I grew up dropping a chartreuse jug, hoping to get to the bottom, and bouncing it in various patterns. As I've gotten older, it really hasn't worked for me unless I already knew I was on a ton of fish. I don't think I've ever caught anything with just a jig and a twister tail. I'm pretty sure I'm missing a lot about jigging, so I'd like to know what some of you consider "jigging", and how you do it.

Are you dropping it to the bottom and bouncing it? Are you casting it out and working it back? Are you trying to hit a point in the column and swim it? How would you tell a 3rd grader to do it?

Thanks!

I am sure there are many different ways to fish a jig. I will share with you mine: I use a 1/8 ounce jig head and a three inch curly tail. I like to get 15-20 yards from the bank and throw to the shore. I do like for the jig to hit bottom or be very close to bottom when I start retrieving. I use a slow, steady retrieve and usually every 2-3 turns of the handle I will raise the tip of my rod in a short jigging motion. Fishing this manner enables me to have line that is never slack and , once you get the hang of it, you can detect some very subtle takes. I do get hung up at times and on a bad day lose 3-4 jigs.



Good luck

I tip my jigs with a minnow or leech. Then I cast it out and slowly retrieve it back to the boat. I also work it up and down stirring up the bottom. This seems to stimulate them to hit it, mostly when it’s setting down so be ready for any change in the line.

i dont vertical jig to often , but generally speaking smaller and lighter in the spring , if your drift jigging the wind can dictate how heavy you need to go to stay in close contact to the bottom. but i do use a jig spinner w/twistertail very often . i consider it to be extremely versatile & underrated . you can slow roll it across the bottom or a straight up retrieve , with some pauses , or just a simple vertical jig presentation.
very weedless , many color combinations with jig head & twistertails,different blade size & colors.
And in very windy conditions i've beefed up to a 3/4 jig head add a 5" white twistertail and cast it a country mile ;)
i've also added a 7" powerworm for a larger/longer profile.
i'm, going out this friday at midnight on my local lake waconia , , fishing has been slow and i've decide time to eliminate water under 20' so trying some deeper water 26'+ jigging with some of these 1oz jigs tipped with a partial minnow. (braid mono leader) , another option in the world of jigs :)

Thanks!

Slow paddling (stern man does a type of figure 8 with the paddle in on hand and rod in the other) grab the paddle low and brace it with your forearm. Bouncing the jig vertically off the bottom while slowly moving.

shock: "i dont vertical jig to often , but generally speaking smaller and lighter in the spring , if your drift jigging the wind can dictate how heavy you need to go to stay in close contact to the bottom. but i do use a jig spinner w/twistertail very often . i consider it to be extremely versatile & underrated . you can slow roll it across the bottom or a straight up retrieve , with some pauses , or just a simple vertical jig presentation.
very weedless , many color combinations with jig head & twistertails,different blade size & colors.
And in very windy conditions i've beefed up to a 3/4 jig head add a 5" white twistertail and cast it a country mile ;)
i've also added a 7" powerworm for a larger/longer profile.
i'm, going out this friday at midnight on my local lake waconia , , fishing has been slow and i've decide time to eliminate water under 20' so trying some deeper water 26'+ jigging with some of these 1oz jigs tipped with a partial minnow. (braid mono leader) , another option in the world of jigs :) "

Sounds like you are dialed in to catch some fish with that setup. Good luck! Post some pics if you catch any big ones.

Jig and plastic cast and retrieve. Jig and live bait vertical presentation

For walleye, you want to locate bottom. On my retrieve, I will alternate between raising the rod tip, and speeding up or slowing down the retrieve so that I bump bottom every now and then. You hit bottom too much, you will lose gear.

But if you can keep an 1/8 oz jig in that zone of bumping and not bumping, you will catch walleyes. Hell, I have hooked carp in the mississippi doing that.

You gotta watch your line, your rod tip, and feel that take. It can be very subtle.

How do I work a jig? Hmm.....I’ve always heard that fish hit a jig most of the time while the jig is falling.......so, I try to work it so that most of the time is spent falling. A quick snap up two feet, and then a slow, long glide to then bottom. However, a jig is not just that one retrieve. Reeling horizontally can work(but low percentage), jerking a tube up 4-5 feet and allowing it to spiral to the bottom works. You tell me: what are you trying to mimic? Well, go to a creek, watch the minnows, craws move around. Then do THAT. Forget matching perfect color(black or white will do).... it’s movement that is key. Watch minnows and craws......

Jigging is the best method to cover the territory and locate fish in a canoe. I like 1/4 oz for walleye and 1/8 oz for small mouth. Northern will hit either one. The casting/retrieve are the same as discussed.

Zoom Fat Albert Grub-Color Watermelom Seed is the best. It mimics the leech. Tip it with half a crawler in the BWCA. In Quetico Fat Albert is the closet thing to live bait.
A few years ago in Kawanipi my party of four caught walleye, small mouth and northern. The fish were aggressive as they chewed up at least 25 Fat Alberts.

When using a jig I almost always vertical jig. If I'm looking for fish I generally use a lindy rig with bait or a flicker shad.