How-To-Fish

HOW I FISH THE UGLY HEAD JIG

There are many ways to fish the “Ugly Head Jig”, but I like to keep it very simple and straight forward. My basic “day to
day” equipment for “tight-lining” the jig is the following:

Rod: Tight-lining: Bass Pro Shop “Micro Lite” IM6 graphite, model ML70LS-2, 7’0” Light action. There are many great
rods on the market, this is just the one I prefer. It’s in the $30- $40 price range.

Bobber-fishing: Buck’s B’n’M Graphite jig pole – Model BGTP122 (12’) and Model BGTP102 (10’). Many great bobber
fishing rods out there, these are the two I use. Price range in the $30- $40 for these rods.

Reel: Tight-lining and Bobber-fishing: Shimano Spirex 2000RD. Once again, there are many great reels on the market,
but I prefer this reel because of these three features: 1) the paddle reel handle, 2) rear drag, and 3) Shimano fighting
drag. It is in the $60 price range.

Fishing Line: Tight-lining and Bobber-fishing: Bass Pro Excel, clear – 4 lb. test or Sufix, clear – 4 lb. test. Many
excellent
fishing lines are on the market, but I prefer using clear monofilament line.

Knot: I like to use a “loop” or “Rapala” knot to attach the “Ugly Head Jig” to my line. This type knot also gives the “Ugly
Head Jig” some extra action when retrieving it. There is a very good animated web site to instruct you how to tie this knot
at www.animatedknots.com

Winter Fishing

Tight-lining the “Ugly Head Jig”: In the winter, I like to fish the jig on rocky points, bluffs, and steep drop offs. I usually
set off the bank 40 – 50 feet and cast to the bank, letting the jig sink. I don’t like to let the jig hit the bottom, but begin
retrieving the lure before it settles to the bottom. I then slowly retrieve the lure, twitching the rod tip almost continuously.
The twitching motion gives the jig additional action. Strikes can come at any time and at any depth. If you can locate fish
on your depth finder, it helps you zone in on them and at what depth to fish the jig. Most of the time, I pick a good looking
bank and just begin to fan cast or parallel cast the banks. With the “Ugly Head Jig”, it won’t take you long to tell if small
mouths are feeding on the bank, or any other hungry species.

Bobber fishing the “Ugly Head Jig”: Just like tight-lining, I like to fish the jig on rocky points, bluffs, and steep drop offs
using a bobber. I usually set off the bank 40 – 50 feet and cast to the bank. I normally set my bobber in the 8’ range to
start with and work from there up to around 12’ depth if needed.
After the cast, I let the jig settle and then begin retrieving the bobber back to the boat very, very slowly. Just a little
warning, many times the strike will come as soon as the jig settles down and you haven’t even started the retrieve. During
the retrieve, I will stop many times and just twitch the bobber while it is stationary. Most strikes will occur at this time.
Using the bobber method, you will see a variety of ways the fish will strike. I have seen the bobber slowly pull down and
disappear. I have seen the bobber just turn over, indicating a bass has come up on the lure (pushing it upward), and lastly
(and the way I love to see it happen) the bobber disappears downward at 90 miles an hour. No matter how the strike
occurs, just use a strong “sweeping” motion to set the hook. Just remember when setting the hook, you are using 4 lb test
line. Once you have the hook-up, just hang on for the fight. Using the longer rods for bobber fishing gives you that extra
spring when that big small mouth starts streaking away and heading to the bottom.
Just as a personal note, I will be the first to tell you that I have a hard time fishing the bobber method in the 15- 20 foot
range. But there are some really great fishermen in upper East Tennessee that are masters at bobber fishing at those
depths. In the dead of winter, those fishermen consistently limit out on huge smallmouth. Using your depth finder and
locating those stacked-up small mouths is a must when fishing the deep bobber method.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Fishing

Personally, I fish the “Ugly Head Jig” year round. Winter time is by far the best time to use the “Ugly Head Jig”, but don’t
limit yourself to winter time only. I have learned to adapt its use in multiple situations. I tip it with a variety of trailers and
have success with it year round. Using a trailer, it is an excellent lure for river fishing. Add a “minnow look” trailer to it and
fish it around docks in the heat of the summer, just hang on. Having trouble catching that finicky small mouth? Just tip the
“Ugly Head Jig” with some type of pork, plastic, etc. and fish it deep. You will be surprised by the results when nothing else
seems to be working.
I have caught many different species of fish using the “Ugly Head Jig” It is a great lure for catching striped bass, hybrids,
and stripers in the spring. I have used it to catch rainbow trout in Fort Patrick Henry Lake in late winter – early spring.
Crappies love it, as well as all varieties of panfish. I have caught some nice catfish on it when tipped with a trailer. And as
a final note, I have caught some really big carp on the jig/trailer using 4 lb. test line. It is amazing what you can get into the
boat using 4 lb. test line if you have your drag set properly.