Jigs are one of the best lures for bass fishing. Jigs entice the bass to bite, and are extremely versatile when it comes to fishing for bass. The best bass jigs can be used year-round, in any body of water, and are very effective in catching trophy largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Fishing with a jig takes some practice, but once you’ve mastered it you’re sure to catch more bass. Find the best bass jigs and learn how to use them correctly to find success when bass fishing in any season.
Best Jigs for Bass
- BiCO Original Jig
- Terminator Pro’s Jig
- Booyah Boo Jig
- Reaction Tackle Tungsten Flipping Jigs
- Mythik Lures Rock Crawler Tungsten Football Jig
- Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jigs Bait
- Advantage Bait Company Heavy Mat Jig
- Terminator Finesse Jig
BiCO Original Jig
If you only have one jig for bass fishing, go for the BiCO Original Jig. BiCO is known for creating high performing jigs.
The BiCO Original Jig is lead-free, which is necessary for some bodies of water that do not allow lead tackle. This jig is ideal for flipping or pitching, and can also work as a swim jig.
The BiCO Original Jig weighs ⅜ oz, and the head has a stand up design to keep the hook facing up. The hook is a 5/0 Owner hook, the sharpest hooks on the market. It also has a stiff fiber weed guard so the jig is seedless.
The BiCo Original Jig comes in 11 colors, so you can choose the best option for your location and the bass you’re targeting.
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Terminator Pro’s Jig
Terminator, another trusted fishing brand, has a great, versatile bass fishing jig. The Terminator Pro’s Jig can be used for flipping, pitching, and casting in and around cover. It comes with a heavy VMC black nickel hook and a nylon weed guard to keep it from snagging.
The Terminator Pro’s Jig comes in 12 colors and 5 sizes ranging from ¼ ounce to 1 ounce. Its unique head is ideal for breaking through cover.
Lightweight options work well as a finesse jig, although it can be used fairly universally for catching bass. It also has a single rattle to attract fish to bite.
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Booyah Boo Jig
The Booyah Boo Jig is a top-rated bass fishing jig, and is another versatile option. Its weedless design makes it easy to fish anywhere, and all components are high quality. The Booyah Boo Jig features a heavy weed guard and a head designed to slip through vegetation.
This jig comes in 7 colors and 4 sizes ranging from ¼ ounce to ¾ ounce. The head has a flat bottom with an 18 degree rise, so the ultra point black nickel hook is at the optimal angle for a bite.
The Booyah Boo Rig also has two rattles to draw in fish. Note that it is made of lead and may not be allowed in some states or bodies of water.
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Reaction Tackle Tungsten Flipping Jigs
Reaction Tackle’s Tungsten Flipping Jigs come in a two-pack for an affordable price. These flipping jigs are excellent at attracting bass.
They are made with 97% tungsten, but are totally lead free and safe to use. Tungsten is also lighter, so this jig is smaller and more sensitive.
Reaction Tackle Tungsten Flipping Jigs come in 8 colors and 4 sizes, from ⅜ ounce to 1 ounce. They are professional grade, diamond polished, and very durable.
The Reaction Tackle Tungsten Flipping Jigs feature a weed guard to prevent snags and the silicone skirts are wire-tied onto the jig.
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Mythik Lures Rock Crawler Tungsten Football Jig
The Mythik Lures Rock Crawler Tungsten Football Jig is a great option for those looking to use football bass jigs along the bottom of a body of water.
This top-rated jig works well in salt or freshwater, and it is made of 100% tungsten instead of lead, so it is safe in all waters.
This football jig comes in 3 colors and 3 sizes, (½, ¾, and 1 ounce), but can also be purchased as a set with a package of soft crawfish baits and Mythik Lure’s Jig Fishing Blueprint Guide.
The Mythik Lures Rock Crawler Tungsten Football Jig was designed for bass fishing, with a color matched weed guard, a black nickel hook, and superior sensitivity.
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Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jig
For anglers who prefer swimming jigs, this is the one for you. The Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jig was designed to catch more fish, and is an ideal swimming jig for bass fishing.
Strike King is a well-known and respected brand for lures and other fishing gear, and this jig is one of their top-rated products.
The Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jig comes in 10 colors and 3 sizes, from ¼ ounce to ⅜. It has a streamlined balanced head for enhanced swimming action, and each head is color matched to the skirt.
This jig also comes with a weed guard and a medium wire ultra sharp hook. The brand recommends a craw trailer to catch bass specifically.
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Advantage Bait Company Heavy Mat Jig
The Advantage Bait Company Heavy Mat Jig is a top-rated punching jig, great for breaking through heavy vegetation on the water. It has a dual weed guard to break through the heavy mat, and its bullet shaped head is also designed for getting through tough debris.
This jig comes in 7 colors and 4 sizes, from ½ ounce to 1 ¼ ounce. Punch jigs are purposefully heavier to break through mat, so choose a heavier size depending on location and conditions.
The Advantage Bait Company Heavy Mat Jig is equipped with a Gamatsuko hook on a self-righting jig head, a silicone skirt with built-in trailers, and dual magnum rattles to attract bass.
