Jigs vs Texas Rigged

The subject really doesn't tell the story, but I wanted to get everyones
opinions on if they felt that jigs seemed to produce bigger bites than
say texas rigged plastics? Since I started bass fishing 14 years ago I
have used texas rigged plastics, and have had success doing so. It is
not that i have eliminated using texas rigged plastics, but from all the
reading i have done, and all the money that has been won using jigs, I
just cannot keep them off my rods anymore. I have never given anytime
to jigs, until this year. I spent all days yesterday working jigs, and
as you read in my previous post pulled 2 fish about 6lbs. My buddy was
throwing a texas rigged lizard through the same area and pulled about 3
or 3.5 lbs in 2 fish (and 1 short which weighed a pound, but we don't
count that).

I was just wondering if anyone has noticed that the bites they pull on
jigs are more quality than what they pull on texas rigged plastics? Not
that I haven't caught big fish on plastics, but I was wondering about
everyone experience with the frequency of big fish?

Also, the big reason I had stayed away from jigs for so long was I
didn't believe that you could work it through the kinds of cover that I
am used to working with texas rigged plastics without constantly getting
hung up? I have now discovered that is not the case at all. I never
had to switch jigs yesterday at all, and only got hung up seriously
twice, but was able to recover the jig both times. Switching to jigs
wasn't a paradigm shift in thinking by any means, it was just another
weapon added to my arsenal, and it seemed to pay off, but I don't want
to go to far and say that it was the difference between a 2lb and 3lb
fish yesterday. I had said before people give to much credit to the
bait and not enough credit to themselves, and I stick to that, but as
many senses as a jig appeals to (sight, sound, taste) that could mean
the difference between a quick glance and a "have to eat" reaction.

Chris

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message

Also, the big reason I had stayed away from jigs for so long was I
didn't believe that you could work it through the kinds of cover that I
am used to working with texas rigged plastics without constantly getting
hung up? I have now discovered that is not the case at all.

Wow! I'm not very good at hooking up with jigs. I tend to get more of that
superfast tap tap type hit with it than with anything, but a good weedless
jig will work through heavy cover better than anything else including
t-rigged softplastics.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com

What kind of jigs and cover are you fishing Bob.When I get a hit on a
jig/pig its usually a bite that you definitely know is there.
Or your line just takes off.
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message

Also, the big reason I had stayed away from jigs for so long was I
didn't believe that you could work it through the kinds of cover that I
am used to working with texas rigged plastics without constantly getting
hung up? I have now discovered that is not the case at all.

Wow! I'm not very good at hooking up with jigs. I tend to get more of
that
superfast tap tap type hit with it than with anything, but a good weedless
jig will work through heavy cover better than anything else including
t-rigged softplastics.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com

I usually flip jigs into heavy cover along deeper fast current banks.

"Bass_Mr." wrote in message
ink.net...
What kind of jigs and cover are you fishing Bob.When I get a hit on a
jig/pig its usually a bite that you definitely know is there.
Or your line just takes off.
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message

Also, the big reason I had stayed away from jigs for so long was I
didn't believe that you could work it through the kinds of cover that I
am used to working with texas rigged plastics without constantly getting
hung up? I have now discovered that is not the case at all.

Wow! I'm not very good at hooking up with jigs. I tend to get more of
that
superfast tap tap type hit with it than with anything, but a good
weedless
jig will work through heavy cover better than anything else including
t-rigged softplastics.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com

Chris Rennert wrote:
The subject really doesn't tell the story, but I wanted to get
everyones
opinions on if they felt that jigs seemed to produce bigger bites
than
say texas rigged plastics? Since I started bass fishing 14 years ago
I
have used texas rigged plastics, and have had success doing so. It
is
not that i have eliminated using texas rigged plastics, but from all
the
reading i have done, and all the money that has been won using jigs,
I
just cannot keep them off my rods anymore. I have never given
anytime
to jigs, until this year. I spent all days yesterday working jigs,
and
as you read in my previous post pulled 2 fish about 6lbs. My buddy
was
throwing a texas rigged lizard through the same area and pulled about
3
or 3.5 lbs in 2 fish (and 1 short which weighed a pound, but we don't

count that).

