10 Tips to Become a Jedi Jig Fisherman with Denny Brauer

Bass fishing legend Denny Brauer had a remarkable Hall of Fame career, winning the Bassmaster Classic and 16 other Bassmaster events. Much of that success came by fishing shallow water, often with a jig. He's capable of fishing with any bass lure, but the jig is what he's known for, and he likely has more knowledge of fishing them than anyone. Now retired from professional bass fishing, Brauer spends most of his time on Lake Amistad in Texas, and a jig is a significant part of his fishing.

Brauer's approach to jigs is relatively simple, based on the fundamentals of choosing the correct gear and jig. These ten tips from the "Jedi of Jigs" will help you catch more fish with one of the most popular lures in bass fishing.

1. Develop the Feel

This one sounds simple enough: detect a bite and set the hook, but according to Brauer, it's a bit more nuanced. He says many jig bites take time to notice, and it takes time to develop the feel.

"Many anglers struggle with detecting bites because it's not always an obvious 'tap-tap' feeling," he said. It comes down to always being aware of what your jig is doing, how it feels, and subtle little changes. Many bites are when the jig suddenly feels heavier or lighter, and the only way to know it's a bite is to pay attention and develop that feeling from experience."

2. Work on Your Hookset

Brauer says a strong hookset is one of the most critical components of landing more fish with a jig.

"You need to have a solid hookset to get the best hook penetration," he said. "You want to get the whole sweep of the rod into it to pick up the slack and a lot of that comes down to being in the right position at all times and being ready for the bite. Standing up straight is also important and you have to have the right posture so you're not high-sticking your rod and not getting enough power."

3. Line Choices

When Brauer began his tournament fishing career, monofilament was the only option, sometimes making detecting bites difficult. He was an early adopter of fluorocarbon lines and hasn't looked back.

"Line is something that I think people don't pay enough attention to," he began. A good fluorocarbon like Seaguar Tatsu, which is pliable and very sensitive, allows you to feel more bites. It's scary how much better the feel is when dragging on gravel or grass and detecting those slight bites when it just feels like the weight of the jig changes."

Brauer says line size is another critical decision, and he will use a 15 to 25-lb test line.

"It all depends on water clarity, cover and depth," said Brauer. "15 lb is good for casting a jig in open water, and 17 lb is ideal for fishing the edges of grass. If I'm pitching a jig to cover, it will be 22 or occasionally 25 lb test for the thickest cover."

4. Choosing the Right Rod

Like fishing lines, rods have improved since Brauer began fishing. "They are so much lighter and sensitive now," Brauer said. "I used to have one rod for casting jigs and one for pitching jigs, but now I use the same Lew's 7-foot, 6-inch heavy Greg Hackney Pitching rod. The rods are not as tip-heavy, so you can fish a jig around covered with it or cast in open water. I like the added length for picking up line on a hookset."

5. Deciding on the Right Jig Weight

Over the years, Brauer has simplified his jig size choice and leaned towards heavier jigs. "I used to use a lot of 3/8-ounce but don't carry them in the boat as much anymore," he said. "It all depends on where you are fishing. Here on Lake Amistad, there's a lot of deep water and hydrilla, and the ¾-ounce is perfect. Overall, ½-ounce would be the most versatile size to cover all situations nationwide."

6. Trailer Thoughts

After selecting the right jig, Brauer says that what you add to the back of it can pay big dividends in how your jig acts, but he's primarily concerned about the profile of the jig and trailer combo.

"My favorite overall is a Strike King Rage Chunk because it makes the jig nice and compact," he said. "I used to shy away from using something like that in colder water because it has a pretty aggressive action, but I've learned that it works well year-round. The other trailer I like is the Strike King Rage Menace Grub when the fish are finicky, and I need to downsize some."

7. Jedi Jig Mods

Brauer will always make a few modifications before tying them on when he opens a new jig.

"I'll always check the line tie on the jig to make sure there's no paint residue that could affect your knot or possibly damage your line," he said. "I also trim the skirt so it's even with the back of the hook. The last thing I will do is to make sure that the skirt is exactly the way I like it, with the highlight color of the skirt on the bottom. For example, if I use black and blue, I always want the blue material on the bottom of the jig."

8. Color Thoughts

Jigs come in many color options, but Brauer keeps things simple with a handful he uses for all seasons. None of them are surprising as they are favorites for bass anglers everywhere.

"Green pumpkin is always going to be a big part of my fishing, especially in cleaner water," Brauer said. "I like black and blue for dirty water, but it's also excellent for clear lakes in low-light conditions and on cloudy days. One more I'll mix in is a shad pattern during the summer and fall."

9. Jighead Styles

Jigs come in various designs and have become much more specialized over the years for specific techniques. Brauer designed a jig for Strike King called the Structure Jig because it can do multiple things.

"Football jigs are great because they have such a great feel for rock and gravel on the bottom, but they are not good around wood and grass," he said. "A swim jig is excellent for coming through cover and horizontal movement, but it's not great on the bottom. The Structure Jig is a cobra head that is a combination of both and can be fished many different ways."

10. Where to Fish a Jig

A jig is so effective and popular that it can be fished anywhere and in all seasons. The jig master, Brauer, finds an appropriate place for every month of the year.

"There are so many places where a jig works, and you also have to keep an open mind, but there are some high-percentage times for each season," he said. "In the winter, I focus on rocky, 45-degree banks and channel swings with bluff walls. In spring, you can fish them around isolated trees, flooded bushes and boat docks, which are in play in any month and on any lake."

Brauer tends to fish deeper when the water heats up in the summer months. "I fish ledges a bunch with a jig, and this is a time when vertical fall becomes crucial for getting bites," he shared. "I fish a lot of the same places in the fall, but will also focus on the flats as the bass start to chase shad."

It's likely that Denny Brauer has caught more bass on a jig than most living people and has refined his approach over the years, along with the advancements in fishing gear. His approach to fishing one is straightforward and designed to get the most out of these lures in every season.

Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon mainline is available from 4 to 25-lb test on 200- and 1,000-yard spools.