Jigging is one of the funniest ways to catch big bass and blues. Primarily, I use diamond jigs but over the past few years the flutter spoons have changed the jigging game and have given anglers an array of options when it comes to jigging. Diamond jigs and flutters are designed completely differently, and for that reason they have to be used in the right situation. Also, technique and finesse are completely different so for that reason, I will talk about them separately.
Let’s start with diamond jigs because they are the OG of jigging and bring me back to my childhood introduction to fishing in the Long Island Sound on the greatest boat around, the Klondike out of New Rochelle, NY. I was blessed to be able to learn from the great Captain Pete Pearson. His passion for the sport radiated through the boat and made everyone fish hard. I can truly say that’s when the passion (addiction) for the sport started. I learned a tremendous amount of knowledge of our surrounding waters and technique from this legend. Now let’s get into jigging.
Primarily, I use diamond jigs from May to December, and it’s a very effective way to catch bass and blues in deeper water, drop-offs, rips, and of course, when reading fish on the bottom.
For fishing performance, it doesn’t get any better than diamond jigs. Diamonds can plummet in the strongest current, yet they wobble irresistibly like a fleeing baitfish when retrieved. During hot action, jigs have a speedy turnaround time because you don’t need to rebait, and there’s no mess. Use the smallest jig possible given the wind, current, and depth. Normally, 4 ounces is the magic number, but for ferocious rips around western Long Island Sound, carry jigs of at least 6 to 12 ounces. The most effective jig I use is the Pearson Special. This jig is a duplicate version of the original version, which was called the Klondike Special. Just like a lure or popper, if it isn’t designed properly, the action will not be right, and therefore, you will not trigger a fish’s reaction. This jig was originally designed in the ’80s, and after decades of fishing with this jig, I can tell you there is no other like it. The original was chrome, but now it comes in an array of colors and sizes. My favorites are green/chrome and white glow, but conditions dictate which color I use.
When preparing diamond jigs intended to fish rugged bottoms and toothy critters, always replace a treble hook with a Gamakatsu 8/0 open eye hook, which makes replacing hooks effortless. Trebles snag bottom, lobster gear, and other lines more easily and make unhooking fish difficult and dangerous in a pitching craft. They’re also more harmful to the fish during catch-and-release.”
How to Fish Them
Vertical jigging is a deadly way to target stripers and blues wherever you have fish holding on structure or along a drop-off in over 30 feet of water. Because you are not covering ground the way you might while trolling, you should look for signs of action before you drop lines. I consider vertical jigging to be like sight-fishing, except you are using your electronics to augment your eyes. First, look for birds, splashing fish, current lines, or slicks. If there is nothing visible on the surface, cruise along the drop-off or edge of the shoal or reef, checking out the shallower depths and then zigzagging between there and deeper water, watching your fishfinder for schools of suspended bait and bass. The Western Long Island Sound has a plethora of drop-offs in the surrounding area. You can locate them on your chartplotter.
Keep an idea of the depth where the fish are holding and mark those spots on your chartplotter. If you run a little while along the drop-off, even after marking some schools, you’ll give yourself an idea of where to start drifting. It takes a little discipline not to wet a line immediately, but it’s worth it to get an overview of the whole area before dropping down. Once I locate a pile, I will turn the vessel broadside to the current. When the boat is at a dead stop, we drop the lines down. If fish are on the bottom, typically I just vertically jig the rod with a swearing motion up and down on the bottom. But if they are suspended, a quick retrieve with a pause in between about every 4 seconds will be very effective. The best approach is to hit bottom, retrieve the diamond jig about 10 fast cranks up, drop back down, and hit bottom again. And you keep doing that until it scales out—when you get too much line out and the jig gets diagonally away from the boat, then you have to reel all the way in and start again from the surface. A vertical drop is always best if you can maintain it.
The boat will drift up the shoal, across its crest, and down the backside. For the best chance at hooking a fish, you must keep your jig working as close to the bottom as possible; that’s where the fish are feeding. Doing so, you will run the risk of snagging bottom; it comes with the territory. There are many ways to try to get it off. First, give it slack immediately and pop your rod back and forth. What this does is alleviate the pressure and the weight of the jig sometimes frees the hook from whatever it's caught on. If that doesn't work, I will maneuver the boat around to get on the other side of the snag, which surprisingly works most of the time.
