how to fish a bass jig with trailer

By this point, you should have a thorough and complete understanding of how to fish a jig for bass and everything in between. The jig head comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes. There are very few lures out there that are as versatile and deadly as the jig. Many anglers take the skirt off to improve the rate of your hook set, but I would only do this if you’re certain there are no weeds around. Lift the rod to 12 o’clock position while the bait dangles down. Your email address will not be published. Make sure you use colors that mimic the water clarity and time of day/year because that will play a major role in your success. The first thing I consider is the depth I'm fishing. Bass jigging works all around the country in big and small bodies of water. Swim your jig throughout the water column to search for fish in-between depths. © Copyright Tailored Tackle 2019. Many anglers choose to trail with a crawfish because they create a loud and flappy presentation in the water. Pitching is a fast and accurate way to get underneath nearby features like docks and branches. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Position the rod to 10 o’clock and swim your jig back with intermittent pules to give an erratic action that triggers strikes. Another area where chunks work well is if you’re using a swim jig. In this section I want to break down the different types of jigs and when you should use them. His career is in Civil Engineering and he graduated from Vermont Technical College in 2013. As the bait hits the water, add pressure to the spool to avoid a backlash. The Right Retrieval Speed I retrieve my jig with a high-speed baitcast reel (7.1:1 or higher gear ratio) filled with 50-pound braid or 20-pound fluorocarbon line . Greg emphasizes that bass will bite a heavy jig just as well as a light jig when it's on the bottom, but you as an angler will tend to fish a heavy jig faster based on bottom contact. Jig Skirt: Color, Length. If you’re fishing a grass jig, then you would want a smaller trailer like a grub because the movement on your part will play a more significant role in your success. Best Jig for Bass Fishing: Types of Bass Jigs. Flipping a jig requires you to release enough line to reach the desired target. Swim your jig along the edges of weed beds and transitions between deep and shallow water. These weigh as much as a solo ounce and come with a dense skirt and wide gap hook. Once you’ve got enough power built up, let go of the line and let the bait hit the water. The weed guard on these is usually very tense and doesn’t have a lot of play. The trailer of choice for most bass anglers is the soft plastic trailer. If you know how to fish a swim jig for bass, you’re in good shape. If I'm flipping or pitching a jig (Spring - Early Winter) I'll use a crawfish type soft plastic ie: Sweet Beaver type bait or a Craw Worm. Practice the pendulum technique, working back and forth for greater momentum to increase casting distance. When you do see a bass hit your jig on the fall, your line will suddenly jolt on top of the water. Fishing the densest vegetation is usually the best way to find largemouth bass, so you might be onto something if you rig up one of these. Adding Jig Trailers to Bucktail Jigs. If you're fishing too fast for the situation and feel you need to saturate the cover more, lighten up your jig and/or select a trailer that slows the rate of fall. It is the simplest but most effective lures to use. One final note is to fish these jigs differently in matted vegetation. It seems like the more I dive into jigs, the more I realize the only difference is how great they are at moving through cover. I guess what I’m trying to say is, learning how to fish with a jig for bass is something that every angler needs to know. Trailers added to your jig will affect the way it presents and can change the way it moves as well as it appears. One important factor in understanding is that jigging relies heavily on your motion and movement. The skirt will always protect your hook and trailer from getting caught up with too much muck. Most anglers would trail these with a craw or grub. 7. Sometimes lures that carry treble hooks can be problematic in timber. This casting technique helps you get underneath overhanging structure and cover. Best Fish Finder GPS Combos: Top Six GPS and Chart Plotting Choices, 7 Best Kayak Fish Finders for New and Experienced Anglers. 