No wonder bass jigs catch a lot of fish. Squads have been responsible for numerous tournament victories over the decades. Unlike other lures, a jig requires more attention to detail to be successful.
Bass jigs should be used near dense cover and on a rod designed for jig fishing. These baits are perfect for casting along the bottom of a lake or river, but can also be fished floating in the water column.
There are many lures on the market that an angler can easily pick up and use without worrying about rigging and presentation. A template is not included. Well, you can, but the results will not be what you are looking for. In this article I am going to break down all the details needed to make this bait a favorite.
Be near strong cover when jig fishing
Bass anglers know that big fish live on some really gross and twisted stuff. However, most of us will avoid jumping into such a situation, as the chances of getting "hanged" are high. Baits are expensive. We don't want to lose it.
To be a successful jiganger, we must change that mindset.
Templates are designed to be used in situations where no sane person would use them. The bass that calls those thick, impenetrable places home is the same bass that will tip the scales in your favor.
It takes practice, but you'll soon learn the best way to retrieve a jig in these situations, but you have to be willing to put that bait in places other anglers aren't. Once you get the mental block that prevents anglers from launching into these things under control, you'll have a whole new lake or river to fish. Because? Because a lot of people never cast a bait in there.
The right fishing rod
Fishing big stuff requires the right rod. The right fishing rod will prevent the bass's head from turning and allow the angler to instantly transfer power directly to the hook set.
If the fish can't turn around, the probability of pulling it out of hiding and onto the boat increases exponentially.
So what is the right fishing rod?
When you're diving into tight coverage, a Heavy Power rated rod with extra fast or fast action is what you're looking for. The tip of the rod should reach the spine almost immediately. If the rod has too much flex or gives way, the chances of getting the fish are close to zero.
A good fishing rod will feel almost like a telephone pole, but will be nimble enough at the tip to allow for precise bait placement.
If you are using a more bottom-rebounding accessory, you can use a medium-heavy power rating with great success.
place the roll correctly
I've seen a lot of fishermen lose bassfishing with jigFor this reason. The brake must be turned all the way down. This is not the time to let the fish walk the bait and 100% of the energy must be transferred to the hook for it to penetrate. We don't want slippage.
When setting up the jig, release tension on the spool and drag system. You want the bait to fly off the reel with ease. This allows you to cast longer casts and allows the lure to enter the water with little to no ripple. A silent tackle means you're more likely to take a reaction hit.
Taking a few minutes to make any necessary adjustments to your reel will pay huge dividends.
The importance of the slackline in jig fishing
For a jig to work optimally, it must land on a slackline. When a bass jig falls completely vertical, the most natural action can take place. The worst thing a jig can do is swing towards the angler with a pendulum motion.
Soft plastic tags also have the longest shelf life when presented with a straight vertical slope.
To ensure your bait lands on a slack line, lower the rod tip as the jig enters the water. If you run the jig a long distance, you may need to pull the line off the spool if it falls off.
be attentive. Many bites will occur when the bait falls. Notice if the line stops sagging or if there is the slightest jolt. If so, reel it in and set the hook.
thick line
When launching into close coverage, a strong line is a must. I prefer to use a 50 pound braid. Some jigangers are even heavier, but I've had great success with this size.
Braid is not only extremely delicate, but can withstand the abrasion of being thrown into brush piles and around spring cables.
Keep in mind that most hits on this thick shell will be actual reaction hits. The perch does not take a long look at the bait. It will fall in front of them and they will just react.
Choosing the right reel for jigging
This is definitely a time when you want a high speed reel. Look for a deal with a gear ratio of 7.2:1 or higher.
A high speed reel will do two things for you. First, it allows you to give many more presentations in a day of fishing. Once you're done with your cast, you can quickly roll up this lineup and move on to the next cast.
Second, and perhaps most important, a high speed reel gives the angler the power to get the fish out of that heavy cover. Remember that part about the slapping line earlier? A high speed reel picks up this extra braid so fast that the fish doesn't even have time to know what happened.
the set of hooks
This is the time for this legendary power hook.
There are many situations where we need a more subtle side sweep hook set. This is not the time.
When you feel that hit, roll up this little game piece and then punch it into place. This not only gives you the best possible penetration, but also keeps the head of that big bass toward you and out of thick cover.
A lighter hook set when jigging will increase the odds in favor of the perch as it twists and buries so deep you'll never see it.
keep it simple
Simplicity is important when choosing colors and tie charms. It's very easy to get overwhelmed at the tackle shop. There are thousands of possible combinations and every angler has their own favorites.
at the beginning of hisfishing with jigCollection, focused on three colors: black blue, pumpkin green and brown.
Match the label of your choice to the color of the template and you're done.
As you progress through your jigging career, you will vary the color options slightly and find a few that you are comfortable with. Focus on these three options first and life will be fine.
final thoughts
fishing inweighted blanketbecause huge bass is something I never get tired of. When that line jumps and you're retiring in a six-pound truck fighting your way off the bush, well, let's just say it's one hell of an adrenaline rush. Get those smartphones out because it's photo time!
These eight tips will turn the odds in your favor and make jig fishing something you'll never tire of.
Good luck, stay safe and don't forget to cheer someone up today, you never know how you could change their life forever!
