I need some pointers!

So I have a problem, and I'm hoping some of you more veteran bass fishermen can help me get pointed in the right direction:

I have no confidence in fishing worms and jigs, for a couple reasons: I have no idea what a bite feels like, and I have a hard time knowing how to best keep contact with the lure. When fishing plastics or a jig, I feel like I am leaving fish out there. But the fish aren't always going to bite on crankbaits, and the worms and jigs would likely yield better fish.

I'm not one to back down from something I don't know how to do, but I am struggling with knowing what to do different. I generally try to keep the line reasonably taut on worms, and I try to always keep slight tension on a jig so I am in contact with it. It can be hard to do when fishing from shore and trying to get a bit of distance on the cast. As a result, I have yet to catch anything on either of the two. Short of having someone show me, what are some good pointers on how to fish either?

I tend to just go ahead and set the hook when I feel anything at all different. But usually that comes as a result of having felt some resistance. Would that be too late? Does the bass spit the lure back out when it feels the tiniest tug?

Help!

You got to watch your line. Especially on the decent when you first cast. Any swith in direction or you feel a little tap tap thats usually a hit.

I would say your feel for what's a bite or not will come in time, but keep in mind that it will be harder to detect a small bite or nibble with a medium or heavy action rod with heavy line.

It always takes me a while to get the feel for the tug my jig head creates whenever I bounce it on the line so I would recomend playing around with your retrieve for the first few casts whenever you jig.

When fishing vertically with worms or jigs (as oppossed to horizontally with topwaters and crankbaiting) it seems some pros prefer lighter action rods with lighter jigs heads. Also I would say fish super slowly.

All winter I've been watching some In-Fisherman DVDs I've found at the store and they offer great technique pointers. They also use a lot of underwater camera shots of the fish which are very cool.

Here's one of their videos from their You-Tube channel on "Shakey Jigging" with various plastics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIl9IWzJh-o



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Good video. Its all in the feel. I agree with Charlie that starting out with light tackle will get you used to the feel.

Thanks for the advice all =) I'll try out the tips on the next few outings, and see if I can't get past that first few bites!

Yea watchin the line is great way, but if its windy or the water surface is disturbed that doesnt work. You gotta get used to how ur bait feels with nothin on it so when u pull up you can feel the difference

all great points, you really will just all of a sudden "get it" it can be annoying when all you set is nothing, lol. just keep trying.

You know most of the time when I'm fishing I get frustrated when I snag any vegitation, rock or stick but honestly after a while those frustrating snags also help you get solid feel for your lure weight and line.

I would suggest slurging on some good braided or florocarbon line. Mono has a ton of stretch (as you will learn the first time you get a crankbait caught up on some sunken log or stick).

Braid and florocarbon have almost no strech so you will feel a bite or tug much better.

I'm just learning to jig. Dont have much confidence yet. As far as rubber worms on soft stick bait like senkos. I have all the confidence in the world. Rig your worm weedless toss it out without any weight at first. Fist them real slow. Id say 75% of all hits on a worm come right off the cast an first decend. I would say as everyone else has said that Braid and Flouro is the way to go. Alot more feel with them. You will see your line move on the decent or feel the tap tap. When you do set the hook. Also go wit a 3/0 offset hook.