Jimi Eaterling's discussion about fishing middle of ditches was something I've not ever considered as a primary approach. I have ended up fishing the edges of the ditches as a result of fishing points and humps but not the middle. I'm trying to make the transition from natural lakes in MN to the reservoirs of MO. I've always loved jig fishing. Jimi's discussion was an eye opener and something I will try within the week. I also enjoyed and fully agree with Matt Stefan's comment about the smaller or shorter profile. He did not add this can be done regardless the weight of the jig without losing effectiveness. It was nice to have something I've sworn by affirmed by Matt :) I'm 70 and still learning and loving time on the water. Thanks for the channel. I just stumbled upon it and have subscribed!
We appreciate the response! Thank you for sharing and hopefully the information can help you go out and catch more fish! On this channel we try to post two to three videos per week. They will have 2-3 anglers from our team talking about various topics like this video. Jimi also has solo videos on the channel as well. Take care
Love the jig. Just added a dedicated jig rod to the rotation last year and now I have one on 24/7 365. Doing a video on my 2023 rod and reel arsenal soon!
You guys are as always great teachers and I appreciate the information you shared. i have always struggled jig fishing but I can't wait to try the tips you shared in this video.
i literally just started fishing....... and all of the things you said NOT to do i have done lol..... hence is the reason i can't catch any fish. thank you for this!
Glad the information in this video has helped out! Exciting that you just started fishing! You will have good days and bad days... you typically learn more from the bad days! Make sure to check out more videos on our channel! Thanks for sharing!
I fish jigs on $90 rods and feel EVERYTHING! But never have I thought about off shore fishing…thanks for that info. Going to try with my 90 dollar rods first though lol. Only fished off shore once and it was a local small lake/pond.
Thank you for posting! My son and I have been watching your videos and we have learned a ton. We both look forward to getting out and atleast trying to catch something. We have been catching more fish thanks to your videos.
Johnny; I really enjoyed you talking about the heavier jig and the lighter line. Im going to change from 20# down to 15#! Tks for the great video and all the tips!
Thanks for putting up the graphics. It always helps to see what we imagine a bait is doing displayed as you have done. Great breakdown of what size jig to use for different conditions. Very well explained as well. I just subscribed and look forward to watching other videos you offer. Take care and good fishing to you all.
Appreciate it Glen! We typically have the videos with multiple anglers giving perspective on fishing topics. From time to time Jimi has solo videos as well. Good luck to you!
Jigs have always been a go to bait in shallow water, but I've struggled fishing deep water, so I appreciate the tips for deeper water as I'm sure I just don't wait long enough to get to bottom.
Johnny, I been with you for probably 4 or 5 years, I'm so prord of what you have accomplished!!!! You have made fishing the moment the best channel on you tube! Also to say thanks, I think I speak for all of us that follow this channel, your off shore knowledge is best out there!!!!! When you brought on Randy, who I was a sub of also, also a sub of Matt's both before you brought together with you. That put this channel over the top!!!!!! It would be great, for you guys maybe put together a fishing school weekend or day. You could teach hands on , and randy could do diffrent topic, and Matt. Sell merchandise, be pretty cool I think. I've seen one guy do it. 3 hours of outside panic tables under a shelter on the lake, eat lunch bullshit little while the 3 more hours of training. Sigh me up!!!!!
We appreciate the comments about FTM and the new channel! That sounds like a great idea for sure! We have discussed about having seminars in the future! Thanks for sharing.
Another great one Jonny! My favorite tip was yours. I’ve never thrown a hai jig in that type of application or with a chunk trailer. Cool idea. Thanks for all you great content.
I didn't know I was having trouble catching bass on a jig. Been catching bass on a jig for a long time. It's my favorite bait whether I'm swimming it or dragging it. It just works.
Love the tutorial style videos. Also, I cannot BELIEVE on videos with this many comments you are replying to each comment. And I practically fell out of my chair when I saw you are actually writing each comment not just a canned copy/paste reply. What a beast. Good luck with your channel - you deserve it! Have a sub.
For letting line out I also have that slowly lifting your rod up before you engage your reel is very effective for getting slack in your line it is also faster I think
A whole case of beef jerky would be awesome! The fishing tips all of you provide is very valuable information! I fish a ton for bass in Va. I have fished Kerr lake, Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Murray, Lake Lanier, Lake Gaston, Lake Chesdin, Potomac River , and James River! All are tricky at times to catch fish. The more you know about the seasonal patterns the better!#RippinLIpsInc
I bought some Bridgford jerky at Wal-Mart for the grandkids and they loved it! I appreciate the tip of letting line out + not locking the reel immediately while patiently waiting for it to fall to the bottom. Learning how to be more efficient at picking out depth changes is another great point. Merry Christmas Blessings to you and your families!
I'm not sure I'm still making any of these mistakes anymore (other than maybe not picking the right spots), but everything in this video is basically what I've learned spot on. Great job.
