Strike King® Bitsy Bug® Jig

Target Species: Smallmouth Bass
Also Good For: Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Catfish

Sporting a smaller profile, the Bitsy Bug finesse jig from Strike King just may be one of the more effective and wallet friendly lures around when targeting weary, mid-season pressured bass.

First Impressions

With the season starting to hit the mid-point, I was looking for a smaller jig for some finesse pitching. While shopping the jig section two things struck me right away about the Bitsy Bug. They are available in dozens of colors and are cheap at under $2 each! Armed with a durable, multi-strand skirt and well constructed core that punches through moderate cover the Bitsy Bug comes finished with a weed-guarded hook. Despite the low price, the lure does not give the impression of being cheaply made.

Fishing the Jig

Like most jigs, the Bitsy Bug excels in areas of obstruction and around drop offs. Despite its small stature, the jig can be handled just as easily as a swim jig or a flippin' bug. Because of its smaller profile, you can work this lure a little softer and quieter around the stumps and rock piles when the pressure gets heavy during the high summer months.

Of course the lure may be used as is right out of the package. But this a jig and that means plastic trailers may be in order to fine tune your set-up to your liking.

The Bitsy Bug is a fantastic finesse jig by itself, but tipped with a Berkley Gulp! Minnow Grub it's absolute money when the bite is tight.

My favorite combos are the White/red bleeding hook Bitsy Bug with a white Berkley Gulp! Minnow Grub; or the orange/black Bitsy Bug with a pumpkinskin colored Minnow Grub. When everything else is taxed out and your favorite fishing holes are showing fatigue, you can finesse this tight little combo and get even the most lethargic lunkers stirring. Just a classic jig and drop retrieve is usually all it takes.

Review Summary

The Bitsy Bug by Strike King is my favorite jig, period. I love the size, the colors, the durability, and especially the price. The KVD Swim Jig might rate slightly higher when it comes to pure swimming, but for all around jigging I always have 3-4 Bitsy Bugs in my travel box ready to go. White, Black, and Orange are permanent with other colors coming and going depending on the conditions.

I find the lure to be well constructed and extremely effective for targeting pressured fish as long as you know how to work obstructions. If you only get one, choose black, but I wouldn't stop there as keeping several will expand your fishing options while not hurting your wallet.