Instead of avoiding snags, Joe Bucher actively seeks out cover to catch fish by shaky jigging.

Resisting the urge to pull hard as my jig apparently lodged in a snag, I instead dropped my rod tip just enough to create a noticeable amount of slack in the line and vigorously jiggled it. Since the jig I was using had a cable guard in front of the hook, I was fairly certain it wasn’t actually snagged. Instead, the front end of the jig was probably wedged in a crevice of some kind. I surmised by shaking the slack line, the weight of the lead head would work its way clean by simple gravity. However, a sudden “thump” at my rod tip followed by a tautness in the line triggered an instinctive hookset. Seconds later, a fat, football-shaped smallmouth bass was airborne and the battle was on! A combination of several more spectacular jumps along with drag-stripping runs eventually lead to a successful catch. That, my friends, is shaky jigging 101 in a nutshell.

The technique has been around for decades and has been employed by bass as well as walleye fishermen all across North America. Most experienced jig practitioners already employ this trick. Instead of instantly assuming the jig’s hook is hopelessly snagged into an obstruction, a veteran of the sport is apt to wiggle and jiggle the seemingly hung lure in an effort to free it up. In the process, any predator gamefish lurking nearby is bound to be alerted by this action and quite often they react by engulfing the nervous offering.

The best shaky jigs

While any jig in your tackle box can potentially work in a shaky application, weedless versions are arguably superior in most cases. Plainly put, open-hook jigs work fine over clean bottoms, but fall short on performance anytime cover of any kind comes into play. Incredible advancements in hook wire quality and factory sharpness, combined with far superior weed guard designs, enable today’s angler to fish a weedless jig nearly 100 percent of the time.

Weedless versions of all sizes offer so many advantages with the biggest being the ability to confidently cast them right into cover without snagging up. It is important to note that, once fish get pressured, getting inside cover is the only way to consistently trigger strikes. This is easily done with a jig containing a weed guard. Throwing an open-hook jig offering into these same spots will most likely result in a hopelessly fouled lure and a spooked school of fish.

What you rig on a jig for this technique is sure to vary depending upon the species and the conditions. For many bass-fishing situations, I tend to rely on a wide variety of small, finesse soft plastics. If the target is smallmouth bass, I tend to lean on soft plastics that are less than 4 inches in length. When largemouths are the game, 4- to 7-inch lures should be considered. For walleyes, nothing beats live bait.

Tipping the scales

Jig weights for shaky tactics should vary with the depth, water temp and wind conditions. I tend to lean on the 3/16-ounce size a great deal, but I don’t hesitate to fish a heavier version when it’s windy or the cover is deeper than eight feet. Bass as well as walleyes tend to respond favorably to faster drop speeds as well as quicker retrieves in warm water. Thus, a heavy jig fits the bill here. Conversely, don’t be surprised if these same fish prefer a light model and slow descent in cold water along with prolonged pauses. In fact, simply leaving the bait motionless near cover often draws the best response in this instance. Periodically shaking the slack in your line often triggers reluctant biters.

Spinning gear gets the nod for small finesse presentations in clear waters, but this same tactic works equally well with braided line, baitcasting gear and larger jigs for big bass, pike and muskies. In fact, I have taken many muskies with this shaky jig technique, including my biggest Wisconsin muskie at 54 inches.

In other words, the shaky jig technique is simply deadly. It’s worth mastering no matter where you fish, no matter what you fish for.

Even a seasoned outdoorsman can learn something new. Check out the spring issues of MidWest Outdoors, available at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.