Mopping Up Prespawn Bass

A mop jig is a type of bass jig designed to mimic the appearance of a crawfish or other bottom-dwelling prey that bass feed on. The lure features a skirt made of extra-long, heavy, living rubber strands that resemble the appearance of a mop, give it a lifelike action in the water.

In addition to the skirt, mop jigs often feature a flat-sided, arky-style or football head that helps the jig sit in a defensive position on the bottom further enhancing its crawfish appearance. This makes it an excellent choice for fishing in almost any water depth or in areas with strong currents.

To use a mop jig for bass fishing, you would typically cast the lure out and then retrieve it slowly along the bottom of the lake or river, pausing occasionally to allow the lure to sink back down and imitate the behavior of a crawfish or other prey. The soft strands of the skirt float up from the bottom and move with the water current, creating an enticing motion that can attract the attention of nearby bass.

Take a moment as bass pro Grae Buck describes how he uses the Buckeye Lures Mop Jig paired with a floating craw-type trailer to trick transitioning prespawn bass into biting...

Tips on Picking Bass Jigs

When it comes to bass fishing, a jig can be an effective lure for not only catching bass but big ones as well. 

With so many different types of jigs available on the market, however, it can be challenging to determine which one is right for your fishing situation. 

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when picking a jig for bass fishing:

Water clarity: The clearer the water, the more natural and realistic your jig should look. In clear water, a finesse jig with natural colors like green pumpkin can be highly effective. In murky or stained water, a bulkier jig in black and blue typically stands out better and gets more bites.

Water depth: The deeper the water, the heavier your jig needs to be in order to reach the bottom and maintain contact with the jig. If you're fishing shallow water, a lighter jig with a slower fall rate may work better plus avoid snagging on cover like rocks, wood, or weeds.

Season: Different types of jigs may be more effective depending on the time of year. In the spring, for example, a swim jig can be highly effective for covering a lot of water quickly and enticing active fish. During the summer, heavier, bulkier flipping and structure jigs typically come into play whereas football and finesse jigs may work best during the colder fall and winter months.

Trailer: Adding a trailer to your jig can help make it more enticing to bass. Consider using a soft plastic or pork trailer to add more movement and appeal to your jig.

Bass pro Greg Hackney has a reputation of being one of the better jig fisherman in the pro ranks. Take a moment as Greg provides his thoughts on how he picks jigs and trailers depending on the conditions he is fishing...

It's important to experiment with different types of jigs to find what works best for you. Everyone has their own style and approach to fishing, so don't be afraid to try out different jigs and techniques until you find what works best for you.

Selecting Jig Colors

One of the issues all bass anglers face as you build your tackle arsenal goes beyond selecting the lure but also determining the colors to stock too. 

Fortunately there is one lure type that can make the color selection part relatively easy, jigs!

Don't get me wrong, there are dozens of color options for most jig types but you can simplify the process by selecting a few basic colors then adding different colored trailers to increase the possible color options. 

Watch and listen as bass pro John Crews explains in the following video tutorial!

A Bass Pro’s Jig Fishing Secrets

Are you one of the many bass fishermen struggling to master the subtleties of fishing a jig and pig?

If so, I have a treat for you today.

Recently, Bass Pro and Bassmaster Classic Winner, Skeet Reese, created a great tutorial video about jig fishing on Clear Lake in northern California. Not only does he do a fantastic job of explaining many of the nuances of jig fishing but he also gives some insight into adjusting when things don’t go according to plan!

So grab a drink, maybe a bowl of popcorn but definitely a pencil and pad of paper and enjoy the show :)