The jig-and-pig has been around for decades and is a proven big-bass lure. You may need patience when learning to fish a jig, because it doesn't draw as many strikes as some other lures. But it does draw strikes from big fish. Be selective about the size of your jig, because size will dictate the techniques you use and the lure presentation the fish will see.
Jig Size
Pro fisherman Denny Brauer, a master of jig fishing, says the lure's size is every bit as important as its color. The jig's weight determines how fast the lure falls and how deep it can be fished. Brauer's top two choices are the 3/8-oz. and 1/2-oz. lures. The 3/8-oz. jig is his pick for fishing in five feet of water or less. Choose the 1/2-oz. jig for fishing on the bottom or when pitching to targets in 10 to 15 feet of water. The 1/2-oz. jig also is the choice for breaking through thick clumps of grass. If there's silt on the bottom, common in a river setting, Brauer recommends a 1/4-oz. jig to avoid kicking up silt. He chooses the 1/4-oz jig for a slower fall in cold water.
Shape, Not Color
It's just a hunk of metal to weight the lure. That's the feeling of Bassdozer.com, which argues that the color of the jighead doesn't matter. The skirt and the trailer are the attractive parts of a jig. The shape of the jighead, however, is critical. It affects the lure's fall rate, the depth it will go and the angle at which it will fall. Bassdozer recommends a jig that has a center of gravity at the bottom of the head so it will stand up on a lake bottom. The website also says a jig with a pointed nose will move more efficiently through grass. Select a jig that has no indentation between the hook eye and the jig nose for grass to catch.
Start Small
If you are new to jig fishing, Nebraska fisherman and writer Ryan Davis suggests starting small. Use 1/16 to 1/8-oz jigs with a trailer while learning to fish them. Jigs often don't draw large numbers of strikes, but they do draw big bites. Davis says the lack of bites can wear on some fishermen. Move up to larger sizes when targeting larger fish. Big Fish Tackle.com recommends experimenting with sizes, pointing out that smaller, finesse jigs work better in clear water while heavier, bulky jigs are the choice for stained water. Choose the heavier jig when fish are aggressive because you can fish it faster and cover more water.
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