Winter jig fishing - tactics and fishing techniques

In ice-bound waters, winter jig fishing is the most common fishing method. The vast majority of anglers practice jig fishing in winter, considering this the main method of fishing. Beginners are introduced to ice fishing with the simplest gear - fishing rods with a float or nod, equipped with these baits at the end of the fishing line for stand-up fishing.

However, stationary winter fishing is not the only working way to use jigs. No less common is active game fishing, which requires experience and effort from the winter driver, but often brings more catch. To hunt predators, large decoys are used, which can hardly be called jigs. In winter, fishing in the current differs from fishing in calm water. In this article we will look at how to fish with jigs in various winter water conditions.

Fishing with a jig in winter

For beginners, jig fishing in winter is a great opportunity to show your hunting instincts on the ice. This method is multifaceted, like fishing itself in general. Fishing methods are intertwined. Fishing with a jig is used in various ways - from catching crucian carp or rotan to serious hunting for schools of large roach, bream or predatory fish. The jig is an integral part of many winter fishing methods. Accordingly, there are countless variations in the design of these baits and fishing rod rigs. However, the entire vast area of jig fishing is divided into several large, seriously different areas of winter fishing.

What to put on the jig?

In general, a lot of fancy, ultra-modern things are absolutely not important for specific winter fishing trips - you can wind a fishing line on your finger and catch a big fish, when all the little things are being carried around. And you just need to attach three bloodworms instead of one - today large fish are too lazy to look at a single half-dead butterfly. Another time it’s the other way around: a small bream goes for a good bunch of bloodworms and a large jig, and an excellent bream falls for a tiny “droplet” with one small bloodworm; today it is somehow cautious at the sight of bulky bait. Or this situation: the fish definitely reacts best to bloodworms as such, but confident bites occur only when using a completely fresh larva, and you have to change it often. No matter how dexterous our fishing fingers are, constantly changing bait steals precious biting time, which may be short. So on my last fishing trip, when fishing with a jig, I encountered such a common phenomenon and switched to a sandwich of one burdock and one bloodworm. Maybe this bait gave a little less bites compared to pure bloodworms, but in the end I caught more fish due to speed, reaching up to a dozen tails without changing bait.

Types of winter jig fishing

You need to start fishing with a jig in winter with an ordinary fishing rod, stationary, with a bloodworm (more on that later), with a nod or a float, just to appreciate the beauty of ice fishing in principle. And then the whole endless world of winter fishing will open before the angler.

Tactics, fishing technique, equipment of gear depends on the fishing method:

Stationary fishing (as with a winter float rod) from the bottom using bait. Typically, anglers use 2-3 or more fishing rods at the same time in well-fed holes.
Game fishing with baiting bloodworms (moths).
Baitless fishing (winter reelless fishing).

In addition to these three main directions, jigs are also used in other fishing methods in winter. These include ice donks, various garland locomotives, special baits for predators, as well as summer fishing with winter gear from a boat or a casting rod from the shore.

In jig fishing it is important:

The choice of baits and tackle depending on the conditions and preferences of the fish.
Correct tactics (stationary feeding, active search), features of winter reservoirs.
All the nuances associated with groundbaits, baits and attachments.
The type of fish that winter fish hunt.
Weather and winter time.
Specific unpredictable little things that always arise during any fishing.
Correct game, selection of baits, ability to present bait to fish in winter and arouse the interest of underwater inhabitants.
Hooking, reeling, removing the hook from the fish's mouth.
Personal winter equipment, attitude, readiness to experiment.

Ice fishing jig for beginners

Fishing with a jig is based on the ability of the fish to perceive the slightest fluctuations in the water with its lateral line. It seems that winter fishing with a motionless bait, in almost all fishing conditions, is inferior in effectiveness to the gaming style. The only exception is when fishing for large carp and bream, for which bottom tackle with a nozzle in the form of a bunch of bloodworms can be used.

The fact is that the play of the jig provokes sluggish fish to become active and bite. A moving object irritates underwater inhabitants and causes them to wake up. If the bait lies motionless on the bottom, then even the fish nearby can ignore it. But once you switch to a playful manner, the bait will cause a surge of aggressive activity in the fish.

