 When
early Spring arrives a lot of attention turns to a jig-n-pig
combination for bass. This has long been a favorite, and
rightfully so, as it is a great producer for lunker bass.
However, during the last two seasons I’ve found a
smaller and slimmer jig combination. The combination,
which I found to be very productive, is the black/purple,
Gripper Hair Rubber Bass Jig with a 4-inch, black Mann’s
Jelly Worm. For added attraction, Kodiak Crawfish Paste
is applied to the blackberry scented worm trailer.
One of the secrets to being able to change the productivity
of the combination is the way the worm is rigged. The
Jelly Worm
has a paddle on the end. Thread the worm so that the
paddle is
either vertical or horizontal to the jig. If one direction
doesn’t
work, try it the other way. When it is put in the water
observe the
difference in the motion from one tail position to the
other. In
the vertical position the tail resembles a minnow swimming
action,
while in the horizontal position it waves up and down,
creating more
of a crawfish or leech movement.
Sizes of 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 ounces are used for the
jig.
The nice thing about the Gripper Hair Rubber design
is that only
the weight of the jig changes, and not the overall size.
In most
cases, try to get by with the smallest weight possible.
This permits
a slower fall, as well as being able to be worked slower,
when used
with a swimming motion off the bottom or midway down.
 Techniques
for using this jig combination are extremely simple. With
the tail’s paddle in the vertical position, swim
the jig with a straight slow retrieve at different depths;
pump it along, while retrieving at a constant speed; and
pause-and-lift, allowing it to fall on the pause, and
retrieve the line on the lift. Retrieves for the tail’s
paddle in the horizontal position would be bouncing and
crawling it through brush and on the bottom; swimming
it with pumps over and through any weed growth; and hopping
it along the bottom, especially in a rocky area (this
can be slow or fast - vary it to find the best).
This season try my early Spring jig combo, and see
how it works
in your favorite body of water. By the way, it isn’t
just for early
Spring, so keep it close at hand for the entire season,
and try it whenever
the bass get a little finicky.
Stop by the Dan’s Fish ‘N’ Tales web site
at www.dansfishntales.com, or the Dan’s Links site
at www.dansfishntales.net, and browse through the pages.
You can connect to Bassin' USA through these sites. If
you want to share your success with the techniques described
in this article, or have any other questions, just drop
me an email from the link on these sites.
Until next time, get out on the water, and enjoy a great
day of fishing.
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