Football and Shaky Head Jig Strategies for Summer Bass

Summer bass commonly shift to deeper offshore structures as the post-spawn gives way to the summer peak period. In response, the preferred bass habitat often moves from grass to hard bottom areas where crawfish become the primary forage. Mitch Anderson explains how to find likely spots for offshore summer bass using mapping and side imaging and how to fish football and shaky head jigs to milk these spots.
FOOTBALL JIG SETUP
• JIG - Jewel Baits Heavy Cover Football Jig, 3/4-ounce: wired2.fish/Jew...
• TRAILER - Jewel Baits VersaCraw Junior: wired2.fish/Jew...
• ROD - Abu Garcia IKE Power Casting Rod, 7'4" MH: wired2.fish/Ab...
• REEL - Abu Garcia Revo STX Gen 4 Casting Reel, 7.3:1: wired2.fish/RE...
• LINE - Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, 15 lb: wired2.fish/Tr...
SHAKEY HEAD SETUP
• JIG - Jewel Squirrel Head, 1/4-ounce: wired2.fish/Jew...
• WORM - Zoom Trick Worm, color - Watermelon Candy: wired2.fish/Zo...
• ROD - Falcon Expert Spinning Rod, 7'6" Medium: wired2.fish/Fa...
• REEL - Daiwa Procyon AL LT Spinning Reel, 3000D: wired2.fish/Dai...
• LINE - Berkley X9 Braided Line, 10-pound Lo-Vis Green: wired2.fish/Be...
• LEADER - Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, 8-pound: wired2.fish/Tr...
Additional links at the bottom
Mitch starts combing hard extensions off of manlike points and humps. A football head jig is an excellent tool for getting to the bottom quickly and dragging and deflecting off of bottom elements (closely resembling crawfish). He stresses the need to fish productive spots methodically from multiple angles. Use long casts at different depths and casting angles to figure out how bass are positioned. Once you get bit, drop a waypoint and make repeated casts until you stop getting bit.
When the football bite fizzles, Anderson reaches for a finesse shaky head and worm setup to milk the spot for a few more fish. The right rod and line setup have a big bearing on fishing these presentations effectively in deep water. Anderson recommends a longer 7’4’’ - 7’6’’ medium-heavy casting rod spooled with 12- to 15-pound fluorocarbon line for the football head jig setup. The smaller diameter fluorocarbon has less water resistance for a faster fall while making it easier to maintain bottom contact. For the shaky head setup, a light braid and fluorocarbon leader provide the same benefits.
FISH FINDERS
CONSOLE - Humminbird HELIX 15 MEGA SI+ G4N: wired2.fish/Hum...
BOW (X2) - Humminbird HELIX 10 MEGA SI+ G4N: wired2.fish/HE...
360 Imaging - Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging: wired2.fish/Hu...
MAPPING - Humminbird LakeMaster PLUS, Minnesota V4: wired2.fish/La...
WIRED2FISH SKEETER FXR21
• BOAT - 2021 Skeeter FXR 21: wired2.fish/Sk...
• MOTOR - Yamaha V Max SHO 250hp: wired2.fish/Yam...
• TROLLING MOTOR - Minn Kota Ultrex MSI+, 52’’, 36v (112 lbs): wired2.fish/Min...
SHALLOW WATER ANCHORS & ACCESSORIES
• Minn Kota Raptor 8’ Shallow Water Anchor w/Active Anchoring - Black: wired2.fish/Min...
• Minn Kota Raptor 4" Jack Plate Adapter Bracket - Starboard - Black: wired2.fish/Rap...
• Minn Kota Raptor 4" Jack Plate Adapter Bracket - Port - Black: wired2.fish/Rap...
• Minn Kota Raptor Wireless Footswitch - Bluetooth: wired2.fish/Rap...
ACCESSORIES
• Humminbird AS ETH 5PXG 5 Port Ethernet Switch: wired2.fish/Hum...
• RMP Versa Mount (2 on bow): wired2.fish/RMP...
• RMP Tempered Glass Screen Protector: wired2.fish/Hum...
• iPad with onX Maps: wired2.fish/on...
• T-H Marine Hot Foot: wired2.fish/Hot...
• T-H Marine Atlas Hydraulic Jackplate: wired2.fish/AT...
• T-H Marine Fingerflex Blinker Trim Controls: wired2.fish/Fin...
Bass Boat Technologies Single Dash Mount: wired2.fish/Bas...
BATTERIES AND CHARGERS -
• Minn Kota On-Board Precision Charger, 4 Bank, 15 amp (MK-460PC): wired2.fish/Min...
• Perko Battery Switch: wired2.fish/Per...
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[@wesleyhughes363]

Enjoyed the looks on the graph - gives a visual of location being talked about.

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks Wesley, glad it helped!

[@derekwilliams6403]

Same

[@makeawishkid131]

Love to see more videos where pros will explain how to use "traditional" downscan sonar to find structure. Not all of us have access to sidescan or feel as though it is fair :) . other than that I really enjoyed this video

[@BassGeek]

That bite really picks up in August here I love it.

[@mrpickles2170]

Learned something new today! Been wondering about football jigs as I was told to avoid them for skipping. Now I know, Thanks!

[@billsutorius2753]

Great video. Excellent strategies. I learned some things and enjoyed watching. Thanks 👍

[@nelsonchiro]

Love my versacraw trailer on my football jig!

[@Wired2Fish]

It is a solid option for sure!

[@ralo4265]

Good stuff Mitch! 🎣 👊🏼💯🎆🎇🇺🇸 Thanks for the tips my friend!

[@scottshriver7725]

awesome pointing out everything

[@dylankelley2651]

What’s background music? FJ outlaw?

[@harpoon123]

Are you using a leader on the spinning reel or just straight braid?? What test? Thanks, very informative.

[@Wired2Fish]

I generally use an 6-8lb leader attached with an FG knot.

[@mikeantes9597]

Great content thank you.

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks for watching, Mike

[@mynamejeff2006]

thats hilarious i JUST got a tackle warehouse package and a nice football jig was included.

[@OffTheScalesFishin5696]

Nice 👍🏼!! Good video !! But they really don’t have giants up north

[@pittsburghangler]

I like this dude because hes a northern guy and he knows his stuff

[@babayagathebasscatcher_7922]

Good stuff

[@basschaser9356]

Swing head, nedrig, drop shot

[@Wired2Fish]

All good options!

[@m4a1JAY]

I hate the summer bite in the south, it’s slow action.

[@A1K3NFISHING]

Beats a winter bite up north any day.

[@ur_asian_milfoil]

Dragging a jig still the best way to catch'em

[@Wired2Fish]

It's effective, no doubt!

[@jamesblackledge4009]

Soon there will be; after viewing the 360, hit a button from the drivers seat for the auto-caster to launch your lure from the bow of the boat. Auto-reeler will do the pre-programmed retrieve to catch the fish viewed on the 360. I really don’t like where bass fishing has gone… It is no longer “fishing”. I am almost 70, been fishing since pre-teen and pre-flashers… Where will this technology take this “sport”?

[@xDx0xUxGx]

Must be nice to be rich...

[@Wired2Fish]

😂😂😂