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Terminator Finesse Jig
For those looking for a lighter jig or a jig for smallmouth bass, the Terminator Finesse Jig is a great option.
This finesse jig has a half skirt to resemble bugs, with the skirt cut shorter around the head of the jig. The Terminator Finesse Jig has a small, single strand braided wire weed guard to protect from some snagging without weighing it down.
Terminator’s Finesse Jig comes in 8 colors and 2 sizes, ⅛ ounce and 3/16 ounce, as most finesse jigs are light. The hook has a medium-long shank and VMC black nickel hook.
Another great product from Terminator, the Terminator Finesse Jig has great reviews and is perfect for finesse jigging.
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Types of Bass Jigs
Bass are abundant: in freshwater, saltwater, oceans, lakes, ponds – and they can be caught year-round. Because of that, there are different jigs for different types of bass and different bodies of water.
The basic jig has a heavy metal head attached to a hook, with a skirt attached. Most bass jigs feature rubber or silicone skirts, and often feature a weed guard as well to prevent snagging. Keep in mind that some states or bodies of water do not allow lead tackle due to conversation issues. Check out lead tackle laws before you buy tackle or go fishing.
From that basic formula, bass jigs differ in terms of design and use. We’ll break down the main types of bass jigs so you can find the right one for your next fishing trip.
Flipping Jigs
Flipping jigs, also called Arkie jigs or casting jigs, are the most versatile and basic of the bass jigs. The head is usually an average size, not too wide but not as slim as others for cutting through weeds and vegetation.
Flipping jigs are flexible for a range of bass and environments, but are often used in lakes or other waters with different kinds of cover. They are also adaptable enough to work as swimming jigs.
Swim Jigs
Swim jigs do just that: swim. These jigs are designed to mimic baitfish swimming through the water, so they have a thinner head and body. When jigging a swim jig, you’ll have to work to keep it from reaching the bottom.
They are best used around cover, since the slim head won’t get caught as easily and because they are designed to move through such obstacles.
Football Jigs
A football jig has a football shaped head. This gives the jig better balance, keeping the hook and bait standing up. The shape of the head also causes football jigs to wobble as they descend into the water and along the bottom, which can better attract bass if they look like wounded bait.
Football jigs’ wide head means they are not ideal for areas with high vegetation, but they work well in waters with hard or rocky floors. The balance keeps them from turning over or getting caught in the rocks, and they can be easily hopped or dragged along the bottom to attract bass.
Finesse Jigs
Finesse jigs are smaller in size and lighter in weight than other bass jigs. The skirt is shorter and usually comes up around the head. Finesse fishing is usually slower, with small tackle.
These are the best jigs for catching smallmouth bass. They are best used around light cover, clear waters, and colder water with a hard or rocky bottom. If fish aren’t biting, a finesse jig may help because it is smaller and can look more natural to bass.
Punch Jigs
Punch jigs are heavier and made to break through thickly matted vegetation. Their bullet shaped head and added weight helps them punch through weeds and other obstacles.
Most anglers use a stronger rod with punch jigs, as they’ll need the strength to pull a fish back through that vegetation.
How To Fish a Jig for Bass
Jigs are perfect for catching bass, but you have to know how to use them. The general idea with most jigs, other than swim jigs, is to get the jig to reach the bottom. Bass are likely to bite as the jig descends, or from the bottom of the body of water.
Jigs are also ideal for areas with a lot of cover. Most have weed guards to keep the hook from snagging, and while other lures can’t reach heavily covered or matted areas, jigs are better at breaking through.
Jig Fishing Techniques
Even if you buy the best bass jigs on the market, you still need to know how to use it. When jig fishing, it is important to keep your line relatively tight. It can be hard to feel a jig bite, and you have to be patient while paying extra attention to your rod and any line movement.
When you feel a bite, it’s vital that you quickly pull your rod toward you to set the hook. The weed guard, while necessary, can get in the way when it comes to hook sets, so you’ll have to use a swift pull to set the hook.
If you don’t get a bite on the descent, dragging or hopping your jig along the bottom can trigger a strike.
Flipping your jig is a popular form of jig fishing, and involves short, hopefully accurate, underhand casts to a specific target area. This area is usually one with high cover that bass are likely hiding in.
The idea is that a short, underhand cast will enter the water quietly so that fish are not scared off. Accuracy is important for flipping, or pitching, your jig, so if you miss your target and don’t get a bite, try a little movement or reel in and re-cast.
Experienced anglers will skip jigs over the water to reach difficult areas, like under some barrier where fish may be hiding. This is an especially useful skill on hot summer days when bass may seek shade. Practice skipping jigs to target hard-to-reach places.
Pick the Right Jig Trailer
Most anglers attach a trailer to their jig – a soft plastic bait rigged on the hook. This helps to mimic bait or crayfish, as they have more action than the jig itself. Your choice of trailer depends on where you’re fishing, what bass you want to catch, water conditions, and more. Check out this video from Mike Iaconelli Fishing to guide you on your choice of jig trailer.
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