How to Jig With Lead-Headed Jigs
Few fishing lures can match the versatility of lead-headed jigs. Jigs can be retrieved through the water to look like a minnow, hopped along the bottom in 2-foot bounces to look like a dying minnow or dragged along the bottom to look like a crayfish. Jigs catch game fish species ranging from crappies and sunfish to muskies and walleyes --- there really are no limitations to how anglers jig with a lead-headed jig.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Select a lead-headed jig. The best selection parameter is to choose by weight, and you should use a jig that is sufficiently heavy to keep your bait on the bottom. Smaller jigs in the range of 1/32 oz. to 1/16 oz. are best for crappies and sunfish, while 1/8-oz. to 1/2-oz. jigs are best for bass and walleyes. The largest jigs --- those above an ounce --- are best for muskies and pike.
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2
Use a Palomar knot (see "Resources") to tie the jig to the end of the line.
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3
Choose a bait. Some fishermen prefer artificial lures and thread a grub, paddle tail or plastic worm onto their jigs. Others adorn them with leeches or minnows. If the fish are not biting too well, choose live bait. You will save time by fishing artificial bait if the bite is hot.
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4
Choose a spot to fish based on the season and where the fish you are targeting are located. From shallow to deep, jigs work anywhere.
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5
Cast your jig and wait for it to hit the bottom. Raise your rod tip to the 12 o'clock position, and then reel in the line as you lower it to 9 o'clock. Repeat that process as you retrieve the jig back to the boat. Another good jigging method is to fish over a school of fish, or an area where you believe fish are, and let the jig fall right below the boat. Raise and lower your rod tip to impart action onto the jig. Experiment with how quickly you can raise and lower the jig.
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6
Drop your rod tip slightly when a fish bites. Set the hook in an upward motion with a sharp wrist snap.
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1
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit spinning with jig bait on the river beach image by Kokhanchikov from Fotolia.com
