A Jig Man's Carolina Rig Alternative

I've been playing around the last few weeks with football jigs, and I'm beginning to really like them. I've never been a huge plastics fan, so I don't do a whole lot of Carolina rigging. That said, the football jig seems to be the best alternative to that presentation from a jig fishing perspective. I love the jig and usually keep one tied on year round, especially for heavy cover and murky water shallow presentations. They will also work well in deeper water in place of a worm, but the worm usually gets more bites. I think it has to do with either a.) the fish by summertime have gotten pretty accustomed to seeing jigs and worms are just something different, or b.) their dietary preferences have changed and the long slim profile of a plastic worm is a much better representation of that diet than a short, bulky jig.

Either way, I've fished some Booyah's, Eakin's and Last Cast Baits football jigheads and they all seem to work similarly. Different hook styles, different skirt designs, etc., but same basic concept and what seems to be equal bites at the moment. I'll probably have more to say later in the year after fishing these more, as well as trying a couple other brands and trailer types, but for now I'd say if you haven't tried them yet, grab a couple the next time you're in the fishing dept. and throw them a bit on your water and see what you think.

Comments

[John B]

I have had great luck in the St. Joe river here in S Bend with Strike King football jigs like the one pictured above. Bounce them around the rocks, they are essentially snag proof, I have the same success rates as with a standard jig.

[Big Indiana Bass]

Very cool John and good to know. Seems to have lots of rock and current that would be conducive to a football head. I've fished the St. Joe a few times and have really enjoyed the fishing up there, something a little different that what we typically find in the southern 2/3 of the state.

[Jason McGowen]

I've usually got a carolina rig and a jig tied on year round it seems. It typically seems that a "good" point during the summer will hold fish that will either eat a jig or a "rig". I love draggin 'em both around once the summer time patterns set in.

It's been a standard in KY for a few years now, but carolina rigged "creature" baits have really been produce well for me the last couple weeks when everything else has seemed to fail.