Static fishing also suffers from the fact that the angler has very little chance of noticing a bite, because a sluggish fish often takes the bait without revealing its presence. It happens that the nod or float remains motionless for 15 minutes, and during this time the crucian carp slowly eats the bloodworm lying on the bottom.

Wiring must be of high quality

The success of the fisherman will directly depend on the quality of the fishing. To attract sluggish winter fish, it is very important for the angler to set the jig to rhythmic movements, rather than chaotic play. Wiring must be carried out uniformly. It is important to maintain a given frequency (rhythm) of movements and avoid failures. Random movements of the jig with sudden accelerations can even scare away the fish. To perform high-quality fishing, it is important for the fisherman to sit comfortably.

The placement of the angler at the hole should be comfortable

You can't get tired while fishing. The fishing position should not cause prolonged muscle tension. The head and body should be positioned naturally. The hand in which the tackle is located should be as relaxed as possible.

One of the ways to position an angler at the hole, which achieves maximum control over the tackle, is to sit on his knees. In this case, the wiring is clearer, the back does not bend or strain, and you can quickly turn into the wind. But this method is akin to sports high-speed fishing. It will also require waterproof knee pads.

Typically, fishermen prefer to sit on box seats. But there is nothing wrong with this in principle. After all, regular fishing is a recreation, not a competition. Speed and maximum control are not a priority here.

How to hold a fishing rod during winter fishing

In general, we can advise you to always choose the most comfortable position and method of holding the fishing rod. But one point must be taken into account. If the hand with which you hold the fishing rod is directed upward, then you will not be able to achieve either normal retrieving or normal hooking. In the initial stages, you need to force yourself to make the tip of the fishing rod look down. In the future, this will become an automatic action. Usually the fishing rod is held with one hand. For certain types of game, it is sometimes more convenient to hold the fishing rod with both hands. Or hold the hand with the fishing rod with your other hand by the wrist.

Reelless fishing

In the baitless version, jig fishing in winter has become a separate large area relatively recently. Technological progress has made it possible to use the thinnest fishing lines, light tackle and plastic hook decorations for fishing - everything that makes the reelless fish so catchy. This fishing method is fundamentally different from bait fishing. There is no bloodworm on the hook, and the angler arouses the fish's interest with the seductive action and configuration of the bait. Often, for beginners, the rewinder causes some difficulties - and all because of the initially incorrect approach. There are different principles at work here. Read more in the article about fishing in winter with a reelless bait.

Nozzle jigs

Catching fish in winter with a jig without bloodworms largely depends on the configuration of the bait and the correct equipment, which allows you to give the desired game. In the baited version, the fisherman has the right to make a mistake - the bloodworm will still at the very least attract underwater inhabitants. The mothless one requires attentiveness to oneself. According to observations, fish caught without bait are on average larger. Underwater inhabitants perceive such bait as a complete object. In the attachment version, a piece of metal on the fore-end is needed to load the bait and deliver it to the bottom. The rewinder uses both ordinary models of trompe l’oeil with beads or other decorations, as well as specialized baitless devils, witches, goats, nymphs, ants, nail balls and others. Article about nozzle jigs:

Following the links provided on our website there is a whole series of articles describing all the intricacies of baitless winter fishing. Here we will dwell in more detail on bait fishing and look at how to fish in winter with a standard jig, with the addition of bloodworms or other bait.

