Pay close attention to the line lying atop the water. When the line stops moving, the jig is on the bottom or is hung up on a weed. (If the line twitches, it's a bite! Set the hook!) Take up the slack and slowly raise the rod tip to the 11 o'clock position and hold it there. When you think you've raised it enough, cut your speed in half and it should be just right. This action just teases the jig off the bottom.

When the rod stops, the jig floats back down while you maintain a tight line. When the line stops moving, lower your rod tip, wind in the slack and repeat this slow retrieve, bringing the rod up and holding it at 11 o'clock, etc. The fish usually strike as the jig is falling. Perch bite in a series of fast raps. Drop the rod tip for a few seconds while picking up the slack, lightly set the hook, and bring in the fish.

When you cast, you want the bobber to settle and the jig to drift slowly down. Fish just suck the jig in, so you want that jig to drop very slowly. I prefer using long, thin pencil bobbers that lie flat on the water. When you get a bite these extremely light bobbers simply tip up and the fish feels no pressure at all. Your retrieve should be s-l-o-w. Move the bobber about a foot and lower the rod tip. This movement swings the jig upward at an angle, and when the bobber stops the jig will slowly settle down.