Increase your catch with the Hover Jig

When it comes to finesse fishing, few presentations are as effective and subtle as the hover rig paired with a hover jig head. This setup excels when targeting pressured bass that have seen every traditional lure thrown their way. The hover jig head allows your soft plastic bait—often a fluke, minnow, or finesse swimbait—to glide and fall naturally, imitating a dying baitfish. The key is to let the jig head do the work while keeping your presentation as natural and unobtrusive as possible. Fish it around suspended bass, over points, or near structure where baitfish are present, and you’ll quickly see how effective it can be.

Best practices start with the right gear. Use a medium-light spinning rod with a sensitive tip so you can feel even the slightest bites, paired with a high-quality fluorocarbon line in the 6- to 10-pound range. Light line helps maintain the bait’s natural fall and keeps fish from spooking in clear water. Rigging is critical—thread the plastic perfectly straight onto the hover jig head to ensure the bait glides naturally instead of spiraling awkwardly. A perfectly rigged hover jig head looks like an easy meal drifting in the water column, and that subtlety is what triggers finicky fish into biting.

When working the bait, less is often more. Cast out, let the hover jig fall on a semi-slack line, and give it small, controlled twitches to impart life without overworking it. Watch your line closely for ticks or unnatural movement, as bites often come on the fall. Slow retrieves and patience are essential—this is not a “cover water fast” technique but a precision tool for when conditions get tough. By focusing on finesse, keeping your rig perfectly straight, and letting the hover jig head do its job, you’ll turn those tough, pressured fishing days into successful ones.

We offer Hover jigs in 4 different sizes - 1/16 ounce, 3/32 ounce, 5/32 ounce and 1/8 ounce in our shop and in our shows auctions on the WhatNot platform.