bass with a jig

How to Catch Bass with a Jig by Dan Thomas

The first areas I start looking for mid to late spring bass is in the upper end of the lake back in the
tributary creeks. These sections of the lake tend to heat up sooner and are usually a little off color. The
off color water will hold heat longer maintaining more stability in inclement weather. If the water is
extremely off color, I will use a flipping technique. To flip I will use a 7-1/2’ heavy action flipping rod and
a bait-casting reel spooled with 30 lb. To 50 lb. braided line. You will need the heavy equipment to force
the bass out of the cover very quickly to avoid getting hung up.

With approximately 6’ of line out grab the line with your fingertips between the reel and the first guide.
Press the button on the reel keeping tension on the spool with your thumb. Move your hand with the line
in it straight out to your side pulling line with it. Engage the reel. Swing the rod back and then forward
with a pendulum motion. As the jig swings forward slowly release the line on the forward swing. Try to
do so in a smooth fluid movement so the jig will enter the water with as little splash as possible.

Flip the jig directly into the thickset part of cover such as fallen trees, brush piles, standing timber, or
boulders. Let the jig sink straight down. Once the jig stops falling or you hit the depth you are targeting
hold the jig in one place and shake the rod. Usually when the fish hits, particularly large fish they have a
tendency to pick up the bait and slowly swim off with it. Keep a close eye on your line. If your line starts
to move off in one direction, reel down and set the hook hard. Pull the fish from the cover as quickly as
possible to keep the bass from wrapping your line around the cover.

Pitching is a very effective method of fishing jigs in slightly off colored water where you may spook the
bass by getting to close. To pitch a jig release enough line to hold the jig in your hand. Release the
spool and control the line with your thumb on the spool. As you swing the rod forward in a pendulum
motion toward your target release the jig in your other hand. Be careful not to hook yourself. As the rod
swings forward and the jig is traveling towards your target, feather line out with your thumb. As the jig
reaches your target and just before it enters the water stop the line with your thumb. This will allow your
jig to enter the water with minimum splash.

In clear water, I will move further away from the cover and make long under hand cast. Keeping the jig
low to the water as it is traveling to the target, again try to keep your jig from making a big splash and
spooking the bass. A trick I use often in clear water is to cast on to the bank and pull the jig into the
water. This works very well when fishing lay downs. Bass in clear water can be very skittish and spook
easily. A breeze creating a ripple on the water will affect the bass’ visibility and can improve your strike
ratio considerably.

When flipping or pitching a jig around wood cover I will use an Arky jig or flipping jig in a 3/8 oz. to a ½
oz. Size. When fishing weeds I will use a bullet shaped head in a ½ oz. to ¾ oz. Size to penetrate the
weeds better. In deep water such as fishing deep rocky drop offs and creek channels my favorite jig is
the football head in ¼ oz. all the way up to ¾ oz. Depending on how deep I am fishing. As far as jig
trailers a good rule of thumb is to use pork trailers in the cold months and plastics in the warmer months.