3 Jig Techniques To Catch Winter Bass

When the water turns cold, the leadhead jig becomes one of the most appealing lures to lethargic bass. Jig techniques can vary, but three big ones can definitely help you have a good day during the winter bass chasing months.During the winter, anglers can throw a variety of jigs designed to trigger a strike from even the most sluggish bass. Three types of jigs commonly used for wintertime fishing are a casting model such as the Gamechanger Lures Trashmaster Jig, a football jig like the Missile Baits Ike's Head Banger Jig and a finesse jig like the Heavy Metal Finesse Tungsten Football Jig.Here’s a look at how to fish these three jigs for wintertime bass.

1. Casting Jig Techniques

Casting the Gamechanger Lures Trashmaster Jig along ledge banks of creek channel swings will produce strikes from bass holding along the ledges 10 to 25 feet deep. Try a 3/8-ounce jig tipped with a craw trailer to make the lure more buoyant and sink slower. Good color combinations for the jig-and-craw are brown-and-blue or black-and-blue. Tie the jig on 10- to 15-pound test line or 10-pound test if the water is ultra-clear.The best jig techniques for casting the Trashmaster are steep ledges with big rocks. After casting the jig near the bank, slowly raise the jig and let it fall, keeping the lure as close to the edge as possible. This allows you to stair-step the jig down the shelf and keep it in the strike zone on the ledges.

2. Football Jig Techniques

Dragging the Missile Baits Ike's Head Banger Jig along the bottom in deep water will trigger strikes from wintertime bass but sometimes “dead sticking” the jig is the most effective way to coax sluggish bass into biting.When fishing offshore ledges, position your boat parallel to the ledge and dead stick a 3/4-ounce jig by crawling it along the bottom with extremely long pauses. After letting the jig sit for several seconds, shake the jig a couple of times and inch it along the bottom before pausing it again. For more aggressive fish, slowly sweep your rod like a broom to make the jig bang along the bottom and then briefly pause the bait before sweeping again.

3. Finesse Jig Techniques

A 3/8-ounce finesse jig like the Heavy Metal Finesse Tungsten Football Jig in brown or green pumpkin hues combined with a green pumpkin plastic chunk is ideal for catching wintertime bass along rocky shallows where bass seek the warmth of the rocks on sunny days. A creature can also be a great trailer as that natural presentation can sometimes lead to a huge bite. Fan cast the jig on 12- to 14-pound test line and slowly hop it over the rocks for the best results.