FAQs
What is the best perch fishing jig? ›
Most of the best perch jigs are 1 to 2 inches in length. Soft plastic jigs are effective, versatile and inexpensive, with some of the more popular styles being tube jigs, curly-tail jigs and split-tail jigs. Small hair jigs and marabou jigs (i.e. “crappie jigs”) are also excellent choices.
What size jig is best for perch? ›| Jig Hook Size | Lure Size (inches) |
|---|---|
| Size 8 | 1 – 1.5 |
| Size 6 | 1.5 – 2 |
| Size 4 | 1.75 – 2 |
| Size 2 | 2 – 2.5 |
Finding Perch
In spring, once the water reaches about 50 degrees, you'll find the fish in the shallows, around 3 feet deep, close to shore. Look for structure like docks and downed trees, as well as weeds. As the water warms up to 60 degrees they will start moving out towards deeper water, about 5 feet deep.
Perch will generally congregate in shallow water early in the season, and move deeper as the ice thickens. The movement of perch could be best summarized by: “shallow at first, then deep and then shallow again.” Meaning that at first ice, when shallow weeds are still alive, perch will be hovering just outside of them.
What time of day are perch most active? ›Perch fishing is usually best in the early morning or evening hours during late spring and early summer and late afternoon or evening in late summer. In autumn, both morning and late afternoon-evening provide excellent fishing. In the natural lakes, the best fishing is usually from late summer until late fall.
What rod should you use for perch? ›Short soft specialist lure rods are ideal. A good dropshot rod around 6ft 6ins-8ft in length is an ideal all-around choice for soft plastic lures. Jig rods tend to be slightly stiffer and are good for bigger fish and boat fishing.
What time of year do you fish a jig? ›Bass jigging works best when lunkers are holding near shallow cover such as grass, rocks, laydowns, and docks. Fishing a jig in deeper water is productive in the summer and winter time or when baitfish have moved offshore.
What attracts perch? ›Live Minnows and Other Swimmers. Various types of shiners, freshwater shad, and other small fish are incredibly effective yellow perch baits when fished live right near the bottom. While many perch anglers prefer small minnows, Janowich likes to fish minnows in the 2- or even 3-inch size range.
What is the best bait for big perch? ›Best Baits
Larger perch prefer worms, other small fish and fish fry. Effective baits include lob worms, earthworms, maggots and casters. When fishing for impressive specimens between 2-3 lbs (0.9-1.4 kg), dead baits of small fish such as minnow are a great choice, as is spinning with artificial lures or spoons.
You'll find perch wherever there is fresh water. Look for areas with natural structures: weeds, dams, submerged objects, islands, inlets, rocks, reeds and bridges -- any place where plants can grow. Plants attract bait fish and bait fish attract sport fish, so those are the areas you want to look for perch.
What size hook is best for perch? ›
Best for Live Minnows and Leeches, the short shank with a wide gap on an Octopus hook is great for hooking large fish. Use a smaller #6 or #4 for 1-2″ minnows and small leeches to target Perch and Crappie. Use the medium size #4 & #2 on larger 3-4″ minnows and jumbo leeches for Walleye.
What size spoon is best for perch? ›For perch, an 1/8-ounce is about perfect. If you're on big, aggressive perch, go to a 3/16-ounce and you'll be in the ballpark. You can tip it with a minnow head, but adding two or three waxworms or maggots instead works perfectly for perch.”
How long does it take for a perch to grow to 12 inches? ›The yellow perch can continue to grow; by the time they reach 10 years old they can be as big as 3 pounds and 10-12 inches long.
What time of day do perch bite? ›During late spring and early summer, early morning and early evening hours are best. During late summer, late afternoon and evening is best. In autumn, the best times are morning, and late afternoon evening. During the winter, the low light of late afternoon-evening is good.
What smells do perch like? ›- Human Saliva. Human saliva seems to be a fish attractant. ...
- Anything Fish. Fish definitely will be attracted to the fish scent, which makes a lot of sense. ...
- Cheese. ...
- Coffee. ...
- Garlic. ...
- Alcohol. ...
- Human Natural Oils. ...
- Sunscreen And Bug Spray.
Float or leger will catch plenty of perch but the float does offer more sensitivity, as well as letting you cover more of the swim. A standard waggler works well but because you are often fishing at short range, a pole float may well serve you better.
How old is a 6 inch perch? ›Males and females mature when they are 1-2 years old or at a length of 15 centimeters (6 inches) long.
What weather is best for perch fishing? ›WEATHER CONDITIONS
Overcast, low barometric pressure and a light drizzle are very good conditions for perch fishing. However, the main consideration when perch fishing is light intensity. Like all predators, perch have large eyes and extremely good eyesight that they use as their primary weapon.
The ideal temperature range for catching yellow perch is between 63 to 77 degrees. However, yellow perch have faster growth rates when water temperatures range between 70 and 75 degrees. If water temperatures exceed 78 degrees yellow perch will be stressed and the bite will fall off.
How old is a 15 inch perch? ›There were some perch that were 15 inches that were 5-7 years old and then there were some that were that size that were 12 years old. My guess would be that the 12 inchers that you were catching were 3-4 years old with a good food source and maybe 5 years old with a poor food source.
How do you fish a jig for beginners? ›
- Cast out and let your jig hook sink to the bottom and count a few seconds or wait until you feel the spoon hit the bottom.
- Snap or pop your wrist and rod tip up quickly a short distance and let the lure drop back to the bottom.
- You can jig up and down, side to side or up and down and sideways.