Football Jigs for Bass: When, Where, and How to Use Them

If you’ve ever fished deeper structure or offshore rock, chances are someone’s told you to try a football jig — and for good reason. This jig type is built for grinding the bottom, finding fish that aren’t sitting on the bank, and getting bites when other presentations come up short.

Let’s break down what makes a football jig so effective, and how to fish it with confidence. This is part of our Guide on Jig Fishing for Bass which provides an overview of all jig types.

What Is a Football Jig?

A football jig gets its name from the shape of its head — wide and rounded like an actual football. That head design helps the jig stay upright and bounce along the bottom without constantly tipping over or hanging up in rocks.

Most football jigs are paired with a medium-to-heavy wire hook and come in weights from 3/8 oz all the way up to 1 oz or more. They’re meant to be dragged, not flipped or swam. You’re trying to feel every pebble, every stump, and every change in the bottom.

When to Use a Football Jig

Football jigs really shine in late summer, fall, and into winter — especially when bass have pulled off the banks and are schooling or suspending around deep structure. They’re also deadly post-spawn when fish slide out deeper to recover.

If you’re graphing ledges, points, humps, or other offshore spots and see bait or arches sitting close to the bottom, a football jig is a great way to tempt them. It doesn’t make a lot of flash or noise, but it gives off a natural thump and stays in the strike zone longer than a crankbait or Carolina rig.

Best Places to Throw It

You want to use this jig on hard bottom — rock, gravel, clay, or shell. It’s not a grass bait. Think of spots like:

• Deep ledges and points
• Offshore humps or underwater islands
• Transition banks with chunk rock
• Bluff ends

Boat positioning matters, too. Try to stay off the structure and cast up onto it, letting the jig drag back down the drop. That slow fall and consistent contact with the bottom is what triggers bites.

How to Rig and Fish a Football Jig

Start with a craw-style trailer like a Zoom Super Chunk, Rage Craw, or something with good movement on the fall. Match the trailer size to the jig — don’t overpower it.

Use a 7’3" to 7’6" medium-heavy or heavy rod with good sensitivity. A fast gear ratio reel helps you pick up slack quickly. Line-wise, 15–17 lb fluorocarbon is the sweet spot for sensitivity and abrasion resistance.

The retrieve is simple: cast it out, let it sink, then drag it slowly with your rod tip. You’re not hopping it — you’re crawling it. Think of it like feeling your way down a staircase. Most bites will feel like a “tick” or just added weight.

Set the hook hard when you feel that bite — you’ve got a lot of line out and need to drive that hook home.

Conditions Where It Works Best

• Water clarity: Clear to stained
• Water temps: 50–80°F
• Best seasons: Summer through winter
• Best weather: Calm to light wind — too much wind makes it hard to stay in contact with the bottom

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Fishing too fast — slow it way down
• Using too light of a rod — you need backbone to drive the hook
• Choosing the wrong bottom — avoid grass or soft mud
• Overworking it — trust the bait to do its job

 

Recommended Football Jigs to Try

Looking to give one a shot? Here are some solid options from our shop:

• BassMooch Gridlock Football Jig
• Pirate Bait Flying Dutchman

Pair them with your favorite craw and you’re in business.

 

Final Thoughts

Football jigs aren’t flashy, but they catch fish — big ones. If you’re looking to level up your deep water game or just want a confidence bait when the bite slows down, this is a technique worth learning.

Fish slow. Stay in contact. And be ready when that line goes heavy.