The main reason people don’t get bit on a jig is because they don’t fish it long enough to get bit. They hear it’s something they can use all year around and it catches bigger fish and can always get bit. They throw it for 10 minutes and don’t get a bite they take it off and go with one of their confidence baits.
Yep. That was me until I decided I was throwing a jig until I catch fish. Now it’s one of my confidence baits. But I know fish may not always be hitting a jig. One day they kill it the next they won’t touch it
I saw a video of some dude bashing on you're new jig without ever seeing the jig himself, Seemed like he was chasing clout. Don't listen to the haters I went out and got myself a few in all sizes can't wait to try them out!
Hi Randy. You say at the beginning of every video, "thanks for taking time to tune in to the video". I want to say thank you for taking time out of your day to make these videos. I am always looking for tips and tricks to improve my skills. I have learned a lot from your videos. Keep them coming.
i think hes got a video where he talks about it.. pretty sure he won too! heres the video your talking about tho ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cyQnbpUMvkE.html
That is a hell of a deed right there I'm not sure I would have had the balls to do that pretty badass move I don't remember if he's done a video on this or not but he needs to if he hasn't that's a story worth telling.
Wow thanks Randy! That was the best foundational jig fishing primer I have ever heard. TMI? No way! The beauty of RU-vid is replay and more replay as needed. I’m saving this one for future reference. I am happy to report I was nodding in agreement on colors, sizes, and water clarity because you have taught me much about these concepts. I’m starting to catch on without a bunch of notes! Thank you again for sharing all your great knowledge and experience. I definitely will keep jigs rigged and ready at all times!
Hey Randy, please consider creating a generalized jig aid chart which includes which weight, color, size jig to use. I would definitely buy a few. Thank you for your time.
The simple little hook with lead is deceptively advanced. There is an old saying, “the height of sophistication is simplicity”, it definitely applies here. Great vid.
I love listening to your videos and they are very helpful but I have a question with water clearity I live in eastern north Carolina and fish brachish water how does that effect the colors and size of jig you choose to fish my partner and I catch fish but the quality isn't there and most are on shacky head with the Yamamoto 5" green pumpkin with chartreuse tail most of are water around here is the same along with being tidal and definitely not lacking on cover from stumps and blow downs to lilly pads and grass beds and I do know the bass in most of the waters we fish are of a Florida strain that they have been releasing since 2009 any help with how to judge the clearity of this water and would be awesome
I've NEVER caught a bass on blue n black jig. I get far better results on a PnJ and a green pumpkin/purple with Orange in Northeast Missouri lakes. I use a 1/4-3/4oz jig. My go to jig is a Mann's stone jig.
Thanks for this. I stink at jig fishing. Absolutely abysmal. Part of it is not understanding some of the ideas you spoke about and then most likely giving up to soon. Looks like this year is a jig year. Need to put the time, effort and education to work. I appreciate the valuable instruction.
I know this sounds silly to some but what's the real difference with the exception of a skirt from a jig and a Texas rigged creature bait. I've been bass fishing for 40 years about 10 years ago I stopped using jigs and won't go back, too many hang ups and haven't noticed any less fish I actually catch more and more big bass since I stopped..
I do agree that hopping a jig can generate reaction bites and some big bass. It has been my own personal experience that most of my bigger bass that I have caught have come from slowly dragging a jig through some piece of cover or as that jig clears the piece of cover. I also catch big bass slowly dragging a jig over rocks on the bottom. I believe both method can generate big bass bites. The most important thing I can stress is the same thing that Randy said and that is to keep fishing the jig. Don’t put the jig rod down too soon simply because you have not gotten a bite in 10 or 15 of even 20 minutes. I can’t tell you how many times I have caught big bass with a jig using repeated casts to some piece of cover. And when I do finally get that bite, trust me, it is usually a bigger bass
Thanks Randy! I really need to figure out the jig game. Fishing Tablerock I've just relying on 1/2 oz football jig in PB&J or black and blue with a rage tail trailer. I don't see the success that everybody talks about. I've caught a couple but not what I should be catching. If you put some more jig videos out I'll keep watching them.
Jigs!…That’s where the fun is. 🎣 Randy, I’m sure it would be helpful for rookies and old timers (like myself) to hear your thoughts on the difference between a jig bite and other strikes on plastic baits etc.
