Why You Need to Fish Micro Jigs in the Winter

For most guys, the winter is the most difficult fishing season all year. The water is cold so bass are more sluggish, the water is clearer so bass get a better look at your lures, and being out in the freezing weather is very uncomfortable when you aren’t catching any fish. With all that being said, it means you need to use baits and techniques that maximize your results. And the Micro jig packs some big results into a very small package. 

What is a Micro Jig?

A Micro jig is a very small and lightweight jig that takes the universal appeal and bite getting profile of the jig and puts it into an ultra finesse size that can get bass to bite no matter the conditions. It has a very light wire, finesse hook and an optional weed guard for fishing around cover. Think of the Micro jig as a ned rig with some extra flair and versatility. 

Why it Excels in the Winter Season

Like I mentioned before, the winter season brings in lots of difficult fishing. And when it comes to beating these conditions and still catching bass in the winter, it’s hard to beat a Micro jig. Here are 3 reasons why you need to fish a Micro jig in the winter.

1. Finesse Profile

Cold water bass are generally much more sluggish and picky. They don’t usually want to chase after elusive prey or have to hunt down a big meal. These bass just want an easy, small snack that doesn’t take effort to eat and that matches their slow metabolism. This is why finesse techniques dominate the winter season. A Micro jig is an ultra finesse technique that couldn’t be easier for bass to eat. It is just slowly dragging or hopping along the bottom right in front of the bass’s face, and they can’t help themselves but eat it. While bigger jigs could be intimidating for finicky, winter bass, the Micro jig is small enough that it poses no threat to the fish and presents a meal too easy to refuse.

2. Skirted Design

There’s a reason that jigs are the most popular lure category in all of bass fishing. The skirted design gives the jigs a much more natural presentation. The small strands flow and dance in the water as you retrieve the jig, and then gently sway with secondary motion as the jig is resting still on the bottom. No matter what the jig is doing, that skirt is waving in the bass’s face saying “eat me”. The Micro jig takes the amazing skirted design and puts it into a tiny, finesse profile that is designed specifically for finicky, winter bass that just won’t commit to a larger jig. 

3. Unique Presentation

Anglers are always trying to fish something a little different or a little unique. With the high pressure in today’s bass fishing world, showing the bass something different can make a huge difference. And the Micro jig is just that. Most guys use Ned rigs or Drop Shots as their finesse techniques during the winter. And while those work great, the bass can become conditioned to seeing those baits over and over. But there are very few fishermen that regularly fish Micro jigs. So the bass likely have not seen them and will not be as cautious when they see the small little jig face to face. You would be surprised how many times I have been fishing a Ned rig for hours with no results only to tie on a Micro jig and start getting bites almost immediately. 

How to Retrieve It

Your retrieve is going to be pretty much the same as a classic Ned rig. Small hops, drags, and shakes on the bottom. And in the winter, the slower the better. Sometimes it can be a bit painstaking to fish baits this slow, but that just comes with winter finesse fishing. Mike Iconeli has even talked about how he will sometimes even deadstick the Micro jig for 30-60 and just let the skirt gently flow in the water to entice nearby bass into biting. Personally, I rarely fish the bait quite that slow. But just try to keep the bait on the bottom and make it look as natural as possible. Slow, small movements are best in the very cold water. 

Choosing the Right Trailer

As with any jig, choosing the right trailer is critical. The biggest thing to understand when it comes to the trailer is that you don’t want something that’s too big or has too much action. A standard sized jig trailer is going to be far too big for the tiny hook of the micro jigs. And big flapping claws or swimming appendages will cause way too much lift and resistance to keep the lightweight jig on the bottom. Here are a couple of the best trailer options to pair with a Micro jig:

• Mini Craw/Creature Bait: These very small crawfish or creature style baits pair perfectly with the Micro jigs and give them a super realistic crawfish profile. These baits don’t put off any of their own action, which make them much more streamline and finesse as you scoot the jig along the bottom. The Micro D Bomb is the best example of these baits as it is specifically designed to pair perfectly with the Micro sized jig head and weights of these jigs.

• Ned Style Worm: This style of jig trailer has popped up over the last few years and gotten quite popular. The trailer is a simple Ned style stick bait worm exactly like you would fish on a Ned rig. This essentially turns the Micro jig into a skirted Ned rig and can be very effective. Although I primarily stick to the craw/creature bait style of trailers, this can be a great way to mix things up and give the fish a different look if you’re having a tough time getting bites.

2 Best Styles of Micro Jigs

• Ike’s Micro Jig: The classic Ike’s Micro Jig has a hybrid head design that is great for fishing around wood or grass.

• Ike’s Micro Football Jig: The football style design has a much wider football shaped head that is great for fishing around rocks or open, hard-bottom flats. 

Gear for Micro Jig Fishing

Since this is a finesse technique, this bait is best fished with light gear. A standard medium power spinning rod and 6-8 lb fluorocarbon have worked the best for me. If you’re fishing super deep water and a heavier jig, going up to 10 lb line is recommended. 

Letting this One Go

If you’ve been having a tough time getting winter bites, I suggest trying out Micro jig fishing. The Micro jig combines the best of jig fishing and the best of finesse fishing into the same package. These little snacks could just be the edge you need to take your winter bass fishing to the next level.