Ways to hold a fishing rod

Now let’s look at several ways to hold a fishing rod while playing with a jig:

First way. The fishing rod is held in the right hand. During the game, the whip is placed between the thumb and index or index and middle fingers of the left hand. The spread fingers of the left hand determine the amplitude of the vibrations, and the right hand gives them the desired frequency. When playing, both hands move simultaneously. The method is quite easy to learn, but requires careful adjustment of the tackle - the weight of the jig must correspond to the elasticity of the nod. If the gear is poorly configured, the nod will be “split”, therefore the number of bites will decrease.
Second way. The left hand supports the right and serves as a damper (softener) and regulator of its operation. With this method, it is more difficult to achieve a high frequency of oscillations of the bait, the work of the hands is complicated, and due to the inability to relax the hand, the vibrations of the hands are transmitted to the fisherman’s body, and sometimes he begins to feel feverish. But this method is good because it ensures a smooth oscillation of the jig.
Third way. The fishing rod is held with one hand. Only at the beginning of the retrieve, to make it easier to set the pace of play for the bait, does the hand come into contact with the leg, sliding along it for some time.
Fourth way. The index finger of the right hand taps the rod as it is raised. Many fishermen use this method, although it does not provide a high frequency of oscillation of the jig.

Recommended reading: Winter fishing for pike perch at night from ice and shoreline

The most important thing in any case is that the fisherman knows how to give the bait oscillations of a higher frequency with the smallest and smoothest (sinusoidal) amplitude possible. And how he achieves this is not so important.

Fishing with jigs

The next block of information is those features that novice winter anglers often miss, and because of this they fail. But taking into account biting factors and correct tactics in winter is the key to success in ice fishing, regardless of the gear used. And jig fishing is no exception. Some beginners mistakenly think that the main thing in winter is the right equipment and the “best” magic bait that catches everything, always. Of course, equipment is important, but only technically, during fishing itself.

However, before you throw the tackle into the hole, you still need to find the right place. Underwater inhabitants live by their own rules, experiencing certain difficulties under the ice associated with a general slowdown in metabolism due to low temperature and sometimes lack of oxygen. How to catch fish with a jig correctly?

Before you cast your fishing rod, you need to think about the following:

The nature of the reservoir and the type of fish. Before going on a winter fishing trip, it is important to understand where we are going and why. Each type of fish has specific behavioral and feeding characteristics. For the specific type of house, gear is also prepared in advance. Fishing with a jig on the current in winter will require some gear, fishing in still water will require others. On small rivers, fishing with jigs involves searching in promising places, using coastal landmarks. On large bodies of water, it is important to understand the bottom topography - in vast areas of water, in the vast expanses of the ice shell, promising places are not easy to find.
Depends on the winter period. During the first ice, the bulk of the fish walk along vast coastal, relatively shallow places, and feed intensively. During this golden time you can catch it almost anywhere. In the dead of winter, it is located mainly at depth, therefore, a different search tactic is needed. By spring, underwater life accelerates again, the fish begin to feed more, preparing for the warm season.
Internal factors of the reservoir. Weather, food migration, oxygen levels in the water - everything affects the winter bite. Each fish needs its own approach. This information is presented in articles on the website for specific types of fish.

Tactics

The specifics of the tactics directly depend on what kind of fish the subglacier intends to catch with a jig. Search, bait or spot feeding, constant movement or hatching, fishing location - it all depends on the fishing object and the characteristics of the reservoir. The tricks of winter fishing with jigs begin with the right choice of tactics, taking into account biting factors and the time of year.

Simple fishing for gudgeon in winter with a jig cannot be compared with the strategy of searching for schools of bream. Chasing a perch is different from spot feeding a roach. The winter jigs themselves for bream differ from those for perch, and for sorog the smallest, neatest baits are suitable. It all depends on the type of fish. Therefore, we tune in to a specific hunting object in advance, and do not go to catch “whatever comes along.”

Active game fishing with one fishing rod implies active winter searching with a jig. The nature of the tactics depends on the time of winter. In December and on the first ice, coastal waters, grassy thickets, bays, and upper edges are examined. In the middle of nowhere, the strategic choice of location is more important, since the fish are located deeper at the winter mooring points. Any underwater anomalies are a promising place. Perch fishing with jigs is fast until a school is found.

For roach or bream, it is better to immediately carefully select a place and feed several points, then checking them in turn. Usually 10-15 holes are drilled at once, fed, and then checked. Feeding tactics are an integral part of the overall strategy. If there are no bites, the next square is drilled and examined. In addition to perch, roach and bream, jig catches include crucian carp, silver bream, bluefish, rudd, chub, ruffe, and dace. In the North and Siberia, grayling, trout, and whitefish are caught with these decoys. At sea - smelt.