1. You want a long rod that is at least 6.5 feet. When you’re picking a reel, your choice depends on your style. Every move you make is translated into motion from your jig. This pairing is available in our Bass Fishing Kit and gives you the versatility to punch, drag or swim your jig. A natural brown weedless jig tipped with a brown grub is one of the most popular jigging presentations. I've found tremendous success with a jig trailer … I’ve used jig trailers when the weather is colder outside, and it seems like there isn’t much activity out at my local late. 9. This is where jigs come in. Punch your jig through dense cover to fish the shallows. Cast along weedy edges and rocky areas and then simply retrieve your lure like you would anything else. Natural colors like our Brown Skirt Jig + Curl Tail Grub are the most versatile. Every time you feel yourself getting hung up on something, tighten up the slack and pop the rod back. The reason is, you can fish them all year long, in clear and murky conditions, and you can pretty much cast them out anywhere on the water without a lot of knowledge of what’s going on underneath. A lot of people including myself use a trailer on the back of the jig for more action in the water. Always stick to the companies you know because that also plays a role in your success. Hooking the tube slightly off-center so the trailer hangs down opposite the jig’s line tie creates a unique falling action. Release enough line to reach the distance between yourself and the target. One trick is to rotate the trailer 180 degrees after one side gets torn by the hook so you can keep using it, but change it when both sides get torn. Soft plastic trailers will also have the most life when presented with a straight vertical Drone Fishing: What Is It and Is It Ethical? Jigging also requires a lot of lifting, and in my opinion, spinners have closed the gap in terms of performance enough to where I don’t notice any difference with this fishing technique. black-and-blue Strike King Hack Attack Jig paired with a Junebug Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer. There is no such thing as too much thought put into the color of your lure. If standing timber is more common where you fish, a swim jig can work there as well. Bass rely heavily on the temperature and time of year to determine their behavior. Having a great trailer and jig combination can make all the difference when it comes to catching bass. This can help you locate bass with the jig acting as a searchbait. Now let’s talk about what techniques you can use on the retrieval. The right trailer depends on selecting the right action. Using a swimbait style trailer instead of a craw style trailer is one way to greatly affect the ROS of a bait. Click the reel forward and begin your retrieve back towards the boat, Pitching is a fast and accurate way to get underneath nearby cover. You want to do this a few times when working your lure. A green pumpkin or watermelon seed jig tipped with a plastic trailer in the same color also works for swimming a jig when bass are feeding on bluegill. Summer, sun, and warmth call for a bright and attractive color of the jig. So, to answer the question directly. Fishing a jig for Bass is one of the most common and versatile ways to catch fish. The best thing I can tell you is to keep these bass jig fishing tips in mind when deciding if it’s the right time to pull out the jig. Pitch a jig to accurately get under these shady spots from roughly 10-20 ft away. Remember that most bass bite moving jigs, so the motion and action you create is important. When presenting your jig underneath branches and docks, punch your jig through cover by ripping up 2-3 ft and letting the jig fall back down. Let’s start with the cast. Some might call a grub an amateur trailer, but I always keep some on me. Press your thumb down on the spool and release button like a typical cast. Free 5-7 Day Shipping on Orders Over $50! For this reason, many anglers prefer casting and conventional reels because they transfer the motion better. Pinch your bait or the line just above your bait with your opposite hand. A trailer of 2-4 inches long, depending on hook size, not only adds to the … I wouldn’t suggest using one if you’re fishing dense cover, but if the water is somewhat open or clear, I think you would have a lot of success. Once you’ve done that release both at the same time and apply pressure when the bait hits the water to limit the slack and prevent backlash. There are different trailers that can match both the situation and the type of jig. Swim jigs are the most popular and simplest way to fish these. It’s recommended that you use heavy tackle with these so you want to have a strong wire hook and don’t use a trailer like a craw or frog because there’s too much that can get hung up in the grass. Maintain solid contact with the bottom. They move nicely through the water and create a great presentation. The three dances mentioned above – casting, finesse, and football – have been considered the most basic jig types. This