Football jigs are designed to crawl over hard bottoms such as rock, sand, and gravel with minimal snagging while mimicking fleeing crawfish or bottom-feeding bluegill sunfish. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bob Downey shares some tips on how and where to fish football jigs. He dives into some detail on tackle selection and the right rod and line set up for the job.
On this day, Downey found bass schooled on deep offshore rock and gravel. Crawfish and bluegills often frequent these areas in late summer and early fall, and a football jig is an excellent imitator of both. Rather than park on top of the school, Downey prefers digitally anchoring his boat downwind and making long casts to the fish — doing so reduces spooking so you can catch as many possible.
Unlike short-range jig flipping and pitching, fishing football jigs on long casts is best accomplished using a longer medium-heavy rod and fluorocarbon line. And don’t think about using slackline or snap hooksets. Downey explains and demonstrates why powerful sweeping hooksets are essential for hooking and keeping bass buttoned.
TACKLE USED
• JIG – All Terrain Jim Moynagh’s Football Jig, 1/2-ounce: https://wired2.fish/AllTerrainMoynaghFootballJig
• TRAILER – Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver: https://wired2.fish/ReactionSpicyBeaver
• ROD – St. Croix Legend Tournament Casting Rod, 7’4″ MedHvy: https://wired2.fish/LengendTournamentSeriesCasting
• REEL – Shimano Curado 200K Casting Reel, 7.4:1: https://wired2.fish/ShimanoCurado
• LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 17-pound: https://wired2.fish/SufixAdvanceFluorocarbon
• BOW GRAPH – Humminbird HELIX 10 MEGA SI+ GPS G4N: https://wired2.fish/HELIX10-SI-G4N-RMP
• Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging: https://wired2.fish/HumminbirdMEGA360-RMP
• TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor: https://wired2.fish/MinnKotaUltrex-RMP
• SUNGLASSES – Costa Del Mar Corbina Sunglasses: https://wired2.fish/CostaCorbina
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Great info! – 613BASS'N
I caught my first six jig fish today by flipping a strike king tour football. Worked pretty good that way.
I’ve been fishing a flooded quary. I think it’s time to bust some lips
Ay man I appreciate your hook set. I've always thought how over the top most bass anglers are with their hook set. Respect for just handling it normal as it should be.
Awesome video, i had learn a lot , thank you, hope to see more
Nishine finesse football jig is a cold hearted killer.
Up here in Ontario when fishing deep hard bottom in the great lakes for smallies we sometimes literally have to use a snap swivel because of the zebra muscles.
Loved this video! Jig fishing is my fav bite
Why do some guys reel in like they're saltwater fishing. Bass shake their head too much for me to let my line go slack with them like that
I’ve seen multiple videos with the guy and he always has the same monotone, calm, and no excitement. 😆
Great video.
Como se llaman ese tipo de goma que usas??
Does it bug anyone else that he keeps looking at his rod when he reels in. 😂
Looking forward to the fall bite. I’m going to bring only football jigs until I master it. Thank you for the great tips!
Bob Downey for the win !
Saludos amigo, de qué marca son los lentes que usas, se ven cómodos y me gusta el diseño.
Awesome video. One of my absolute favorite techniques. If I could catch them everyday on a football jig or a big plug, I'd give away the rest of my tackle.
Is it safe to assume that for horizontal moving baits, you need a horizontal sweeping Hooksett, and for vertical baits, a vertical Hookset? I know a dropshot is more of a reel set though…just thought I'd ask. Thanks
For all my football jig friends, try out that Deps Headlock Jig! Solid choice!
First 😉. Wow! Never saw such a great explanation of the football jig! Definitely going to try it out since all the bottoms I fish are rocky.