What are the Different Types of Jigging?

Jigs and jigging rods come in so many different varieties that any angler looking for a jigging setup needs to be aware of the different jigging types. The 3 different types of jigging are slow pitch, vertical speed, and cast and retrieve jigging. The techniques and proper lures are dramatically different for each jigging type. Jig heads, wide jigs and slender jigs each pair with a different jigging technique. Slow pitch jigging uses wide jigs that wobble during the fall, vertical speed jigging uses slender jigs that dart during the retrieve, and cast and retrieve jigging uses jig heads along structure or bottom.  

Slow Pitch Jigging

Anglers will often use a slow pitch technique offshore over reefs or drop offs where baitfish gather. It’s a technique to mimic a dying baitfish. It uses a slow action rod, paired with a fast retrieve reel and a wide jig. The jig falls to the bottom in freespool, and as it falls it turns horizontal and wobbles on the way down. To predatory fish, this looks like a dying baitfish falling down the water column. It often drives a soft bite from predatory fish because a hard strike is unnecessary on a wounded baitfish.

Once the jig falls to the bottom, its jigged back up a good ways and allowed to fall again. The jigs are struck during the fall, so the longer the jig stays in a fall, the better off you’ll be. You’ll need to jig it up about 30-40 feet to give the jig enough time to change from a vertical position to a horizontal position as it falls.

Slow Pitch Jigging Rod, Reel, and Jigs

Slow pitch jigging requires the use of a moderate to slow action rod. This will give the rod a nice parabolic bend which will give the jig a more rhythmic and realistic presentation. Slow pitch rods have lure ratings in terms of grams, so you should always keep your jig size at or under the max lure rating. When choosing the line strength to use, keep it within the line rating of the rod and always use braid as a main line when jigging. A slow pitch jigging rod will have a split grip it’ll have a long enough butt section to pin it under your armpit.  The Daiwa Harrier and the Shimano Game Type J are great slow pitch rods.

A conventional reel works best for slow pitch jigging. As the rod is pinned under your arm, you’ll palm the round conventional reel and work the pairing up and down slowly. Your other hand will do the retrieving with a banana grip to help fight hand fatigue. This Shimano Ocea Jigger HG and the Accurate Boss Valiant SPJ are both great options for slow pitch jigging reels.

To see the slow pitch setup I own, read my article How I Chose My Slow Pitch Jigging Rod, Reel, and Jigs.

Slow jigs are usually wide and flat with some curvature to cause a wobble action. They are usually rigged with assist hooks which are connected to the top jig eyelet with a split ring. The assist hooks are rigged with heavy duty cord to withstand hard hooksets. My favorite slow pitch jig is the Shimano Butterfly Flat Side jig.

Vertical Speed Jigging

Vertical Speed jigging has been around a lot longer than slow pitch jigging. Like slow pitch jigging, it’s frequently done offshore over wrecks, reefs, or drop offs. When doing a vertical speed jigging technique, a long, slender, and heavy jig falls quickly to the bottom and is rapidly retrieved while simultaneously jigging the rod up and down. The jig is designed with a taper to make the jig dart back and forth on the way up. This technique imitates a fleeing baitfish and invites a hard strike from predatory fish.

Vertical Speed Jigging Rod, Reel, and Jigs

For the speed jigging rod to handle the hard strike and heavy jig, it needs heavy power and fast action to distribute the heavy load to the backbone of the rod faster. These rods and short, heavy power, and fast action. The Shimano Trevala PX rod is a great vertical speed jigging option.

A speed jigging reel should also be conventional since the same method of holding the rod and reel applies. Conventional is a comfortable feel in the palm of your hand and the angler can control the rate of freespool by thumbing the spool. The gear ratios on speed jigging reels are much lower because of the need for heavy power to pull in strong and big fish. Shimano Ocea Jigger PG models work great for vertical speed jigging.

Speed jigging lures are long and slender, and often heavy jigs. They are also rigged with assist hooks attached to the jig eyelet with a split ring and heavy cord. They’re often designed with flashy colors and realistic eyes to appeal to fish from a short distance away. Durability is a necessary quality for speed jigs because of the hard strikes the jigs experience. The Shimano Shimmerfall jig is a great and durable option for a speed jig.

To read even more detail on the differences between slow pitch jigging and speed jigging, read my article Slow Jigging and Fast Jigging: Is Speed the Only Difference?

Cast and Retrieve Jigging

Cast and retrieve jigging is frequently done inshore in saltwater environments. Imagine cast a jig head and paddletail near mangrove trees and bouncing the jig head along the bottom and you reel it back in. Cast and retrieve jigging is also done from the beach in nearby troughs and the jig head can bounce along the bottom or bounce in a suspended depth. This type of jigging can be done smoothly to mimic a healthy baitifish, or more erratically to mimic a fleeing, injured, or dying baitfish.

Cast and retrieve jigging is a great way for fishermen to get experience feeling structure or bottom and practicing different presentations. Low profile baitcasters or spinning tackle are typically used for this type of jigging.

Cast and Retrieve Jigging Rod, Reel, and Jigs

The right rod for cast and retrieve jigging is likely a medium power and fast action rod. You’ll need to make sure the line rating range matches the strength of main line you plan to use with it. The rod length can depend on your location—shorter when fishing from a boat, and longer when jigging from shore. St Croix makes a great inshore rod, the Avid series inshore spinning rod.

A cast and retrieve jigging reel can vary greatly. Some experienced anglers can use a low profile baitcaster without having to worry about birds nests. The casting accuracy is best with a baitcasting reel, but baitcasters can be difficult to handle. If you’re interested in trying a low profile baitcasting reel for the first time, I recommend looking at the Shimano Curado DC as the digital braking system prevents most backlashes.

Spinning reels are the go-to for many anglers when cast and retrieve jigging. Spinning reels are easy for novice anglers to learn and the handles can easily move from a left to right handed configuration. Spinning reels don’t have quite as much line capacity as baitcasting reels, but inshore cast and retrieve jigging to nearby structure doesn’t require much line capacity. The target fish are also smaller and less likely to run for yards and yards. The Shimano Stradic is my go-to inshore fishing reel, and my reel for jigging from the beach.

Jig options for cast and retrieve jigging are nearly endless. Jig heads and commonly paired with all kinds of soft plastics to create the size, and color option to best match the hatch. I like to use the Mustad Inshore Darter jig head and pair it with the Zman Minnowz.

I hope this article helps explain the different types of jigging. Before you go, read through my article What is the Best Jig Head Color? Tight lines, y’all!