Author: Taylor Hale – Tournament Director

Photos: Prover

Subject: Fishing a Jig and Pig

It probably comes as no surprise to anyone that fishes with me when I pull a jig out. As a matter of fact, it is one of my favorite baits to fish (other favorites include crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater, worms, tubes… okay, I’ll admit it – I’ll use anything out there if it’s going to catch a fish). There are some definite things to think of when starting to try to fish a jig. By the way, you’ll see the term Jig and Pig used throughout the rest of this article. I started out fishing a jig with an Uncle Josh’s pork trailer and still do about half the time. The rest of the time I’ll use some sort of plastic pork trailer imitator. But the Jig and Pig name has stuck with me.

Fishing a Jig:

If you tie on a jig, thread on a piece of pork or plastic, cast it out, let it sink, and wind it back slowly you are well on your way to catching jig fish. It can be that simple. That’s not to say that you can’t vary your retrieve, presentation, or even the rigging. One of the beauties of the jig is that it is a lure that can be fished in a variety of ways. I’ve had success letting it sit, dragging it across the bottom, hopping it through cover, swimming it along a weed line, I’ve even had a bass nail a jig as I was cranking it back to the boat to cast again. Again, its versatility is key to the bait.

On the subject of versatility, most of the time you hear people describe a Jig and Pig as the perfect crawfish imitator. Mudbugs are definitely favorite forage for a bass and are worth imitating once the water temperature creeps above about 50 degrees and the crawdads come out. I really think though that the jig represents more than just a crawfish to a feeding bass. (As an aside, I’m not sure that a fish looks at something in the water and thinks “hmmm… I think that’s a crawfish and I’m in the mood for some Cajun Food today.”) During certain times of the year bass are keyed on specific targets and the jig can be fished to take advantage, the rest of the time it just looks food like.

Did you know that one of the biggest predators of bass fry is the friendly bluegill? During the early post spawn period, bass will go out of their way to discourage bluegills from being around their nests. If you swim a bulky bait (jig and a big trailer) around bass spawning areas you can often trigger some of the hardest hits you will ever get from a big momma bass guarding her fry.

Crayfish love to hide out around rocks and other places where they have current moving by and solid nooks to duck into. A Jig and Pig pulled along those areas when the current is moving can be almost irresistible to nearby bass.

My Jig Preferences:

Ninety percent of the fish I catch on a Jig and Pig come on the same bait – a 3/8 ounce black and blue Gerkin jig with either a black/blue Uncle Joshes pork frog or a Zoom Super Chunk trailer. Early spring I tend to use the Zoom Super Chunk because it creates a larger bait profile that still falls fairly quickly. If I’m in shallow water or want a more buoyant bait I’ll use the real pork. Another consideration for trailer selection is how much I’m going to fish the jig during a day. If I think I’ll have a jig in the water most of the day, I tend to use the Pork. If I think I’ll target specific areas with a jig but fish other baits most of the day I’ll switch back to plastic. The plastic trailers are easier to deal with since pork will dry out if left out of the water for even a half hour or so.

I always use jigs with rattles. If I happen to be fishing a jig without a rattle, I insert a glass worm rattle into the trailer. Rattle back jigs are as close to an essential as I’ve got in my tackle arsenal.

Don’t be afraid to trim the skirt and weed guard. If I want a bulky bait, I’ll leave the skirt untouched. During the summer when I’m trying to do a more conscious job of imitating a crayfish, I’ll trim the skirt back to just beyond the hook. I usually also will trim the weed guard back some. I tend to snag up and break off a lot of jigs that way but it pays off with an increased percentage of hookups.

Rod selection is another key. I am a firm believer in the hard hook set school of though when fishing a Jig and Pig. Okay, I set the hook hard regardless of what I’m fishing but with a Jig and Pig it’s even harder. I use a 7’ MHXF Furnace Bay rod if I’m casting jigs to specific targets. I’ve paired the rod with a Shimano Curado 200B casting reel with 15 lb P-Line fluorocarbon line. For flipping and pitching to tighter cover I use a 7’6” MHXF Furnace Bay extendible rod, a Shimano Curado 200B reel, and 25 lb P-Line fluorocarbon line.

Final Thoughts:

I got started fishing a Jig and Pig about 9 years ago on a trip with Jeff Wible. We were working a bank in Oxen Run, a stretch where there is a sharp drop off from the bank down to about four feet of water. The fish were nose up to the bank. Jeff’s instructions were pretty clear – cast up on the shore, drag the bait to the edge of the drop, let it fall, and watch your line. You’ll know when you have a bite. My first bass on a Jig and Pig ended up pushing about 4 lbs and I was an instant convert. I’ve never had a big numbers day on a jig but I’ve caught an awful lot of 5+ lb bass on a Jig and Pig.

The bite on a Jig and Pig is hard to describe – usually your line just feels mushy. Watch your line and if you are the least little bit unsure, hit ‘em. Hook sets are free!