Lead Head

• One of the most popular lures to use when vertical jigging is a lead head jig. Head styles vary from the basic round design to those with features to make them wiggle, stay upright or drop slower or faster. The heads may be plain or painted. Some jigs feature feathers or hair tied to the hook to simulate the body of a bait fish. Other jigs come with a plain hook, and you will need to hook on a live or artificial worm, grub or minnow to the hook. All can be used to vertical jig.
  
  

Jigging Spoons

• Jigging spoons are designed to be fished straight up and down, rather than being cast or trolled. Their design makes them flutter like a wounded or dying bait minnow when you drop them toward the bottom or to simulate a small fish fleeing a predator when you lift them. In most cases, the addition of live bait or a plastic imitation isn't needed on jigging spoons.
  
  

Jigging Styles

• The mood of the fish and the kind of fish you are trying to catch often dictate jigging methods. The lift and drop method consists of raising your fishing rod several feet, to pull the jig up, then lowering the rod tip to let the jig fall back. This method is perfect if you are fishing for highly aggressive fish. You'll find these sorts of fish eager to pounce on what they think is a bit of food falling through the water toward them or willing to chase down a prey fish they think is escaping. When fishing for finicky fish, jiggle your rod tip but don't move the jig or spoon up or down rapidly. You want the jig or spoon to just shimmy or flutter in one spot, tempting a somewhat reluctant fish to bite it.
  
  

Detecting Strikes

• When a fish bites when you are lifting the jig, it's easy to feel the strike. To detect a strike when the jig is falling, watch your fishing line as it goes into the water. The jig will pull it down steadily, but when the fish bites, the only signal is seeing the line stop sinking. When engaged in subtle jigging, keep the line tight between your rod and jig and set the hook if you feel the slightest tug. Neutral-mood fish often just suck in the jig instead of striking it hard.