Several attributes combine to make diamond jigs so productive. For starters, most feature thin profiles and provide plenty of flash underwater, making them a perfect match for silvery baitfish like sand eels, bay anchovies, and various “rain baits.” Made of lead and coated with chrome or a hard, shiny finish, they are nearly indestructible, even when inhaled by ferocious predators with solid shoulders and big, sharp teeth. Because diamond jigs are heavy for their size, yet aerodynamically designed, they cast great in a stiff wind and cut quickly through the depths to get down where the biggest fish swim. Choose a style with a single hook as opposed to a treble for a safe and quick release when getting it back from toothy combatants.
Most anglers are familiar with the standard diamond jig retrieve called “squidding,” described above, but there are a lot of other ways to put these lures to good use. For fish feeding on or near the surface, a fast, unbroken retrieve keeps the target high in the water column while eliciting “reaction strikes” as your quarry has to make an instant decision to engage or pass. This is a great retrieve for tempting fast-moving, roving species like Spanish mackerel, false albacore, bonito, and bluefish.
