Jig (Casting & Pitching) Fishing on Lake Ray Roberts
Lake Ray Roberts · Texas · South Central
Lake Ray Roberts sits in Denton County roughly 15 miles north of Denton on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, impounded in 1987 and covering just over 29,350 acres at conservation pool. The lake mixes shallow, vegetation-studded flats with submerged creek channel edges dropping to 30–40 feet, giving largemouth bass a full range of seasonal options. Water clarity tends toward lightly stained — 1 to 3 feet of visibility in the back of creek arms, improving toward the main lake — and that stain keeps bass relatively shallow and aggressive across most of the year.
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: Pre-spawn largemouth stack on north-facing flats and submerged creek channel edges in 6–12 feet as water climbs from 55 to 65 degrees, then push into shallow brush and dock shadows to spawn; a Texas-rigged Zoom Trick Worm or Strike King Redeye Shad in the 8–12 ft transition zone produces heavily through March and April.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Pre-spawn is prime season — pitch brown/green pumpkin jig to 45° bank transitions and rocky points.
Lake: Resident bass pull tight to the deepest available cover — submerged timber, channel swing bends, and dock pilings — once surface temps clear 85 degrees; a 3/8 to 1/2 oz football jig dragged slowly in 18–28 feet over hard-bottom channel edges keeps fish in the boat when the topwater bite shuts down mid-morning.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Football jig on offshore ledges 15–30 feet. Swimming jig around grass edges at dawn.
Lake: Shad migration into the upper creek arms triggers some of the lake's most reliable schooling action from late September through November; a Heddon Super Spook Jr. or a 3/8 oz War Eagle spinnerbait matched to the forage size covers water quickly and connects with bass chasing bait pods in 4–10 feet.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Swim a jig around baitfish schools near points and flats. Shad trailer colors in fall.
Lake: Cold-water largemouth consolidate on main-lake points and deeper channel edges in 20–35 feet; a drop shot rigged with a 4-inch Roboworm Straight Tail worm in oxblood or morning dawn on 10 lb fluorocarbon and a 3/16 oz weight fishes slowly through suspended fish and bottom-hugging bass alike.
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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