This seems odd...as a new angeler...I have noticed.... Spinner bait...its a jig. Buzz bait....jig...A-rig-...its a jig. We fish some many "types" of jigs besides just a "naked" one... I love throwing a jig..and no..I dont get many bites on the "naked" one... but I'm new so I dont expect a ton in the ponds I fish.
Randy thank you for all you do. Absolutely phenomenal content! My home lake is Clark’s hill and is predominantly spotted bass. Would you throw some stuff out there on that particular species? I’m struggling
I went out experimenting with jig presentations last week. All same color, same trailer just different weights. 5/16-3/8-1/2. Shallow dirty water about 10 inches visibility, water temps 85ish. Fishing mainly transition banks with laydowns in 2-7' of water. Absolutely smoked them on the 5/16ths, caught a few on the 3/8ths, didn't get a bite on the 1/2oz. Just one experiment but the only thing i can figure is that 5/16ths was hanging around just a bit longer in the zone than the other two and for sure had a more swimming gliding action when slipping it over limbs. All black/blue ball heads with a Zoom super chunk black/blue threaded trailer.
I think people get overwhelmed, too. Jig fishing does NOT have to be a complicated facet of your fishing if you don’t want it to be. Jigs are in my top 3 confidence baits so I have all types of stuff but I started out with two patterns…bluegill swimjig and a black/blue pitching jig. To this day, with dozens (possibly hundreds) of jigs, I really only use three trailer types. If you’re new to jigs, just get a nice swimjig/paddle and a pitching jig/trailer that instills confidence. If you dedicate just one or two outings to jig fishing, you’ll probably have a new confidence bait by the end. I promise, it’s not a mysterious/advanced/unknowable form of bass fishing AT ALL.
I love these jig videos and I’ve caught some nice ones on your old school jigs. I fish in CT with very clear water in 50 to 100 acre ponds. Your tips are right on. Thanks
I don't think you will go back and read this but your channel has grown to the point where your subject matter will benefit from visual aids. Get with Johnny and make some graphs or charts to help your viewers visualize what you are talking about. People learn differently: visual, auditory, tactile, verbal, and by rote. Listening to you talk for 15 mins may not help them learn.
Can’t get bit on a jig? Get a black blue, 1/2 oz flippin jig, a craw type of trailer, a medium heavy to heavy casting rod/reel. Cast and slowly drag it across the bottom . After that, I don’t know what to tell you. Lol
Sometimes I'll take a mini twist micro still bit, it's small size like an ink pen... and drill tiny holes in pork trailer.. tiny air bubbles.. soft plastic trailer I will use a syringe..8 or 10 holes, takes only seconds to do, thanks randy, keep videos rolling!
I fish a couple lakes with buddies and NONE of us do well with jigs in weeds. Just about any bait is better than a jig. We've done ok (not great mind you) with jigs in rivers and by rocks or hard bottoms but never by or in vegetation. My theory is we all know bass will NOT hit baits that are fouled with weeds and maybe the skirts on jigs simply look like weeds to them. What in real life forage looks like a jig with a skirt? Sure, the skirt has unique action but not like anything a bass eats regularly. Randy speaks a lot about Bass being smarter than people think, thousands of years of instinct, etc. and this theory fits perfectly with that.
Jigs catch bigger fish, so by nature you get fewer bites. Have to be patient, experiment with size/color/weight/retrieve until the fish tell you what they want. Do it enough times and you start to put the patterns together (takes less time to get bit). The learning curve is frustrating at first, but when you finally get a feel for it, you will never NOT have one tied on.
Wanted to ask you which jig will you use if you are a bank angler like myself and my son? I know structure makes it hard to choose but i would like your opinion, please Randy.
Hey Randy have you ever used gourd green as a jig color if you know where I can find this one specific color please let me know I'm looking for it it's a great Clearwater color
In the old video of him flooding his boat he says he is using 40lb. test. What are yall using now with the introduction of braid? I have several rods with braid and don't trust mono in the cover I fish.
I feel the main reason people don’t get but is bc they aren’t fishing it long enough because the typical jig is uncomfortable without the right rod setup.
