Winter Jigging Spoons Patterns & Techniques

A cold-water classic and a sometimes over-looked year-round performer, the jigging spoon is one of the most effective methods to imitate a baitfish on its last legs. With bass looking to capitalize on these easy meals, mimicking a dying shad can be a sure way to fill out a limit when conditions are less than favorable or when targeting suspended and deep water fish.

Vertical jigging often involves heavy use of your electronics and fishing directly under your fish finder, so a shorter rod in the 7’ range can be beneficial in keeping your rod tip closer to the boat and in line with your transducer. It is vital to pick a rod with the perfect balance of muscle and parabolic characteristics – too soft of a rod and you can’t jig the spoon off the bottom effectively, too stiff and you will simply rip treble hooks right out of the fish’s mouth. The right Medium Heavy blank with a Moderate bend and Fast taper checks the required boxes.

Since many bites occur on the fall while there is still slack in the line, a casting reel with a faster gear ratio, something in the 8.1:1 range or faster, is a great choice. The increased speed will aid in your ability to pick up line in a hurry and connect with bass you may otherwise miss. If you don’t have a high-speed option available, you can certainly get away with using a gear ratio as low as 7.1:1 by speeding up your retrieve. Also, make sure to grab a reel capable of holding at least 100 yards to help you to reach schools holding in deep water.

This is another technique where fluorocarbon’s near invisibility and sensitivity make it the clear choice. Tie your jigging spoon to your favorite fluoro in the 12-20lb range. Opt for as heavy a line as you can get away with to help combat aggressive strikes and the abuse from snapping your rod tip upwards when vertically jigging.

It is always a great idea to upgrade to your favorite treble hooks, and even consider adding a feathered treble option for added attraction. To combat line twist, add a quality ball bearing swivel to the line tie of the spoon. This is especially critical for those spoons with a spiral descent pattern.

If you find your treble hook fouls with your line tie or swivel, cover your swivel with a small amount of shrink tube. This will not only prevent your hook from becoming entangled with your swivel, it will also keep your swivel connection rigid, which reduces the chances of your treble grabbing and potentially damaging your fluorocarbon line as well. In this technique sometimes less can be more, so it is best to avoid overworking your spoon to help it retain a natural fluttering presentation, mimicking a dying baitfish falling through the water column.

You can’t go wrong with natural baitfish colors when it comes to jigging spoons. Start with your favorite shad patterns, and definitely have some chrome and even chartreuse options as well to be better equipped for changing water and weather conditions.

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