Polishing the Rocks with Darter Jigs

A relatively lesser-known yet interesting and effective tactic is "polishing the rocks" as it's called with a darter jig head and soft plastic tail of your choice.

The darter jig became favored by a few Western aces in the mid-eighties. Today, there's still a fair degree of darter jigging practiced in California. But darter jigs have never been a mainstream tactic in other states or regions. They're just not used much outside of California.

That's not to say no one uses them. Californian anglers do, and that's a good indication that perhaps you should give them a try.

The nice thing about the darter jigs you see here is that they're versatile. They can be used with the point buried to be weedless (shown top) or with the point exposed (shown bottom).

One way to think of and use them is like a jerkbait on a jig, especially when dressed with long slanky worms like the 5-3/4" Gary Yamamoto Kut-Tail worm (shown top) or the 4" 9S-series Senko (shown bottom).

Usually a darter jig is kept moving, hence the term, "polishing the rocks".

A darter jig isn't made to drag across the bottom or drag through grass. It will get stuck or hung up that way.

It is balanced to hover and waver barely above bottom, which requires a degree of angler acumen. That's the same way it can be used over submerged grass beds - to keep it ticking occasionally across the tops of underwater grass. Practice makes perfect.

Worms like those shown above or soft plastic jerkbaits are probably the most popular types of dressings for darter jigs. It is also common to use single tail grubs, even hula grubs, small soft craws or you name it on darter jigs. Whatever kind of soft bait that you try, if it works, then it's the right thing to use on a darter jig. Keep in mind you often want it polishing the rocks or ticking through grass tops for example.

But the versatility doesn't end there. These same darter jig heads can be used inside or outside tube jigs as shown below with Gary Yamamoto's 3-1/2" tube bait.

The hook in it is second to none. It's the 5/0 Gamakatsu model #60415. Arguably the best freshwater bass jig hook in the world for applications such as darter jigs and tube jigs. Clip on the convenient and super-holding TruTurn HitchHiker wire coil clip and you'll be good to give this darter jig a go.

You may or may not have tried darter jigging before. In either case, the versatility of this darter jig head may warrant a try.

Please enjoy.

4 Pro Darter Jigs ~ 3/8 oz ~ Green Pumpkin