Jason with a nice 4.75 pound trout caught with a 1/32 mini-jig fished on 2 pound test

Fishing for Trout with mini-jigs can be fun and rewarding. To fish mini-jigs it does take skill and finesse. Mini-jigs are becoming very popular at many local lakes around Southern California. I've been fishing mini-jigs for trout for over seven years now, and if I could only pick one lure to use, a mini-jig would be it.

Some of the the top brands are Trout Teasers, Drifters, Trout Traps, and PC jigs, with sizes ranging from 1/80 up to 1/16 oz., with 1/32 oz. being the most popular size.

Before I go over how to fish mini-jigs, let's discuss the gear you need to fish them:

Jig colors (from top to bottom): Yellow Measles, Tree Frog, Perch, Candy Apple. Shad, Roe, and Goldfish

A good quality pole such as a Kenkor, G. Loomis, Phenix, or St. Croix, all work in either a 6', 6'6" or 7' model. Make sure the rod is a UL or L action and rated for 1-6 pound test.

After the rod, you'll need a good reel, that will make a well balanced set-up. Some of the more popular reels are Daiwa's SS-II and Shimano's Stradic, while I personally use a Daiwa Samuarai 7i and an Okuma TCP 15.

Last, but not least is line. As stated earlier, you have to fish the jigs with finesse, which means light line in the 2 to 4 pound range. Some of the premium lines are Ande, McCoy, Maxima, and P-Line.

Fishing the mini-jigs can be tricky. First, string up your rod and tie a jig directly to your line, using either an improved clinch knot or a palomar knot.

After you cast the mini-jig out, there are two different ways to retrieve it. The first and easiest way is to extend your index finger, which allows it to bump the line as it is brought in, which in turn will make the jig appear to be dancing around. The second way to fish mini-jigs is to gently shake the rod tip as you retrieve the mini-jig. This is done by moving your wrist up and down.

If you visualize a clock, your rod tip would be bouncing up and down from the 10 o'clock to the 11 o'clock position. This way takes a lot of practice, but once you get it down, you won't go back to any other way.

Here are a few more tips for fishing mini-jigs for trout:

Mike Pulicari, the owner of PC jigs, with a nice Laguna Niguel Rainbow

• Vary your retrieval speed and try different depths. Trout aren't always on the top and bottom, and sometimes they like it presented fast or slow.
  
  
• Try some scents to spice up the action.
  
  
• Clip-on bobbers also work well, especially when the wind is out (the regular round ones).
  
  
• Try tipping the jig with a mealworm or a Berkley trout worm.
  
  
• Trout seem to prefer brighter color jigs on bright days and darker jigs on dark days and nights.
  
  
• Always use line that is fresh and not frayed.
  
  
• Last, but not least, don't be afraid to change colors or sizes if you aren't getting bites.

Good luck and tight lines to all. Once you get started fishing with jigs, you may not toss another lure again. If you have any questions about fishing mini-jigs for trout, or have tips of your own let us know!

• To discuss mini-jigging for trout or the above article click here.