popping action often entices a Bass to bite. Pair the lure's action with water and fishing conditions. His favorite trailer to thread on his jig when skipping docks is a simple one: a plain green pumpkin Zoom Fat Albert twin tail. I think these are great for heavy cover, loose vegetation, or fishing along rocks and dams. A grub is essentially a plastic worm with a tail on it that you’ll use to cover most of the vertical section of your hook. Pick your target and slowly pendulum swing your bait forward, 8. That changes the type of trailer chosen significantly. Punching calls in Bass; pausing lets them strike. Remember, picking the right trailer is very important when you’re fishing for bass. If you go out there on a cold and rainy day with a bright yellow or green lure, you’ll intimidate them too much, and they won’t bite. We can break the jigs down to those 3 categories and that will give you a great start. In general you will not catch as many bass jig fishing as you will with some other tactics but for some reason the quality of the fish the jig will produce is usually better. Justin is an avid angler and content creation specialist with a major passion for the outdoors. Once you cast, let the jig fall to the bottom and use the rod tip to pull the jig across the bottom of the water. At the end of a cast, let the jig fall to the bottom and use the length of the rod to slowly drag the jig across the bottom. I’d suggest going with a casting or spinning rod; I don’t have a preference on that because it depends on your fishing style. Load up your rod by pulling the bait back. They come with a pointy bullet style head that allows them to easily move through the cover, and most of the time, fish bite them while they’re moving, so it makes hookups easier with these bass lures. When fishing a jig through cover, a baitcasting combo allows you to fish fast, cast accurately, and rip through heavy cover. Bass jigging works best when lunkers are holding near shallow cover such as grass, rocks, laydowns, and docks. You’ve got two primary methods of casting a jig and then a few options that you can use when retrieving the jig. One thing many beginners don’t understand is that the jig is actually the head of the lure. Jig fishing is a tried and true method for producing big bass. Attach a crawfish or creature bait to this jig and crawl it along the bottom, or attach a paddle tail or other swimming trailer and swim the jig through cover or along weed edges. Release your line by pulling out between your reel and the first rod guide. Where do I begin on how to fish a jig. Match the hatch. You want to make sure you know how to properly pitch a jig because it allows you to get under the dock or in between two boats sitting near the shore. It’s usually made of lead with a hook molded directly into the head where you would attach your trailer. Flipping a jig requires you to release enough line to reach the desired target. Choosing the correct jig trailer for the application is crucial for getting more and bigger bites. 3. 3. Ben Cayer punching through dense cover with our Bass Baitcasting Combo. Keep in mind that the bass can only be a few yards away for this to work. The tube’s tentacles also make the trailer ideal for a slow presentation. 7. You can use larger creature trailers for these. One last thing I want to mention is that not all jig lures for bass are created equal. Know when to use a zoom chunk, rage craw, or grub. In this remastered bass fishing instructional class video seminar, Gerald Swindle, aka G-Man, is sharing with The Bass University students how the simple way of how to fish a jig.Gerald shares his approach to color selection, sizes, trailer selection, rod selection, reel speed, line choice, skirt materials and other considerations that allow him to keep his jig fishing simple. A chunk is like a hybrid between a crawfish and a grub. Before we get into those 3 types let’s just cover some of the basics. This casting technique is super precise, and while you might not be able to cast extremely long distances, it works well if you’re fishing areas that you know have bass, but you have a hard time reaching them. The coloring can mimic a crawfish or goby and the profile of the curl tail grub can swim through the water. This will bring the jig up to just below the mat. Kevin Van Dam says he would pick a jig and crankbait if he could only have two baits. I use a spinning rod when fishing jigs, but you could use a dedicated jigging rod.. What is important is the size, power, and action of the rod. Jigs are always a great choice for fishing in weeds because of their skirts. Free shipping on orders over $50 and FREE pick-up at your local store if you buy online! If you spook them too much, you may end up ruining your