Jig Fishing | How To Fish a Jig for Bass

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A bass jig is one of the most versatile lures an angler can learn. It can be crawled along the bottom, pitched into cover, hopped down ledges or swum through vegetation depending on the jig style and trailer.

How to Fish a Jig for Bass

Start by letting the jig reach the depth you want to fish. For bottom presentations, use short hops, drags and pauses while keeping enough contact with the bait to feel changes in weight. Around docks, bushes and other cover, pitch the jig accurately and let it fall on a controlled line. Many bites happen on that initial fall.

Basic Bass Jig Setup

A medium-heavy or heavy baitcasting rod with a fast action is a common starting point. Match line strength to the cover: fluorocarbon works well around rock and relatively open water, while braid is useful in thick vegetation. Add a craw-style or other soft-plastic trailer to change the jig’s profile and action.

When to Fish a Jig

Jigs can work year-round, but they are especially useful around bottom structure and cover when bass are feeding on crawfish or when a compact presentation is needed. For a moving presentation, see our swim jig guide. For another versatile soft-plastic option, see our Senko review.

COMPLETELY CUSTOMIZED

Jigs are the most customizable bait in bass fishing. Fishermen have several choices when deciding on a jig setup – from the jig head, skirt, and soft-plastic trailer.

Anglers can choose between:

Jig Head: Size, Color, Shape, Weight

Jig Skirt: Color, Length

Jig Trailer: Color, Shape, Length

Jig Add-Ons: Weed-Guard, Rattle

An example JIG set up: A ¾ oz. black-and-blue Strike King Hack Attack Jig paired with a Junebug Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer.

Kevin Van Dam says he would pick a jig and crankbait if he could only have two baits. His tip for anglers working on the technique is to go to places where you know you can get bites.

HOW TO FISH A JIG

Jigs are traditionally meant to be dragged along the lake bottom. However, anglers can also hop or swim them back on their retrieve. Using a jig allows fishermen to tell the lake bottom composition. Anglers can use heavy jigs with weed-guards to flip and pitch to punch through vegetation and target hard to reach bass. Jigs can imitate everything from scurrying crawfish to swimming shad depending on the setup.

KVD pairs with BPS to bring you a the jig fishing tips video you see below.

CATCH BIG FISH

If jigs are known for one thing – it’s for catching HUGE bass. Maybe the saying larger fish eat larger baits or the fact they are so customized but jigs can be a difference maker for angler on the water.

Just this year, up and coming Carhart sponsored angler, Jordan Lee won the 2017 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Conroe by using a homemade football jig paired with a Rage Craw and a Space Monkey for a trailer.

The current world record spotted bass caught on New Bullards Bar Resevoir in Califronia by Nick Dulleck in February 2017 was caught using a dirty jigs finesse football jig paired with a Gary Yamamoto Double Tail Grub trailer