For bass fishing enthusiasts, choosing the right lure can make all the difference. According to pro bass angler Kyle Welcher, a skirted bass jig is one of the best bass fishing lures out there. But with so many options available, selecting the perfect jig can be a daunting task.
To help fishermen select the best bass jig, Welcher advises considering specific design details. In his opinion, the best bass jig for a given situation is one that maximizes efficiency around certain cover types and how it is fished. Welcher shares several attributes he looks for in a jig to improve fishability and his hook-to-land ratio in different situations.
One of the most important design details to consider is the hook gap. Welcher uses jigs where the hook point extends beyond the line tie, usually a quarter to a half inch. The more gap, the better, as it reduces the hook set angle and minimizes obstruction when setting the hook.
Jig head shape is also essential in determining the best bass jig. A football jig with a wider head design is optimal for dragging over rock and rubble, but Welcher prefers jigs for pitching, swimming, casting, and skipping. For skipping, he recommends a jig with a smooth bottom that transitions to a broad and flat surface on the bottom of the head. Meanwhile, the best swim jig heads feature a more slender triangular head to come through cover with less fowling, while the weight-forward head design for grass jigs aids in punching through the cover.
Another important factor is the weed guard. While many anglers favor softer weed guards, Welcher prefers stiffer ones to prevent fowling around cover. He fishes all his jigs on a powerful medium-heavy rod with a strong braid or fluorocarbon and has little issue driving the weed guard down. Welcher also recommends a jig with a small gap between the weed guard and hook point, as it reduces the distance needed to connect the hook with the fish and prevents cover like grass or brush from getting between the weed guard and the hook.
Other miscellaneous details include inline line ties for fishing swim jigs, which are more streamlined to aid in coming through cover, and heavier gauge hooks in 4/0 or 5/0 hook sizes that should never flex or bend out.
By considering these design details, Welcher believes anglers can select the best bass jig for their fishing situation, leading to improved success.