There are dozens of different styles of jigs, but the ones we will concentrate on are leadhead jigs. These have lead heads cast on hooks to resemble the head of some tasty morsel that a fish would want to eat. Jigs of one type or another will take pretty much any game fish, and are the preferred method for many. Even by limiting our discussion to leadheads leaves dozens of styles that we could mention. I'll concentrate on a few of the basics. For tips on how to fish jigs for specific fish, see the fish-specific tips later. However, the basic idea of jigging is to cast it out, then let it hit bottom. You can then either drag it slowly across the bottom or make it jump by jerking your rod tip, then reeling up the slack as it falls back down. In this way it "swims" back toward you, bouncing off the bottom. I have had good luck slow-dragging jigs with nightcrawlers on them over riprap for walleye. More suggestions also occur below.
The other major type of jig is the jigging spoon, which is usually either jigged up and down from a boat or while ice fishing. I have several that I bought for ice fishing that I haven't really used. You can try cast and retrieve with them too; theoretically it should work just fine.
My instincts tell me that baits should be naturally-colored. The problem with that is that natural bait blends in so as to not be eaten. My experience has told me that obnoxious colors catch the most fish: yellow, lime, chartreuse, orange, but especially chartreuse. That could be because I normally fish for walleyes and they like chartreuse, I don't know. Plus northerns will eat anything that swims by them, so color doesn't matter to them.
These come in two basic types: live bait (right) and barbed collar (left). The barbed collar is designed to hold soft plastic baits on the jig. Live bait jigs can be rigged with crawlers, leeches, or minnows to best effect. They come is sizes from 1/100th oz to a few ounces. The most useful sizes, the ones I use the most, are 1/16th to 1/8th for perch, 1/8 to 1/4 for walleye, 1/4 to ½ for white bass. For ice fishing though I use much smaller ones, 1/64 to 1/8, but you don't have to cast those. Heavy things are easier to cast. I think 1/8 oz jigs are the best all-around size for twister tails and crawlers.
Don't use these-they're crappie. But seriously, folks, I've never had much luck with these, but I've never done much fishing where crappie occur. I'm told they work great. The only thing I've caught on these was the world's biggest bullhead at Kieweg Woods in Terre Haute. The method for fishing these is to cast, let it sink a bit then raise the rod tip. When your rod is straight up, drop it again and reel in the slack. This will make the jig "swim" in waves. The nice thing is that they're cheap, so if you get some and they don't work, you're only out $1.69.
Bass jigs are large and heavy and weedless (notice the plastic fibers protecting the hook). These are usually rigged with soft plastic crawfish, lizards, or worms, and hopped along the bottom of weedbeds. I've never done this but it is one of the more popular ways to fish bass, so I suppose it works.
Marabou and bucktail jigs are similar in appearance, except marabou is feather and bucktail is stiff hair (this photo is of bucktails). Bucktail jigs are usually fairly large and are used for white and striped bass. Marabou jigs are a bit more multi-purpose, from what I understand. These feathers or hair pulse when jigged, making it look like they're swimming.
I bought some of these because I needed jigs and these were on clearance at Cabela's. The ones I got were huge, 5/8 oz and 3/8 oz. I rig them with 3" twister tails and just crank them fast where white bass are; I get a good number of white bass and northerns with that method. Their shape is probably good for bottom-fishing, but I get them hung up a lot on riprap, so my speedy retrieve is my preferred method to fish these. Chartreuse heads with lime/chartreuse twister tails has been my best combination.
Floating jigheads are great, simply great, especially this brand. These are Northland gumdrop floating jigs. They last longer and are of superior floating ability to regular styrofoam floaters. Again, I only buy chartreuse and chartreuse/lime. They're a bit expensive, $.50 apiece or so. But combine this with a walking sinker and a chunk of nightcrawler or leech and drag it over riprap, you have a lethal combination for walleye. Also good for panfish, because the jig keeps the bait up off the bottom. Just sort of reel it slowly back to you across the bottom and any fish that are on the bottom will be tempted. If the fish are shallower, you can leave more line between the sinker and the jig, so that it can float higher in the water. Overall, I think this is the second-most-used rig I use.
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