Unlocking the Full Power of the Football Jig

MLF Toyota Series Angler & TMO Tackle Pro Ethan Shaw gives us his advice and tips on Football Jigs

With roots coming from the ledges of the Tennessee River and the steep bluff walls of the Ozarks, the football jig has been known as a staple for deep-water summertime bass. 

As true as this may be, this is simply a limitation of what the football jig can do. Whether it’s fished in 30 feet or 3 feet, the football jig is one of the best big fish baits for any time of year. You may ask yourself, “Why is a football jig a versatile bait?” The reason has to do with profile. A football jig is a large-profile bait that can mimic crawfish, bluegill, and even shad. With multiple-sized weights and plentiful amounts of colors, you can pair it to any depth and forage that you are trying to target. 

Out deep, I primarily throw a football jig that mimics crawfish or bluegill. Colors such as Summer Craw, Alabama Craw, and Green Pumpkin are my primary choices. When the fish feed on bluegill, Summer Craw has enough chartreuse to mimic a bluegill, which are a primary forage in the summer when bass get on deep grass lines, ledges, and channel swing banks. When the fish are feeding on crawfish, I will pick up a Green Pumpkin or Alabama Craw football jig, depending on the color of the crawfish in the lake. 

Where people limit the football jig is in shallow water situations. The biggest advantage of a football jig is the shape of the head, which allows it to come through rocky cover better. Rocks exist up shallow too, people! A football jig is very effective on the backs of docks that are positioned on riprap banks, shallow shell beds, and even shallow bars or points. Where people may decide to pick up a shakey head or a texas rig, a football jig in a lighter size can be a very effective option to catch a better-than-average-sized bass. 

Next time you are on the lake and want to catch a big fish, tie on the right TMO Tackle Football Jig and use it to catch fish that other people might be missing.

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