I also had white or white/chartreuse 😉 especially when fishing behind someone. Fluke/bass assassin trailer in stained river system with emergent grass. Another great video 👆
I have been fishing a jig now for a year and a half and I have learned that a jig is some you have to spend a lot of time with you are not gonna get a lot of bites but the ones that you do get you to have to be ready for its almost like fish for a trophy bass you are not gonna get a lot of bits but the ones that you get you to have to be ready when fishing a jig you have to have a different mindset
Really enjoyed this one. I have 0 confidence in throwing a jig and normally give up and throw a ned or a shakey head after 30 minutes. I catch a lot of fish but probably miss out on good fish by doing that. This video and your on the water one where you caught one while just trying to explain how to work it over a laydown have encouraged me to give them more time on the water.
I’m the same way I always put down the jig and grab my confidence baits lol I’m gonna spend a few days and just take the jig rod so it forces me to stick with it.
I just have no idea what to do with a jig or what it’s doing in the water and there seems to be so many circumstances that determine what to use that you need to buy a lot of different ones. Which is hard to bring myself to do considering I don’t get results with them because I don’t know what to do with them. It’s a vicious cycle.
This topic is definitely for me. I see guys talk about how they'd choose a jig over everything and I've caught exactly one bass in my life on a jig....anxious to hear this.
Awesome video Randy. I’ll definitely put these tips to use. I find myself struggling when using a jig, however downsizing to a finesse jig has produced more bites. Haven’t landed any hogs but definitely have caught more fish.
The problem I'm having with fishing jigs is that every time I'm hopping and dragging a jig I get hung up. Especially when fishing around submerged rocks and trees. At $7-$10 each jig w/ trailer I just can't afford to loose that many in one days fishing. Whats the trick to not loosing jigs ? I have found that moving the boat past the hangup and then pulling in the opposite direction helps. But that scares all the fish away from the spot. Any help would be appreciated !
If you really believe they'll bite jigs anywhere, I will pay for your plane ticket, we battle for $5k or more, and I'll buy you another ticket home. I'm serious. Randy can take this challenge if he believes the things he's saying. I can assure you it's the easiest paycheck I will collect. I'll take you where the bass will not show interest in jigs. What have you got to lose?
Great content! I agree that main reason people say they dont get bit, or dont have any confidence in the jig and / or their ability to catch fish on a jig is lack of time fishing a jig. They have to spend some time with them and once they have had a few bites on them, they will develope confidence and continue to make the jig part of their bass fishing arsenal. I know this was a a problem I had.
So I have 2 primary water clarity’s here in Indiana. Let me know if this sounds right. Clear water - compact profile, heavy, natural color, trailer with minimal resistance to aid in quick fall so they cannot get a good look at it. Stained water -1 ft or less, big profile, light for its size, dark color, trailer with high resistance so they can see it in the stained water. Sounds like a good baseline to me.
I appreciate you sharing your secrets and knowledge everyday! I listen and learn as a co angler. I have been successful using several of your bait modifications.. I am somewhat O C D so attention to detail is everything and I can control that! Keep posting to make me an even better angler! #RippinLipsInc on You Tube !
After reading a good bit of the comments here my best advice. Buy some economical jigs in a 3/8 oz. size in Black and Blue color only! Trim the fiber weed guard on the jig equal with the barb of the jig hook . Trim the jig skirt to approx. 1/4 inch below the bend of the jig hook. Buy a couple bags of Zoom Salty Chunks (Black ) The plastic equivalent of the old #11 pork chunk. Grab a fast action rod you feel comfortable using, rig up your jig…..you can either thread on the Salty Chunk trailer or just put the hook through the meaty portion of the chunk… here is “ The Juice” as Randy likes to say…..Take only your 6 or 8 jigs and your two bags of trailers with you to the lake, leave everything else but, your fishing license and sunscreen at the house!! Concentrate on fishing in water 10 feet or less until you get comfortable with the jig. Randy gave some great tips on how to work the jig. Remember the key = No other Tackle until you catch a few fish on the jig…..Challenge yourself! It will be worth the effort once you get the hang of it. Good Fish’n Rob
So when the water is clear, is that when we should use a natural colored, slow falling jig? And when the water is dirty obviously a dark color jig and a quicker fall when it’s hopped?
Deciding how to organize my notes. I’m starting with season, which tells me where to look and what they feed on. Next comes water temperature, which tells me the critter’s activity level. Activity, clarity, tint, geography, and lighting tell me type, color, size, profile, action, and retrieve. Is that about right? What did I leave out?