I call BS on most of it, he got there with a grinding trolling motor tramping around on the deck. Don't tell Andy Montgomery flipping and skipping against pilings and pontoons he has it all wrong. Who is this guy? WOW.
Its just a really tough rig to actually get fish to bite. It's not very natural, I can only get it to work when they're locked on beds during spawn. Any other time I've found jigs to be useless.
The biggest rule I have found is if you are not snagging some, you are doing it wrong. It should be a bumpy ride when dragging. Probably not scientific, but if I don't lose a couple of lures, I didn't fish the jig right.
That's what I don't get about a jig: if it's weedless and won't snag, how does it catch the fish? Lol A Texas rig I understand, but a jig just looks like it won't work.
@@hanburgundy4317 That weedless guard more or fewer rips through some grass and muck. you hit that brush pile 40 feet down and the hook catches the wood at all... snag. You are right though. In the pursuit to save a five-dollar lure, some have way too thick of a guard on them.
In Finland we use 1,5 - 2g weigth per every 1 meter of water, or in freedom units: 1/16oz per every 3 feet of water . We go lighter when the water is cold and heavier if the fish are active. Lighter when there is no wind and heavier if the wind carries your line and you cant make bottom contact.
I've never given a jig much thought, and only last year started poking the bottom of the water column with plastic worms - but I got totally skunked after fishing a patch of lilies for half an hour, and when I came back a guy was in that same spot in the act of pulling up what looked like a 4 or 5 pounder, and he said it was on a jig. Now, I tried multiple presentations, including probing the bottom, but this guy succeeded where I failed. Makes me want to throw a few jigs this year. My usual go to lures are swim baits and spinners.
My go to is weightless senkos and I could see why you’d have a scenario like that. Sometimes the bite is different and the fish aren’t feeding but are instead aggressively defending their home. A slow sinking bait would represent something like food- if the bass aren’t feeding then they won’t bite. However, a jig will fall quickly through the water. That would be an aggressive or “reaction” bite. Seems like the bite that day was a reaction bite and the jig is what worked.
I have yet to catch a fish on a jig, thanks for the tips cause I sure need them ! Jigs have never been a confidence bait for me so this season I will make a concerted effort focused on jigs. I have seen a lot of fish caught on them but never been able to duplicate those results.
@@Boethius411 I am watching everything I can on Jigs and making notes so I remember, and planning for the spring, I dont like not having this technique in my arsenal and am dedicated to learning it well now that I have more time to fish. Thanks for the encouragement.
Caught my first one 2 days ago. Make sure you wait until he picks it up because mine nibbled on it at first and I was tempted to jerk the rod, but waited. The bite felt like as if I were using live bait. Caught him, he was about a one pounder.
You can do it, Rob. I struggled with jigs too, mostly because I didn’t know how to fish them and lacked confidence. Then one summer day when nothing was biting I just decided to try something different. I tied on a heavy football jig with large trailer and dragged it over a pebbly point near softer bottom (a transition). I had no confidence in the bait so if I hadn’t caught that first 3 pounder so soon (the third cast I believe) I might have never “discovered” the technique. That first fish was followed by others, all bigger than the first. It was so easy just dragging it slowly and feeling the jig grabbing hard bottom. Since then I’ve used other jig styles and varied the presentation (e.g. periodic sharp hops) with success including an 8+
Randy from the channel does guide trips & on the water lessons for Table Rock and lakes in his area. Jimi has started offering guide trips / on the water lessons / electronic lessons for lakes in SW Arkansas to Central Arkansas.
Another very good video with good information on it I think my biggest take away would be making sure my jig falls on a slack line thanks again and good fishing
Jonny thank you for another superlative teaching. Love all you do! Great info on using heavier jigs. I traditionally have not used a jig greater than 3/8 oz. Of course I generally could not feel a thing! Thanks for the setup detail and equipment! Great vid!
Great info... I'm gonna dedicate the next few weeks to trying to get my confidence up in using the jig... I'm just always scared I'm gonna get it hung up and lose it.. lol I'll use these tips to get better tho.. SUBSCRIBED.!!
Thanks for the great info. I tend not to fish jigs much -- just never had too much luck but something I plan to try to get better at. I'd like to hear more details about Jimmy's discussion of fishing jigs around channels and ditches. This might be a bit of a boring topic, but I'd love to see any tips and tricks you all have for freeing baits that get hung up, and maybe better tricks for avoiding getting hung up to start with. I periodically see discussions of weed guards on jigs but not much else. I'm sure there are lots of tricks I don't know. I tend to avoid fishing in heavy cover (trees in particular, but lots of big chunk rock can also be a problem) because getting hung up is really annoying. If you have to go in to some brush or tree and mess around trying to free a bait, you've burned that spot for a while. It also seems I end up breaking off about half the time I get stuck. I hate leaving junk in the lake, not to mention the cost of replacing lures and just the time and annoyance factor of trying to retrieve hung up lures.
Thanks for sharing! Getting hung up and losing baits is part of fishing but the guys that have been on the water a lot do have little tricks and etc to get baits out. We will put this topic down on the recommendation list. Thanks!
