Pro tip · Football jig drag
Drag it with the rod tip from 9 to 11 o’clock, reel up slack, repeat. You want it bumping rock — if you are not hanging up occasionally, go heavier.
Jig Fishing for Bass: Flipping, Football and Swim Jigs
Written by Atlas Editorial · Last updated
Three bass jigs cover almost every situation: a 3/8–1/2 oz flipping jig for wood and grass, a 3/4–1 oz football jig dragged on rock in 10–25 ft, and a 1/4–3/8 oz swim jig reeled through shallow grass.
Bass jig types
| Jig | Weight | Where | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flipping / pitching | 3/8–1/2 oz (1 oz+ for matted grass) | Wood, docks, grass edges, 1–10 ft | 50–65 lb braid or 20–25 lb fluoro |
| Football | 3/4–1 oz | Rock, ledges, points, 10–25 ft | 15–20 lb fluoro |
| Swim jig | 1/4–3/8 oz | Over and through grass, 1–6 ft | 40–50 lb braid or 17–20 lb fluoro |
| Finesse jig | 3/16–5/16 oz | Clear water, pressured fish, cold water | 10–14 lb fluoro |
Jig trailers and colours
- Cold water (under 55°F): compact craw or chunk trailer with little action — slower fall, more bites.
- Warm water (over 60°F): double-tail or flapping craw trailer for more kick and a faster fall.
- Swim jig: 3.5–4 in paddletail or a double-tail grub.
- Colours: green pumpkin in clear water, black and blue in stained or dark water, brown and orange in early spring when crawfish are active, white or shad for swim jigs.
Jig fishing pro tips
Pro tip · Pitching
Let it fall on a semi-slack line. Most bites come on the initial fall; watch the line where it enters the water.
Pro tip · Hookset
Reel down until you feel weight, then set hard and upward. A 7 ft 3 in to 7 ft 6 in heavy rod gives you the leverage.
Pro tip · Temperature
Jigs work all year, but they are at their best from 45–60°F in winter and pre-spawn when crawfish are the main forage.
Questions from the ramp
Sources
- — Bassmaster — technique and tackle archive
- — Major League Fishing — tournament technique coverage
- — ADCNR Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries — Alabama fishing
Data last reviewed: 2026-11-05