The Game Changing Flutter Spoons
Flutter spoons are a game-changer. I only started using them a few years ago but probably the most effective jig on the market to target striped bass. Although very effective for blues, I highly don't recommend using them unless you are prepared to lose a bunch. They are most effective when schools of bait are around. What bass are feeding on dictates what color and size you use. You must match the hatch. For example, when bass are feeding on adult menhaden, you use the 8-10 inch magnum spoon versus when the peanuts are around, you would use something smaller like a 4-inch spoon. The technique remains a mystery for most anglers, but once you master it, you will be thanking yourself. The feel of a bass smacking a flutter spoon seems to be at least a part of the appeal of fishing it. Since these lures represent baitfish, stripers strike quickly and violently; however, with just a single treble on the back end of the lure, missed strikes and pulled hooks are somewhat common. So you hear a lot of swearing when using them.
Jigging is the most popular (and productive) technique with a flutter spoon. When tension is removed from the line and the spoon freefalls, its flat, thin body turns horizontal and slowly falls toward the bottom, kicking and wobbling like a bunker in its final throes. Experimenting with the cadence and the length of the sweeps will help dial in the best retrieve. I favor big aggressive sweeps, while others use smaller motions.
Flutter spoons can also be cast and retrieved. On a straight, slow retrieve, the lure rocks side to side, flashing as it swims. With a shape like an oversized potato chip, it doesn’t cast well. So casting might be difficult for most.
I've had plenty of occasions when just reeling it up from the bottom to get it up because my scope was to far and BAM the fish strikes. So a slow retrieve can be affective also.
Flutter spoons work best around large baitfish, bunker most notably, and can tempt the stripers that are lurking near the bottom, around the fringes of the baitfish school. The hits almost always come as the spoon falls on a slack line, leading to an exciting jolt when you wind up for the next lift. It’s a feeling I can’t wait to experience over and over again.
While Nichols Ben Parker were the only options during the first few seasons of the flutter spoon craze (which also coincided with the pandemic shipping and supply-chain issues, anglers today have a variety of options. Tackle Pusher, Tsunami, Tony Maja and other Northeast-based tackle companies have been producing their own versions of the big metal in sizes up to 11 inches and in a wide variety of colors. My favorite will be the Tackle Pusher chartreuse, glow. And yes I might be a little bias because it was created by my brother but these spoons are deadly. I only use his and the Nichols Ben Parker because they work the best. And when I say only use them I mean I tried all the rest and none of them can come close to catching the amount of fish they do. The perks of having a brother that owns a tackle shop is I get to go out and field test different products and brands for him. When it comes to spoons You only have two options and that is Tackle Pusher from Tyalure Tackle or Nichols.
Gearing up
To many combos to list but just to give you an idea on what is a good pair option. On my conventional set ups normally use a 6 1/2 to 7 foot Shimano trevala rod medium/heavy action paired with Shimano Trinidad 12 . For the reel it is important you get one that is 6 to 1 ratio. Especially for blues you want something that has the capability to go on a fast retrieve. For a spinner a good match is a Centaur combat Arm paired with a Shimano Stella 4000. Line i only use braid with a FG knot to 10 feet of Fluorocarbon leader. I like to use the diawa j-braid multi color line . It is essential when fish are suspended and you need to be precise in getting your jig in the correct water column.
One of the keys to success is to take notes as to the location of the fish at certain times of the tide – history does repeat itself! I take many photos and I save them according to the date of the fishing trip. By taking enough photos and video of the day, you’ll be able to remember the trip much better than just taking notes, which you should also be doing. Although jigging is simple, you and your crew won’t get bored. Try it, and enjoy not having to wait your turn, as with wire-line trolling. I promise that you won’t miss the tiresome jigging with heavy tackle from a moving boat, or jockeying for position in the trolling procession. Instead, you’ ll enjoy more jarring hits, more exciting battles, more relaxing drifts and more fishing time for everyone. And, I repeat, more fun for everyone. That wraps it up on this post. If you have any questions feel free to hit me up on social media and I will be more then happy to answer any questions you may have.
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