Baits and lures

Bloodworms are often used as bait on a jig. Depending on the fishing conditions, one, two or a bunch of larvae are placed on the hook. In addition to bloodworms in winter, the following are used:

Maggot;
Worm;
Caddisfly;
Mormysh;
Burdock moth larva (Chernobyl);
Khrushchev (larvae);
Semolina in a syringe;
Canned corn (for chub).

Bait when fishing is a matter of experimentation. Depends on the type of fish and water conditions. However, the classic uses bloodworms, the natural food of underwater inhabitants.

Working jigs

The main function of the attached jig is to unload the nod and deliver the bloodworm to the bottom. External beauty and color are secondary. Therefore, the basis of the moth set is made up of discreet baits. However, sometimes color affects the bite. Therefore, silver, red (copper) and yellow brass shades are useful when fishing. The best option for roach is miniature droplets and balls, for bream - elongated oats, uralkas, cloves. But for perch, a variety of options are useful - from nondescript black ones to bright, provocative parrots.

The main set is the usual forms of different weights and sizes

Jigs differ in shape and weight. Tungsten lures are better suited for deep-sea winter fishing. Even small tungsten jigs penetrate the water column well. Lead baits are lighter and cheaper. They are easy to process - fishermen often make homemade lead products with their own hands. When you need both large and light baits, it is better to use tin. For bait fishing, you don’t need to look for any extraordinary solutions. It is better to pay close attention to the classics - droplets, oats, pellets, uralkas. Attention is paid not to variety and colors, but to the quality of workmanship, the sharpness of the hook, and the absence of burrs in the hole. Read more in the article about attachment jigs.

Perch

Varieties of jigs

In fishing stores you can find a huge number of jigs; they simply amaze with their incredible configuration and efficiency.

All these products can be distinguished:

By color. In stores you can find sets of different types with a huge number of shades. There are many craftsmen who create their own variations; to purchase these, you can visit fishing forums in your region.
By weight.
According to the option of attaching to a fishing line.
According to the form.

If you look at jigs in the shape of a ball, they are not capable of creating a game under water. Only if you make up and down movements, the hook with bait deviates a little. Such gear can attract fish that live near the bottom line.

Winter fishing with a reelless jig is considered very popular, since such tackle performs well when the fishing rod moves. This behavior of the jig is justified by its drop-shaped shape.

Read here Winter fishing line - the best fishing lines for winter fishing and assessment of fishing line strength (115 photos + video)

Flat variations of the same tackle allow you to smoothly vary to the side when moving the fishing rod. The basic technique consists of smooth and slow twitching, such movements strongly attract many inhabitants of different bodies of water.

Faceted jigs are often used for fishing in light or slightly turbid water. Their main advantage lies in their edges, which are often made of copper or silver.

The light in the water is refracted and reflected from the edges of the jig, it begins to sparkle, this attracts the fish, forcing it to grab easily accessible prey.

For a detailed look at how such gear is used, you can watch a video of winter jig fishing.

When fishing is carried out at great depths, approximately 5 meters or more, then tungsten jigs should be used.

Their main advantage is that they drop to the required depth in a short time, and all movements are sent to the nod.

Fishing rods and equipment

Equipping fishing rods for winter jig fishing with game requires a more serious approach than for stationary fishing. The point of proper winter equipment is to ensure the sensitivity of the fishing rod, the ability to give the bait a seductive game. The correct tackle is a single “jig-line-nod” system, where the elements are selected depending on the weight of the bait. Therefore, advanced fishermen take several pre-configured gear to the pond at once (with baits of different weights, line thicknesses and elasticity of nods).

Tackle

In principle, almost any standard winter fishing rod is suitable for bait fishing. However, if an angler is seriously involved in jig fishing, it is better to use light axleless fishing rods, fillies or miniature sports balalaikas. A small and light rod makes it easier and easier to work all day.