I never used to have confidence in jigs till a pro cousin told me to tie one on and use it all day long. I caught several really nice bass and became a believer. One trick to getting unstuck is the "bow and arrow". Hold rod vertices the pull line with fingers back like you are shooting a bow and arrow. The key is to have tension on line except for at the very end of your bow shot - it should go slack allowing jig to get off.
Great jig fishing tips! Why not use braided line with a fluoro leader for your baitcasting jig fishing? It increases sensitivity noticeably and the leader keeps visibility low. The other benefits are longer casts and lower cost due to braid's long term life vs fluoro which needs to be replaced more often.
I'm don't really agree with that being more sensitive. Braid has basically 0 sensitivity if your line is slack and adding a leader doesn't help if your line has any slack. Regardless of that if your in heavy vegetation braid is a must as nothing else will cut through it and give you solid hooksets.
I am not an effective jig fisherman. I would like to learn new techniques to catching quality fish on a jig. I Fish Ozark lakes. Bull Shoals mostly. I have been watch all the jig series you have. I like the tips on how to find the fish. Especially the tips about fishing ditches. Rock lakes are hard to fish jigs. I spend a lot of time hung up on trees and rocks. Looking forward to more videos.
I do agree that pulling line out after a cast applies in some situations , especially with braid . I feel like practicing loosing your reel a little at a time to we're you can eventually cast , skip , flip and pitch with hardly any brakes or tension . I think it's way more efficient to just let your jig , Texas Rig or weightless rig to freespool to the bottom .
I would like to learn more about fishing the ditches that Jimi talks about, and just also fishing a jig more often. I’ve had some resent success on jigs and am starting to gain confidence in them.
Denali makes amazing rods. It was my first expensive rod compared to the 80 and 120 dollar rods ice stocked up on. I was amazed with how much of difference this rod made.
Gotta remind myself to keep the pitching profile as low as I can (Olympic lil splash). Practice-practice thanks for the reminder Matt! Ditches with jigs; Let’s talk more Jimi, thanks all.
Great job as always. My problem is fishing lakes with silty bottoms. Would this ever work, or am I relegated to using a dropshot , letting a chatter bait sink, or anything else you could think of. Thanks.
First, silt isn't an ideal bottom to waste time fishing. A jig dragged through muck isn't likely to attract a bite because fish won't dig the bait out of the slop. Concentrate on areas where you find hard surfaces, vegetation and transitions to these things.
Hey guys thanks for the video and I would love to see one on ditch fishing I really think that would really help me as I’m starting my first club tournaments this coming February I would really appreciate that and thanks again guys keep up the good work
great video guys! I've always struggled with a jig, but this year has been my best at it. the stealth entry was my favorite tip because its what I'm the worst at lol. keep it up guys, Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Johnny! I've watched your videos for the past two years and they are high quality and much appreciated! I've started my first year as a high school bass fishing coach and your channel is my top recommendation for my student anglers. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!
The feeding of slack at the end of the cast does work, MOSTLY. I would not recommend feeding line if you are casting more than 30 ft of length to 10 ft of depth. At lengths greater than that, the angles aren't as extreme so it's not really necessary. If you are feeding line while a fish bites, the chances he will hold on to it by the time you can set the hook are virtually nil.
I’m not sold on someone saying you can’t fish jigs unless you use a $150 dollar rod. That’s ridiculous and a shameless plug for someone to by via your link. I catch a crazy amount, in fact most of my fish on a jig and a $50 dollar rod with a batecaster.
I caught a lot of fish on $50 rods myself, but after I spent the extra money... I caught more fish and wont go back to the $50 rod! Thanks for watching - Jimi
Dude. Don't cheap out on yourself. Fishing a 50 dollar rod is like wearing a condom. Take that rubber off and feel what a 150 dollar rod has to offer. The sensitivity... it's night and day!
I would love to get your opinion on why u think a flat sided cranks n squarebills work better than say a Dt6 or Dt8 crank in colder water temps. I’m not sold on it. I understand that DD cranks work better post spawn through summer but I’m more or less talking about smaller cranks like the dt6 compared to a fritside. I would love to see a video on why u think flat sides work better than smaller deep divers in cold water. Thanks
I’m more of a walleye fisherman but fish different species, occasionally bass, and some of these tips are spot on. Jig rod is the rod that I’m going to spend more money on since sensitivity is important with that lure type. Lots of fish do not show up on sonar, especially up here in the Canadian Shield in fact I don’t even bother looking for them. That last point that the guy showed on the map with the hump and where he said he would likely start at looks like a killer spot to me as a walleye fisherman. I’ve found a couple humps similar that I could sit on all day and still be catching walleye at the end of it.
Sweet! Thanks for sharing! I will not lie… I have caught some nice walleye where I have caught some big bass. Walleye is my favorite freshwater fish to eat - Jimi
Thanks for this information, this is really helpful for a beginner like me. Question, when I'm fishing with lots of rocks and wood at the bottom my hook is getting stuck. How do I prevent the jig bait from getting stuck?
