Arizona Lake Fishing

After a long summer and hundreds of anglers throwing in spinners, the bass get wise and a jig could be just enough to land that big one. Swimming a jig takes a little fineness and technique to get the presentation just right for a strike but after reading this post you’ll be casting it in like a pro.

The key to swimming a jig for a big bite is all about presentation and how to attract a bite. You want to pay attention to color, the bite (if you’re getting any), your retrieval speed and most importantly setting the hook.

Jig Swimming Tips: Pay attention to the bite.

1. If the bass is inhaling the jig, make no adjustments and keep hauling them in.
2. If they seem to be just nipping at the end of the jig, make a change with your trailer. It’s possible you could be getting the wrong action from your jig.
3. If they are following your jig but not striking, make a complete change in color. If you’re using a dark jig, switch to a bright color with a flash.

Jig Swimming Tips: Pay attention to presentation.

1. Hold your rod tip at about 10 o’clock.
2. Vary your speeds by dropping and ripping through cover.
3. Be sure to set the hook properly. Once you feel that bass on your line give it a good rip back and set the hook before he even knows what hit him. Make it one smooth motion.

What is Pitching?

Pitching is a bass fishing technique anglers use to guide their bait to a desired location. It works best when you need to get your bait into a small opening near heavy cover, under low-hanging limbs, and/or around boat docks. The best anglers, the ones who always catch the big ones, are all proficient pitchers.

Pitching is ideal for:

1. Off-color or muddy water
2. Targets between 10 and 30 feet away
3. Target provides a quiet lure entry into the water

Pitching for Bass You’ll need:

• 25 pound test 100% fluorocarbon line
• 7′ 6″ heavy rod with plenty of backbone to wrestle the biggies

What to Pitch

A jig. But nearly any single-hook bait can be pitched. Rig it into a Texas rig.

How to Pitch for bass

1. With your rig on the line, face the target.
2. Depress the line release and let out enough line so the bait is even with the first guide.
3. Put the bait in your off-hand at about waist level.
4. Lower the rod tip toward the target and put a little tension on the line.
5. In one smooth, quick motion, swing the rod tip toward the target and upward. Letting go of the bait.
6. As the bait moves under the rod tip, release the line and continue raising the rod tip and control the spool with your thumb.
7. Stop the line just before it enters the water.

When you come across the occasional rock or stump while fishing it would be worth your time to give it a shot and see if the big one is hanging around. These rocks and stumps are perfect shelter for the fish in between a feeding area and major cover.

Tip #1: Sneak Up To It

The last thing you want to do is scare all the fish away from this tiny amount of cover by bursting into the scene with your loud boat. So cut your engine and just drift into the area.

Tip #2: Cast Just Beyond the Target

A plop into the water from your lure can actually make these skittish fish take off. Remember they are a little vulnerable in these locations and will be easier to scare off. Plus you want to give your lure sometime to get to the right depth. So launch your lure, I prefer a crankbait, just past your target and run it back as close as you can to the rock/stump.

Tip #3: Try a Jig

Throw a plastic worm, lizard or grub up real close and drift it deep. Then twitch it back to you real slow. If a bass is there they can’t resist.

Water elevation remains at 2,099 feet, which is 42-percent full.

Large mouth bass are biting during late morning. Try crankbaits and jerkbait.

Crappies are also biting on 1/16 oz. jigs with a split shot attached at about 3 feet above jig.

Best spot:Tonto end of lake.

spider jig – A type of leadhead jig with a skirt, much like the one on a spinnerbait.

mini-jig – A small leadhead jig, usually 1/16- or 1/32-ounce, often used for catching crappie or sunfish.

marabou jig – A weighted jig with light, fluffy feathers attached to the body.

leadhead, lead-head (adj.) – A term for a jig where lead is molded to the hook shaft.

jig-fishing, jig-fish (v.) – The practice of using a jig to catch fish.

jigging spoon – Refers to a spoon that is typically “jigged” or bounced off the bottom with a slight up-and-down motion of the rod or rod tip so the spoon resembles a dying shad or other bait fish.