Vertical Jigging for Musky: Tips and Tricks from Tennessee Musky Fishing Guides
- Steven Paul
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
Vertical Jigging for Musky: Tips and Tricks from Tennessee Musky Fishing Guides
Vertical jigging for musky is a newer and highly productive methodology in the world of musky fishing. While casting remains the dominant tactic—and trolling holds its place as a distant second—jigging for musky often isn’t even on most anglers’ radar.
However, in recent years, savvy musky anglers have begun using vertical jigging to consistently put fish in the net. In fact, there are times when muskies respond so positively to a vertical presentation that nothing else will even draw a look.
Incorporating vertical jigging into your musky arsenal not only broadens your fishing horizons but also provides a deadly effective tactic for tackling some of the toughest conditions you’ll ever face on the water.
How to Vertically Jig for Musky
The most important element of vertical jigging is right in the name—vertical. The entire presentation hinges on keeping your jig working in a strictly vertical manner. This ensures that your lure is running true, achieving the desired action that triggers strikes from muskies.
To maintain that vertical alignment, boat control is absolutely critical. Use your trolling motor proactively, especially in current-heavy scenarios like those often found on Tennessee’s musky waters. Your goal is to slow or completely neutralize your drift so the jig can fall and rise without swinging or over-veering away from vertical.
In calm water, be cautious not to move too quickly or you’ll lose that tight vertical angle. The entire presentation falls apart if the jig begins tracking off-angle. Your boat control should promote your jig pumping up and down—not a forward hopping movement.
Keep your focus on a lure that is working in a tight vertical window. Newcomers to vertical jigging often overwork the bait. In most applications, a lift of just 18 to 24 inches is all that’s needed to create the right action. During winter months in Tennessee, even tighter jigging ranges—just 12 inches—can be more effective.
Use small, deliberate rod movements, maintaining a tight connection to your lure at all times. Never let your jig fall on slack line—always control the drop. This allows you to maximize lift, fall, and hang time while fine-tuning the action to match the conditions and musky mood.
Best Rods, Reels, and Leaders for Vertical Jigging Musky
While the trend in musky casting is toward longer rods, I recommend going shorter for vertical jigging. I’ve had great success repurposing older 7’6” and 8’ musky rods—ones that might seem outdated for casting but shine in this specific application.
Shorter rods offer better control, tighter jigging action, and more immediate hook-setting power. Stick with heavy or extra-heavy power ratings to properly work large musky jigs.
When it comes to leaders, go with steel. While fluorocarbon is acceptable for casting in many situations, vertical jigging strikes tend to be aggressive and violent. I suggest an overpowered, 150-pound multi-strand wire leader. It protects your bait and your fish by preventing bite-offs that could result in delayed musky mortality.
High-speed reels are recommended, as musky can and will hit a vertical jig on the lift and scream toward the surface. A high-speed reel allows you to catch up and set the hook.
Where to Vertical Jig for Musky in Tennessee
Vertical jigging for Tennessee musky is a game of breaklines and drop-offs. You’re looking for main structural elements—major depth transitions, points, ledges, and bottom composition changes.
These features consistently hold bottom-oriented muskies throughout the year. They’re also the exact areas where muskies retreat when conditions are tough—such as after cold fronts, during lake drawdowns, or in high-pressure scenarios where they stop chasing moving presentations.
If you're marking bait or fish near bottom-oriented structure in 10 to 25 feet of water, vertical jigging can be a game-changing option.
Keep in mind you can effectively vertically jig for musky in shallow water. I have had mid-day musky success by jigging in and around shallow weeds as a means to root out negative and neutral fish during poor spring and fall conditions.
Best Lures for Vertical Jigging Musky
Lure options for vertical jigging musky are a scant few. The king of musky jigs is the Bondy Bait. This rear-bladed hunk of rubber might look primitive, but it is a proven musky catcher. While the Bondy is offered in multiple sizes, I recommend the standard size for most, if not all, Tennessee musky fishing applications.
While the hooks on a Bondy Bait are serviceable, I recommend upgrading to short-shank BKK hooks. My preference is the BKK 4/0 Short Shank Wide Gap for better hook-up ratios and improved hook strength.
Setting the Hook: Musky Hookset Techniques for Jigging
While one should always aim to set the hook hard and fast when fishing for musky, it is non-negotiable for vertical jigging. I opt for shorter rods in the heavy and extra-heavy class not only for control but also for their ability to transfer power when a musky slams your vertical jig.
Be aware that jigging for musky can lull you into a false sense of calm, with strikes being unexpected and startling. Stay focused and poised to execute an aggressive, upward hook set the moment a strike occurs.
For this reason, I always keep my rod in a low position that allows me to explode upward with power. With your arms low, you can engage your shoulders to drive the hook set effectively and forcefully—a must for vertical jigging success.
In the Net: Final Thoughts on Vertical Jigging for Tennessee Musky
If you are new to musky fishing, I highly recommend that you integrate vertical jigging into your game plan and get comfortable with the basics. This methodology, when executed with proper technique, can help you put Tennessee musky in the net when nothing else is even remotely working.
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