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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.
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.
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.
The Giggy Head
Jig worm heads and lures are available in many forms. Function,
design and performance varies with each manufacturer, however
Gambler Lures offers a
complete line of finesse plastics specifically tailored for jig
worming. The namesake Giggy Head is designed exclusively for the jig
worming aficionado. Threaded with the Gambler Giggy Stick, Icesickle
worm, and Giggy Finesse Snake, the jig utilizes a mushroom shaped
head to assure upright landings. The Giggy Stick itself incorporates
the shape of a finesse worm with the buoyancy of a hollow tube. A
small diameter shaft permits air to be trapped in the body so the
tail remains upright on the fall and at rest. Meanwhile, solid head
construction provides for secure pegging and weedless rigging. The
lure barb design allows for the bait to break free without fouling
the hook – a major disadvantage with corkscrew keepers.
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!
Paul Strege
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