Correspondence table for line weight and diameter

The determining role in the equipment is played by the correspondence of the weight of the bait, the diameter of the fishing line and the elasticity of the nod. The nod, moreover, is adjusted differently for fish species. Perch requires a high-frequency amplitude game and an elastic nod. For bream - smooth and slow vibrations, respectively, a long, soft nod is suitable. For roach, the lodge has some average characteristics between the first two. A properly tuned and selected nod provides the necessary amplitude and frequency of play, clearly shows touches of the bottom or attempts by fish to attack the bait, and registers cautious winter bites. Previously, nods for jigs were made from boar bristles. Currently, lavsan, X-ray film, carbon, and metal guards are used. Read more about nods to a jig fishing rod

The choice of fishing line for winter jig fishing is determined by the weight of the bait and the size of the expected trophy. For those who like to use sports equipment with 0.06 mm fishing lines, it is not advisable - it is inconvenient to work with such a web. For small and medium-sized fish, the normal diameter is 0.08-0.1 mm, about 12 mm for larger ones. Even a kilogram bream in winter calmly reaches 0.1 mm, if you don’t force it. On a thick fishing line, the bait does not play properly. The water is clear in winter, so it is better to use invisible fluorocarbon. The general rule is that in winter it is better to use small baits and thin fishing lines.

The jig is tied to the fishing line depending on the configuration, location of the hole in the body or the ring. Tungsten lures require special attention - the hard metal easily injures the thin monofilament on the knot. We approach tying jigs carefully, after each fishing trip, especially intensive fishing, tying and updating the knots.

Article about rigging fishing rods for jigs:

https://podlednik.ru/snasti/mormyshki/zimnyaya-udochka-dlya-mormyshki

Fishing

This, together with successful hooking, is actually a single process. The main thing is to determine at the very beginning of hooking what size the fish is on the hook. In all cases, you need to land fish on a stretched line (without slack).

There are several fishing techniques that anglers use depending on the situation. This takes into account the strength of the wind, the fishing depth, the condition of the ice surface, and the average size of the fish caught.

Before moving on to analyzing the techniques, let’s remember the well-known rules: you should always sit with your back to the wind to protect the tackle from it, ice fragments should be thrown against the wind so that they do not interfere with fishing, the fishing rod should be light - no more than 20 g.

The first technique is usually practiced when fishing at great depths, in strong winds, frost and intense bite, when the line seems to stick to the fingers, and the strong wind twists and tangles the thin line.

The technique is performed as follows: after a successful hook, the hand with the fishing rod is raised as much as possible in order to select as much fishing line as possible, intercept it at the hole with the fingers of the other hand, extended to the shoulder, and the hand with the fishing rod is lowered down to intercept the fishing line again. In this case, the fishing rod is held with the ring and middle fingers. At the moment when the fishing rod is raised to the shoulder during the second interception, and the left hand holds the fishing line, the right hand throws the fishing rod along with the selected part of the fishing line 2-3 m in front of you with the handle forward. Next, act with both hands alternately.

A fishing rod thrown into the wind pulls together excess fishing line and prevents it from getting tangled. Having removed the fish, lower the jig into the hole, dragging the fishing rod by the fishing line until it is in your hand. The main thing in this technique is to choose more fishing line before casting the fishing rod. If this is not done, then the thrown fishing rod will yank the fishing line out of your hands every time, and with the next throw, the thin fishing line may not withstand the shock load and break.

Recommended reading: Catching fish in currents from the shore and boat

In the same way, you can catch fish from medium depths, but at the same time reduce the length of the fishing line when intercepting.

This technique should not be used when the ice is covered with wet or fluffy snow. So the angler should not be lazy to clear the area in front of him, otherwise the fishing rod, falling on wet snow, will get stuck in it, or when pulled up, it will pick up a whole lump of fluffy snow. And another peculiar circumstance: with your sweeping movements you will quickly give yourself away to competitors, but when there is a massive bite, this technique is indispensable as the fastest.

The second fishing technique is performed as follows: the fisherman raises his hand to the limit, then intercepts the fishing line with the other hand, and gently places the fishing rod on the ice near the foot. Then fishing continues in the usual way.

