Sissy Sticks and Giggy Bass
By Paul Strege
National tournament circuits have generated a great deal of publicity
for jig worming as of late. With field sizes increasing, tour practice
periods decreasing, and pressure on bass at an all-time high, the rise
in popularity of the jig worm is not surprising. The technique, also
known as shaky head worming, catches fish when others fail. Virtually
every large-scale tackle manufacturer has a finesse line of soft plastics,
many of those geared towards jig worming, so choosing the most effective
lure for a given situation is a daunting task at best.
Above: Jig Worming is effective for both Largemouth
and Smallmouth. |
When looking at a specific application for the jig worm, an angler
must know what characteristics make it effective. To stereotype, jig
worming is a “sissy” technique, often viewed as dull and
boring. It does not involve running around the lake and covering vast
amounts of water to put bass in the boat. It requires patience, careful
equipment and lure selection, and attention to fine detail. When one
of these components is overlooked, the jig worm loses its value.
Slow is not Enough
The discipline required in fishing
the jig worm is similar to that required of a competitive runner. Starting
too fast will cause fatigue down the road. Although the form experienced
by an angler is more mental than anything else, fatigue will lead to
a lack of concentration and an unintentional acceleration in covering
water. On the other hand, starting slow and attempting to work even
slower will further increase the technique’s success. Often the
focus of fishing is on the future and not the present, meaning that
anglers frequently think ahead to the next cast or spot. And it’s
not surprising that this occurs. Given the limited amount of time during
a tournament or recreational outing, the pressure is on the angler
to produce instantaneous results. One method to slow the cast-and-wind
tendency is to make mental notes of the angling surroundings. Doing
this maintains focus on the present. Water temperature, wind direction,
weedline contour, bottom composition, sunlight intensity and boat position
are all valuable pieces of data that will be of benefit in the long
run. Covering water with electronics before placing the initial cast
also forces an angler to concentrate on one particular area at a time.
When the correct frame of mind is established, an angler is prepared
to put the finesse equipment into action.
Above: “Sissy” Equipment – the
Gambler Lures Giggy Head, Giggy Stick and Rogue Rods SJ663. |
Sissy Sticks
Fishing a jig worm requires much of the same gear used in conventional worm fishing,
however light line selection necessitates the use of a fast action rod that
does not sacrifice sensitivity. Rod power is saved when utilizing a fast action
rod for a given length. In turn, lesser power improves the handling of light
lines, while the fast action allows the lure to be cast into the periphery
of the weeds and popped free of any nuisance vegetation. The snapping serves
a purpose as it imparts an abrupt, attention-grabbing
movement underwater. Another important consideration when selecting
a jig worming rod is length. Longer rods are advantageous in that more
line is displaced in a single motion. That movement not only eases
the effort in snapping, but it also generates slack and guarantees
lure free fall to deep bottoms. Rogue Rods manufactures a Spin Jig
line of spinning rods that combines a fast action with sensitive blanks.
The medium-power Rogue Rods SJ663 model measures 6-1/2 feet and offers
excellent versatility to cover most jig worm situations. Rogue’s
lightweight Fuji Alconite Concept Guides impart proper rod balance and casting
accuracy. In summary, selecting the most appropriate rod for a particular jig
worming scenario will maximize the lure’s effectiveness.
Attention to Detail
Light line is synonymous with jig worming and rightfully so. Smaller
diameter lines are less visible to bass. Florocarbon lines further
improve presentation stealth. Regardless of the line type, knot location
influences the jig worm presentation. If a knot is slid closer to
the top, the jig appears relatively horizontal in the water. However,
this knot location does help to improve snag resistance upon retrieve.
When the knot is slid in the opposite direction towards the hook
point, the jig will stabilize in a more vertical posture on the bottom.
Revolutionary advancements in sonar technology, specifically side
imaging, simplifies the search for underwater subtleties – a
once laborious chore in jig worming. The time saved while surveying
the water with modern equipment now leads to a slower, more effective
presentation. The Humminbird 997 and 797 side imaging units display
weedline edges, brush piles, bottom composition changes and other underwater
structures in amazing detail. High frequency sonar propagates from
both sides of the transducer and the reflected waves create “shadows” of
objects on the display. Side imaging even provides a fresh perspective
on angling community holes. That knowledge combined with the jig worming
technique helps to coax even the most wary bass into biting.
A Technique to Try
Jig worming is a technique to try when other presentations fail. Armed
with the proper patience, equipment, and lures, any angler can adapt
to a wider range of conditions. So the next time you find yourself
tired from running around the lake, pick up the Sissy Stick and go
after some Giggy Bass!
For
more information on the article above, feel free to contact Paul
Strege at pstrege@hotmail.com