The title is New Jig Fisherman xxxx. Do you all agree a 5/8 - 3/4 oz jig on 14-20# line on a Med heavy to Heavy action rod is a solid set up to give yourself a real chance for deeper water success? Perhaps a nuanced look at the differences between a TR rod and a Jig rod might be video worthy? Merry Christmas folks.
Great video! Thank you so much for the helpful tips! It would be awesome to see the winter ditch breakdown. I’m really wanting to get better at fishing ditches!
I have always fished a jig on the bottom and agree with everything you say. My question is, and I have never fished one, why would a chatterbait work? Do they need to be fished on the bottom also as the design looks like it would be difficult to fish the bottom. Thanks.
Chatterbaits can be fished on the bottom. They can be swam and deflected off cover as well. Just gives a vibrating action to where the normal jig does not.
Most people that don’t do well with jigs is the same old story; not spending enough time getting good at it. This reminds me of many so called bodybuilders. They would focused on the body parts that were genetically gifted, maybe their biceps and neglect their legs, leaving them with a non-esthetic body and looking lopsided. Another-words, if you work on your weak parts, you will eventually have them catch up to the rest of your game, and at most times it will become on of your stronger parts. These rules apply to anything in life, but the majority of people like the easy things and not work hard at others. And thats what separates the pro from the weekend, average warriors. Practice your weak points, and you will conquer.
I like it! True stuff! It takes a lot to go out on a day of fishing and work on the skills you are not as good at. In the long run it will pay off though - Jimi
Jimi Eaterling's discussion about fishing middle of ditches was something I've not ever considered as a primary approach. I have ended up fishing the edges of the ditches as a result of fishing points and humps but not the middle. I'm trying to make the transition from natural lakes in MN to the reservoirs of MO. I've always loved jig fishing. Jimi's discussion was an eye opener and something I will try within the week. I also enjoyed and fully agree with Matt Stefan's comment about the smaller or shorter profile. He did not add this can be done regardless the weight of the jig without losing effectiveness. It was nice to have something I've sworn by affirmed by Matt :) I'm 70 and still learning and loving time on the water. Thanks for the channel. I just stumbled upon it and have subscribed!
We appreciate the response! Thank you for sharing and hopefully the information can help you go out and catch more fish! On this channel we try to post two to three videos per week. They will have 2-3 anglers from our team talking about various topics like this video. Jimi also has solo videos on the channel as well. Take care
This was something I was already suspecting was happening to me, thanks for the confirmation! As a new fisherman, this info is invaluable.
Love the jig. Just added a dedicated jig rod to the rotation last year and now I have one on 24/7 365. Doing a video on my 2023 rod and reel arsenal soon!
Great!
Note. The bite usually happens as that lure is falling, I’d be careful when letting too much line out. You might miss the fish
You guys are as always great teachers and I appreciate the information you shared. i have always struggled jig fishing but I can't wait to try the tips you shared in this video.
Thanks for sharing Bobby!
Thanks, I have not had any luck with jigs but will try these tips!
Great!
i literally just started fishing....... and all of the things you said NOT to do i have done lol..... hence is the reason i can't catch any fish. thank you for this!
Glad the information in this video has helped out! Exciting that you just started fishing! You will have good days and bad days... you typically learn more from the bad days! Make sure to check out more videos on our channel! Thanks for sharing!
I love the tips on jig fishing,it seems that I have been fishing my jigs all wrong
Thanks for the tips I will try this out this weekend.
I fish jigs on $90 rods and feel EVERYTHING! But never have I thought about off shore fishing…thanks for that info. Going to try with my 90 dollar rods first though lol. Only fished off shore once and it was a local small lake/pond.
Good tips. That's my new years resolution " to get confidence in the jig". Thanks for the tips.
Thank you for posting! My son and I have been watching your videos and we have learned a ton. We both look forward to getting out and atleast trying to catch something. We have been catching more fish thanks to your videos.
Great! Thanks for the feedback. Good luck to you and your son!
Congrats to the winners! They are certainly in for a real treat!
Johnny; I really enjoyed you talking about the heavier jig and the lighter line. Im going to change from 20# down to 15#! Tks for the great video and all the tips!
Thanks for putting up the graphics. It always helps to see what we imagine a bait is doing displayed as you have done. Great breakdown of what size jig to use for different conditions. Very well explained as well. I just subscribed and look forward to watching other videos you offer. Take care and good fishing to you all.
Appreciate it Glen! We typically have the videos with multiple anglers giving perspective on fishing topics. From time to time Jimi has solo videos as well. Good luck to you!
This is the best channel on youtube for bass. Thxs for your hard work and consistent content
Thanks David!
This is good information... I always thought pro was pulling out back lashes... thank you for great fishing tips.
Would definitely love to hear more about fishing the ditches with a jig
Jigs have always been a go to bait in shallow water, but I've struggled fishing deep water, so I appreciate the tips for deeper water as I'm sure I just don't wait long enough to get to bottom.