I am absolutely against jigs. It's not that I don't know how use them. I don't care to. Too many damn flaws in that design. Just argued with these dummies on Matt Stefan's channel on this. It's funny. Head over there and see for yourself. They've even called me naive....and they took offense to me saying fishermen are dumb. Lol. It's gold! We're pirates mate. We're looking for gold!
Every time there's a full video of just your face and no examples. Thumbs down. Its soooooooooo hard to sit and watch a close up for 12 minutes unless your cute and Im sorry Randy your'e just not my style haha
I’m a hopper been a hopper and always be a hopper , I’m never going over 3/8 oz weight down south in Louisiana , black and blue when fishing black colored clear water and in the dirtier color to muddier water I go to brown and orange
Last year I had a mediocre year tournament fishing and caught 40% of my fish I weighed on a jig. My best seasons it’s generally 75-80%. I think people have trouble gaining confidence is that they don’t get to constant panfish messing with it like a worm. You only feel sometimes when it counts.
Everything you said is true. I have to say that there have been times when the only way I could get bit on a jig was to fish it painstakingly slow with a slow drag. One of my favorite jig combos foe dirty water is a Black and Chartreuse with a black and blue trailer. Sounds crazy I know but it works. I have also had really good success with a green pumpkin Chartreuse in dirty water as well. Good stuff as usual dude!
I not a good jig fisherman. I just go to a worm instead. I do have couple green pumpkin football head jigs & never had bite on either. I've never caught a jig fish. I will definitely b trying these techniques this season. Your absolutely right it's just not enough time out on water with them... & Not fishing them with best of technics.
Dude you always have the best advice so much knowledge u have..I can tell u have a Tru passion for fishing and learning about all bass species's...lots of guys do it for likes, I feel like u are genuine and truly want to help hard core anglers catch more fish..thank u for your time u give u..I for one appreciate what u have to say..take care God bless
Best jig video in a long time. I learned jig fishing on TB. You've enhanced that. I've done it one time, caught 3.5 pound bass on third strike in 15 minutes, broke my darn rod! I'll be back!
Hi Randy, Is it possible to show some of your new jigs with the type of trailer that you would put on the jig. Do they sell your new jigs with a trailer included? Thanks.
Randy, I appreciate you sharing the time for finesse jigs when you’re not in heavy cover. I think of finesse jigs only when fish are finicky and pressured or cold water. Sounds like I need to keep a finesse jigs tied up more often and try it first on stump edges, lay down isolated logs, dock pilings, and save the bigger jig for heavier cover. Hoping this helps improve my number if bites.
Outstanding information Randy!! More jig videos please. Always tried fishing jigs with little success. Because I didn't know what I should be doing. Thanks again and keep the videos coming.
It’s easy to get stuck on a confidence bait. I used to throw nothing but spinnerbait and crankbait. Couldn’t catch anything on a chatterbait or jig. Now I use the heck out of them both. Like you said, you gotta give them a chance. Spend some time building confidence. If I had to throw away every lure I owned and could only keep one. Likely be a jig.
Randy I will own one of your jig, just as soon as I can afford it. I think you have to focus on the rubber and the quality of the jig also I would give a vibe of . ( this jig is not for every one, its for those serious jig fishermen. Exclusive stuff, like priced high because you don't want everyone to have one. ) Anyways Im sure you have people to consult on this from a marketing standpoint, which btw I am not that. Just saying I think your jig will take a while to get the following that it deserves, therefore the sales. But 1 day this jig will be on the end of my line and I can't wait till tax returns!
I love the all of the videos, I am a fan of the old school techniques, I'm a 36 year old guy that swears by it, I crush my buddies out on the lake with the old Charlie Brewer slider techniques, I just ordered six of your jigs,me being on the fineness side,i ordered the 1/4 size and can't wait to take the Nitro out and try them.
Good info-thanks for providing. Last year was the first year I made an effort to fish with jigs more often. I must say...all the different jig styles and applications can be a bit daunting sometimes. My question for you is what considerations do you make with jigs in heavy current? Fishing in the Detroit up here....there are times when getting to the bottom with any bait is a real task. Thanks for your work!!!
