How To Fish A Jig For Bass: The Ultimate Guide
- by David Chavez
- February 17, 2022
Table of Contents
Fishing has been a favorite pastime for people of all ages and skill levels for years. It’s easy to see why – fishing is a great way to spend quality time with friends and family, both on the water and at home.
There are many different ways to fish, from slow-moving live bait fishing to high-speed trolling.
But there’s nothing quite like the feeling of bass taking a lure you’ve cast out into the water. If you don’t know how to fish a jig for bass, this article will teach you everything you need to know!
What is Jig Fishing?
A jig is a lure designed to look like something fish would prey on. The original jigs were made of meat and leather strips, and reels were not used with them. This form of fishing has been illegal for more than 100 years in the U.S. However, this hasn’t stopped sportsmen from continuing to use it as a way to catch fish. Instead, modern jigs are artificial lures made of metal or plastic.
Jig fishing is best done by casting the lure out over the water and “jigging” it back towards you with short jerks of your rod tip. For this reason, many people who love jig fishing also enjoy kayak fishing.
Different Techniques for Fishing Jigs
There’s a different kind of bass jig that you can use, here are some of them:
Swim Jigs
Swim jigs are a more traditional version of the jig and can be cast and retrieved with a simple flick of your wrist.
Flipping Jigs
Flipping jigs work best when you add weight to the lure and flip it in front of cover like seawalls, break walls, docks, etc.
Grass Jigs
Grass jigs are great for fishing around the grass. They’re especially effective after it has rained because the rain pushes bass out of the grass and into open water.
Casting Jigs
Casting jigs are good when casting from a pier or dock, which you can do to cast out and then simply hop the jig off the bottom.
Punch Jig
A quick jig that works best when you’re trying to catch active fish.
Tail Jig
You can flip this lure, but it’s flat on the bottom so it works better for slow-moving lures. When fishing with a tail jig for bass, be sure to use a ball-bearing swivel or one with a wire keeper.
Football Jig
A football jigs is a combination of two popular types of jigs: the flipping jig and the slender swimbait.
Skirted Jig
A skirted jig is a standard jig with a skirt, typically made from plastic or rubber.
Jig Head Shapes
When choosing jig heads, keep in mind that you will get more action from an angled-shank head. You’ll also get more lift, which makes it easier for shallow-water fishing. But if your lure weighs less than 1/8 of an ounce, go with a straight shank instead to avoid snags while fishing in deep water.
What Equipment Do I Need to Fish Jigs?
In order to fish a jig, you’ll need a rod and reel that can handle lighter lines. Casually fishing with jigs is usually done with spinning tackle in open water, but if you’re kayak fishing, it’s best to go for something more heavy-duty like baitcasting gear. Additionally, due to the short jerks of your rod tip required for successfully catching fish on a jig, rods designed for this type of fishing are often shorter than other types of rods.
You’ll also want at least one jig per rod – many people carry two or three so they can adjust the size and color of their lures without leaving the water to make changes.
How to Fish a Jig for Bass?
If you’ve never fished a jig before, start out by using the following steps:
- Attach your line to the D-loop of your rod using a Palomar knot.
- Place a jig on the hook and push it up to where the eye is. Then, slide your finger from the eye down until you have about 8 inches between the jig and the weight.
- Use a stop-and-go motion as you reel in. At first, try working around docks or vegetation – places that provide cover for fish. Once you’re comfortable fishing there, try going to open water spots, such as drop-offs near brush piles or underwater points of land.
- As you learn how to fish bass jig, remember that these lures are mobile – they move! So don’t be disappointed if you miss some bites; just keep at it because eventually your timing will be perfect, and you will catch some bass.
- After you get the hang of fishing jigs, experiment with different types and colors. For instance, darker colors like black and green work well when it’s cloudy, while white and chartreuse are effective in sunny weather.
Different Types of Bass Lures
Are you familiar with different types of bass lures? If not, don’t worry! We laid it out here for you.
Spinnerbaits
The most common type of lures is spinnerbaits. When you hear people talk about catching bass on a “spinnerbait,” they are referring to the classic buzzbait with one or more blades turning in unison. This is widely considered to be the best bait for catching bass because it imitates a fleeing minnow, which is their favorite meal.
Spinnerbaits can be weighted or unweighted and can vary in size, color, blade number, shape, speed of retrieval, etc. A lot goes into choosing what kind of spinnerbait you should use when fishing bass. For starters, if you’re fishing in clear water during the day try using a silver/white spinnerbait with a red blade. In murky water or at night, opt for a gold/yellow spinnerbait with a black blade.
Soft Plastic Lures
Soft plastic lures are soft-bodied works of art that come in many shapes and sizes, from worms to frogs to crawfish. They can be rigged wacky style, Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged. These lures have an extremely effective action in the water.
However, it is important not to let your soft plastic lure sit on the bottom for too long because the bass will lose interest in it. If you’re in open water and aren’t catching any bass, try skipping over brush piles with a jig head – this is when these lures really shine.
Jerkbaits
If you’ve ever seen or used jerk bait, you know why they are so effective. Jerkbaits come in many different sizes and colors. The most common color for bass is green pumpkin, but other great color choices include watermelon red, Junebug, and bluegill.
As the name implies, jerk baits are meant to be fished by jerking them back toward you with short twitches of your rod tip. Remember that different types of lures work better under different conditions. So if you’re fishing an area where no other lure has worked it’s best to try something totally new (i.e., switch to another type of jig).
Tackle Boxes
In order to be a successful bass fisherman, you need to have the right gear. A good place to start is by creating and naming your own tackle box (i.e., “jig tackle box,” or “frog tackle box”).
