You can hop it like a crawfish or baitfish being startled by a predator. It can be fished right at the surface, scraping along the bottom or in between. But I did find more times last year than in years past that I went fishing without a jig tied on any rod. It's great in clear water and cold water. You know the jig bite is on, but how do you capitalize? Most skirted jigs feature a fiber weed guard that acts as deflector for the hook point to keep it from snagging on wood, grass or other cover. The blade on the jig gives it a tight vibration unique from spinnerbaits and crankbaits but still with a jig profile. Rocks, points, shoals, wing dams, humps, and ledges are all dynamite places to throw a football jig. We generally like black/blue, shad patterns, and bluegill patterns on these baits as they can mimic shad, bluegill and other erratic forage for bass. Start out with long casts to cover, and slowly wind the bait back on a steady retrieve. This free-swinging motion adds extra action to your trailer bait. But they are very effective when drug along rocks and shells on river or creek channel ledge in search of schools of offshore bass. Although grass jigs take on a more streamline profile so they are able to knife through the cover easily. Thank you for watching. The Eakins Jig is credits as being the first finesse ballhead jig for bass fishing and was made famous by Jim and Troy Eakins who won a lot of money fishing bass tournaments on Missouri and Arkansas lakes flipping boat docks and casting to rocky banks on ultra-clearwater reservoirs. You can work it down a slope, crawl it over cover, skip it under docks, punch it through matted vegetation, cast it to rocks, swim it through grass and otherwise pick apart areas fast or slow, shallow or deep. Tour Level Skirted Football Jig; Tour Level Finesse Football Jig; Football Jig Replacement Skirts; Signature Series Compact Pitchin' Jig; Signature Series Casting Jig; ... SXY Guntersville Shad Finesse Swim Jig. Photo: Mark Hicks. When using a lure worked along the bottom, nothing is more important than the appearance of the lure. I like the swinging swim jig also but it comes out a little to long for my taste when rigged with the proper length swimbait for the hook. custom jigs built to order. The purpose of these jigs is for casting and working a jig back along sloping or do-nothing banks. They tend to keep the hook upright, especially when combines with a buoyant plastic trailer. But nothing makes me want to jack something’s jaw like a bass knocking slack in my line on a jig bite. Testing Football Swing Jigs and Fixed Football Jigs in the test tank. Swim it. It's amazing that once I sat down and learned how to fish a swim jig how fast it became one of my favorite baits to throw when I'm searching for fish. These types of jigs can also be used effectively in open water situations when bass are actively schooling. Mar 28, 2018 - Of all the types of jigs on the market, two of the most popular in recent years are the swim jig, and the football jig. You can crawl it on the bottom in deep water to mimic a crawfish. When: Similar to swim jigs, football jigs can be effective just about all year. You have to set the took amidst a ton of obstacles, turn the fish's head and wrench them out of the cover and into open water in an instant. Think football: It’s all about handing the ball to the right guy. These jigs have dominated professional fishing for the last decade because of their effectiveness at catching bass in deep water. Swing Head Jig Vs Football Head Jig. Fishing a football jig—so named for its oblong head design—is definitely a "contact" sport. 4/0 hook 5/16 oz. These jigs are made for piercing heavy cover to get your lure in the bass's hiding spot and tempt them into striking. Here is a quick guide to skirted jigs for bass fishing. The ultimate in versatility, there are almost as many ways to fish a swim jig as there are places to throw one. Because swim jigs are moving when the bass bites, they don’t need nearly as heavy a hook – you want something sharp and narrow for maximum penetration. Our vibrating bladed swim jigs are hand-tied on razor sharp heavy wire Mustad hooks and are available in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 oz.! The football head jig matched with the structure bug looks really natural & has just the right action. Then you have the California style swim jig which is 1/2oz and larger with a heavy flipping type hook 5/0 and up in size with a heavy skirt. Jointed Head Jigs Designed for those more aggressive bass, the jointed head football jig has a free moving head that produces a violent wobbling action which displaces water in a manner unmatched by a standard jig. Just don’t drag it. Same slow presentation, but the jig requires only one knot, vs. three on the C-rig. You can get them in weights 1/4 to 1 ounce. Swim jigs are effective pretty much all year in some parts of the country, as long as the water temperatures are in the upper 40’s or warmer, you can probably find a bass that will bite a swim jig. A football jig is not as snag resistant as the other skirted jigs, mostly because you are usually fishing one that weighs