Takes a lot of practice to fishing it deep but can bring awarding results! Good luck Jim!
Drop shot. Done
Johnny, I been with you for probably 4 or 5 years, I'm so prord of what you have accomplished!!!! You have made fishing the moment the best channel on you tube! Also to say thanks, I think I speak for all of us that follow this channel, your off shore knowledge is best out there!!!!! When you brought on Randy, who I was a sub of also, also a sub of Matt's both before you brought together with you. That put this channel over the top!!!!!! It would be great, for you guys maybe put together a fishing school weekend or day. You could teach hands on , and randy could do diffrent topic, and Matt. Sell merchandise, be pretty cool I think. I've seen one guy do it. 3 hours of outside panic tables under a shelter on the lake, eat lunch bullshit little while the 3 more hours of training. Sigh me up!!!!!
We appreciate the comments about FTM and the new channel! That sounds like a great idea for sure! We have discussed about having seminars in the future! Thanks for sharing.
Another great one Jonny! My favorite tip was yours. I’ve never thrown a hai jig in that type of application or with a chunk trailer. Cool idea. Thanks for all you great content.
Thanks Dan! We appreciate you!
Nice video!! I've recently started using jigs. I'll wait for it to hit the bottom!! Thanks dude!!
I didn't know I was having trouble catching bass on a jig. Been catching bass on a jig for a long time. It's my favorite bait whether I'm swimming it or dragging it. It just works.
Love the tutorial style videos. Also, I cannot BELIEVE on videos with this many comments you are replying to each comment.
And I practically fell out of my chair when I saw you are actually writing each comment not just a canned copy/paste reply.
What a beast. Good luck with your channel - you deserve it!
Have a sub.
Appreciate it! We try to give a response to each comment. This one has got more comments then I thought! - Jimi
I love the different perspectives from this channel. Thank you. I will use my jigs differently.
Appreciate it Alan!
I enjoyed this video especially the initial cast part to make sure the jig drops vertically! I enjoy all of Matt Stefan’s comments.
Thanks for sharing Eddie!
I will be adjusting my techniques for sure. Thanks!!
For letting line out I also have that slowly lifting your rod up before you engage your reel is very effective for getting slack in your line it is also faster I think
Yes sir!
A whole case of beef jerky would be awesome! The fishing tips all of you provide is very valuable information! I fish a ton for bass in Va. I have fished Kerr lake, Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Murray, Lake Lanier, Lake Gaston, Lake Chesdin, Potomac River , and James River! All are tricky at times to catch fish. The more you know about the seasonal patterns the better!#RippinLIpsInc
I bought some Bridgford jerky at Wal-Mart for the grandkids and they loved it!
I appreciate the tip of letting line out + not locking the reel immediately while patiently waiting for it to fall to the bottom. Learning how to be more efficient at picking out depth changes is another great point. Merry Christmas Blessings to you and your families!
Great! Thanks for sharing. We appreciate you watching!
Great stuff I already knew but that’s why I watch videos over again, for great reminders! Great stuff Jonny!
Thanks!!
I'm not sure I'm still making any of these mistakes anymore (other than maybe not picking the right spots), but everything in this video is basically what I've learned spot on. Great job.
I call BS on most of it, he got there with a grinding trolling motor tramping around on the deck. Don't tell Andy Montgomery flipping and skipping against pilings and pontoons he has it all wrong. Who is this guy? WOW.
Its just a really tough rig to actually get fish to bite. It's not very natural, I can only get it to work when they're locked on beds during spawn. Any other time I've found jigs to be useless.
@@williaml39 Stick with it. I've gotten them on structure and cover as well.
Glad to know I've been fishing jigs the right way, thanks for the reassurance
Thanks for watching! Good luck to you.
The biggest rule I have found is if you are not snagging some, you are doing it wrong. It should be a bumpy ride when dragging. Probably not scientific, but if I don't lose a couple of lures, I didn't fish the jig right.
Losing them does happens at times!
That's what I don't get about a jig: if it's weedless and won't snag, how does it catch the fish? Lol A Texas rig I understand, but a jig just looks like it won't work.
@@hanburgundy4317 That weedless guard more or fewer rips through some grass and muck. you hit that brush pile 40 feet down and the hook catches the wood at all... snag.
You are right though. In the pursuit to save a five-dollar lure, some have way too thick of a guard on them.
@@TravisDoesKayakFishing yep, that's why I trim the guard down a bit
@@Squidlybooga Right all. Right where the hook goes at the 45% angle.
I am sure I haven’t been waiting long enough…and I appreciate the tip to pull additional line out. I’m not sure why I’ve never done that….
It is something easy that can get overlooked for sure!
Great teaching video. Even experienced jig fisherman will benefit from some of the details you provided.
Yes sir! We agree! The best anglers never stop trying to learn. Good luck to you Patrick this winter!
I use a Lew's Speed stick heavy action 7' 2" rod and never have a problem feeling a jig on 15 lb Floro line
Lots of good tips think Jonny's tip to watch your line was really good might not always feel a bite but you will always see it.👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks William!
