Jiggin' Johnsons' Gilley 2.0" Finesse Soft Plastic Bait

When & where: Weed edges, dock shade, brush piles/cribs, and shallow rock where panfish and crappie “hover,” plus pressured bass that suspend around cover.

How: Rig perfectly straight on a small jig head. Swim it just fast enough to track, then kill it right at the edge and let it pendulum down. Mix in short “two-inch lifts” when you tick cover.

Why: The 2.0" size looks like a single fry that slipped away from the group—easy calories without looking loud or unnatural.

Tuning: If you’re getting taps that don’t load the rod, slow your cadence and extend the pause—make the bait hang longer than feels comfortable.

When & where: Over the top of brush/cribs, on steep edges, or anytime you’re marking fish but they won’t chase horizontally (open water or ice).

How: Nose-hook for maximum “breathing” action. Hold it in place and use tiny pulses—more fingertip than forearm. Let slack do some of the work so it glides instead of darts.

Why: Drop shot keeps a micro bait exactly where fish are looking. With 2.0", you get a touch more presence while staying finesse-clean.

Tuning: If they’re short-striking, shorten the leader a bit so the bait tracks tighter to the weight and stays more “in line.”

When & where: Hard bottom, sparse weeds, or “nothing banks” where fish roam and inspect—especially when the bite feels pressured.

How: Light mushroom head, slow drag, long pauses. Think: move it less, let it sit more. Pop it only after it’s been still long enough that you get impatient.

Why: The 2.0" size adds a clearer profile than micro-nubs, but still reads as forage—not a “presentation.”

Tuning: If you’re snagging, raise your rod angle and slow down so it glides instead of digging.

When & where: The simplest do-everything rig for panfish/crappie/perch and bonus bass—banks, transitions, weed pockets, and vertical presentations.

How: Swim-and-pause, or straight vertical with micro lifts. Most bites happen on the pause or the first inch of lift—so fish it like that’s the plan.

Why: Clean bottom contact + a subtle tail is a deadly combo when fish want “natural movement,” not constant action.

Tuning: Use the lightest head that still keeps you in control (drift, wind, or depth). Control beats speed here.