Jig

A jig is a weighted lead or tungsten head molded onto a hook, usually dressed with a silicone skirt and paired with a soft plastic trailer. The weight lets it sink fast and stay in contact with the bottom, which is why it works so well around cover where bass hold tight to structure.

Anglers cast jigs into wood, rock, or grass and hop or drag them along the bottom to imitate a crawfish or baitfish in trouble. The bites often come as a subtle tick or a slight change in line pressure rather than a hard thump, so most of the bite is felt through the line and rod tip. Jigs are one of the most versatile baits in the jigs lineup, working in shallow cover, deep ledges, and everything in between.

Match the jig weight to the cover and depth: lighter heads for shallow, sparse cover and heavier heads for deep water or thick vegetation. A simple tip is to keep slack out of your line as the jig falls, since most strikes happen on the drop and a tight line lets you feel it instantly.

• Flipping jig: heavy weed guard, built for punching through thick cover
• Football jig: rounded head that stays upright on rock and gravel bottoms
• Swim jig: streamlined head designed to be retrieved steadily through grass or open water