Using Football Jigs for Spring Bass

Spring is a fantastic time to fish for bass, and football jigs can be a great bait for catching them. Football jigs imitate crawfish and can be fished in a variety of ways to entice bass into striking. 

Here are seven tips for using football jigs to catch more bass this spring:

Match the jig to the conditions: Choose the weight and color of your jig based on the depth and clarity of the water, and the type of cover you're fishing. When fishing shallow, clearer water or areas with dense cover, start with a lighter (1/4-oz or 3/8-oz) jig and use heavier jigs when fishing deeper water (early prespawn or late post spawn).

Match the color to the water conditions: The color of your football jig should match the color of the water you are fishing in. If the water is murky or stained, go for a darker color like black or brown. If the water is clear, use a lighter color like green or brown.

Use a trailer: Adding a trailer to your football jig can make it look more lifelike and increase your chances of getting a strike. A crawfish or creature bait trailer can work well in the spring.

Use fluorocarbon line: Fluorocarbon line is abrasion resistant and less visible in the water than other types of line, making it a great choice for fishing with jigs.

Fish it slow: Football jigs are best fished slowly, so drag the jig along the bottom and let it bounce off any rocks or other structure and if the bite is slow, try dead-sticking the jig for several seconds during the retrieve. Restarting the retrieve after dead-sticking can often trigger finicky followers into striking. Even though slow retrieves usually work best, don't be afraid to experiment with different retrieves to see what works for the conditions you're fishing.

Pay attention to bass movement: Changes in the spring weather can affect how bass behave and where they're located. During the prespawn and part of the post spawn, many bass will be moving either from or back to deeper water. During these times focus some of your attention on the deep to shallow transition areas for migrating bass. Use upslope retrieves during the prespawn and down-slope retrieves during the post spawn to intercept transitioning bass.

Focus on cover: Football jigs are great for fishing around cover like rocks, logs, and weed beds. Look for areas where bass are likely to be hiding and fish the jig slowly around and through those spots.

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to catching more bass this spring with football jigs. Remember to stay focused and keep experimenting until you find what works best for you and the conditions you're fishing in.