The jighead-and-shad combo fishes well through standing weeds, especially stiff weeds like cabbage and coontail. On weed contact, pop them free with a sharp rod-tip snap. This can be a triggering movement for aggressive fish.

It’s hard to generalize about which style of rigging—the J-mac rigs versus the jighead-and-shad rigging—is going to work best. This rigging (with the unprotected hook) doesn’t work dragged over matted weeds. But when fish become tentative, this rigging in a reduced size becomes more productive, especially when you can see fish.

Don’t presume that all the fish are going to respond in simple patternlike fashion to one combination or the other. Especially when fish are tentative, one fish might respond to one combo and not the other, while the next fish does just the opposite. You need to experiment.

Once pike move to deeper water associated with rock flats and drop-offs, it’s these combinations that have proven to be so productive, whereas the J-mac combos don’t produce so well.

Stanley Flat Eye Jig and Shaker or Curly Combos

The general characteristics of a great jig include a near-conical head, and I’d prefer a barbed plastic holder behind it. The Stanley Flat Eye jig doesn’t have such a grub holder but has worked well, typically in either the 3/16- or 5/16-ounce sizes—favorite colors Neon Blue Flash or any in the Hot Flash series (try Watermelon Chartreuse). Another great choice is Northland Tackle’s Jungle Jig.

At this point, we’re looking for a subtle combo to throw at fish you can see aren’t that interested in feeding. Tempt them just enough to nip at the jig when it moves past their heads, near enough for them to respond without moving much. I have, however, also had good luck blind casting—search casting—with this rigging, especially on chilly mornings when, as might be expected, most of the fish aren’t feeding because the water has cooled so much overnight.

The choice here is between coupling the jig with the 3.5- or 4.5-inch Shaker body rigged flat, or with a curly option of some sort. I’m sure you have favorite curly options about 4 inches long to try. My experience has been that dark combos are best.

The various ways of working this jig combo have already been discussed in my suggestion for tempting lethargic fish. In the case of blind casting, though, slow everything down and swim the bait, typically for 10 feet or so—pump your rod tip ever so slightly to give more life to the bait—before letting it drop to the bottom. The straight retrieve is mostly an attracting maneuver, although fish will take it on the straight retrieve. When the jig is on the bottom, assume that a pike might have followed. Before moving the jig along again in a straight retrieve, snap it off the bottom (6 inches) to give a fish that has its nose right on the bait a chance to gulp it down.

As you see, it’s a simple, reliable system. It hooks fish well and they’re rarely damaged. It’s easy to handle fish because you’re only dealing with one hook. Most importantly, it’s an efficient and effective system that works throughout the open-water season on every water type where pike swim.