There are nearly as many ways to catch fish when fishing as there are fish species in the ocean. Jigging is a very common method of fishing that all fishermen should be familiar with. What is jigging for fishing?
Jigging is a method of attracting fish using a lure called a “jig”. Because the jig can dance or perform a “jig” when properly used, the term “jigging” is used. As such, jigs are often multi-faceted and have many parts that will dance in the water when the fisherman makes a similar upwards or downwards motion with his rod.
Although jigging and jig-luring are very popular among ice fishermen, they can also be used in any other fishing scenario. There are many jigs available depending on the type of fishing you’re doing and how they can be used. Continue reading to learn everything you need about fishing and jigging!
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What is a Jig Made Of?
There are many types of jigs. A jig is as simple as a hook and a lead sinker at the most. The reality is that jigs come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They can also be made lighter or heavier depending on the situation.
A soft plastic bait is often attached to jigs. These soft plastic parts look like common prey fish and are used to lure fish to hidden hooks. The bait portion of the jig is customizable to suit the species of fish you’re trying to catch.
The versatility of jigs is amazing. They can catch almost any fish you want, in saltwater and freshwater. They are the preferred lure for many ice fishermen, as they have been mentioned above. But, before you can put a jig into good use, it is important to understand how to jig.
What does Jigging entail?
Jigging refers to the action performed with a jig lure. The jig moves in a vertical and sometimes horizontal motion that allows it to move side-by-side in the water. Combining the motion of the rod with the natural attraction of fish to the shape, color, and size of the jig will fool any fish lurking in the water into believing that it is naturally occurring prey.
Jigging has an intuitive component. There are many types of jigging that work well for all situations and fish species. Jigging is similar to puppeteering in that it is a complex skill. The goal is to make natural life seem more real. You can either make too much or too little motion, which could result in the destruction of the illusion. The wrong kind of motion can also signal to fish that something is not natural and they should leave immediately.
Three Types of Fishing Jigs
We’ve already discussed that there are probably as many types of jigs of fish as there are types. There may be even more types of jigs. You can make your own jig to appeal to the fish species you are most familiar with.
There are also more well-known jigs, which are common among most fishermen. Let’s look at some of the most popular jig types. Let’s also take a look at the situations where these jigs could prove most useful.
Tied-Dressing Jigs
These jigs have designs that are based on a type of “hair” material sticking out from the head. You can make this material look like any type of underwater prey from insects to crawfish. These jigs are available in many weights due to the large range of sizes that fish come in.
Tie-dressing jigs often have a “weed guard” and an internalized rattle. The weed guard is simply a few strands that prevent the jig from getting caught in the weeds at the bottom of any body of water. The rattle feature, which is common to all jigs, is used to mimic the clicking sound of crawfish or other underwater prey.
Soft Plastic Jigs
These jigs have a soft plastic feature that resembles a common prey such as a baitfish. These jigs can be used as a substitute for fresh bait or in conjunction with fresh bait to increase your chances of getting a bite. You can make the plastic bit look like any kind of creature, including worms, minnows, crawfish, and leeches, or lizards.
Floating Jigs
Floating Jigs are jigs that float. These jigs can be a great way to lure fish away from the bottom. They can also give your jigging a natural appearance that makes it look much easier.
Floating jigs can float to the top so they are best used with at least one weight. A combination of the right floating jigs and the correct weights will give your jigging setup a natural look that fish can enjoy in almost any body of water.
The basics of Jigging
Jigging is more active than other fishing methods and requires the fisherman to be involved in every step. The reason is that the jig must move properly, so the fisherman must jerk the rod around with small variations. This creates the illusion that the baitfish or other underwater prey is in the jig and is ready for consumption.
Jigging is usually thought to be a vertical motion but you can also jig horizontally as you reel your lure in. It is important to master subtle jerks in jigging that allow for natural movement in your jig. It can be difficult to master jigging properly without a lot of practice and patience.
Learning to jig involves observing the natural movements of baitfish and insects, which are the prey of any type of fish. These natural movements can be used to help you replicate them. Fish are smarter than we might think. They may be able to spot poor jigging.
Five Easy Steps to Get Jigging Started
Step 1: Cast your jig and let it sink to the depth you choose. You can make your jig sink faster, slower or with different weights. Different fish species live at different depths so make sure you know which type of fish are you after.
Step 2: Now it’s time for you to get started jigging. Give your rod a few subtle, but gentle jerks. You should allow the jig to rise a bit in the water before you continue to jig.
Step 3: Keep jigging using different patterns and movements. You should not be afraid to try new things, but the fish will notice if you get too crazy. Keep in mind the motion you want to imitate and do it naturally. It might take patience!
Step 4: Always keep your line tight when jigging to make sure you catch a bite. A tight line won’t allow natural movement. However, losing a line can cause you to lose your chances of striking as soon as a fish grabs your jig. As you jig, always keep an eye on how much slack your line is allowing.
Step 5: Continue this process until you get a bite. At that point, you will know that your jigs and your jigging are working. There can be some learning curve, as we have discussed. There is no one way to do this, so don’t be afraid to try different things. It is important to capture prey’s natural movements in the water.
Basic tips for fishing with jigs
These are the basics of jigging. Although jigging seems simple at its core, it can become quite complex when you get into the practice of. There are many ways to jig your jig. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Do not get too settled into a routine
If your jigging becomes repetitive, it can cause your jig to appear dead. It is easy to fall into this trap. You can try to reduce your jigging to a few simple steps that you can use verbatim in all situations. However, it is best to keep your jig free and open. One pattern might work in one body of water, but not in another.
Even if you have jigged in the same body of water before, it is best to be relaxed when jigging. Try different methods of jigging to find the one that works best. Once you start getting bites you will know what appeals to the fish in your area.
Keep an eye on the natural ecosystem
When jigging is mastered, patience and observation are key. It is important to understand the type of prey fish is hunting in your local area. You will also need to be able to mimic the movements of prey.
Before you cast a jig into anybody’s water, it is important to keep an eye on the prey predators. When jigging, it is important to choose a jig that resembles the prey you are trying to catch and then create a jig that perfectly captures the emotion of that prey. You don’t have to be boring!
It is important to watch your line carefully
Jigging is a great way to practice your line safety. Sometimes the smallest bite can be nearly imperceptible due to the amount of slack on the line when jigging. Keep your line tight while jigging. Also, be aware of any tiny nibbles to prevent your jig from being stolen by a sneaky fish.
Sometimes natural doesn’t cut it
While we’ve discussed the fact that your baitfish jig should be similar to common, natural baitfish in any water you fish in, there are some caveats. Natural colors are the best choice in clear water, and on clear days. However, these natural and muted colors might not be obvious to fish in certain conditions.
You may choose jigs that are brighter and more reminiscent of natural prey if you fish in extremely murky waters. These jigs can be used to cut through dulled fish senses. Although most jigs look like naturally occurring elements, some jigs can glow in darkness or have excessive artificial scents. These jigs could be a powerful chemical weapon against your fish.
Are You Looking for a Jig Rod and Reel Set-Up?
You can do some jigging using most rods. However, rods made for jigging are available. These rods are fast-action to make it easy to maneuver and subtle motions. They also have a long, sensitive tip that allows you to see when you get a bite.
You don’t need a specialized rod or reel to jig. A rod and reel that allows you to maneuver easily and lets you know when you have a bite are key.