In no case should you sharply throw the fishing rod away, since when it hits the ice, the nod often breaks or becomes bent.

The third technique is different in that the hook is made as short and imperceptible as possible. The line is pulled out with small interceptions, working only with brushes. The technique is effective when catching large prey, since it has to be brought to the hole slowly and carefully, often releasing the line when throwing the fish.

When fishing for small and medium-sized fish, it is advisable to do the last interception of the fishing line with your left hand in order to grab the fish with your right.

If you feel that you have caught a large fish, try to lightly sprinkle the hole with snow or at least crumbs of ice while fishing. This is usually done with the foot, since the hands are busy. When approaching a hole, the fish, as a rule, makes a desperate jerk, but towards a covered hole it moves much more calmly.

You should never try to pull a large fish out of a hole onto a fishing line. Having brought the prey to the hole, without loosening the fishing line and without removing the fish’s head from the water, you need to take it from the back near the gills with two fingers of your right hand, remove it from the hole and immediately remove the jig.

Fishing technique with a jig and bloodworm

Over time, each angler develops his own peculiarities of jig fishing techniques in winter. The game consists of combinations. Several repetitions of identical combinations make up a cycle. However, in bait fishing the rules of fishing are blurred, the game is often not rhythmic at all, but resembles sluggish twitching. Depending on the shape, weight, as well as the depth of fishing and the current, the massiveness of the bait, baits behave differently in the water.

The nature of the game is also affected by the time of year. On the first ice and closer to spring, a fairly active, “fast” game is required. In the dead of winter, it is sluggish and slow (or the bait is generally motionless on the bottom). Perch prefers high-frequency rapid vibrations, bream prefers smooth and slow ones. Crucian carp responds well to swarming at the bottom and slow, low rises, but roach, on the contrary, likes the bait to lower, as if the food naturally sinks. In order to put all these variables together on a specific fishing trip, some experience and knowledge of the habits of underwater inhabitants is required. Therefore, theoretically, it is impossible to say exactly how to properly fish with a jig in winter. Basic wiring with which you should start, gradually adding grains of your own acquired experience:

Sinking to the bottom, smoothly or with oscillatory movements. After a pause of 2-7 seconds, raise it by 4-5 cm.
Stirring at the bottom, tapping, creating clouds of turbidity.
Slow rise from the bottom to a height of 50 cm.
Very slow rise with jerks every 3-5 seconds.
Dribbling – high-frequency vibrations. Raising and lowering with frequency play.
Dotted rise (lower). The movements of an amphipod are reminiscent of the fisherman's movements, as if the fisherman were drawing identical lines with his hand.

The most important element of the game is pauses. The closer to the wilderness, the longer the stops are required (up to 30 seconds). It is during pauses that bites often occur (especially from perch). If standard bite cycles do not bring any results, then the game should be diversified by changing the tempo, frequency, and speed. Provocative moments work well - accelerations, decelerations, oblique horizontal movements, changes in monotonous vibrations and unexpected pauses that were not previously in combination.

To catch fish with a jig, you need to constantly experiment with the game, select the frequency and speed of oscillations, and look for a working horizon. To fish with a jig on the current in winter, the game requires a slightly different one. In a stream, it is useful to release the bait with the flow with each step along the bottom further under the ice - the so-called undercut. In this case, a much larger area is fished. There are countless methods of fishing with a jig - each angler, based on basic elements, over time forms his own unique game.

What are the differences between the best jigs for fishing?

Any jig is divided not only according to the principle of suspension on the line, but also, first of all, according to its shape and weight. In addition, baits vary in material and color. There are a huge number of them on sale, but fishermen are constantly inventing something new.

The weight of the jig and the depth of fishing are collective concepts. Due to their small size, baits are cast from metal alloys whose specific gravity is several times higher than the weight of lead. These metals include tungsten, thanks to which a small jig can be immersed to a considerable depth.

