11/16/04

"I have a general rule for jig fishing and that is you match the hatch, mimic what the bass is likely to be eating.  Pre fish becomes very important, as well as a knowledge of seasonal patterns.  You need to understand me now, I have been making my own jigs for over twenty years, I'm very particular.   I have made jigs that are colored to match several different kinds of crawdads, shad, bluegill, sunfish and just about anything else that swims or crawls on the bottom of the lake.  I am one of those anglers who believes that you need to be prepared with several colors so that the forage can be mimicked.  I fish a lot of clear water and this is why I feel the way I do about color."

"Next is the presentation.  Water temperature is what defines a bass' level of activity.  They are cold-blooded creatures, so they are totally dependant on water temperature to define their activity level.  Another rule that I live by for jig fishing is what I call the 50-50 rule.  If the water temperature is under 50 degrees, in my mind that warrants a slower retrieve.   I "hop" a jig when the water temperature is under 50 degrees.  Actually what I am doing in this situation is what I call, "lifting and holding."  I will lift the rod tip, and hold the tip up as the jig works through brush or over rocks.  Generally when I am "lifting and holding," I will move the jig about three feet before I allow it to settle again on the bottom.  Bass will follow the bait as it moves through brush and pop it when it hits the bottom.  I am jumping the bait, it has to look natural to bass.  If I am in the right place, and I should be or why even cast? There should be rocks, stumps and brush in the area I am fishing.  By lifting and holding, I am allowing my jig to work through the cover where bass tend to hold."

"When the water temperature is above 50 degrees it's time to swim a jig.  By swimming a jig, I mean to cast out, hold the rod tip at 11:00, and pull the jig so that it swims through cover, much the same way folks would slow roll a spinner bait.  When I am swimming a jig, I think of Muhammed Ali.  I literally keep talking to myself. Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee, Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee, because that is exactly what the jig should be doing while I am swimming it."

"Temperature is crucial.  In February of 2004 I finished second on a tournament at the Atchafalaya Basin.  I led that tournament for a couple of days on this swimming jig technique.  I was dialed in and catching them good.  That was when the water temperature was above 50.  During the last day of the event a cold front came through and the water temperature fell.  I did poorly the last day because I didn't adjust my presentation.  Pay attention to that 50-50 rule, it really matters."