Jigging for Bass in inland lakes - anyone do it?

[mdrouill]

It seems to me that jiggin is a very popular method for catching bass, but it does not seem like many people jig in Michigan.

On some of the fishing shows and articles, you'll see the guys throwing the pig-and-jig into the weed edges and lily pads and nail some nice large mouths.

Am I missing out or is jigging not productive in the northern lakes?

Thanks!

Mike

[RJSwirlz]

It's productive here....

[XXXdisel77]

As far as I'm concerned in the hot summer months the bass are deep and jigs are very effective. In fact I will jig in 30+ fow and nail some pretty nice bass. I was kind of skeptical like you when I first started fishing them in deep water, but became a believer quickly.

[Maverick1]

Tossing jigs to deep water bass around structure always proves effective in the summer months.

[Ranger Ray]

Works for me.

[sfw1960]

Jiggin' for ANYTHING can be very productive , but I think the reason you don't hear much about it is a lot of guys never put in their time & become proficient at it , and there fore don't do it B/C it intimidates them.
:)
I jig sometimes.....
:lol:

[Chad Smith]

I think the reason you don't hear much about it is a lot of guys never put in their time & become proficient at it.
Yeah, maybe. Jigging is very slow, most people want to catch fish and now, especially those who fish tourneys. I love jigging but it is the slowest way to fish.

[mdrouill]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the feedback.

I am a firm believer in confidence baits and a fishermans preference to lean towards them and give them more time. I will try a new bait or technique for 10 minutes and if nothing pans out, I switch back to my series of confidence baits.

I will certianly have to give jigs a try - especially in the summer.

Mike

[gilligan33]

I too have often wondered this. I've never fished a lot with jigs. In fact, I haven't fished a lot period until the last year or so, and I've really tried to gain as much knowledge as possible in the last year.

That being said, those of you that do use jigs, what techniques and tips can you offer? Presentation? Color? Type of structure? Depth? Time of year? Anything else that I missed....

[basskiller46]

A lot depends on water color. If its clear you want natural colors like your watermelon or pumpkin seed. If its nasty go with dark or light colors i prefer
black with blue flake. Many different ways to use it you can hop it, swim it, shake it in place, work it and then just all of sudden dead stick it ive done best just hopping it back to the boat this also depends on what structure you are fishing too.

[sea nympho]

A lot of guys are (& have been) throwing jigs.

[Roosevelt]

I don't jig n pig, but a tube jig or twister tail is definitely one of my "confidence" baits. It all just depends on the fishes mood and the structure you're fishin. Sometimes I'll put a tube or twister on a bare hook, rigged weedless and fish the weeds. Sometimes a big body w' a light head for a slow drop gets em. Sometimes a constant reel w' 3 or 4 hard fast twitches now again slays em, usually when they're very active.

There's been times usually when fishin deeper water I'll have to let it set on the bottom for 13-30 seconds or longer before they'll take and I swear they all usually bite right at that preferred second mark. You can count it off at times and just set the hook before even feelin the bite. I use a stiff all graphite rod for jigs, you can feel the bite even on a limp line.

For lm's I like white/ pink head, white/ yellow chartruese, chart./ chart., chart./ black, yellow/ black, purple/ black, but i'll use other colors too if needed.

for smallies I like the natural colors best except for the purple/ black and yellow/ black combo. I try to use the color for smallies of the minnows in the lake or crawfish/ leech colors.

I rarely do good w' green, but one lake is loaded w' lm's and emerald shiners. Anything green and silver works wonders there.