Good stuff here. I'm learning how to fish a jig this year
I’d love to hear more about fishing the ditches.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Johnny you are the best teacher I’m gonna try your tips cause I’m not a good jig fisherman caught my first jig on a peanut butter jelly finesse jig
Great!
In Finland we use 1,5 - 2g weigth per every 1 meter of water, or in freedom units: 1/16oz per every 3 feet of water . We go lighter when the water is cold and heavier if the fish are active. Lighter when there is no wind and heavier if the wind carries your line and you cant make bottom contact.
great info on many aspects of fishing the jig. Fabulous info from Jimi Eaterling on where to jig using the topographical map. Very informative
Thanks! Appreciate you watching - Jimi
I've never given a jig much thought, and only last year started poking the bottom of the water column with plastic worms - but I got totally skunked after fishing a patch of lilies for half an hour, and when I came back a guy was in that same spot in the act of pulling up what looked like a 4 or 5 pounder, and he said it was on a jig.
Now, I tried multiple presentations, including probing the bottom, but this guy succeeded where I failed. Makes me want to throw a few jigs this year. My usual go to lures are swim baits and spinners.
My go to is weightless senkos and I could see why you’d have a scenario like that. Sometimes the bite is different and the fish aren’t feeding but are instead aggressively defending their home. A slow sinking bait would represent something like food- if the bass aren’t feeding then they won’t bite. However, a jig will fall quickly through the water. That would be an aggressive or “reaction” bite. Seems like the bite that day was a reaction bite and the jig is what worked.
I was taught to fish a jig by my grandpa and my dad I have confidence all year round that I can pick up some version of a jig and catch bass
I love your content and your method for explaining techniques.
I have yet to catch a fish on a jig, thanks for the tips cause I sure need them ! Jigs have never been a confidence bait for me so this season I will make a concerted effort focused on jigs. I have seen a lot of fish caught on them but never been able to duplicate those results.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Good luck Rob!
Good luck friend. If you are trying to catch bigger fish, it is really hard to beat a jig, and Johnny is great at explaining it.
@@Boethius411 I am watching everything I can on Jigs and making notes so I remember, and planning for the spring, I dont like not having this technique in my arsenal and am dedicated to learning it well now that I have more time to fish. Thanks for the encouragement.
Caught my first one 2 days ago. Make sure you wait until he picks it up because mine nibbled on it at first and I was tempted to jerk the rod, but waited. The bite felt like as if I were using live bait. Caught him, he was about a one pounder.
You can do it, Rob. I struggled with jigs too, mostly because I didn’t know how to fish them and lacked confidence. Then one summer day when nothing was biting I just decided to try something different. I tied on a heavy football jig with large trailer and dragged it over a pebbly point near softer bottom (a transition). I had no confidence in the bait so if I hadn’t caught that first 3 pounder so soon (the third cast I believe) I might have never “discovered” the technique. That first fish was followed by others, all bigger than the first. It was so easy just dragging it slowly and feeling the jig grabbing hard bottom. Since then I’ve used other jig styles and varied the presentation (e.g. periodic sharp hops) with success including an 8+
Man I like so much fishing bass I m still learning but I really want to go fishing with someone like those guys who know a lot to learn from them
Randy from the channel does guide trips & on the water lessons for Table Rock and lakes in his area. Jimi has started offering guide trips / on the water lessons / electronic lessons for lakes in SW Arkansas to Central Arkansas.
Great tips! Jigs are pure big bass juice!!
Another very good video with good information on it I think my biggest take away would be making sure my jig falls on a slack line thanks again and good fishing
Thanks Robert!
Jimi, would love that video about fishing a jig down the middle of the cuts.
Thanks
Appreciate the feedback!
Jonny thank you for another superlative teaching. Love all you do! Great info on using heavier jigs. I traditionally have not used a jig greater than 3/8 oz. Of course I generally could not feel a thing! Thanks for the setup detail and equipment! Great vid!
Yes sir! Thank you for the feedback. I am glad I was able to help you out.
Appreciate the info I've been trying to learn how to fish a jig more often.
Glad you enjoyed! We posted another jig video recently as well. Go check it out!
Stop Wasting Time When Fishing A Jig | Catch More Bass During the Winter
th-cam.com/video/qaJOq43GWzE/w-d-xo.html
Great info... I'm gonna dedicate the next few weeks to trying to get my confidence up in using the jig... I'm just always scared I'm gonna get it hung up and lose it.. lol I'll use these tips to get better tho.. SUBSCRIBED.!!
Thanks for the great advice and video...
Thanks for the great info. I tend not to fish jigs much -- just never had too much luck but something I plan to try to get better at. I'd like to hear more details about Jimmy's discussion of fishing jigs around channels and ditches.
