One thing about being a warm water fly fisher... you don't have 500 years of tradition to live up to. If you use tiny jigs, spinner blades, split shot or even "bobbers" for trout some purist is sure to be offended. However, if I announce that micro jigs are absolutely fantastic for all warm water species from panfish to bass and beyond, not too many bluegill specialists are going to start calling and giving me hell for unsportsmanlike conduct with a fly rod. These lures (flies?) are so productive that fish actually seem to line up for the chance to eat one and sometimes the catching is so good that it is a downright embarrassment.

Now that I have dealt with the guilt, here is the information. Microjigs, in weights from 1/64 to 1/124 ounce are really deadly on: bluegills, crappies, sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch, white bass and they also catch: largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, walleye, catfish, carp, gar, drum, and suckers, consistently. Big fish often dine on these little morsels. In fact I have been amazed at the size of fish that will inhale a 1/80 ounce jig. To date T have landed a four pound channel catfish, a 15 pound carp and I lost a gar "as long as my leg" when it cleaned out my fly line and backing. Naturally, while all these "unusual" fish are not bothering my solitude, I am catching the fins off panfish.

As far as materials go, I prefer rabbit fur cut from a hide over maribou for the tails and dubbed bodies of the jigs. Rabbit is more durable and comes in just as many colors as maribou. The addition of rubber tails and legs enhances the little fly so that fish just can't leave them alone. I seldom paint the tiny lead heads, preferring the slight shine of the unfinished lead.
Fishing the micro jig is similar to other fly rod streamers, with a few twists thrown in. Since the head of the fly is weighted the jig will sink vertically, riding with the point up. As it settles the tail points up and the fly has a natural hopping action. If you make a fairly long cast and allow the jig to sink, it can be retrieved in slow swimming motion that causes it to rise and fall. This is the standard technique for open water fish such as white bass.
Another very successful method with the micro jig is vertical fishing with a strike indicator. In brush, timber, docks or other upright structure fish often suspend close to the wood. The micro jig, dangling under a strike indicator, can get in close and stay in position near the cover. Although many anglers prefer to fish without a "bobber", in many situations, the indicator increases catch rate. Crappies are notorious light biters and cover lovers. With a jig and indicator the "time over target" will increase and less aggressive fish get a longer look at the offering. Often the indicator will not duck under but simply twitch when a fish strikes and the fisherman would not know without the indicator. Jumbo bluegills are attracted to heavy cover too, be prepared for some of the biggest you've ever caught Even the cautious old bulls are gullible for the 1" micro jig that is so easy to suck in.

I usually fish the micro jigs with a 4, 5 or 6 wt outfit that is 8-9" in length. Floating lines do a better job than sinking. Leaders may be critical to catching more than just a few fish. If I know that I won't run into any odd ball monsters (and that's not often) I will use a leader that tests around 4 pounds. Under tougher conditions with brush and weeds, or when the possibility for a good bass or other ruffian exists I often increase the tippet to 10 pound test. Naturally the biggest bass or nastiest pike always hit on the lightest tippet. That's when we find out how good we really .are.

Part of the fun of waterwater fly fishing is the wide variety of of species that may be caught and experimentation that will catch them. Micro jigs will open some new options if you are willing to give them a try. Very seriously, micro jigs may catch you more fish than you know what to do with-remember to release those that you really don't want to take to lunch.