I was just wondering if anyone has noticed that the bites they pull
on
jigs are more quality than what they pull on texas rigged plastics?
Not
that I haven't caught big fish on plastics, but I was wondering about

everyone experience with the frequency of big fish?

Also, the big reason I had stayed away from jigs for so long was I
didn't believe that you could work it through the kinds of cover that
I
am used to working with texas rigged plastics without constantly
getting
hung up? I have now discovered that is not the case at all. I
never
had to switch jigs yesterday at all, and only got hung up seriously
twice, but was able to recover the jig both times. Switching to jigs

wasn't a paradigm shift in thinking by any means, it was just another

weapon added to my arsenal, and it seemed to pay off, but I don't
want
to go to far and say that it was the difference between a 2lb and 3lb

fish yesterday. I had said before people give to much credit to the
bait and not enough credit to themselves, and I stick to that, but as

many senses as a jig appeals to (sight, sound, taste) that could mean

the difference between a quick glance and a "have to eat" reaction.

Chris

I have the same experience as you. My confidence lure was a plastic
worm and I had a gazillion of them in all colors and types. One year I
decided to force myself to give jigs a serious try and never looked
back. I catch more fish and bigger fish than before. I think jigs are
mainly just a more versatile lure and can be worked fast or slow as the
fish demand. It seems like (for me anyway) worms are more of a slow
presentation and limit me to getting bit only when the fish are in a
certain mood. The hookup factor seems to be better with a jig too. If
you stick them good, they rarely get loose. Also, my home lake has lots
of rock and it is easier to get a jig loose than a texas rig or
carolina rig when it hangs up.
My brother is a hard core texas rig man and he sometimes outfishes me
with it but that seems to happen only under certain conditions. I'm
sure a lot of it is just confidence in the lure, but I don't spend
enough time on the lake to have confidence in lots of techniques. For
me it is Jigs, tubes, and crankbaits.

IMHO a jig & pig on avg. will catch bigger fish than a plastic. EASY
GUYS I said on average.

Wanna try something between the two? I just found these bullet weights
made so you can add a skirt to them. I found them at Barlow's, and they
are in their catalog, but I couldn't find them listed online. Here is
another source:
http://www.patriotlures.com/skirted_slip_weights.html
I haven't tried them yet myself, but I like the looks, and since it's a
slip weight, it may make it harder for that lunker to come unbuttoned!

Chris:
I have had the same experience except my situation is a little
different. About 4 years ago I met the guy that makes "the worm" which
is one of those pre-rigged swimming worms. He gave me a bunch and said
it would help my wife and son to get on fish easier. They sat in my
boat for a year before I tried one. I had a tournament mentality that
the bait wasn't for real fishermen. I started to catch a lot of fish on
them although not a great size in general. Then last year I tried
swimming a jig the same way I was doing with that worm. I didn't get
as many bites but the fish were larger in general. The first day of
the Northwoods Classic all my keeper fish in Boom came from swimming a
jig. This year I plan on doing it even more. So I think both have
there place. You can go through an area with a worm and then go back
through with a jig and catch a few more and probably larger fish. On
slow days I think a worm will give you more bites but normally I let
the fish tell me what they want on any given day. I'm glad you got
your boat and the water is finally open here in Wisconsin. The ice is
just coming off of Shawano and I hope to get out this weekend.

I'm with ya there Chris, I actually started fishing Jig seriously two
years ago as a result of some un serious fun. Me and fellow ROFB had a bet
that the loser would shave his head. Well needless to say Dave lost that bet
the first year and I lost last year, for fun I started tying jigs with his
hair and vice versa. We started fishing them and were amazed at the size of
some of the fish that we were catching. I went back through my box looking
for some jigs and came across some old ones that I bought but never really
used. BINGO!! started getting more fish. I now keep a dozen or two jigs in
my tackle. All different types, Jig and craws seems to work great as a
swimming jig while smaller minnow heads with plastic tails work great in
stump fields. One of my favorite is the BPS minnow heads matched with the
tail of a zoom ultravibe speed worm. I don't know If I neccesarily catch
bigger fish with jigs compared to soft plastics, but either way they will
remain packed and ready to fish.


