when bottom fishing. The most typical way to fish a football jig is to drag it along the bottom, keeping your rod tip high at 10:00 or 11:00 or low at 7:00 or 8:00. Football jigs are great for fishing in the summer as fish head toward deeper water. Still, they can be an asset in your tackle box year-round when you want to target fishing low in the water column. The ideal way to use a football jig is to cast it around the structure and make it imitate a crawfish or baitfish dying on the bottom. Highly effective around any craw-holding habitat, the football jig excels near transitions, so pay close attention to changes in bottom composition when fishing. Rip rap, docks, and laydowns are great for football jigs.
A flipping jig is a specific bass fishing technique that uses flipping jigs to present a bait well in close quarters. It’s particularly effective in shallow waters and comprises four main components — a lead or tungsten head, weed guard, hook, and skirt, just like other jigs. Flipping jigs are designed to go into wood or brush and come out unscathed. I prefer flipping jigs to be 3/8 to 1/2 ounce. They have a stout, heavy gauge hook. They are typically used for making short flips, pitches, and roll-casts to shallow wood, shoreline grass, deeper grass beds (in some cases), or other covers. Flipping jigs are usually fished with a vertical jigging motion.
A punch jig is a heavy fishing jig designed to punch through matted vegetation and get to bass hiding in the cover. They are typically made with a heavy lead or tungsten weight attached to a flipping hook to target large bass in heavy cover. They are best fished by approaching the cover closely and slowly before punching the jig through the vegetation. It catches those bass hiding in thick cover, and you may be cleaning weed off the jig quite a bit. You must have a heavy or medium heavy rod with a stout line. I use a braid do to its strength to pull fish out of the cover. In the northeast, we do not do as much of this fishing.
A finesse jig is a small jig that usually has a small profile head, a smaller “cut back” or “collared” skirt, and is usually between 3/16 to 3/8 ounces. Finesse jigs are effective for bass fishing in areas with lots of small fish, heavy angler pressure, and colder waters. To fish with a finesse jig, cast it out and let it fall to the bottom, then lift your rod and let it fall on a slightly slack line. You can lift the jig off the bottom a couple of inches and work it like a yo-yo when fishing brush or deadfalls. Fish it with finesse. A lighter rod with a lighter line is a good choice here. You want to present the jig delicately because these fish may be more easily spooked or have extremely clear water.
Vibrating jigs, commonly known as chatterbaits, are among the most popular bass fishing lures. They are designed with a bent blade and a jig head that vibrates and wobbles when retrieved, making them effective in all water conditions. They can be fished in shallow or deep water and are usually used for power fishing techniques such as long casting and retrieving to cover water. They can also be used for pitching. Power fishing is used to cover lots of water. When fishing a vibrating jig, choosing the correct rod and line is essential. A moderate action rod with a heavier line is usually preferred, as it will give the angler enough power to cast the lure and reel it. Chatterbaits are fun because the strike can be aggressive.
A hair jig is a type of jig generally used for bass fishing in northern waters. It is a simplistic and aesthetically bland jig, and an effective method for catching bass. The hairs on a hair jig are smaller than on other jigs, and the hairs float, giving the jig more action and movement. The hairs are usually natural. This could be an excellent choice to throw something different the fish have not seen before. The best time to use a hair jig is when the water is below 50 degrees, as the subtle movements of the hair can help trigger bites. The hair jig is an off-bottom technique. It is more of a finesse presentation. Give it a try. It is likely something the bass have not seen.
A trailer for a jig lure is a plastic or rubber bait attached to a jig head hook. Trailers come in various shapes, colors, and sizes and can be used to add extra action to a jig lure. Jigs with trailers can imitate various prey, including baitfish, shrimp, or crawfish. The trailer should be rigged so that when the jig is moved, the trailer will move with it, giving it more realistic action as it is retrieved. Think about how a fish swims through the water. You want to mimic that with the trailer flapping side to side or up and down. The trailer should be chosen based on the type of prey the angler is trying to imitate and the water conditions and season. Choose a fish-type trailer to mimic baitfish and a crawfish-type trailer to mimic crawfish. Colors should be selected based on water and light conditions.