The flipping jig is a deadly bass lure perfect for getting up shallowly into heavy cover. Bass will begin splitting up in the fall – some will group in shallow water chasing bait fish, and others will remain under docks and grass and transition later. Open-water bass can be caught largely on, moving baits like crankbaits. These are the bass you can target with a jig. They’re preparing to gorge on bait fish and often strike out of necessity to feed. A flipping jig imitates a forage prey like a crawfish or bluegill. In this article, I’ll explain how to fish a flipping jig, the gear necessary, and the presentation you should be using to target largemouth bass in early fall.
Why Fish A Flipping Jig
Jigs tend to catch larger bass. One explanation is that they present a slightly larger meal. The flipping jig is also a perfect bait for fishing around wood and docks. It triggers bass to bite with a tantalizing fall followed by a slow twitch or hop. You can also change trailers on the back to imitate different forages, match water clarity, and increase or minimize action.
Flipping Jig Set-Up
A good jig-flipping rod is a medium-heavy rod with a 20-30 lb braided line. I like fishing braid to a 20 lb leader. After a while, moss-green braid fades, appears white, and stands out. The leader is less easy to see and provides less impact when you set the hook. Some anglers prefer a fast real like an 8:1:1 to pull bass away from cover and pick up line when the fish shoots out toward you.
Weight Selection
A 3/8 – 1/2 oz jig is typically used when flipping around cover. 3/8 oz is good for light, submerged grass, and boat docks where the jig can fall slower, giving the bass time to see the kicking action. When heavier cover is present like cables and chains under docks and thick vegetation, a 1/2 oz would be preferable for its toughness in getting through it.
Jig Colors
When selecting jig colors, it’s important to match water clarity. Simply put, the darker the water, the darker the jig skirt. June bug, black dark grey, and green are good colors when water clarity is dingy. Clear water calls for lighter color and you can’t go wrong with pumpkin green or any variation. Bluegill patterns work well when fishing in grass as bass will target bluegill along weed lines. Use craw patterns and pumpkin green in open water scenarios when bass have a good chance to study the bait.
Flipping Jig Trailers
Trailer selection depends on the time of year, natural forage, and water clarity. From pre-spawn through late summer and early fall, Bass are more aggressive and will likely bite a trailer with kicking action. In colder months when water temperatures are 60 degrees and below, anglers will go with a craw chunk trailer or a dual tail grub.
Kicking action trailers
Cold Water Trailers
Where To Fish A Flipping Jig
Bass that haven’t transitioned to fall are easy to find. Look for overhanging branches, shade, small pockets of thick grass, tule lines, boat docks, walkway ramps, and anything that provides cover from sun and heat.
Technique For Fishing a Flipping Jig
Make a gentle flip/pitch at the target area, let the jig hit bottom, and wait a moment while watching your line. Then lift your rod tip gently, and let the bait work its magic, and repeat this until out of the strike zone. This is called the hop method. Another technique is to use a drop shot technique of shaking the rod too gently and allowing the bait to almost vibrate as you slowly raise the rod tip and pull the bait through the strike zone.