In addition to tungsten, there are products made from lead, stainless steel, tin, copper, and brass. They are used depending on the situation. For example, tungsten sinks quickly enough into the water column, so the waiting time is significantly reduced. If another metal is available, then at greater depths you will have to use larger baits.

When going out to a body of water, a fisherman must have a sufficient number of them in his arsenal to find the one he needs that can bring a decent catch. Various equipment, which we wrote about in the article “Various methods of installing winter fishing rods regardless of fishing technology,” are also important.

If you try to divide the jigs by mass, you will get the following picture:

the weight of the smallest is no more than 0.4 g;
the mass of the average is in the range from 0.5 g to 1.0 g;
over 1.0 g are considered heavy.

Fishing with a jig can also be done according to its size, the smallest of which is no larger than a match head, and the largest one exceeds 4 mm in cross-section. Their shape is also very diverse - drop-shaped, faceted, flat-oval, conical, spherical. It is impossible to predict which of them will work in a given situation, which is why the supply must be decent.

What is the jig fishing technique?

Fishing with jigs involves not only changing baits depending on the bite activity, but also taking a selective approach to fishing tactics. Management techniques can vary dramatically depending on many factors. For example, today it is possible to catch fish with active play, tomorrow – with sluggish play.

The bait is placed on the ground of the reservoir for a couple of seconds, then it is raised, shaking, by two tens of centimeters. Trembling can be caused by tapping the rod with your finger.
As in the first case, the game starts from the ground of the reservoir, however, the amplitude increases to 10 millimeters. Every five centimeters the bait should freeze, then rise again. Having reached a certain height, the equipment begins to be lowered in a similar way. It is not recommended to simply release the bait, otherwise it will scare away the fish.
While telling the secrets of fishing with a jig, we will mention another method - tapping the bait on the ground, which allows you to stir up the water and attract curious fish. To drag along the bottom, the fishing rod is led from one edge of the hole to the other.
Sometimes the fish greedily rushes to the bait, which is lifted from the bottom with an acceleration of about half a meter.
If you hold the line between your fingers and force it to rotate around its axis along with the bait, this can provoke the fish to attack.
Fishing with a fishing rod using a jig may involve another technique: the bait is made to oscillate quickly, then raised higher and the operation repeated.

All these techniques can be combined with each other, achieving the optimal effect. If you can’t wait for a bite, then you should think about changing the bait. Fishing with a jig on the river involves walking fishing, so you should move around as much as possible to find a catchy spot.

Where does fishing begin, how to tie a jig

Connecting a line with a bait is not so difficult, although there are many ways of tying and knots. In addition, the installation method largely depends on the type of bait, which can be with a ring or a hole. There can also be two jigs on the rig.

If the weight has an eyelet, then the knitting sequence is as follows:

First of all, we thread the line through the ring;
we wrap the missing line around the main one;
We pass the tip through the loop at the bottom and pull it by the central line.

This method is not suitable for rewinders, since the eye is located in a vertical plane, so you can use another method:

we pass the line through the eye;
fold the tip in half;
We apply the double line to the fore-end and wrap the free end of the line around it;
We pull the tip into a loop and tighten it.

In this way you can tie to earless baits that have only a small hole. However, many anglers prefer a simpler method. Fishing with a baitless jig in this case becomes successful, since it hangs at an angle of 45 degrees in relation to the forest.

The line is inserted into the hole from above, since the tip should always point in the direction opposite to the bottom of the reservoir. At the end there is a loop through which the scaffolding is threaded twice so that the knot does not unravel under load. Then it is twisted in a figure eight, folded in half and put on the forend. Tighten - it's done.

Stationary fishing in winter

Fishing with a jig is also widely used in standard stationary fishing - with fishing rods with a float or a nod to the riser. In this case, the jig replaces the sinker with a hook. The equipment is carried out according to all the rules of winter float fishing. Attention is paid to the correct loading of the float (nod). Beginners find that it is enough to simply load a float or nod so that they clearly register bites on the rise. However, not everything is so smooth.

