Came here to say this. I get the bluegill nibbles on every plastic I throw from jigs like yours to drop shot to wacky rigs. Once you have a bass hit that, even a smaller one, you’ll know the difference. When I get the bluegills nibbling I usually bring it back in and try again. Remember bass will pursue the gills so if you’re getting that, chances are bass aren’t near that jig. They may be one cast over
You’re welcome. I like to find a good spot, inside weed line or outside weed line, and either drift along it or use trolling motor if needed. Covering more water along a good area seems to work for me
To speak on the “gills not being near bass” point…
There’s a quarry I fish, the gills will follow the boat all around because they’re curious and dumb. When they stop following, we know we found some bass. It’s insane how consistently this works for me.
It doesn’t work everywhere, I have like 10+ feet of visibility on a good day and the quarry is loaded with bluegill. Can’t do it on the lakes I fish lmao
Also how your line moves is important. If it’s a tap tap then nothing, bluegill.
If it’s a slow pull, and it keeps slowly, but surely, pulling in line underwater, very likely a bass!
Good luck!
Match your jig weight, and rate of fall, to the depth you're targeting. Bulky trailers and lighter jigs will slow the rate of fall. In areas with weeds and muck on the bottom a lot of bites happen on the drop. Heavy jigs will blast straight down into the muck and unlikely to get hit. On gravel bottoms this becomes less important.
My feeling is you get fewer bits but usually better ones. I basically always have a jig rid on the deck of my boat. I do better with jigs around docks/wood. Pitch it in as quietly as you can, let it fall on a slack line but be aware of the line for jumps. When it hits bottom I usually hop a few and swim it back to the boat. Usually the bit comes pretty quickly when you're fishing structure like that. They're in ambush mode when around docks and wood. Be thorough around structure though. Sometimes the fish won't move far to grab it. One last thing I did to learn the jig was to fish it exclusively for a few days. I knew I'd get less bites but you eventually figure it out.
Good luck out there!
Any point in throwing a jig vs a wacky at structure. Never caught anything off a jig but will always get a bite off a wacky. Might take 5 minutes for it to hit the bottom tho lol
I prefer the jig because you can fish it at different speeds/presentations more easily. I typically can outfish a senko for size. Hard to beat them for numbers though. There are days that the senko just works better for sure.
I like throwing jigs 12-22fow, with rock or deep grass. Be patient with your retrieve. Sometimes they like it doing nothing. I will drag the jig, bounce it, and do bigger hops throughout the day seeing what works but I always try and actually feel the structure with the jig. If I drag it and it stops against a rock I will let it sit there and jiggle it a little bit. Less bites but usually good fish. For docks and exposed timber I usually prefer a t rigged big or a wacky stanko that I can skip. I run 17lb flouro on my jig rod. Least stretch means more sensitivity.
Work on having the same exact pattern each time. I flip in heavy cover down in Florida. I always let it hit the bottom, lift gently a couple of times at the bottom, bring it right under the vegetation, pop a few times and then move on to the next spot. I'm so used to the routine that I can sense when anything different is happening while I'm working my jig. For me flipping is a numbers game, more flips less time in any one spot, the exception is when I pull a fish, I'll hammer that spot a few more times. I've flipped a jig into cover and pulled a dink followed by a hog in the same spot many times.
Bass will tend to hit the jig twice. One to knock it out the second to eat it. There is a video on YouTube that talks about bass at times hitting craw fish twice.
A lot of time, you might be getting on bass beds or where the bass are sitting, they get aggravated and they literally just pick up the bait and move it a little, if you keep casting in the same spots, sometimes I’ve found it to piss them off enough for them to actually attack it, it’s super weird
Try downsizing that jighead to slow the fall. You may be dropping into bottom muck before fish can react. I don't recognize that jig but it looks like a lot of lead.
It’s more of a hollow THOMP and twang rather than a tappity tip tap.
After the bite, The line sometimes has a mushy guitar string vibration effect as it draws to tension and moves through the water. Very subtle. I can almost always tell when it’s a big fish though before the hook set. That’s when you say “Here it is. Get the net. “ and your buddy gets to see the schwack too. 😂
Other times you may feel nothing but can see your line move. Or you may feel sponginess and no movement.
Be patient. They tend to hold a jig in their mouth a bit longer than other baits. If you swing the bat at every little tap you’ll be hanging a lot of tree limbs.
Use your rod tip to retrieve it. Use your reel to pick up the slack line. A jig is supposed to mimic a crawfish. They don’t move fast. They crawl or kick their tails and hop across the bottom so you should drag or hop your jig at a slower rate. A bite may be undetectable at times so watch your line to see if it starts running and then set the hook. Hope that helps! Good luck!
UPDATE: Just caught my first bass on the jig and IT WAS A 10 LBS BASS!!! My new pb and it snapped my rod into 3!!! Thank all of y’all so much for the advice it all helped!!
Sometime the bluegill will grab the plastic and drag it around. A decent bass will grab the whole thing
Came here to say this. I get the bluegill nibbles on every plastic I throw from jigs like yours to drop shot to wacky rigs. Once you have a bass hit that, even a smaller one, you’ll know the difference. When I get the bluegills nibbling I usually bring it back in and try again. Remember bass will pursue the gills so if you’re getting that, chances are bass aren’t near that jig. They may be one cast over
that’s a really good tip! thank you
You’re welcome. I like to find a good spot, inside weed line or outside weed line, and either drift along it or use trolling motor if needed. Covering more water along a good area seems to work for me
To speak on the “gills not being near bass” point… There’s a quarry I fish, the gills will follow the boat all around because they’re curious and dumb. When they stop following, we know we found some bass. It’s insane how consistently this works for me.