You can even create little compartments in it for specific types of lures, such as topwater lures, buzz baits, and spinnerbaits. The more organized you are, the easier it will be to find what you’re looking for when practicing how to fish bass jigs!
Now that we’ve gone over some basics about different types of lures for catching bass, let’s talk about the best way to reel in your catch: steadily and slowly!
Best Way to Reel
Bass fishing is exciting because it can be so unpredictable. So if you’re using a spinner bait but haven’t had any bites, keep at it – keep the bait moving constantly and pay attention to your line for any subtle movements that indicate you’ve got a fish on the other end.
When reeling in bass, even if they are small fish it’s best not to set the hook too early because sometimes what feels like a small fish is a big one! Instead, wait until your lure gets close to the boat before setting the hook. This will prevent accidentally pulling out smaller bass because of over-eagerness.
One thing you don’t want to do is reel your bass in too quickly. Slowly and steadily will always prevail when it comes to reeling in big fish.
One of the best things about fishing jigs for bass is that as long as you’ve got a steady hand and sharp eyes (and can operate your fishing rod) you’re good to go – no matter what kind of bass lure you choose or where you are, there’s nothing like angling success!
Basic Baitcasting Equipment
If you’re new to fishing, a good place to start is with basic equipment.
A simple combo of a spin cast reel and rod works best for novice anglers because they are easy to use and sturdy.
To find the right kind of rod for the spin-cast reel, measure out about a foot from where your handle would be on the reel. Your pole should have about two feet sticking past your fingers when you hold it at this distance away from the reel – this is your ideal cast length.
When you cast, take your time and use smooth motions in order to get the most distance out of your cast.
Once you’re ready to reel in your catch, just take note of how far away it is from the boat. If it’s close, then gently pull on the line with your fingers until you’ve got a good grasp on it. You can also try reeling in fish that are further away by attaching a small lead weight to your line near where it connects to the fish’s mouth – this will make them easier for you to reel in!
Match The Hatch
A great way to find the bass is by matching up what they are eating at the moment with an effective lure choice. foods for bass include shrimp, crayfish, frogs, mice, small birds, and even grasshoppers!
Water clarity is another factor to consider when looking for bass – they tend to be more visible on sunny days where the water’s surface is less murky.
Sight Fishing For Bass
When trying to find out how to fish a jig for bass, one of the best ways to do it is by sight fishing which means catching fish from your boat. This will make it easier for you to determine what kind of lure they are really going after at that time.
One key thing about finding bass by sight fishing is keeping quiet during your approach. This way you can sneak up on them without scaring them away before you’re ready to cast! Once you’ve got them in sight, cast your lure into the water at an angle so it lands in front of where they are swimming.
If you can’t see any bass but can hear them, you can try to replicate their sound with a topwater lure to draw them in closer. If this doesn’t work, try slowing down how many lines you let out or switching to a different type of bait since sometimes the fish don’t want what they’ve been feeding on recently.
Knowing how to fish jigs for bass is fun and exciting!
The Best Fishing Style
Since bass fishing is a popular sport for many people who enjoy the challenge of the fight – catching an elusive bass can be very exhilarating!
A more traditional way to catch bass is by using live bait instead of lures. The most common live baits are small minnows, leeches, worms, and crayfish.
One advantage of using live bait over jigs or other lures is that you can feel it when something is biting your line – this gives you immediate feedback so you know right away if there’s a catch on the other end.
Live bait fishing can also help you get better at reeling in your catch because you have to control not only your lure but also your line tension while working with live baits.
Next is, the steady retrieve.
The steady retrieve can be used when you need to move your jig slow and steady with the occasional twitch.
If you’ve got a fish on but it’s not hooked yet, try using an erratic movement which means constantly shifting your jig every time you pull up or drop-down so they don’t get used to the motion. This will keep them interested in what’s going on at the end of your line!
Last is, shaking it off! Stay calm if you think you have a catch on your line – just gently work it back by reeling in slowly while constantly maintaining tension on the line. You’ll know right away based on how much pressure is being applied whether there’s fish there or not.
Choosing The Right Location For Fishing Bass
There are several different ways to determine the best place to fish when trying to find out how to fish a jig for bass; some of them include looking into the water’s depth, underwater structures like rocks or logs, leftovers from old trees that fell into the water during storms – anything that might fish!
Once you get out on the water, you can get even more specific by looking at the types of vegetation growing in the area. These plants can attract small fishes which in turn attract larger fishes like bass!
You should also take note if there are any local species of large game bass living in that body of water because they may be easier to pinpoint – just look for their fins sticking out above the surface or their dorsal fins cutting across it. You might notice other boats around this type of game fish’s location – if so, drop your line near them and see what happens!
Although bass fishing is an exciting way to spend time outside with friends or family while catching dinner, it’s important to monitor how much catch you bring home to ensure that these fishes remain a sustainable food source for the future.
Final Thoughts on How To Fish A Jig For Bass
Now that you’ve read all throughout this article, we know that you’re well on your way to becoming a pro at fishing jigs for bass! With all of the information out there, you can feel confident in knowing that this is an important and valuable skill to have.
We hope you enjoyed our article and found the tips we’ve given you helpful! If there’s anything we didn’t cover or any specific questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask us whatever it is that might be holding you back from joining that experienced fisherman at their favorite spots on the water. We’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible!
David Chavez
I love blogging anything and everything related to fishing!. Much of my background comes from Freshwater fishing, but I'm also pretty decent when out in the ocean. My goal is to help other anglers better their skill-sets with proper guides, and just have fun doing so.