Often fish in the middle of nowhere will spit out the bait when they feel the weight of the jig in their mouth. Fine tuning of the gear is required, in which the float when rising or the nod when extending takes part of the load of the bait’s weight onto itself so that the fish does not feel it. This is especially true when catching bream from the bottom or low-active winter crucian carp. Bream equipment, moreover, is made taking into account the current (when fishing on rivers). More information about this can be found in the relevant articles on specific types of fish on a fishing rod and in publications on winter float fishing.

Classics of the genre

Fishing technique and tactics

There is no single universal way of playing with bait that can ensure 100% success. This is due to the fact that for each specific type of fish, characteristic movements of the bait - wiring - are suitable. For example, perch bites well with frequent and rapid vibrations of the bait (approximately 300 per minute), while for roach and bream a lower frequency is suitable (about 150 per minute).

Basic options for playing with a jig

Lower the bait to the very bottom and leave it there for 2-3 seconds. Then raise it by 15-20 cm and lower it to the bottom again. The lifting must be done in combination with a quick tremor of the jig. This can be achieved by tapping the rod between the index and thumb (or between the index and middle) fingers of the left hand, while rocking the rod in the right hand. Movements should be performed exclusively using the hand. A similar effect can be achieved by frequently tapping the rod with your index finger.
The game must be started directly from the very bottom. The bait should be raised with a tremble (the amplitude should not exceed 1 cm). Then the jig needs to be held at a fixed depth for 3-4 seconds, then the rise should be resumed. In this way, you can raise the jig to 0.5 - 0.6 m, after which it should be lowered. Such a bait should not sink freely to the bottom - this can scare away the fish.
A good effect is also achieved by frequently tapping the jig on the bottom or dragging it, as this creates turbidity, thereby arousing keen interest among the inhabitants of the reservoir. To pull through, the line should be smoothly moved from the near edge of the hole to the far one.
In some cases, effective fishing can be achieved by lifting the bait from the bottom with acceleration (but without vibration) to a height of up to 50 cm from the bottom level.
You can also attract fish by rotating the bait at a fixed depth. A similar effect will be ensured by twisting the fishing line with your fingers, first in one direction, then in the opposite direction.

Using the above methods in various combinations, you can obtain different movements and even identify significantly more effective ones. If one method does not bring the expected result, after 5-10 minutes it is recommended to change it to another. If the bite in a certain hole has completely stopped, it is recommended to leave it for a while and move on to another hole.

Fishing with a jig is a very interesting process that involves the use of various techniques and fishing methods. Constant training will allow you to master a variety of techniques for playing with bait, identify various subtleties of effective ice fishing and achieve impressive results.

Fishing for predatory fish

Large heavy jigs, up to several centimeters in size and weighing tens of grams, are used for winter fishing for predatory fish. This kind of fishing is already closer to trolling - coarser gear is used that can withstand the weight of large fish and allows for proper play with heavy baits. Fry, sprat, and pieces of fish are placed on the hook. This fishing method is effective for pike perch and burbot.

Winter jigs for burbot are the so-called snitches. These baits are made in such a way that when attaching a large bait, the jig can hit the rocks on the bottom with its back, raising the turbidity and creating sounds that are attractive to burbot. Winter pike-perch jigs, pellets and cones, are used both with active game and on risers with sprat or fry. The technique of going under the ice works well for pike perch in the current.

A popular way to catch rotan is using large baits with a piece of fish, lard or chicken skin attached. For this voracious predator, what is more important is not the jig itself, but the bait. Small jig heads are often used as jigs for winter rotan.

Donkey

Fishing with jigs in the current is often used as part of winter donkeys. On helicopters and descents, various winter baits are used, but more often - light plastic or phosphor luminous jigs. Such gear is effective when fishing for bream, roach, bluegill and generally any white fish in the strong current of large rivers.

Steam locomotive on a leash

You can fish with jigs in winter using any means. It is important in each case to carefully and consciously approach the choice of bait, depending on the conditions of winter reservoirs and the preferences of the fish. You should not fall for marketing and advertising tricks by buying expensive and useless gear. It is better to master simple and working options, and only then, with the experience gained, experiment with new equipment.