Guys- In Gary White's excellent book "Bassing with the Best", he writes "one of Denny Brauer's most productive, but lesst revealed lures, is a white jig". He goes on to say that when shad are prevalent, the white jig is like turning on a neon light.
My question is: Do you find that this set-up will also work in places where alewives are in abundance? Have you tried it and do you recommend it during certain seasons?
I have heard some of you talk about this color jig in the past. What is your take on it? JoeM
PS- Could it be used where white perch are in the baitfish population?

I am not crazy over the notion of match the hatch, and I have always belived since the Color-selector that contrast is more important than matching the hatch. I think lure type and action are more important than color but it still is the most over talked about aspect of the sport, due largely in part that it is the most lucrative end for the tackle industry. Color still should be given some consideration but it is not as important as location or speed control (action). It should come as no suprise that a white jig will work as well as a pink jig or any off the wall colors that Bass have not learned to stop hitting. Bass do stop hitting certant baits because of certant negative cues the bait offers. Jigs and worms are great baits becuase if a bass stops hitting things that move like them he basically will starve to death. I have caught bass on a white jig and on a white worm but I still like dark colors. Colors are basically an issue of confidence and not anything more or less, but remember confidence is the key!!

Dan- Thanks for the quick answer. Makes me think of Tom Mann with his Jelly Worms. He always said color was at best secondary, but he made a zillion colors/flavors because the public liked them.
Basically you answered the question, the white jig will catch bass. I guess I will keep the ones I've bought. (Was going to make a shadow box design with them otherwise)
JoeM

I am Agreeing with Dan on this one. Some days it works some days IT DON'T. Its not a secret weapon. I do like to use it where there are shad and I like to add a hot pink strip along with the white pork. I never found it to be the go to lure when there was a lot of white perch as forage. Thats where the smoke colored Sting Ray Grub comes in.
Frank

Joe,
I know this is a late reply to your question but I have to tell you I read a great article in Bassmaster this month by Tim Horton on the white jig. I have caught fish on white before I read the article, but as Dan said the dark seems to do better...sometimes! After reading this article on swimming the white jig and keeping it above the weeds while giving it a couple of hops along the way I went to Forge to give it a try. I started out with a white spinner bait w/silver willow blades and only got one fish on about 30+ casts. I then went to the white jig in the same area and landed 3 fish in 4 casts! Two fish were 2+ and the big one was just shy of 4lbs. I was in heaven! I landed about 6 more fish before it just shut down on me and no fish was under 16 inches. My buddy tried to do the same on his jig but he is pretty new to the sport and couldn't get the presentation down so he went back to the spinnerbait and only landed 1 fish about 13". I guess the point I was trying to make is that if these fish see something they are not used to they are going to nail it, and in this case it was all the bigger ones that nailed it. I also tried a dark colored jig and didn't get a bite and then went back to the white and picked up another fish. Let the white jig go for a swim and HOLD ON! Happy Hawg Huntin'
Rob C. (L.I.B. Member)

Frank & Rob- Thanks for contributing. It seems like you fellas and Dan agree that it works but not always.
Frank, that smoke grub is dynamite now as it was years ago whether like the Sting Ray style, the boot foot or the Kalin/Yammy style
Rob, that had to be some day you had with the white jig. I'll bet your partner was waiting for you to get out and walk across the water.
To sum it up, would you say the biggest error would be not at least trying it?
JoeM