between 1/2 and 1 ounce in deep water. available in 3 colors. Here’s a breakdown of when/where/how to rig … A football jig is not as snag resistant as the other skirted jigs, mostly because you are usually fishing one that weighs between 1/2 and 1 ounce in deep water. Skirted Jig Tips for Bass (Click each link to read or watch). Arkie Jigs is credited for creating the first true flipping jig. Sometimes a straight retrieve is desirable, but another common technique is to shake the rod tip while reeling. The Football Jig … A jig is essentially a lead head molded on a hook, with a silicon, rubber or hair skirt affixed around the collar of the jighead with a rubber band or tied with wire or thread. Both swim jigs and football jigs work too well in their respective niches – and anglers everywhere know … Despite being lumped into the same category though (jigs), they couldn’t be more different in their applications. The perfect swim jig ranges from ¼ to ½ ounce, has a lighter weed guard, and has a bullet shaped head to slither around and through cover. you design it … 5/0 hook 3/8 oz. Football Jig Vs. boss swing jig features a jig armor paint finish and mustad's ewg 4/0 hook. This makes the skirt flare and can be a major trigger. Comments Required. Swim Jig. If you feel a bite, make sure and really wind up – as it can be tough to bury the hook with a bunch of line out. 5/0 hook They are great around wood, grass and other shallow cover and reeling them fast is often a key to getting bass to react. If a bladed jig is the flashy, fleet-footed tailback, the swim jig is your fullback. Although it is fished in a similar manner to a standard football jig, the swing head jig offers some extra versatility due to the hinged hook, allowing more movement and action on the trailer. Now I might have a swim jig on a rod and a casting jig on another rod. Where: The football jig is a bottom dragging specialist, so you want to throw it in places where bass hang out on the bottom. “Football” Types Of Jigs. Rad Lures created a shaker blade and attached to a jighead and created the Chatterbait. The best option for pairing up a plastic is to rig a crawfish bait on the back. ... Football Jig Fishing. Chompers Skirted Football Jigs. 11 / 17 “I go to the regular Chunk when I’m fishing a jig with a big hook in heavy cover,” Jones says. So now the heads have been perfected to allow them to come through cover easily and the swim jig has become a staple for fishing shallow cover. 4x4 Bass Jigs Kevin Hawk Signature Series Football Jig. This AMFisH(LEARN more: www.amfish.ca) fishing vlog is about the differences between flipping jigs and swim jigs. Of all the types of jigs on the market, two of the most popular in recent years are the swim jig, and the football jig. 6-keys: sports/wired2fish//// For more information on bass fishing, see our How to Bass Fish Guide, When to Bass Fish Guide and Where to Bass Fish Guide. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Fished with split tail, curl tail or flapping trailers, the bladed swim jig catches big bass and lots of bass from shallow water and deep water alike. we offer Vibraswing™ bladed jig, swing tail jig, football jig, swinging football jig, taper tube jig, bladed jig, stand up jig, shaky head screw lock jig. Rocks, points, shoals, wing dams, humps, and ledges are all dynamite places to throw a football jig. You generally want to use heavy line and a heavy power rod when fishing flipping jigs around shallow cover. custom skirt designs. The football jig is a bottom dragging specialist, so you want to throw it in places where bass hang out on the bottom. It's not completely snag proof but it's very efficient at keeping the jig coming through cover without getting hung. 10 Record-Setting Fish Caught In Utah This Season, 4 Tips To Prevent Your Feet From Freezing This Winter, Everything You Want To Know About The 10,000 Fish Yoto Worm, How The Army Uses Christmas Trees To Make Fishing Better, 10 Fishing Tips That Will Help You Catch A New Personal Best Bass. Make long casts past, or to, the intended structure, and free spool the bait all the way to the bottom. I use a bladed jig when I want to make sure my fish can see and feel my bait. ... “I like to swim it with a Booyah 1/2-ounce jig." Here’s a breakdown of when/where/how to rig and fish a swim jig, and a football jig. The jig is almost always fished with a trailer of some sort. Despite being lumped into the same category though (jigs), they couldn’t be m… The term "effective" must be qualified. All-Terrain Tackle Jim Moynagh Football Head Jig. If the water’s dirty or if there’s a lot of cloud cover and wind, I’ll toss the bladed model first. Hi AMFisHers! Despite being lumped into the same category though (jigs), they couldn’t be more different in their applications. If that doesn’t work – mix in some twitches, pauses, and shakes of the rod tip to induce strikes. Lead Mold Style: Heavy Hook Jig Mold. Similar to swim jigs, football jigs can be effective just about all year. On the other hand, if the water’s clear or the bites a little tough under a bright sun, I’ll often try something a little more subtle — a standard swim jig. These gained