Autumn can be an excellent time to target crappie, bluegills, perch, redear sunfish and other panfish species as the fish prepare for tougher times ahead. Low, clear water is common, though, and fish can get fussy.

Tiny jigs, including baits from Bobby Garland Itty Bit Series and miniscule hair jigs like the smallest Lindy Little Nippers, provide an outstanding option for triggering strikes from fussy fish while effectively matching the small forage that panfish tend to favor.

On their own, jigs that weigh only 1/48 or 1/64 ounce can be challenging to fish in many situations – even on ultralight gear. The three simple rigs discussed below make it easy to meet those challenges.

Split Shot Rig


One of the simplest ways to add reach to an extra-tiny jig without inhibiting the bait’s action is to add a split shot a couple of feet up line. This includes casting reach and the depth that can be worked efficiently as the added weight makes it easier to cast farther and more accurately and to get the offering down in the water column.

I typically add a split shot 1 1/2 to 2 feet in front of my jig. This distance is enough to keep the bait from being inhibited but it keeps the shot weight and jighead weight close enough to not hamper casting efficiency. I prefer a single split shot, sized right for the situation, over multiple weights, again for the sake of casting efficiency.

Ideal split shot size varies significantly based on conditions, the setting and the technique you plan to use. Therefore, it’s good to have a selection of shot sizes available. Wind, current, depth and the way you want to present the bait all impact the decision.

As an example, in calm conditions, not much extra weight is needed for adequate casting on light tackle, so if the water is shallow and you want to swim the bait slowly, a small split shot is ideal. At the other end of the spectrum, if it’s windy and there is current and you’re wanting to present your jig to fish that are near cover in 20 feet, you need substantially more weight to keep your jig in the zone and your line vertical and tight.

Some days you must experiment. If you are casting, letting the rig sink and retrieving it and can see that fish are following but not committing, downsizing the shot to allow for slower presentations at the same depth might coax more strikes. Other days the opposite might be true, with heavier shot and consequently faster presentations working better.

Tandem Style


If the cover isn’t overly snaggy, and you are fishing waters where two lures may be legally fished on the same line, fishing two jigs in tandem provides double benefit. Like a split shot rig, a tandem rig adds weight for casting and getting down in the water column. At the same time, it allows you to test different profiles, actions and colors at the same time. For vertical presentations, the jigs also work at slightly different depths, and this aids the patterning process.

I regularly use two different types of tandem rigs – pairing two Itty Bits and fishing more traditional crappie jig on top and an Itty Bit or 1/64-ounce Little Nipper behind it. In either case, I use loop knots to attach the jigs, so they move freely, uninhibited by the main line, and typically rig them 1 1/2 to 2 feet apart.

The double Itty Bit is equivalent to adding one small split shot. I use it mostly for casting situations, either for working shallow water or where I want to work the baits slowly. Two 1/64- or 1/48-ounce jigs provide sufficient casting weight for the light tackle I prefer for this application, and a pair of Itty Bits is extremely enticing, whether swam steadily or worked with lifts and drops.

For deeper water or situations when I want to pitch past a target and let the rig pendulum down, I’ll use a 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jighead in front and match it with a Baby Shad, Slab Slay’R or other traditional crappie bait with the Itty Bit behind it. With this rig, the larger jig does the delvery work and often catches the crappie’s eye, and then they cannot resist the bite-sized Itty Bit that flutters down next. Occasionally fish favor the larger offering. Usually, though, with this rig, I catch more fish on the micro jig.

Float Rig

Many panfish always stray shallow during fall to feed on tiny minnows, grass shrimp, young crawfish and aquatic and terrestrial insects. These fish tend to be cover oriented, relating to weed edges, stumps, downed trees, dock supports, rocks and any other shallow cover they find. Because they are mostly keying on small forage, a micro jig is ideal for targeting these fish.

Often, the best way to place a tiny jig and keep it there is to pair it with a small set float. The float adds weight for accurate casts near cover and suspends the jig in the strike zone. The jig can be danced virtually in place and kept close to the cover or worked slowly across a flat or parallel to the edge. Slow, coaxing jig presentations can be tough to top when the fish are holding in shallow cover.

I like to go extra small for this application, usually with an Itty Bit bait on a 1/64-ounce Itty Bits Jighead. My float of choice is a 1 or 1 1/2-inch Weighted Pear Thill Fantastic Foam Float. The pear shape is the easiest to rock in place to add action to a bait without dragging the rig far from the cover. The weighted version maximizes casting efficiency and sensitivity. I typically set the float 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 feet above the jig.

Slow and subtle tend to be key to effective presentations, and many strikes will come when the float is sitting still. Daily preferences will vary, though, so mix up rod movements and lengths of pauses between movements and change the depth from time to time. Most of the best action for this approach is achieved through gentle jiggles and slow pulls.

Bobby Garland’s Itty Bit Series has a new addition. Like other baits in the series the new Itty Bit Mayfly is only 1.25 inches long, but it matches the shaping of the highly popular Bobby Garland Mayfly. The narrow, forked tail shimmies irresistibly while the ribbed abdomen and natural wings and legs match a real insect.

Learn more about the Itty Bit Mayfly