My First Shaky Head Bass

I am stoked to the bone about finally catching a bass on a jig technique. For those who don’t know, jigs, despite being a bass catching lure, whose effectiveness in catching bass is well renowned and legendary has been a tool that has eluded me since my fishing journey began. My first and only jig caught fish was on a football head and smallie beaver last season. I have yet to catch a bass on the bread and butter jig (with a rubber skirt) and trailer combination. I wanted to improve that statistic this season and decided to start with the Shaky head.

I could no longer contain the urge to get out there to not only fish but to get this monkey off my back so I sacrificed my lunchtime to “get it done.”

I broke out my 7’ M Mag-Touch trunk rod and Curado 101D spooled with a top layer of 8# Spider wire Red Mono and tied on a Spot Remover Jig and slapped on a 4” Robo worm.

I pitched the lure out just passed an area of rip rap and did my best to give life to the worm in a way that was similar to how I work a drop shot. Sight unseen, I visualized in my mind working the line while keeping the jig head in place.

About 15 minutes into it, I felt feedback through the line. Since I know I wasn’t moving the jig, I knew it had to be a fish. So I set the hook as I do the line moved madly away from me.

I don’t know why, but I pulled what I call an “Iaconelli,” or my take on expressing sheer joy and excitement that follows a hook set, and I am not going to ask for forgiveness. Every shout and fist pump felt great and I cherished every second.

I quickly took a photo and released her to fight another day. Unfortunately, I lost the jig that caught her and two more jigs in the last 10 minutes I had left.

Slowly, steadily and hopefully, I am going to crack this puzzle of jig fishing this season.

Bass Fishing in Downtown Seattle on a lunch break from the shore? It doesn’t get any better than this.

Conditions: Partially Cloudy
Date: Monday 06-07-10
Location: Lake Union, Seattle, WA