This might be a bit of a boring topic, but I'd love to see any tips and tricks you all have for freeing baits that get hung up, and maybe better tricks for avoiding getting hung up to start with. I periodically see discussions of weed guards on jigs but not much else. I'm sure there are lots of tricks I don't know. I tend to avoid fishing in heavy cover (trees in particular, but lots of big chunk rock can also be a problem) because getting hung up is really annoying. If you have to go in to some brush or tree and mess around trying to free a bait, you've burned that spot for a while. It also seems I end up breaking off about half the time I get stuck. I hate leaving junk in the lake, not to mention the cost of replacing lures and just the time and annoyance factor of trying to retrieve hung up lures.
Thanks for sharing! Getting hung up and losing baits is part of fishing but the guys that have been on the water a lot do have little tricks and etc to get baits out. We will put this topic down on the recommendation list. Thanks!
I never used to have confidence in jigs till a pro cousin told me to tie one on and use it all day long. I caught several really nice bass and became a believer.
One trick to getting unstuck is the "bow and arrow". Hold rod vertices the pull line with fingers back like you are shooting a bow and arrow. The key is to have tension on line except for at the very end of your bow shot - it should go slack allowing jig to get off.
Great jig fishing tips! Why not use braided line with a fluoro leader for your baitcasting jig fishing? It increases sensitivity noticeably and the leader keeps visibility low. The other benefits are longer casts and lower cost due to braid's long term life vs fluoro which needs to be replaced more often.
That's what I rock. Can feel my swimbait segments moving on soft plastics so I'll stand with sensitivity.
Yup that's the rig for me too.
Same here.
I'm don't really agree with that being more sensitive. Braid has basically 0 sensitivity if your line is slack and adding a leader doesn't help if your line has any slack. Regardless of that if your in heavy vegetation braid is a must as nothing else will cut through it and give you solid hooksets.
I am not an effective jig fisherman. I would like to learn new techniques to catching quality fish on a jig. I Fish Ozark lakes. Bull Shoals mostly. I have been watch all the jig series you have. I like the tips on how to find the fish. Especially the tips about fishing ditches. Rock lakes are hard to fish jigs. I spend a lot of time hung up on trees and rocks. Looking forward to more videos.
I do agree that pulling line out after a cast applies in some situations , especially with braid . I feel like practicing loosing your reel a little at a time to we're you can eventually cast , skip , flip and pitch with hardly any brakes or tension . I think it's way more efficient to just let your jig , Texas Rig or weightless rig to freespool to the bottom .
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
If you could spell, people would probably understand what you're talking about.
Thank you for sharing this valuable information! Great video as always
Pull out game is key for jigs and other areas of life.
I would like to learn more about fishing the ditches that Jimi talks about, and just also fishing a jig more often. I’ve had some resent success on jigs and am starting to gain confidence in them.
Denali makes amazing rods. It was my first expensive rod compared to the 80 and 120 dollar rods ice stocked up on. I was amazed with how much of difference this rod made.
Yes sir!!! Thank you for sharing
Gotta remind myself to keep the pitching profile as low as I can (Olympic lil splash). Practice-practice thanks for the reminder Matt! Ditches with jigs; Let’s talk more Jimi, thanks all.
Appreciate the feedback. Good luck to you!
Great job as always. My problem is fishing lakes with silty bottoms. Would this ever work, or am I relegated to using a dropshot , letting a chatter bait sink, or anything else you could think of. Thanks.
First, silt isn't an ideal bottom to waste time fishing. A jig dragged through muck isn't likely to attract a bite because fish won't dig the bait out of the slop.
Concentrate on areas where you find hard surfaces, vegetation and transitions to these things.
Hey guys thanks for the video and I would love to see one on ditch fishing I really think that would really help me as I’m starting my first club tournaments this coming February I would really appreciate that and thanks again guys keep up the good work
Great! Glad you enjoyed. Thank you for the feedback!
Absolutely a great lesson on throwing my favorite bait, good stuff guys!!!
Thank you John!
great video guys! I've always struggled with a jig, but this year has been my best at it. the stealth entry was my favorite tip because its what I'm the worst at lol. keep it up guys, Merry Christmas!
Glad to hear it Levi! Thanks for sharing!
Would love to see the more detailed video on jig fishing ditches.
Thanks for the response!
Wow great video. Glad I found this channel!
Thank you, Johnny!
I've watched your videos for the past two years and they are high quality and much appreciated! I've started my first year as a high school bass fishing coach and your channel is my top recommendation for my student anglers.
Thanks again and Merry Christmas!
Appreciate the comment!
Thanks for the advice. Good video! Helpful
The feeding of slack at the end of the cast does work, MOSTLY. I would not recommend feeding line if you are casting more than 30 ft of length to 10 ft of depth. At lengths greater than that, the angles aren't as extreme so it's not really necessary. If you are feeding line while a fish bites, the chances he will hold on to it by the time you can set the hook are virtually nil.
Great info I've had big hits while giving slack, some landed & some missed. I agree if casting far its no need to give slack imo
Year round I have a jig in my hand of some sort 75% of the time. Such a fun way to fish and big bite getter
Fun way to catch bass for sure!
I’m one of those anglers haha going to try one now. Thank you all for the info!
