Field Guide
Jigs
Pitchin' · Swim · Football · Casting · Finesse — one family, every cover type.
Confidence
Gear
Rod
7'3" Medium-Heavy / Fast (Cashion ICON Worm & Jig or equivalent)
Reel
7.2:1 baitcaster (Shimano SLX 150 DC class)
Line
15–20 lb fluorocarbon
60-Second Refresher
When to Throw
Good Water
Fish are tight to cover, water is cold/hot/post-front, you need to feel bottom, or you want a bigger bite instead of just numbers.
Bad Water
Fish are suspended and chasing high, you can't keep contact with the bait, or the cover is too thick for the jig style you picked.
Pitchin' Jig
Wood · Docks · Brush · Heavy Cover
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Pitchin' Jig
Pitch past the target, let it fall on semi-slack line, then drag through cover. It shines when it crawls, slides, and deflects naturally.
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Pitchin' Jig
PB&J
Clean water / craw bite
Zoom Super Chunk Brown or Rage Craw Bama
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Pitchin' Jig
Green Pumpkin
All-around natural
Zoom Super Chunk or Rage Menace Green Pumpkin
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Pitchin' Jig
Black & Blue
Dirty water / shade
Zoom Super Chunk Black Blue or Rage Craw Black Blue
Swim Jig
Grass · Shad · Bluegill · Cover
Compact + No-Jack Swim Jig System
Swim jigs get swimbait trailers — never creature trailers. Steady reel just fast enough to keep it natural; when you tick grass, pop it free to trigger the bite.
Dirty Jigs Compact Swim Jig
Shad Spawn
Clear / shad spawn
Keitech FAT Sexy Shad 2.8"
Dirty Jigs Compact Swim Jig
Black & Blue
Dirty / low light
Keitech FAT Black Blue Flake 2.8"
Dirty Jigs Compact Swim Jig
Best Color Ever
Bluegill banks
Keitech FAT Bluegill 2.8"
Dirty Jigs No-Jack Swim Jig
Tactical Shad
Power swim / grass
Keitech FAT Sexy Shad 3.8"
Dirty Jigs No-Jack Swim Jig
Black Blue Purple
Dirty / heavy cover
Keitech FAT Black Blue Flake 3.8"
Dirty Jigs No-Jack Swim Jig
Dirty 420
Bluegill/craw mix
Keitech FAT GP Green Purple Flake 3.8"
Football Jig
Rock · Shell · Points · Hard Bottom
Tour Level Football + Finesse Football
Drag slowly, keep bottom contact, feel for rock, shell, and bottom changes. The bait should tell you what it's crawling over.
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Football Jig
The Go To
All-around hard bottom
Zoom Super Chunk Brown
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Football Jig
Black & Blue
Dirty water / night
Zoom Super Chunk Black Blue
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Football Jig
Green Pumpkin
Clear / pressured
Rage Menace Green Pumpkin
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Finesse Football Jig
The Go To
Cold front / finesse
Rage Menace Crawdaddy
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Finesse Football Jig
Black & Blue
Dirty water / finesse
Rage Menace Black & Blue
Dirty Jigs Tour Level Finesse Football Jig
Green Pumpkin
Clear / finesse drag
Rage Menace Green Pumpkin
Casting Jig
Docks · Wood · Shallow Rock · Mixed Cover
Luke Clausen Casting + Finesse Jig
Cast to targets, work slowly with occasional hops. The most forgiving jig style — when you can't decide, throw this one.
Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Casting Jig
The Go To
All-purpose shallow cover
Zoom Super Chunk Brown
Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Casting Jig
Black & Blue
Dirty water / shade
Zoom Super Chunk Black Blue
Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Casting Jig
Dirty 420
Stained / bluegill banks
Zoom Super Chunk Black Red
Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Finesse Jig
The Go To
Pressure / cold front
Rage Menace Crawdaddy
Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Finesse Jig
Black & Blue
Dirty water finesse
Rage Menace Black & Blue
Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Finesse Jig
Dirty 420
Stained finesse
Rage Menace South African
Trailer System
Zoom Super Chunk
Traditional gliding chunk, slower fall
Football and casting jigs
Strike King Rage Menace
Compact kicking twin-tail
More movement without bulk
Strike King Rage Craw
Maximum craw action, bigger profile
Warmer water, active fish, hunting bigger bites
Keitech Swing Impact FAT
Paddle-tail swimbait
Swim jigs only — 2.8" compact, 3.8" No-Jack
Where to Throw Each
Pitchin' Jig
Laydowns, docks, brush, shallow wood, grass edges, isolated cover.
Swim Jig
Grass edges, reeds, docks, shad spawn banks, bluegill banks.
Football Jig
Rock, shell, points, ledges, hard bottom, offshore structure.
Casting Jig
Laydowns, docks, brush, shallow rock, mixed cover.
Finesse Jig
Clear water, cold fronts, pressured fish, smallmouth/spotted bass.
Cheat Sheet
Laydown, dock, or brush pile
Pitchin' jig — drag through cover, don't hop.
Grass edge with baitfish
Compact swim jig Shad Spawn + Keitech Sexy Shad 2.8".
Heavy grass / bigger fish
No-Jack swim jig Tactical Shad + Keitech Sexy Shad 3.8".
Rock point or hard bottom
Football jig The Go To + Zoom Super Chunk Brown.
Dirty water or shade
Black & Blue jig + Black Blue trailer.
Cold front or pressured fish
Finesse jig, smaller trailer, slow drag.