Metal Jig

• Dense metal means a smaller, more aerodynamic body for the weight, so it casts the farthest of all.
• It has almost no built-in swimming action; all the movement comes from the rod tip and the reel. On the fall it flips side to side and flashes (fall action).
• Weight placement and shape together affect how it falls and how fast: slim jigs with a small cross-section sink fast; center-balanced, wide, flat jigs flip and flutter more on the fall. Rear-weighted jigs are also common for fast sinking and long casts.

1. Lift & fall: after it hits bottom, lift the rod and reel, then drop the rod to let it fall, and repeat.
2. Fast retrieve: when fish are chasing bait on the surface, reel it in fast and steady or jerk it at high speed.
3. One pitch jerk: one turn of the handle per rod jerk, mainly for saltwater boat jigging; see the Saltwater chapter.

Rod

M–MH, fast, 7'6"–8'6" (long casts from shore)

Reel

Spinning 3000–4000

Line

PE #1.0–1.5 + fluoro leader 16–25 lb

For rod power and action see 01 Rods; for line size conversion see 03 Line.

• Many bites come on the fall, so keep slight tension on the line as it drops.
• Metal jigs usually carry assist hooks at the head, which snag and foul less than a treble at the tail.