Thanks James! Good luck to you!
Keep up the good work of making Fishing more Fun !
Appreciate it Ted! Thanks for the comment!
Merry Christmas guys! I must not be pulling out enough slack.
Jimi-I would like to hear more about fishing a jig in ditches/drains.
Thanks for the response!
I’m not sold on someone saying you can’t fish jigs unless you use a $150 dollar rod. That’s ridiculous and a shameless plug for someone to by via your link. I catch a crazy amount, in fact most of my fish on a jig and a $50 dollar rod with a batecaster.
I caught a lot of fish on $50 rods myself, but after I spent the extra money... I caught more fish and wont go back to the $50 rod! Thanks for watching - Jimi
Dude. Don't cheap out on yourself. Fishing a 50 dollar rod is like wearing a condom. Take that rubber off and feel what a 150 dollar rod has to offer. The sensitivity... it's night and day!
I'd like to see s video more in depth on fishing ditches.
Great points, Jonny!
Thank you and the crew!!
Merry Christmas to you and family!!
Thanks James!
I can't catch fish on anything except for a jig! We need a video on that! Lol
I would love to get your opinion on why u think a flat sided cranks n squarebills work better than say a Dt6 or Dt8 crank in colder water temps. I’m not sold on it. I understand that DD cranks work better post spawn through summer but I’m more or less talking about smaller cranks like the dt6 compared to a fritside. I would love to see a video on why u think flat sides work better than smaller deep divers in cold water. Thanks
I’m more of a walleye fisherman but fish different species, occasionally bass, and some of these tips are spot on.
Jig rod is the rod that I’m going to spend more money on since sensitivity is important with that lure type. Lots of fish do not show up on sonar, especially up here in the Canadian Shield in fact I don’t even bother looking for them. That last point that the guy showed on the map with the hump and where he said he would likely start at looks like a killer spot to me as a walleye fisherman. I’ve found a couple humps similar that I could sit on all day and still be catching walleye at the end of it.
Sweet! Thanks for sharing! I will not lie… I have caught some nice walleye where I have caught some big bass.
Walleye is my favorite freshwater fish to eat - Jimi
Make a video about fishing the deep ditches
Thank you guys for all the info. I need all info..
Your welcome! Good luck to you.
Thanks for this information, this is really helpful for a beginner like me. Question, when I'm fishing with lots of rocks and wood at the bottom my hook is getting stuck. How do I prevent the jig bait from getting stuck?
You may need to switch up the type of jig you are fishing. Some heads will tend to get hung up more then others
@@BassFishingDeclassified Thank you for the response and kudos to your channel!
Appreciate it!
I need to use more of your advice when fishing jigs because I give up to soon
Don’t give up!
Thanks bud have a good New Year’s
I would like to see more on the ditches
The title is New Jig Fisherman xxxx. Do you all agree a 5/8 - 3/4 oz jig on 14-20# line on a Med heavy to Heavy action rod is a solid set up to give yourself a real chance for deeper water success? Perhaps a nuanced look at the differences between a TR rod and a Jig rod might be video worthy? Merry Christmas folks.
Great video! Thank you so much for the helpful tips! It would be awesome to see the winter ditch breakdown. I’m really wanting to get better at fishing ditches!
Great video I've caught many fish but not confident with the gig I'm definitely going to try more in the future
I have always fished a jig on the bottom and agree with everything you say. My question is, and I have never fished one, why would a chatterbait work? Do they need to be fished on the bottom also as the design looks like it would be difficult to fish the bottom. Thanks.
Chatterbaits can be fished on the bottom. They can be swam and deflected off cover as well. Just gives a vibrating action to where the normal jig does not.
I am dedicating this year on jig fishing!
Good luck! Thanks for sharing Chad!
This video was great. Helped me out a lot!!!!
Great! Good luck this upcoming year!
Good stuff man!
Take a shot everytime Johnny says "fish the moment offshore jig"🤣
But seriously, thanks for the tips. I'm a guy who's got no confidence in a jig
Thank you for watching Michael!
Great video
👍🏽👍🏽
I was missing the ditches. Thanks 👍🏽🤦🏽
Good luck! Thanks for watching!
Most people that don’t do well with jigs is the same old story; not spending enough time getting good at it. This reminds me of many so called bodybuilders.
They would focused on the body parts that were genetically gifted, maybe their biceps and neglect their legs, leaving them with a non-esthetic body and looking lopsided. Another-words, if you work on your weak parts, you will eventually have them catch up to the rest of your game, and at most times it will become on of your stronger parts. These rules apply to anything in life, but the majority of people like the easy things and not work hard at others.
And thats what separates the pro from the weekend, average warriors.
Practice your weak points, and you will conquer.
I like it! True stuff! It takes a lot to go out on a day of fishing and work on the skills you are not as good at. In the long run it will pay off though - Jimi
Amazing video keep them coming
All great info as usual BFD Thanks
Glad you enjoyed!
Love the content . Thanks
Yes sir! Thank you for watching.