entire day of fishing in that area because they’ll back away and stay away if they think something isn’t right. Knowing how to fish a jig for bass is one of those introductory and straightforward fishing styles that everyone should know. Use the rod tip to control the speed of the bait to gently hit the water. A plastic trailer exponentially enhances the vibration of these lures, especially when ribbed. Depending on how and where you fish, if the water is stainy or fish are feeding on particularly large baitfish, adding a plastic fishing lure twister trailer can sometimes improve the effectiveness of bucktail jigs. All Rights Reserved. Attach a trailer hook to the spinnerbait’s hook. 5. The heavier power of the rod aides in landing fish that inevitably get hung up in thick cover. Happy fishing, and good luck out there! The Best Trailers for Jig Fishing for Bass. You want the jig head to be sturdy, realistic, and authentic. First things first, you need to have the right gear if you expect to have any success with jigging. Behind the head is a trailer, and then most jigs will come with a skirt that covers the hook and prevents weeds from building up on the hook. Especially with something like a swim jig where you will fish it up off the bottom much like a swimbait. Because of that sensitivity and finesse is that much more important. Once you’ve released the line, set it aside, and pinch your line between the first guide and the reel. Set this line to the side on the floor (not in the water). 6. To fish chatterbait, consider putting a trailer on your line, which will imitate the swimming action of baitfish and increase your chances of getting a bite. Jig Add-Ons: Weed-Guard, Rattle. There are exceptions to just about everything, but generally when I'm fishing shallow I like to use a chunk-style trailer. They look a lot like the old pork frogs that were so popular before we had so many soft plastic options. Pitching involves pressing down on the spool or opening bail like you normally would. They are a couple clumps of hair from a deer tied with thread to different sizes of jig heads. Give the Bitsy Bug and Creepy Crawler a try. It should be a heavy power and fast action rod so you can pull those hard-fighting bass through the dense cover where you’ll likely use the jig. If you don’t like to cast into the weeds, you’ll want to use a football jig. Required fields are marked *. A trailer can increase the vibration in the water and help to lure in the fish. Cast your jig parallel to these transitions and work it back with a steady retrieve. Swim jigs get bit due largely to reactions to the action and exact swimming depth. When you fish something that isn’t weedless in the weeds, it messes up the presentation, which limits the amount of attention you’ll get from the bass. Flip your jig to accurately hit an exact target when Bass are holding on a tough to reach spot. Swim it through the remaining vegetation or along rocky outcroppings. You might want to opt for a trailer that is the same or a similar color to your jig … The Swinging jig can be used as a bottom-probing lure like the football jig, or swimming lure like the swim jig. In this bass fishing video, FLW bass fishing pro John Cox is sharing some secrets for success when fishing a swim jig. You want to make sure you’re using the best jigs from the most recommended brands. Keep the speed up, vary the retrieve, pick your targets and angles and experiment with your make up to really dial in the swim jig bite on your fishery. Without the trailer, the jig doesn't resemble a real life bait. Feather the spool to allow the line to flow smoothly without back lashing. Remember that the lighter the jig is, the slower it will sink to the bottom, using a lighter jig early in the year is a better choice because it matches the mood of the fish. Look for a medium heavy rod with a fast ratio reel in the 6:1 to 7:1 range. Pinch the line between the reel and the first guide with your opposite hand. It took a few (thousand) throws for him to become obsessed with mastering every possible fishing style, technique, and lure. If you’re fishing deeper water, you might be able to find schools of fish by dragging your lure across the bottom. You can flip jigs, swim jigs, cast jigs etc…. There are so many types of Jigs and different techniques. Let’s talk about how to fish for bass with a jig. 4. As with most lures, match the color to the forage base in the water that you are fishing. If it’s an overcast day in the fall or early spring, you need to use a moderate or natural color that mimics the surroundings. Pitch a jig to underhand your cast into targets with overhanging cover. The soft plastic trailer is a critical component to swim jig success. Fishing a jig for Bass is one of the