Jig (Casting & Pitching) Fishing on Lake Ray Roberts
Lake Ray Roberts · Texas · South Central
Lake Ray Roberts spans 29,000 acres with depths reaching 90 feet, providing excellent habitat for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. The lake features numerous creek arms, submerged timber, rocky points, and grass beds that create ideal feeding and spawning conditions. This well-maintained reservoir offers reliable fishing throughout the year with productive shallow and deep water zones.
A lead or tungsten head with a weed guard, skirt, and soft plastic trailer. Fished on the bottom by pitching, casting, or slow-rolling. The jig imitates crawfish and bottom-dwelling forage. More big bass have been caught on jigs than any other lure category — it's the lure that separates serious anglers.
Jig (Casting & Pitching) Setup for Lake Ray Roberts
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium-heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 15–20 lb fluorocarbon (cover) or 50 lb braid (heavy grass) |
| Weight | 3/8 oz standard; 1/2–3/4 oz in wind or deep; 1/4 oz finesse |
| Hook | Built-in, typically 4/0–5/0 |
Seasonal Tactics on Lake Ray Roberts
Lake: Spring spawning season brings aggressive largemouth bass into shallow creek arms and protected coves as water temperatures warm. Target spawning fish in 2-6 feet of water around brush, fallen timber, and grass edges with creature baits and topwater presentations.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Pre-spawn is prime season — pitch brown/green pumpkin jig to 45° bank transitions and rocky points.
Lake: Summer bass move to deeper structure including submerged timber, rock formations, and creek channels in 15-30 feet of water. Early morning and evening topwater action remains excellent, while midday success requires targeting deeper drop-offs with swimbaits and deep-diving crankbaits.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Football jig on offshore ledges 15–30 feet. Swimming jig around grass edges at dawn.
Lake: Fall cooling water triggers aggressive feeding as bass move through mid-depth zones transitioning between shallow and deep areas. Focus on main lake points, timber-laden flats, and creek ledges with crankbaits and jigs as fish build energy reserves for winter.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Swim a jig around baitfish schools near points and flats. Shad trailer colors in fall.
Lake: Winter bass congregate in the deepest sections near the dam and main lake channel drop-offs in 30-50 feet of water. Slow presentations like vertical jigging, finesse shaky heads, and small swimbaits produce steady catches during cold-water periods.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Slowest presentation — drag a 3/8 oz football jig on deep hard bottom. Barely move it.
Best Conditions
All seasons, all depths, all cover types; most effective in 50–70°F water; excellent in pre-spawn and when fish are on hard bottom
Match trailer to conditions: craw trailer in cold water (slower fall, bigger profile), swimbait trailer when swimming, chunk trailer for flipping.
More Techniques for Lake Ray Roberts
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