February 24, 2014
By Dan Johnson
Bass jigs are versatile and ever so deadly weapons for largemouths, smallies, and spots in a wide variety of situations. You can swim, drag, punch, twitch, flip, pitch, shake, and shoot 'em — and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, jig strokes are limited only by your imagination.
Recent years have witnessed a rise in specialty jigs aimed at specific presentations, such as finessing, punching through weedy canopies, shaking, dragging, and swimming. All of which leads to arguably the widest jighead selection ever seen in the history of fishing. In honor of the effective yet sometimes overlooked jig, we collected 10 top heads, which shine in a variety of situations.
To be fair, the best bass jig options are nearly countless. There are so many standount jig-makers, we simply couldn't squeeze in every brand. The same goes for style, though we did cover a wide spectrum of designs. That being said, let's wade in to the wonderful world of bass-catching jigs.
Booyah Alton Jones' A-Jig booyahbaits.com - Alton owes at least part of his 2008 Bassmaster Classic victory on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell to the prototype of this standout leadhead. It features the same proven, brush- and weed-penetrating head design as the Booyah Boo Jig, with hand-tied, heavy round-rubber and silicone skirting for plenty of bass-enticing motion. Available in 3/8-, ½-, and ¾-ounce sizes in six natural forage patterns. All sizes sport a premium 5/0 black nickel hook with Plasti-Keeper Spike for holding trailers in place.
Bass Pro Shops Enticer Pro Series Rattling Jig basspro.com - New from Bass Pro Shops, the Enticer Pro Series Rattling Jig features a super-sticky Mustad 2X hook, 40-strand silicone skirt, chip-resistant head, and premium weedguard. For calling big bass in for a closer look, however, we really like this jig's extra-loud barrel rattle chamber. Add it together and it's a slick rattle jig for a variety of bassin' applications.
Lindy Watsit Jig lindyfishingtackle.com - What is it? A great bass jig, that's what. The grub-style body, wriggling arms, and fluttering tail mimic a variety of bottom-dwelling prey, including crayfish and hellgrammites. Comes pre-rigged on a bug-eyed Lindy Jig. Available in 18 colors and 1/16- to ¼-ounce weights. Grubs come in 1¾-, 2-, and 2-inch 'fat ' dimensions. Also available in an underspin option for added flash and vibration.
Outkast Tackle R.T.X. Jig outkasttackle.com - The slow-falling, yet heavy-fishing R.T.X. is one sweet flippin' jig. Its bullet head slips through the jungle, while the brushguard wards stalks and leaves away from the extra-strong, 30-degree Gamakatsu hook. A double-barb keeper pins plastic trailers in place, which means you'll spend less time repositioning the trimmings. A thick but compact, 54-strand skirt is another nice touch, as is the raucous double-rattle sound system, which lets you add and remove rattles to tailor sonic stylings to the conditions at hand. Available in eight bassy colors, in ½- and ¾-ounce options, both with a 5/0 hook.
River2Sea Junkyard Jig river2seausa.com - Designed with the help of top touring ace and acknowledged jig master Tommy Biffle, this down-and-dirty head shines for flippin' heavy, nasty cover. It's armed with a hook forged from extra-heavy wire, with a short shank and double-gap round bend. The head penetrates cover, stands at attention on bottom, and rotates the hook into the roof of the fish's mouth on the hookset. Comes with loud, double-barreled plastic rattles that also help keep trailers in tow. Junkyards are available in 3/8-, ½-, and ¾-ounce sizes, in eight hand-tied skirt color combos.
Strike King Denny Brauer Structure Jig strikeking.com - Brauer helped design this hybrid 'cobra ' head to bridge the gap between football and heavy cover jigs. Thanks to the unique shape, it can be flipped and dragged across structure rich in weeds, wood, and rocks. Its wide footprint gives you a great feel for the bottom. Plus, the design allows the Owner 2X Cutting Point hook to get a better bite on bass. Other amenities include a premium skirt and brushguard, along with chip-resistant paint. Available in ½- to 1-ounce weights.
Terminator Weedless Football Jig terminatorlures.com - Built to tackle bass lurking in timber and weedy cover on deep gravel, rocks, and sand, this jig slides through gnarly neighborhoods with little fear of snags. Smart features include a balanced head, full silicone skirt, and matching brushguard. Plus, the heavy-duty, wide-gap VMC jig hook sticks bass and won't let go. Look for ½-, ¾-, and 1-ounce sizes in six hot color patterns.
Z-Man ChatterBait zmanfishing.com - Dynamite in heavy cover or stained water, this bladed swim jig packs powerful flash and vibration. The hex-shaped blade also helps keep weeds from fouling the hook. Comes with a split-tail trailer but can be customized with creatures, craws, and other softbaits. Available in ¼- through 5/8-ounce weights, in more than 30 skirt and body colors.
Gene Larew Biffle HardHead genelarewlures.com - Having caught a 10-pound largemouth on a HardHead and Biffle Bug on Texas' famed Lake Fork, I can't resist adding this deadly combination to the mix. Designed by consummate touring pro Tommy Biffle, the head and grub excel at a fast-paced, low-slung presentation known as bottom-bugging. Part of the rig's secret is the wire loop linking the hook with the football-shaped head, which allows the softbait trailer to swing freely as the head bounces across bottom. The softbait's flexible, cupped tail engenders fine swimming gyrations, while its hollow body accommodates fish attractants or rattles. HardHeads are available in 3/16- through 1-ounce options, with Owner wide-gap hooks from 3/0 to 6/0 in size, depending on head weight. Biffle Bugs come in 4.25- and 5-inch lengths and 23 color patterns.
Johnson ½-ounce Beetle Spin berkley-fishing.com - Since its debut in 1959, the iconic Beetle Spin has accounted for countless catches, including bass of all stripes. In 2013, Johnson upped the ante with a supersize Beetle twice as big as the heaviest of Virgil Ward's original creations. The larger profile and added ballast make it ideal for beefy largemouths, smallies, and spots. And there are few presentations more simple yet deadly than the Beetle Spin's basic cast-and-wind retrieve. Available with a nickel blade and six body color combinations, or a gold blade with eight colorations.
