Summer 2022
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accent examples. These accent strands will help your jig get found in off water conditions. Make sure that you carry both types of skirts in your jig box.
I make my own skirts to better match the forage that are in my waters.
Another thing that I do is make all my skirts with a collar that I can add rattles to if conditions call for it. I use a few different indicators to determine if I add rattles or not.
First indicator is water clarity. If faced with fishing in weed cover, stained or dirty water conditions I will add rattles. If I am fishing a crawfish pattern, I will again add rattles.
When faced with fishing in clear water conditions, I may or may not use any rattles. I will let the bass make that decision as I will try both options and see the outcome.
TRAILERS
When choosing trailers, I will again turn towards matching forage as my first choice. If I am trying to imitate a swimming forage, I will use a swimbait not a craw. Other points that I consider, is if I think a trailer that will help the bass find my jig? If that answer is yes, I will use a trailer that moves and puts off sound in the water – prime example is a swimbait.
If I am faced with keeping my jig in a certain depth zone, I will pick and use a creature bait. The wider body of the creature bait can slow the fall of my jig or keep it in a depth zone better than if my jig is teamed with a swimbait or a craw trailer.
One more trailer point when fishing in stained or dirty water conditions. I may just need a bright colored trailer to help the bass find my jig. I always say that a bass cannot bite a jig if he cannot find it. I carry a few bright colored
trailers in my mix, chartreuse and white are two main colors that I carry.
EQUIPMENT
When it comes to equipment, I will let you choose, but I will give you a few ideas as to what I use.
When fishing Arky, Bullet Jig, and football jig, I will use a 7”, medium-heavy Denali Lithium Pro baitcaster rod that is teamed with a Lew’s reel, spooled with 16-pound Sunline Sniper FC.
This is the basic setup that I use most of the time for these jig options. Yes, I have been known to switch to a braided line option from time to time if cover or bite conditions call for it. At that same time, I will also incorporate a fluorocarbon leader or if the bite is tough, I may even go to a monofilament leader to build in a little more of a buffer, so the bass will not drop the jig before I get a chance to set the hook.
When fishing a swing head, I make a rod adjustment I will go to a 7’6”, medium-heavy Denali Kovert baitcaster rod. I want a longer rod length for added casting distance. It is also easier to get a good solid sweep hook set with this longer rod as well. I do not have to move my rod as far with the longer rod option. When it comes to reel and line choice that will stay the same 16-pound Sunline Sniper FC.
I hope these summertime jig heads and rigging suggestions fit into your fishing. Jigs are one of the most versatile baits that you can tie onto the end of your line and really has no limitations of how and where they can be fished. Take the time to adapt your jig and match the forage in your waters to help you put more bass in your boat this summer. •
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