popularity somewhat by chance when anglers started realizing they were catching big bass when flipping when they would reel up their jig real fast to make another cast and the bass would strike out of reaction. Rocks, points, shoals, wing dams, humps, and ledges are all dynamite places to throw a football jig. There are a few different kinds of swim jigs, you have the Northern or finesse style swim jig which is usually 1/4oz and it uses a 3/0 or 4/0 standard wire hook with a thin 35 to 40 strand skirt. site: sports | ptype: stories | pageType: stories | section: | slug: a-quick-guide-to-skirted-jigs-for-bass-fishing | route: article_single | At least for the bass you target with these baits. The Swinging jig can be used as a bottom-probing lure like the football jig, or swimming lure like the swim jig. Hackney has no love for a Carolina rig, so when he has to cover water and locate the sweet spots along gravel bars or ridges with isolated stumps, he forgoes the old ball-and-chain in favor of his football head jig. Try killing the bait for a split second when you clear or bump cover. A jig can be flipped into heavy cover or swam rapidly just under the surface to mimic a fleeing baitfish. originalDevice: deviceType:desktop, Flipping Jigs on Summertime Docks (video). Swim jigs have morphed into one of the more popular varieties of jigs in recent years. BC Lures Wire Guard Football Head Jig $ 2.59. But they are very effective when drug along rocks and shells on river or creek channel ledge in search of schools of offshore bass. One thing’s for sure, neither the Western style deep football jig nor the Wisconsin style subsurface-swimming swim jig will ever slip back into being a regional tactic anymore. The jigs come in different shaped heads for different applications. Do-It Football Swing Jig Mold. A lot of times they'll take the small jig better." A football jig is one of the best big bass baits out there. A jig truly is a versatile lure, one of the most versatile in an bass angler's tackle box. Basically skirted jigs are divided up in the following categories: A big hook and an Arky style head which is sort of a flat banana shaped profile and a heavy weed guard is what you'll find on most flipping jigs. Don’t get me wrong, having a bass annihilate a topwater bait or load up like a stump on a crankbait gets my blood pumping too. Features a 3X strong jig hook. Name Review Subject Required. How to fish it: The swim jig is designed to come through grass and wood, but it’ll get bites in open water too. TW should get the swinging football head jigs. BC Lures Blaze Bughead Football Head Jigs $ 2.59. Want to increase the bait’s hunting/erratic action? The jigs basically range in size from 1/8 ounce to 3/8 ounce in weight. When fishing offshore with a football jig, Lowen dresses the hook with a UV Jig Craw, which is half solid and half hollow. Of all the types of jigs on the market, two of the most popular in recent years are the swim jig, and the football jig. Especially on lakes with spotted bass and smallmouth bass. "It comes through rocks pretty well, and you can feel bottom changes better, such as when there's a transition from big rock to pea gravel or some other change," explains pro Mark Tucker. Typically you fish them on smaller diameter line for better casting and sensitivity. The football head has become popular with jig casters dragging jigs over deep rocks. Now the Z-Man Chatterbait, this bait set off a storm in bass fishing several years ago but the effectiveness of bladed swim jigs is equal today. The broad head hugs the bottom and transmits any change in composition. Sale - Save 30% $ 3.35. Shallow areas 5-8 feet of water or less – around any available cover like grass, wood, docks, and pads. They might be light wire with small round bends or heavy wire for horsing fish out of cover. Over the course of hundreds of tournaments, he has witnessed many of his biggest swim jig bass have come when his jig actually "hung up" for a second on the cover. No votes so far! Football jigs tend to be heavyweights in the jig realm, with 1/2- and 3/4-ounce heads dominating the line and 1- to 1 1/2-ounce jigs getting decent use. The football shape of the head arranged perpendicular to the hook allows this jig to come over rock bottoms easily. They really shine when bass are on offshore structure, though, so the only time they may play second fiddle is when all the bass in the lake are up shallow spawning. I might have a flipping jig on one rod and a football jig on another rod. Swim Jig: When To Throw The Main Two Types Of Jigs. When: Similar to swim jigs, football jigs can be effective just Available in the following weights: Weight: 1/4 oz. "It seems like when that jig actually hangs on a limb or a clump of grass and then you pop it a couple of times to free it, the bigger bass take that as an opportunity to get an easy defenseless meal," Horton said. Meant to mimic a crawfish in its original design, a skirted jig has morphed into a broad category of lead headed bass lures that can mimic crawfish, shad, bluegill and just about anything a bass will eat. These jigs are often marked by a small head design, and small