How and Why to Fish a Football Jig (VIDEO)

ByMatt Fed

Video Bullet Points:

Here is a summary of the key information:

  • Primary Purpose and Technique
    • The football jig is designed for long-distance casting and dragging along the bottom.
    • Its main purpose is to slowly drag it back once it sinks, imitating a vulnerable crawfish.
    • The retrieval technique is primarily a slow drag, though you can add hops or shakes for variation.
  • Design and Advantage
    • Football-Shaped Head: This unique head shape keeps the bait upright and prevents it from rolling over like a flipping jig.
    • It’s better at handling rocks, allowing it to bounce up over them easily, which helps it remain snag-free in hard structure.
    • Thinner Gauge Hook: The hook is a lighter wire compared to other jigs. This design makes it much easier to get a solid hook set when you are far away from the bait after a long cast.
  • When and Where to Fish It
    • Best Seasons: While it catches fish all year, it is particularly effective during the middle of summer and the middle of winter. In both extremes, bass are often lazy and hunkered down, making a slow-dragging, easy meal presentation ideal.
    • Ideal Bottom Composition: You should fish a football jig on a hard bottom like sand, gravel, rock, or hard clay].
    • Avoid: It performs poorly in heavy grass/vegetation, where the wide head constantly gets caught up, and on super muddy bottoms, which bass dislike eating from.
  • Trailer Selection
    • Dead Action Trailers (e.g., chunk or beaver style): These are best for cold or very clear water as they offer a more natural, less-moving action, mimicking a stiff crawfish.
    • Swimming or Flapping Trailers: These are preferred for warm or muddy water because the extra action and vibration help aggressive bass find the bait from farther away.
  • Recommended Gear
    • The video recommends a medium-heavy action baitcasting setup.
    • Use around 15lb test fluorocarbon line as an all-around setup.

The football jig is highlighted as a great “big bite getter” because its larger profile attracts bigger bass compared to finesse baits like Ned rigs or shaky heads.

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