It's mid-July, the water temperatures are in the 70s to 80s across the country, and smallmouth bass are putting on the feedbag. Anglers are catching them on all kinds of lures, including topwaters, crankbaits, swimbaits, jerkbaits, Ned rigs, tubes, jigs, dropshots, and even live bait.

However, one lure that is often overlooked is the marabou jig. While it may not have the same popularity as many modern smallmouth bass lures, this simple and effective presentation has been catching fish for decades.

Whether you are a beginner looking for an easy smallmouth bass fishing technique or an experienced angler searching for a versatile finesse presentation, learning how to fish a marabou jig can add another valuable tool to your tackle box.

Why Marabou Jigs Are One of the Best Lures for Smallmouth Bass

The marabou jig is a simple design that has been around since 1957, originally designed by Mr. Bill Ward of the Bass Buster Lure Company in Amsterdam, Missouri.

The jig has three main components:

1. The painted jig head
2. The marabou fibers
3. The thread that holds the marabou to the jig head

It's nothing complicated, and out of the water, it doesn't look like much. But as soon as you get it wet and the jig starts to move, the marabou fibers come to life with a seductive undulation that smallmouth bass can't resist.

The beauty of a marabou jig is its natural movement. The soft fibers pulse and breathe during the retrieve, creating an action that imitates several types of smallmouth bass forage, including crayfish, minnows, and aquatic insects.

Smallmouth Bass Jig Setup: Rod, Reel, Line and Rigging

Choosing the right smallmouth bass jig setup is important when fishing a lightweight marabou jig. A properly balanced rod, reel, and line combination allows you to make long casts while protecting light line during the fight.

I've found a 7' to 7'6" Medium Light (ML) power rod paired with a size 2000 reel spooled with 6 lb. braid with a 48" section of 6 to 8 lb. fluorocarbon does a fantastic job for this presentation.

The longer rod does two things for you:

1. Provides for long-distance casting
2. Serves as an excellent shock absorber to protect the light line

I like to use a standard clinch knot to tie the jig to the fluorocarbon leader, and sometimes I'll use a loop knot to provide even more movement during the retrieve.

I estimate I use the clinch knot 95% of the time, but I've had days when retying with a loop knot turned following fish into biters.

Marabou jigs are offered in various sizes, but I've had my best luck casting the 1/8 oz. size. My favorite marabou is by Northland Tackle and comes in either a black or brown version.

How to Fish a Marabou Jig for Smallmouth Bass

The key to fishing a marabou jig is understanding that this lure is designed to create subtle movement. Unlike many reaction-style smallmouth bass lures, a marabou jig excels when it is allowed to move naturally through the water column.

Best Depth and Water Conditions for Marabou Jigs

Shallow rock rubble with a few scattered weed patches seems to be the preferred location.

Smallmouth roam these shallow flats in search of food in the form of crayfish, minnows, or aquatic insects, and the marabou jig does a great job of imitating all three.

When discussing depth, it's usually relative to the body of water and your geographic location, but for our purposes, shallow is water that is 3- to 6-foot deep.

It's also likely you'll find the best areas not only have rock rubble with some weeds, but they also host clean spots of hard rock or sand on the bottom.

These small open areas along the bottom are usually surrounded by vegetation or rocks and sometimes both. The dark spots adjacent to the lighter spots on the bottom are the exact areas you want to swim the marabou jig over and through.

Best Locations for Marabou Jigs: Finding Shallow Smallmouth Bass

What usually happens is the smallmouth will move out of deeper water onto the flat to feed, and the marabou jig is one of those lures that displaces water while still appearing like a harmless, easy meal to a feeding bass.

Given the shallow nature of this presentation, the 1/8 oz. jig is by far the superior choice.

The other important factor is speed. A 5.2:1 or 6.2:1 gear ratio seems to be the best option. Ideally, you want just enough speed to keep the jig in the middle of the water column.

Crank it too slow, and it rubs the bottom, collecting debris or slime. But crank it too fast, and the marabou fibers flatten out and no longer undulate, which kills the very drawing power of the jig.

Water movement, retrieve speed, and rod movement all combine to create added movement to the marabou fibers.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tips: Retrieve Speed and Presentation

Most days, a steady retrieve is all that's needed to stimulate the strike.

Sometimes, a couple of pauses followed by a short, deliberate rod snap into a steady retrieve can generate the bite.

You'll need to experiment with the retrieve on your favorite waters, and once you find what works, stay with it until the fish stop biting.

The other thing I like to do is keep another rod rigged with a brown marabou jig.

I always start with the black version, catch what I can, then I'll go back through the same general area with the brown marabou. I can usually pick off another two or three fish.

Color selection can vary depending on water clarity, forage, and conditions, but having multiple colors ready allows you to adjust when fish become less aggressive.

Why Marabou Jigs Are Great Smallmouth Bass Lures for Beginner Anglers

Another fun fact is that this presentation is pretty easy for inexperienced anglers.

Think about it: you cast out, count it down to two, and start the retrieve.

It's a simple "chunk and wind" scenario, and what could be easier for someone with limited exposure to casting lures?

This simplicity is one of the reasons marabou jigs remain such a valuable smallmouth bass lure. They allow new anglers to experience success while still providing experienced fishermen with a reliable finesse technique.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing with Marabou Jigs on Different Waters

I spend most of my time chasing smallmouth bass on the Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario, but this presentation will work anywhere you find smallmouth and shallow rock rubble shoals or flats.

Whether you are fishing natural lakes, reservoirs, or river systems, a marabou jig can be an effective option when smallmouth bass are feeding in shallow water.

Add a Marabou Jig to Your Smallmouth Bass Tackle Box

The marabou jig may not have the flash of some modern smallmouth bass lures, but its subtle action and versatility make it a proven fish-catching presentation.

With the right smallmouth bass jig setup, the correct retrieve speed, and an understanding of where smallmouth are feeding, this simple lure can produce incredible results throughout the summer season.

Sometimes the most effective lures are not the most complicated ones. A marabou jig is a perfect example of a classic bait that continues to catch fish generation after generation.

About the Author

Captain Burnie Haney is owner/operator of New York Fishing Adventures, Army veteran and retired Sergeant Major with a 38-year military career. A tournament bass angler since 1992, he has won five Angler of the Year titles, set the NYTBF five-fish weight record, and qualified for two National Championships. Burnie holds two International Game Fish Association (IGFA) New York State line class records (walleye and smallmouth bass) and the IGFA All Tackle Length World Record for Chain Pickerel. He is a lifetime member of B.A.S.S. and member of the New York State Outdoor Writers' Association. Haney was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in 2017. Today, Burnie focuses on multi-species seasonal fishing adventures.