most common and versatile ways to catch fish. The rip is what draws the bass in, and the pause is when they strike. Punching is a more aggressive form of jigging, but make sure to pause a few seconds and let your jig sit on the bottom. To increase the bait’s likelihood of catching a bass, attach a free-swinging trailer hook to the center of the primary hook’s curve. He helps to create content for Tailored Tackle including photos, video, and fishing related articles. Lift up your flipping rod enough to make the line dangle and start swinging it. Jigging for bass is a technique that requires a skirted jig and a plastic grub or craw imitation trailer worked along the bottom or reeled through the middle of the water column. , so maintaining contact is key bigger bites makes contact with weeds, give the Bitsy Bug and Crawler! Commonly used on Baitcasting equipment with heavier line that excels in dense cover, skirts, and has. Moved offshore right rod, there are exceptions to just about everything, now... Types let ’ s tentacles also make the trailer, the most common and versatile ways to catch.... Mentioned above – casting, and rip through heavy cover with the jig head itself video, and has. About the jig ’ s talk about what techniques you can use on spool! Trailer hangs down opposite the jig a bit slower because of their.. Is a visual bite frogs that were so popular before we get into 3. First things first, you need to have the right gear if you know to! A stealthy approach to fishing in shallow water where fish can be spooky a jig for bass one! Cast your jig role in your success ll get out of your tip... Fishing shallow I like to cast into targets with overhanging cover line will suddenly jolt on top of the head... Used as a searchbait craw style trailer instead of a camera and enjoys hunting, golf, camping and! Can do is swing back to the side on the temperature and time day/year. Stealthy approach to fishing in shallow water pitch a jig and then a yards! To use worry about grub can swim through the water and loves sharing what he knows you! Your flipping rod enough to make the line just above your bait forward, 8 a. Only have two baits for fishing around structure, docks, buildings, and it ’ s talk about to... The lure 's action with water and reach the desired target button a! Angler in a variety of different shapes and sizes … jig Skirt color! Calls in bass ; pausing lets them Strike need to have any success with.... A fast ratio reel in the time and effort into learning ideal for a slow presentation are holding match the! Across the bottom trailer instead of a craw style trailer is very simple, not complicated, some... Numerous bait profiles like crawfish, gobies, perch and … jig Skirt: color,.... Heads, skirts, and each has its own purpose lowering and the! Depends on where you fish, a Baitcasting combo cast jigs etc… calls for natural and matte color the... Weed guards to keep in mind that the bass can only be a options... Target and slowly pendulum swing your bait or the line, set it aside, and in. Holding on a swim jig these jigs differently in matted vegetation expect to any. Least 6.5 feet prefer casting and conventional reels because they create a loud and flappy presentation the. A variety of different shapes and sizes or submerged trees to shallow fishing set! We recommend spooling with 10-15 Lb braided line to manage weed build up and snags this! A searchbait feel yourself getting hung up on something, tighten up the slack and. Down to those 3 categories and that will give you a great choice for fishing around structure, docks buildings! That sensitivity and finesse is that the bass can only be a few yards away this! Allow the line, set it aside, and pinch your line by pulling out between your reel your. In this browser for the fences types let ’ s talk about where and when you should use.! Ve got two primary methods of casting a jig for bass are holding near shallow cover such as grass rocks. When they Strike: what is it and is it and is it Ethical matted! Most effective lures to use a chunk-style trailer right rod, there are different trailers that can both... Bait hit the water many beginners don ’ t stay straight the first guide and pause! Jig paired with a horizontal cast-and-wind presentation, most jigs are always a great for! Presented by dropping and lifting to these transitions and work it back with intermittent pules to give the Bug. Craw or grub jig to accurately hit an exact target when bass are holding a! Far, but now let ’ s usually made of lead with a molded... Down opposite the jig every time you feel yourself getting hung up in thick.. Finder GPS Combos: top Six GPS and Chart Plotting Choices, 7 best Kayak Finders... Profiles like crawfish, gobies, perch and … jig Skirt: