How to Fish a Jig

A jig is a weighted lure: a heavy metal head, usually lead, moulded onto a hook, with the hook usually hidden in a soft body or feather-like dressing. Wikipedia explains that jigs are meant to move with a jerky, vertical “jumping” motion, unlike swimbaits, spoons and spinnerbaits, which travel more or less horizontally, and that most fish caught on jigs are on or near the bottom. This guide covers jigheads, bodies, retrieves and hooksets, and which fish to use them for. More lure methods are in our techniques section.

Jigheads

From Wikipedia:

• Shapes: the round head is the simplest and most common; others are fish-head, cone, cylinder and hybrid shapes. In bass fishing the three most popular are flipping, football and grass heads.
• Weights: from about 1/80 ounce for small panfish to nearly a pound for big saltwater fish.
• Weed guards: some heads have a spring latch, called a weed guard, to keep the hook point from snagging on weeds and structure.

Bodies

• Soft plastics (rubber or silicone) are most common, shaped like grubs, frogs, fish, paddle tails, lizards or insects (Wikipedia).
• Hair and feathers: the bucktail jig uses deer tail hair and is widely used in the northern and midwestern US; other jigs use chenille, hackle, marabou or flash material, tied much like a fly (Wikipedia).
• Live bait: minnows, leeches or nightcrawlers can also be used on a jig (Wikipedia). MDC suggests a jig and minnow for spring walleye.

Retrieves

• Lift and fall: Wikipedia describes the basic technique as rapid lifts of the rod that jerk the line and pull the sinking lure upward, then letting it fall again.
• Drag and pause: DEC’s tube jig for bass is let sink to the bottom, then slowly reeled in or jigged by raising and lowering the rod; its Ned rig (a short soft stickworm on a mushroom jig head) is left on the bottom 2-5 seconds, dragged a few feet and paused again.
• Glide in cold water: Arkansas Game and Fish (AGFC) suggests a Ned rig in winter with a jighead as light as possible, around 1/16 ounce with a size 2 or 4 hook, on spinning gear, so the bait glides slowly just over the bottom rather than crawling on it.
• Drift: for trout, MDC drifts small marabou jigs with or without a float, and sometimes uses a slow “jigging” vibration on the retrieve.

Feeling the bite and setting the hook

• Stay in contact: Wikipedia says successful jigging needs a sensitive rod and constant contact with the lure.
• Watch the line: AGFC notes you often won’t feel a hit on a Ned rig, so watch your line for any twitch.
• Set firmly: Wikipedia notes that because jigs are weighted, a harder-than-usual hookset is often needed. MDC’s general advice: reel up loose line and drive the hook home with a powerful upward sweep of the rod. For small trout jigs, MDC says set the hook as soon as you feel a strike and rely on feel rather than sight.

Which fish

MDC’s bait guide lists jigs for bass, crappie and walleye, and jigs (along with flies and small spinners) for bluegill. DEC’s tube jig and Ned rig are on its list of effective rigs for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. A bladed jig, or chatterbait, adds a blade to the nose for vibration.

Sources

• Wikipedia, Jig (fishing). Read 28 October 2026.
• Missouri Department of Conservation, Bait and lures, Fishing tips, Trout: fishing tips and Walleye and sauger: fishing tips. Read 28 October 2026.
• New York State DEC, Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Read 28 October 2026.
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Take it slow for winter fishing. Read 28 October 2026.

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• Bass jigs - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
• Jig trailers - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
• Medium-heavy casting rod - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.

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