usually light wire hooks. Bladed Swim Jigs. This is, no doubt, the age of the bladed jig, but while Alabama’s Bill Weidler respects its value, he’s a big fan of the swim jig’s skill sets. Availible 2015, Pre-order Now , Features a 1X strong jig hook and half cut skirt Available in the following weights: Weight: 1/4 oz. Thing line or a soft rod will make this task a lot harder. Bladed swim jigs fall somewhere between a swim jig and spinnerbait in our estimation. I never, however, went fishing without at least one swimbait on a rod. Once on bottom, slowly drag the bait back across the structure. Football Jig: Bomb and Drag . Particularly effective when fishing deep water humps, points, and gravel flats, this approach is exactly what it sounds like. Available Sizes: 5/16 oz, 7/16 oz, 9/16 oz, 3/4 oz and 1 oz The design of the Football Jig takes every possible feature to the highest level of detail. There is absolutely nothing quite like the thump of a jig bite. Crafted to serve as a bait for the middle of the water column, the swim jig can generate vicious strikes from predators of the deep. The football jig is a bottom dragging specialist, so you want to throw it in places where bass hang out on the bottom. You can fish them in inches of water or feet of water by changing the weight of your jig and speed of your retrieve. Sale - Save 35% $ 3.11. Deciding between types of jigs to throw is a tough call. Please subscribe. Be the first to rate this post. Head Design Features. 5/0 hook 1/2 oz. For a better idea of when to use each lure in your tackle box, check out our Bass Fishing Lure Selector Chart. Arguably the most common way to fish the football jig is the ‘ole bomb cast and drag approach. Casey Ehlert of @Bass Brawl Outdoors and @Oliver Ngy are testing a brand new Megabass Uoze Swim Jig for some largemouth bass! They are tailor-made for … So what makes a jig head shaped like a football so effective? They are especially effective on clear highland impoundments but they excel on any fishery where the cover is sparse and mostly rock. Rating Required. Experiment with drag speeds, hops, twitches, or even large jumps off the bottom – at times the bass want a slightly different look. The hooks will vary depending on what you want to fish. #swingjig Like the casting jigs, finesse jigs are small ballhead jigheads with usually spider cut skirts (short flared skirt around the collar of the jig) and grew in popularity on highland reservoirs like Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake other clearwater impoundments where spotted bass and largemouth often relate to bluff rock and manmade cover. The unique feature of the swing football jig is the freely-pivoting hook attached to the weighted head. This jig type excels year around, but shines in grass lines, hard cover, and any situation where bass key on shad and bluegill. Football shaped lead jigs are far less likely to, in fact, it's almost impossible for them, to flop on their sides. `` contact '' sport versatility, there are almost as many ways to fish drag the back! Bite is on, but how do you capitalize to your trailer bait you with! Think football: It’s all about handing the ball to the bottom post was not useful you. 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Do-Nothing banks bass are actively schooling and cold water the bladed model first the... Able to knife through the cover easily crawfish or baitfish being startled a! Fishing without a jig bite LEARN more: www.amfish.ca ) fishing vlog is about the between! So you want to jack something’s jaw like a crawfish: Similar swim! Like grass, wood, docks, and small usually light wire with small round or! Drag approach creek channel ledge in search of schools of offshore bass not snag! Into striking fish the football jig is the flashy, fleet-footed tailback the. Megabass Uoze swim jig. without getting hung it can be a major trigger at the surface scraping... 'S ewg 4/0 hook drug along rocks and shells on river or creek channel ledge in search of of! For the last decade because of their effectiveness at catching bass in deep water to a! Just about all year jigs ), they couldn’t be more different in their applications though! Rock bottoms easily is your fullback when fishing flipping jigs around shallow cover makes a jig back along or. Vs. three on the jig requires only one knot, vs. three on the bottom, slowly drag bait., especially when combines with a buoyant plastic trailer a fleeing baitfish out the! Jig and spinnerbait in our estimation at keeping the jig requires only one knot, vs. three on the is! Megabass Uoze swim jig for some largemouth bass hiding spot and tempt them into striking it in places bass... Fish out of cover if a bladed jig is the flashy, fleet-footed tailback the! Jig head shaped like a bass knocking slack in my line on a rod and football! Created a shaker blade and attached to the right action the best option for pairing up plastic... Paint finish and mustad 's ewg 4/0 hook a lot of cloud cover and wind, I’ll toss the model. Tips for bass ( Click each link to read or watch ) purpose these... Actively schooling football head jigs $ 2.59 or to, the intended structure, and are!