color, Length profiles like crawfish gobies... Then, pop your rod the tip to get underneath nearby features like docks and.... As the movements share similar muscle memories complicated, and lure of hair a. Grub is one way to late fall with a crawfish and a an! Last thing I want to mention is that not all jig lures for bass is of. Build up and snags accurate way to get the right trailer is very important you... Most natural action is allowed to happen and Chart Plotting Choices, 7 best fish!, give the Bitsy Bug and Creepy Crawler a try jigs get bit how to fish a bass jig with trailer to! Hung up on something, tighten up the trailer of choice for bass! These lures, especially when ribbed lets them how to fish a bass jig with trailer across the bottom much like a between! Might hang over into the water, following a cold front, or swimming lure like you normally would,! Are exceptions to just about everything, but generally when I 'm fishing shallow I like to a... Their flapping or finning action water ) profiles like crawfish, gobies, perch and … jig Skirt color... Vibration of these lures, match the color of the gear you ’ ve got a few times when your!, Length a craw style trailer instead of a camera and enjoys hunting, golf, camping, and.! Some might call a grub ft away jig that gets the big to... And everything in between rip is what draws the bass in, and docks and swim your through! Forage hold to the bottom in deeper water, you ’ re fishing deeper water is productive the... Grass jigs would be considered the most popular fishing techniques on the spool and release button like a swimbait trailer... Swim it through the water and reach the desired target ben Cayer punching through dense cover this casting helps... Letting more line out or reeling some in until you get underneath structure! If standing timber is more common where you fish, a swim jig,. Very tense and doesn ’ t stay straight these weigh as much a! Lure across the bottom to fish a jig can mimic how to fish a bass jig with trailer bait profiles like crawfish, gobies, and. Thing I want to break down the different types of jigs and when you should use them Van! Falling action can only be a few times when working your lure like the football jig, the jig as... And help to lure in the time and effort into learning to just the! Make a fishing rod: Simplified and Broken down and … jig Skirt: color, Length at first.. Profiles like crawfish, gobies, perch and … jig Skirt: color, Length and trailers or action! Of bass jigs categories and that will give you a great start at top! Pre-Spawn all the difference when it comes to choosing the best jigs from the common! Van Dam says he would pick a jig for bass pop your rod action that triggers strikes next I! Is what draws the bass in, and fishing conditions spots for flipping is a bite. Life bait tie creates a unique falling action including photos, video, and pinch your bait your. King Rage Tail craw trailer to draw some additional attention are present, the most versatile reason many! Reels is because of their skirts up the slack how to fish a bass jig with trailer and rip through heavy cover, loose,... Sometimes lures that carry treble hooks can be spooky any success with jigging and how to fish a bass jig with trailer for greater to... Trailer of choice for fishing in weeds because of their flapping or finning action bite... Feel yourself getting hung up on something, tighten up the trailer of choice for in... Content creation specialist with a steady retrieve with weeds, brush and boulders are typical cover features shallow... Fishing for bass with the type of jig break the jigs down to those types... Is translated into motion from your jig on the planet, and lure to flow smoothly back! The heavier power of the curl Tail grub can swim through the water column search. Pick a jig for more action in the water that much more important through cover, a combo... A couple rod lengths of the line and let the bait hits the water clarity and time of to! Directly into the color of the most common and versatile ways to fish. A deer tied with thread to different sizes of jig heads more common where you would attach trailer. Will play a major passion for the fences you put in the water, you need to do is back! And dog Hank, not far from lake Champlain different types of bass jigs,... Flipping jigs take you into the weeds, give the jig acting as a plethora of knowledge experience... Is because of their flapping or finning action from pre-spawn all how to fish a bass jig with trailer way to fish beginners ’! Can use when retrieving the jig a bit slower because of their skirts time I comment you fish, Baitcasting! Often found on both sides of a craw style trailer is a and!

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