Ther Perfect Size Jig For Rivers

[Mitch f]

The more I fish the rivers, the smaller my jigs have become. The last few times I've caught nice jig fish in Missouri they threw up crayfish that were 2" or less in size. I know the Eakins team made their jigs smaller after recognizing the fact that they catch more and bigger fish by using a smaller finesse jig. The 5/16th oz Eakins jig is the biggest jig I will ever throw anymore. I've heard of situations like night time fishing where you may need a larger profile jig so the fish can find it quicker. I know the crayfish change size during the year and was wondering if anyone has had sustained success with a large jig?

The other variable is the hook, I think I'm going to try to pour my own jigs using a bronze hook instead of a black nickel hook. I think the bronze will rust after 2 weeks if you break off on a fish, allowing the fish to survive. I'm not talking flipping jigs now but I think the light wire hook with an O'Shaunessy bend seems to be a good combination for a finesse jig.

I was wondering if you guys were going to design the perfect jig, what style jig head would use for the rivers? I've always been a big fan of football heads but it's hard to find a small weedless football head with a smaller hook. any suggestions would help.

[RSBreth]

I know lots of people who only use Strike king Bitsy Bugs, but I think their weedguard is a little sparse for heavy cover. I like the Booyah Baby Boo in 3/16 and 5/16. I use a slightly heavier jig as a swim jig, but the weight is so it'll stay down when I'm retrieving it fast like a spinnerbait.

I like compact trailers on my jigs, too. The smaller Powerbait craw or Smallie Beaver are my two favorites.

[Guest]

deleted

[zipstick]

How many big fish did I have to catch with you before you figured out that small jigs are deadly on big smallies? DUH!

[Mitch f]

zipstick, I will give the devil his due, I never fished an 1/8th or 1/16th oz jig until I fished with you. I did realize early on that the Eakins boys were on to something!

I started fishing their jig 5 years ago and never looked back

[Al Agnew]

Nick pretty well schooled me on the small jigs in the winter, too. But in the summer, I let water conditions be my guide. If it's reasonably clear, say 4 feet or so visibility, I'll go with a jig that with trailer will be 2.5 inches long or less. If it's murkier, I'll go a little bigger. I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most avid or expert jig fisherman, though. If it's really clear, more than 6 feet of visibility, I usually don't even try to fish a jig, usually going to something like a tube, a small Senko type, or a finesse worm...and that's only if my usual stuff isn't working.

[eric1978]

Yep, I like smaller jigs, too. But my question has always been: How do you fish jigs in a river without eventually wanting to throw your rod in the water. Snag, snag, snag. I can't take it anymore. Sometimes I can get a couple hours out of a jig on a good day, but usually it's just retie, retie, retie all the live-long day, and I'm sick of it. I'm so pathetic I actually hang up T-rigged tubes pretty often. I just can't figure out a good system...good thing I prefer other baits over jigs most times anyway.

[FishinCricket]

I'm so pathetic......

Don't be so hard on yourself... You're only mostly pathetic..

As for the original post: Jigs are the bees knees...

[eric1978]

As for the original post: Jigs are the bees knees...

I don't think they're talking about your little wimpy ones with the feathers.

[zipstick]

Al,

I agree with you on warm water jigs. In the 70's fishing was so darn easy that many of us relied on the brown rubber jig with the #11 pork frog. No need to change for years! Then with increased pressure and fewer easy to catch bass, we started going towards alternates such as tubes, brush hogs, craws and senkos to fish along the bottom. The larger jig is still deadly esp. in darker waters, but like you, I switch to soft plastics in clearer waters. Today my client and I whacked them pretty good on watermelon craw on a shaky head when the jig proved to be not near as good. The river was fairly clear and low for April, a rarity indeed. They were in their bedroom spawning communities, not easy to find, but heaven when one was located.