All fishing lures are not created equal. All fishing lures are, however, created to mimic the behavior of insects, small fish, frogs and worms, the main diet of fresh and saltwater fish. A jig is another tool in an angler's tackle box for teasing bass, crappie, trout or other fish from their underwater home to the angler's waiting net. Choosing a jig for the right fish and fishing conditions isn't hard to do.
Definition
Fishing jigs for both fresh and saltwater have weighted metal heads shaped and colored to roughly resemble the head of an insect or a small fish. The hook is attached directly to the weighted jig head and is often surrounded by a flowing tail of feathers, animal or human hair or strips of rubber or plastic. Tail-less jigs often have a body covered in soft plastic or rubber. The weighted head doubles as a sinker to keep the jig underwater. Jigs vary greatly in size, shape and color.
Jig Action
A jig is aptly named because of the action required by the angler. Whether a jig is cast on the surface of the water or dropped near the bottom, it needs to be "jigged," or moved about, to attract the attention of fish lurking nearby. A jig left to rest at the bottom of a pond, lake or stream can be suddenly snapped or jerked upward to increase the interest of a passing fish. On the water's surface, a twitching, moving jig used while trolling or reeling line in slowly or jerkily creates a natural swimming/skipping motion many fish can't resist.
Adding Bait to a Jig
Adding live or cut bait to a fishing jig enhances an angler's chance of catching a hungry fish. A minnow, shrimp, nightcrawler, maggot, leech or bit of cut bait worked onto the fixed hook of a fishing jig attracts meat-hungry freshwater fish such as walleye, bass, crappies and panfish. Tuna, flounder, snapper, amberjack and mackerel respond well to bait-tipped jigs used in saltwater.
Size Matters
Successfully catching fish with a jig depends a great deal on the size of the body and attached hook of the jig. Different types of fish respond to different jigs. Bigger fish, such as walleye, saltwater fish or large trout, require bigger hooks; smaller fish, like panfish or crappies, require smaller hooks. Fishing jigs vary in size from a fraction of an ounce to whole ounces. The size of the weighted head determines how far the jig will sink.
Using a properly weighted fishing line also impacts the action of a jig. The strength or test of a line needs to be light enough to allow the jig to play, skip and twitch naturally in the water. For example, a 1/4-oz. jig usually requires a 6- to 8-lb. line. Tips and suggestions, as well as the types of fish a jig will lure, are usually indicated on the packages of purchased jigs.
Horizontal and Vertical Jigs
Fishing jigs used for dropping and sinking to the bottom are called vertical jigs. The gentle lift-and-fall action of a moving vertical jig catches light and sparks interest in nearby fish. The weighted head floats upward, and the baited or unbaited hook hangs below it.
Horizontal jigs are more suited to moving through the water at an angle, as a minnow or other small fish might move. Rather than lifting and dropping these jigs, horizontal jigs are pulled at a bit more of an angle through the water while drifting or trolling.
Member Comments