I have the same feeling for crankbaits and carolina rigs, never really
caught much on them, but rest assured they are ready to go this year, being
able to adapt to conditions when fishing will probably catch you more fish.
It's the learning to adapt thing I gotta get down, and from what I
understand it takes some people a lifetime to do





"gwilber" wrote in message
oups.com...

Chris:
I have had the same experience except my situation is a little
different. About 4 years ago I met the guy that makes "the worm" which
is one of those pre-rigged swimming worms. He gave me a bunch and said
it would help my wife and son to get on fish easier. They sat in my
boat for a year before I tried one. I had a tournament mentality that
the bait wasn't for real fishermen. I started to catch a lot of fish on
them although not a great size in general. Then last year I tried
swimming a jig the same way I was doing with that worm. I didn't get
as many bites but the fish were larger in general. The first day of
the Northwoods Classic all my keeper fish in Boom came from swimming a
jig. This year I plan on doing it even more. So I think both have
there place. You can go through an area with a worm and then go back
through with a jig and catch a few more and probably larger fish. On
slow days I think a worm will give you more bites but normally I let
the fish tell me what they want on any given day. I'm glad you got
your boat and the water is finally open here in Wisconsin. The ice is
just coming off of Shawano and I hope to get out this weekend.

I've caught desent fish on both baits. But I would have to say that my more
quality fish have been on the "jig 'n pig".
When you feel the tap with a jig,you know 9 outa 10 times it's a Bass. With
plastic,well,ya just never know!!

"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
news
I'm with ya there Chris, I actually started fishing Jig seriously two
years ago as a result of some un serious fun. Me and fellow ROFB had a bet
that the loser would shave his head. Well needless to say Dave lost that
bet
the first year and I lost last year, for fun I started tying jigs with his
hair and vice versa. We started fishing them and were amazed at the size
of
some of the fish that we were catching. I went back through my box looking
for some jigs and came across some old ones that I bought but never really
used. BINGO!! started getting more fish. I now keep a dozen or two jigs in
my tackle. All different types, Jig and craws seems to work great as a
swimming jig while smaller minnow heads with plastic tails work great in
stump fields. One of my favorite is the BPS minnow heads matched with the
tail of a zoom ultravibe speed worm. I don't know If I neccesarily catch
bigger fish with jigs compared to soft plastics, but either way they will
remain packed and ready to fish.


I have the same feeling for crankbaits and carolina rigs, never really
caught much on them, but rest assured they are ready to go this year,
being
able to adapt to conditions when fishing will probably catch you more
fish.
It's the learning to adapt thing I gotta get down, and from what I
understand it takes some people a lifetime to do





"gwilber" wrote in message
oups.com...

Chris:
I have had the same experience except my situation is a little
different. About 4 years ago I met the guy that makes "the worm" which
is one of those pre-rigged swimming worms. He gave me a bunch and said
it would help my wife and son to get on fish easier. They sat in my
boat for a year before I tried one. I had a tournament mentality that
the bait wasn't for real fishermen. I started to catch a lot of fish on
them although not a great size in general. Then last year I tried
swimming a jig the same way I was doing with that worm. I didn't get
as many bites but the fish were larger in general. The first day of
the Northwoods Classic all my keeper fish in Boom came from swimming a
jig. This year I plan on doing it even more. So I think both have
there place. You can go through an area with a worm and then go back
through with a jig and catch a few more and probably larger fish. On
slow days I think a worm will give you more bites but normally I let
the fish tell me what they want on any given day. I'm glad you got
your boat and the water is finally open here in Wisconsin. The ice is
just coming off of Shawano and I hope to get out this weekend.