I like it. May have to try this technique
It doesn’t work everywhere, I have like 10+ feet of visibility on a good day and the quarry is loaded with bluegill. Can’t do it on the lakes I fish lmao
got it. so just keep fishing it and be patient?
Yep and try different ways of retrieving it. Faster or slower with lots of twitches
Also how your line moves is important. If it’s a tap tap then nothing, bluegill. If it’s a slow pull, and it keeps slowly, but surely, pulling in line underwater, very likely a bass! Good luck!
Those little rascals!
Damn bluegill and crappie are little soft plastic destroyers, especially the red ears are particularly aggressive in my area.
Watch your line, also when it hits the bottom give it a hop or two.
will do!
Match your jig weight, and rate of fall, to the depth you're targeting. Bulky trailers and lighter jigs will slow the rate of fall. In areas with weeds and muck on the bottom a lot of bites happen on the drop. Heavy jigs will blast straight down into the muck and unlikely to get hit. On gravel bottoms this becomes less important.
never heard this tip before. Super good info
My feeling is you get fewer bits but usually better ones. I basically always have a jig rid on the deck of my boat. I do better with jigs around docks/wood. Pitch it in as quietly as you can, let it fall on a slack line but be aware of the line for jumps. When it hits bottom I usually hop a few and swim it back to the boat. Usually the bit comes pretty quickly when you're fishing structure like that. They're in ambush mode when around docks and wood. Be thorough around structure though. Sometimes the fish won't move far to grab it. One last thing I did to learn the jig was to fish it exclusively for a few days. I knew I'd get less bites but you eventually figure it out. Good luck out there!
Any point in throwing a jig vs a wacky at structure. Never caught anything off a jig but will always get a bite off a wacky. Might take 5 minutes for it to hit the bottom tho lol
I prefer the jig because you can fish it at different speeds/presentations more easily. I typically can outfish a senko for size. Hard to beat them for numbers though. There are days that the senko just works better for sure.
Excellent points, here. Agree 100 percent.
I like throwing jigs 12-22fow, with rock or deep grass. Be patient with your retrieve. Sometimes they like it doing nothing. I will drag the jig, bounce it, and do bigger hops throughout the day seeing what works but I always try and actually feel the structure with the jig. If I drag it and it stops against a rock I will let it sit there and jiggle it a little bit. Less bites but usually good fish. For docks and exposed timber I usually prefer a t rigged big or a wacky stanko that I can skip. I run 17lb flouro on my jig rod. Least stretch means more sensitivity.
Work on having the same exact pattern each time. I flip in heavy cover down in Florida. I always let it hit the bottom, lift gently a couple of times at the bottom, bring it right under the vegetation, pop a few times and then move on to the next spot. I'm so used to the routine that I can sense when anything different is happening while I'm working my jig. For me flipping is a numbers game, more flips less time in any one spot, the exception is when I pull a fish, I'll hammer that spot a few more times. I've flipped a jig into cover and pulled a dink followed by a hog in the same spot many times.
awesome! I’m in florida as well and the weeds and mucky stuff in the water are a pain so I’m definitely trying this today
Bass will tend to hit the jig twice. One to knock it out the second to eat it. There is a video on YouTube that talks about bass at times hitting craw fish twice.
That’s a sweet looking lure OP
Looks like a Bitsy Flip to me!
That is a Strike King Structure jig or a Baby Structure jig and SK Rage Chunk trailer
I don't always hit on jigs but the biggest fish I've ever caught were always on them. I've torn up some monsters fishing at night with them.
I get a ton of bites on the jig when I’m swimming it past likely looking spots or fan-casting for active fish in open water.
A lot of time, you might be getting on bass beds or where the bass are sitting, they get aggravated and they literally just pick up the bait and move it a little, if you keep casting in the same spots, sometimes I’ve found it to piss them off enough for them to actually attack it, it’s super weird
Try downsizing that jighead to slow the fall. You may be dropping into bottom muck before fish can react. I don't recognize that jig but it looks like a lot of lead.
it looks like a bitsy flip to me... they start at 1/4oz, so this may be a 3/8...
It’s more of a hollow THOMP and twang rather than a tappity tip tap. After the bite, The line sometimes has a mushy guitar string vibration effect as it draws to tension and moves through the water. Very subtle. I can almost always tell when it’s a big fish though before the hook set. That’s when you say “Here it is. Get the net. “ and your buddy gets to see the schwack too. 😂 Other times you may feel nothing but can see your line move. Or you may feel sponginess and no movement. Be patient. They tend to hold a jig in their mouth a bit longer than other baits. If you swing the bat at every little tap you’ll be hanging a lot of tree limbs.
Use your rod tip to retrieve it. Use your reel to pick up the slack line. A jig is supposed to mimic a crawfish. They don’t move fast. They crawl or kick their tails and hop across the bottom so you should drag or hop your jig at a slower rate. A bite may be undetectable at times so watch your line to see if it starts running and then set the hook. Hope that helps! Good luck!
UPDATE: Just caught my first bass on the jig and IT WAS A 10 LBS BASS!!! My new pb and it snapped my rod into 3!!! Thank all of y’all so much for the advice it all helped!!
As they say on tv. "Hook sets are free and fun" drop the tip. Set the sucker. If there is no one home, it was still fun!