Denny Brauer's Jig Clinic

Recently, Camdenton, Missouri's, Denny Brauer fielded several compelling questions regarding Jig Fishing with Keith Nighswonger, On The Water.  His answers were of course magic, as he provided insight to jig fishing that most people miss.

On why he chooses a 1/2 oz jig:

"The 1/2 oz jig allows me to cover a lot more water.  The heavier jig falls faster through cover, which in the long haul, allows me to move quicker.  If that jig falls through the cover a few seconds faster than a lighter bait, those seconds add up.  I am actually trying to get a reaction bite, much the same way you might fish a spinnerbait, looking for a reaction.  I am not swimming the jig, I am working it through the cover.  I am working it fast to get that reaction."

On when he downsizes:

"I will downsize when the water temperature drops.  Fishing gets tough when the water temperature drops, and I find that you often need to go to a slower falling bait, one that will stay in the strike zone a little bit longer.  In those cases you kind of need to bother them into striking and a smaller, slower falling bait is usually the way to go in that situation."

On when to abandon the jig:

"When I am in trouble, as in struggling for bites, I will abandon the jig and opt for a Strike King Tube Jig.  I won a BassMaster Classic flipping tubes.  As an angler, you sense that the bite is not on the jig, and something more subtle is in order.  On day two of my win at Wheeler Lake, (CITGO Bassmaster Alabama Open, 2003) I had only two fish early, I switched to a tube and culled up a nice limit.  When I need to fill out a limit, I go to tubes."

On following up a jig fish with a crank bait:

"Most guys understand that when a fish flashes or blows up on your top water lure, that you can pitch a jig or tube back into the area and catch the fish.  When a fish follows my jig back to the boat, it tells me that here is a fish that wants something and is aggressive enough to follow a lure presentation. A crank bait is a perfect follow up lure for the fish that follows your jig."