Summer Night Bladed Jig Patterns & Techniques
Arguably one of the best options for getting bites after the sun goes down, the hard thumping action of a bladed jig is an excellent choice for night fishing. Boasting an incredibly weedless and snag-resistant design, the bladed jig delivers quality, bite-generating deflections, and it features a single hook construction that has a lesser tendency to foul or snag compared to treble hook baits. Whether you are new to bass fishing or a seasoned tournament angler, the bladed jig will fill the livewell and flat out catches fish regardless of the time of day. Simply put the trolling motor down and start covering water!
Rods:
When fishing bladed jigs, anglers usually prefer a longer Medium Heavy rod in the 7’3” - 7’11” range with a parabolic action. The added length helps with making long casts, clearing line for quality hooksets, and also for snapping the blade clear of vegetation. The parabolic or Moderate bend of the rod is maybe the most important characteristic of a bladed jig rod because it helps with generating quality deflections and not pulling the bait out of a fish’s mouth, as well as, keeping the rod loaded as you are fighting the fish back to the boat. Many anglers opt for composite or glass rods when fishing bladed jigs because of the slower, parabolic bends they offer, but other anglers also prefer a graphite rod with a parabolic bend for a tad bit more power. It really comes down to preference.
Reels:
Most anglers opt for a casting reel with a gear ratio in the 6:1 - 7:1 range when fishing bladed jigs. A reel in that range will give you the ability to slow down or speed up to match the mood of the fish no matter the time of year, but anything faster than 8:1 won’t let your bladed jig fish properly. You’ll also want a reel that can hold plenty of line for long casts and higher pound test lines. A 100- to 150-size casting reel is perfect, and provides plenty of line capacity, while remaining compact and easy to fish.
Line:
Disguising your line becomes less of a priority after the sun goes down, so many anglers will shift away from fluorocarbon to take advantage of the superior strength of a braided fishing line. During the summer months, there’s a good chance you’ll be fishing around vegetation, so it will also be advantageous to run braided lines in the 40-50lb range to help snap your bladed jig out of the grass and clear the blade. During most of the year, fluorocarbon is generally going to be your best option due to its minimal stretch, translucency, and solid abrasion-resistance. If you prefer fluorocarbon, anything in the 12lb-20lb range will work fine for night fishing also.
Modifications & Rigging:
Bladed Jig trailers give you limitless options to customize your presentation. Soft plastic jerkbaits and swimbaits are great for imitating baitfish or bluegill, while creature baits mimic crawfish and provide a bulkier profile that moves water in low-light conditions. At night bass are feeding using their lateral line, so you want to use trailers that have more action to further help them track down your lure. Don’t be afraid to try different brands, head shapes or blade styles as each bladed jig produces a different action and being versatile pays dividends when the fish are relying on feel to feed at night.
Tips & Tricks:
When fishing your bladed jig, it’s all about contacting cover or structure to cause an erratic deflection and trigger a reaction strike. Don’t be afraid to fish your bladed jig through heavy cover and try to target areas you would normally use a squarebill crankbait or Texas-rig. Make sure to trim your skirts so that the skirting material doesn’t interfere with your trailer to help produce maximum action. At night try using slightly heavier bladed jigs to maintain better bottom contact, deflect your jig off more cover, and stir up a lot of commotion. Adding some scent is never a bad idea to further your nighttime appeal.
Colors:
At night try using bladed jigs with darker shades or in solid colors like black, white, black-n-blue, or white and chartreuse. Natural colors that imitate shad, bluegill, or crawfish are a great place to start when the water is clear and the sun is high, but after dark you want to look to use bold colors to provide added distinction and contrast that the fish can track down.