Casting Jigs

How to fish with casting jigs

A metal jig is a simple and effective lure: its small size and high weight make for long, accurate casts, and it sinks quickly to the depth you want. It lets you reach shoals moving far from the shore and fish feeding at the surface.

Shore jigging means casting a jig from the shore and working it back with lifts and turns of the reel. The jig sinks to the bottom or to the chosen depth, and the rod movements make it hop and flutter like a wounded baitfish. Fish often hit the lure on the drop, so keep the line tight at all times.

Choose the jig weight to suit the casting distance, depth and current, and make sure it matches the casting weight of your rod. Try different retrieve speeds, because mackerel often go for a fast lure, while pollock and cod prefer something worked near the bottom.

Where needed, rig the jig with an assist hook, which snags the bottom less often than a treble.