Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know, boring. I understand that tech talk about fishing can get tedious and boring and it doesnt matter how much you read about something, it will not sink in until you get out and try it. So here is something yall can practice without much thought. I watch and see alot of cats using big heavy jigs in places that its not all that necessary. I giant 1/2 ounce jig has its place for sure but just because its heavy doesnt mean its going to catch bigger fish. Go to your tackle, look at a 1/2 ounce jig and compare it to a 3/16 ounce jig. Not much difference in the profile is there? Alot of bass fisherman make the mistake of confusing size with weight and when its time to choose a "big bass bait" you bypass the 3/16 and go for the 1/2. Mistake. Bass dont care how heavy something is, they may care how big it is but in profile, not weight. The weight should only really be considered when depth and cover are the main concerns. If you are fishing in 25 feet of water or you are fishing in really dense brush then a heavier jig might be necessary but if you are fishing shallow, riprap, edges of vegetation like cattails and grass, anything that you dont have to punch through, the lightest jig you can pitch will catch you more fish. I will elaborate.
What are jigs meant to mimic? Crayfish? Baitfish? Usually one or the other depending on your presentation and your color selection. A heavy jig goes straight to the bottom and digs into the ground, it gets hung more often and its sometimes harder to work. A light jig glides to the bottom, it skims across the ground and it is much easier to manipulate. Think about what a crayfish does, it glides along the bottom, it lightly tiptoes along the ground and when it takes off to get away from a predator, it doesnt hop up and down, it bolts away and then glides back to the bottom. Its hard to mimic that with a 1/2 once jig. Same thing goes if you are trying to mimic bait fish like bluegills, they dont lay on the bottom dragging a trail through the mud do they? You may need a 1/2 jig from time to time, they are great for fishing deep water because they allow you to feel the bottom, they are also great for fishing thick brush because they will get down through the muck but they have limitations and fishing in shallow rock (a place where bass hunt for crayfish) is absolutely one of those limitations.
When your deciding your jig size, use depth and cover to dictate weight and if your trying to get a kicker fish, mix up the size of your profile rather then the weight of your jigs. The trailer and skirt you choose to fish with can give you whatever profile you need to catch the big dogs but the weight of the jig will only effect your presentation and workability. Try downsizing, not size, just weight.
S.T.P.
Nice.... Good stuff
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