If you're fishing bass with jigs, here's some tricks to keep in mind.

- Fish jigs slowly during all seasons, but in cold water fish them *really* slow.
- In general, smallmouth bass tend to prefer hair jigs while largemouths prefer bulkier rubber jugs.
- To improve feel and maintain the maximum hook setting pressure, use a fast action rod, medium-heavy to heavy in the 6 1/2 foot or longer lengths.
- Jigs are excellent night-fishing lures, if you are using them at night, use a heavier jig than you would during the day.
- When the bass aren't hitting the more attention-grabbing lures (like rattling crankbaits), try fishing closer to cover.
- Keep your hooks sharp. Sharp hooks penetrate better and they stay set better.
- Check your line and knot periodically.
- When fishing a jig in brush or near tree limbs, you will get hung-up. Instead of violently pulling and shaking when this happens, give the line some slack and shake the rod tip gently. Often the jig will fall free.
- When swimming or dropping a hair jig in clear water, you can make the hair "breath" by gently squeezing the handle of your rod (a slight wrist movement) while keeping the rod position still. This just barely moves the tip. Bass love this.
- Remember that jig fishing demands lots of concentration... you might want to cut down on distractions.