Entry 301-1

Tips From the Tube and Jig Man - Denny Brauer

Part 1: What Jig, What Trailer, When and Why?

Question: Denny, how do you select the jig and the trailer that you’ll use each day you fish?

Brauer: I fish Strike King’s Premier Pro Model jig 100-percent of the time when I’m flipping and pitching. The hook in this jig is strong enough to hook a big bass and pull it out of heavy cover, when you’re flipping and pitching. I use the Premier Pro Model jig with heavy line to get maximum penetration. I like either the 3/8- or 1/2-ounce size.

I believe Strike King’s Premier Pro Model is the ultimate jig for fishing grass or wood, since the head design on this jig is fisherman-friendly as it comes through grass or wood. The jig has a big rattle on it that’s very noisy and allows the fish to find the jig even in the most-stained water. The jig also comes in all the right colors for any fishing situation or water condition. There’s no reason for anyone not to use the Premier Pro Model jig.

Question: How do you select trailers?

Brauer: I like the Denny Brauer Chunk made of the 3X material because it’s very buoyant. It has no built-in action on its own. It moves very subtly. When the water temperature is very cold – like 60 degrees or colder – and I’m fishing for pre-spawn bass, this is the trailer I’ll use. Baitfish in the water aren’t moving very fast in that cold water, and at that time of the year, I want a jig trailer that doesn’t move a lot either. Once the water warms-up, and we’re fishing the post-spawn summertime and early fall fishing, I want a trailer with a lot of action. That’s when I’ll turn to the Strike King Rage Tail Chunk.

If I want a longer profile for the trailer, I’ll use the Rage Craw and trim that bait down just a little bit. The Rage Craw and the Rage Chunk both have a tremendous action. I don’t believe there are finer trailers anywhere for the back of your jig when the jig drops, it’s down on the bottom, and you’re fishing structure. The Rage Chunk and the Rage Craw just come to life and have lives of their own.

Question: Denny, you mentioned catching your fish on the drop (when the bait falls from the surface to the bottom). You also catch bass when the bait’s is sitting on the bottom or being drug on the bottom. What other tactic are you using with the jig to catch bass?

Brauer: In cold water, the bass will usually take the jig on the drop or when you’re pulling it up and down through a hole in the cover to which you’ve flipped to. My theory is, the colder the water, the slower I’ll work the jig, the longer I’ll leave it in one place, and the more time I’ll give the bass to find and eat the bait. The warmer the water, the more likely the bass is to take the jig on the drop.

If the bass doesn’t take the bait on the drop, I’ll pump the bait up and let it fall back once or twice and either flip it or pitch it once or twice. Then I’ll retrieve the jig and cast it to a new location. If we’ve had several warm days on the body of water I’m fishing, I’ll fish the jig fairly fast. If we’ve had several cold-weather days, I’ll slow the bait down and fish it much slower.

Next: 2: Bet on the Football - Jig, That Is

Contents:

• Part 1: What Jig, What Trailer, When and Why?
• Part 2: 2: Bet on the Football - Jig, That Is
• Part 3: The Flip-N-Tube is the Only Tube
• Part 4: Tube or Jig - Which One?
• Part 5: Where to Fish What