Here are a few things I do with my jigs as soon as I take them out of the package:

1. Clean up that weedguard: There are a few things I do to the weedguard to improve not only it's effectiveness, but to also keep it out of the way during a hookset. First, fan it out! Pull the weedguard strands away from each other and form a nice big fan running perpendicular to the hook. This will increase it's overall coverage of the hook. 

Second, trim the weedguard. I like to trim it two ways. First I will trim some of the strands off completely. I usually cut 1/4 of the strands off at the base. Next, I will trim off the tops of all the remaining strands. Cut them level with the point of the hook. Both of these trims will keep the guard from getting in the way of a hookset. A few of my jigs don't even have weedguards anymore. The only time I really worry about having a weedguard is when I'm fishing around wood. Grass is going to get stuck on your jig whether you have a guard or not, especially if you're in heavy grass or your trailer is bulky. 

2. Trim the skirt: Not all skirts will need trimming, but I like to have some skirts at roughly 1 inch length around the head of the jig. I will also leave some strands longer than others (especially in the back) to put a little more action in the skirt. Having those longer skirt strands will provide movement even when the jig is sitting still. 

3. Add a second color skirt: I like to have a few jigs that are two very different colors. For example, one of my favorite combos is a black jig with a black skirt AND a yellow or chartreuse skirt. I keep the lighter color very thin though, usually cutting it's strands down to half or less (I have one that only has 5 or 6 light strands). A lot of jig companies are selling combo's, but it's also fun to experiment with your own color combinations. 

I hope you find at least one of these tips helpful! We all know jigs are a deadly bait, but can be troublesome to new anglers. These tips should make your jig fishing a little more enjoyable!

-Nate

Next time you buy a crankbait - try these tips to increase the effectiveness of the crank:

Replace both hooks with red hooks AND put a larger sized hook on the belly of the bait. I like to increase the belly hook up 1 to 2 sizes (sometimes 3 depending on the size of the crank). 

Despite what some angler's think, I feel that red hooks (or baits for that matter) increase strike ratios. I also like to have that bigger hook on the belly to keep the hooks 'flared' out more when the fish takes the bait. This larger hook should also keep the fish from shallowing the lure too far and keep it out of it's gut. 

Experiment with hook sizes and try to increase the size without effecting the action of the bait!

-Nate

Next time you pull out a Senko or swimbait thats bent - don't throw it away! Straighten it out! Here's two things you can try:

1. Lay the bait out in the sun. Lay the bait out flat on the deck of your boat and in about an hour, the bait should straighten itself out. Laying baits in the sun for too long can cause them to soften up, so be careful not to let them sit too long!

2. Put the bait in boiling water. Just dip the bait in boiling water for 10 to 15 seconds, then pull on the end of the bait to straighten it. Let it sit flat and straight for 30 minutes afterward and it should be straight again! 

I hope these tips will help cut back on your tackle purchasing. I know I already spend too much on soft plastics as it is!

- Nate

Here's a few different things to try with your soft plastics to give the fish something new to strike:

1. Nose hook a stick or soft jerkbait with an offset bend Octopus Hook
     - I do this with baits like Senkos, Slug-o's and El Grande Match Hatch Sticks. The unique bend of the octopus hook, along           with the offset bend of the hook point, gives the bait a very different fall and unique action when twitched. 
2. Wacky rig baits off center
     - Hooking the bait a little more toward the front will still give it a vertical fall, but it will give it a different action. Try this when            the standard wacky rig just won't produce! Try adding a slip weight to mix up the action even more. 


Experiment with different hook styles and sizes and also with different weights when the bite gets tough. You never know what is going to trigger a strike!


-Nate

If you're like me and use braid and fluorocarbon - you know how expensive these lines can get! Here's a quick tip on how to get more usage out of these lines:

1. Flip your line! I do this when my line starts to look used, it only takes about 10 minutes and can breathe new life into old line. 
- If the line looks really rough, cut some of the end off (I usually cut off about 2 cast's worth). 
- Take the line off of your reel and get it on a spool (I use a drill and just attach the spool to it).
- Take the spool of old line and run it onto another spool (this "reverses" the line).
- Re-spool your reel with this second spool and your line will now be reversed. 

2. Use Kevin VanDam's Line and Lure Conditioner. 
- I'm very skeptical about using products that 'guarantee' themselves, but they are right on this product... This stuff works! Not only did it improve my casting, it also makes my line last longer. It seems to be VERY effective on braided lines that have lost their color and waxy coating.