Entry 301-2

Tips From the Tube and Jig Man - Denny Brauer

Part 2: Bet on the Football – Jig, That Is

Question: What other jigs do you like to fish?

Brauer: The Football Head jig has played a major role in my fishing the last few years because so many of our tournaments are warm-weather tournaments where we have to fish a lot of deep structure. The Football Head jig is, to me, what the Carolina rig used to be. I find myself rarely using a Carolina rig now, but I fish the same humps and drops offshore now with the Football Head jig where I’ve once used the Carolina rig. The Strike King Football Head Jig is really a confidence bait for me. I mainly fish the Football Head jig in the 3/4-ounce size because I can cast it a long way and cover a lot of water with it.

Strike King has a color known as the green-pumpkin craw, and that’s my favorite color in the Football Head jig. I put a green-pumpkin Rage Chunk behind that jig, and I think that’s the ultimate combination for catching bass. I like the Rage Chunk because it’s got a lot of action to it and really seems to get the bass’s attention when they’re holding on structure. I also fish it where there are underwater rocks. The Football Head jig is like a mini depth finder. The Football Head jig will usually tell me where the key areas are where the bass are holding. I can feel rocky spots, mussel beds and pea gravel.

Question: What type of rod and line are you using when you’re fishing the Football Head jig?

Brauer: I really like to fish the Football Head jig on 15-pound-test fluorocarbon – a good starting place when you don’t know what size line to use. In certain situations with super-clear water, you may have to drop your line size down to 12-pound test. If the water’s not real clear, and the bass aren’t super deep, I’ll fish the Football Head jig on 20-pound-test fluorocarbon, but my favorite is still 15-pound test.

Question: What rod are you using that’s sensitive enough to let you know those subtle changes in the bottom that you need to know to find bass?

Brauer: I use an American Rodsmiths Magnum bass rod that’s 7-feet long and has unbelievable sensitivity.

Next: The Flip-N-Tube is the Only Tube

Contents:

• Part 1: What Jig, What Trailer, When and Why?
• Part 2: 2: Bet on the Football - Jig, That Is
• Part 3: The Flip-N-Tube is the Only Tube
• Part 4: Tube or Jig - Which One?
• Part 5: Where to Fish What