What you don't see underwater is the way in which the jig's unique, checkerboard skirt captures small bubbles of air similar to soft plastic baits made up of rings around their bodies. This would explain why a lot of the strikes I experienced with this bait were either on the fall or shortly after the bait touched down. I imagine those little, mini pockets of air release at random leaving a bubble trail as the jig descends giving bass a clear path to track and follow before inhaling the bait.

The bait keeper is made of wire and hand wound onto the shank

It holds baits like this Tiny Paca Chunk from Netbait very securely

Once you do get bit and swing for that set, that smallish 2/0 hook does an excellent job of staying buttoned to the fish and showed no signs of straightening out. I wasn't sure of that small hook at the outset, but experienced zero detriment to its size. In fact, there were times I felt it was even easier to set than a big, oversized, thick wire hook.

The jig's hook is a 2/0 Owner

The jig's hook keeper is somewhat unique. It's made of wire and tightly wrapped by hand around the hook shank. I fished this jig with a Paca Craw Tiny Chunk. This soft plastic trailer bait measures just two inches and is used by many anglers as a Ned Bait. I was concerned at first, sliding that tiny trailer over the keeper, but I was able to conceal the keeper in the bait quite easily and in return, that hook keeper held the trailer in place in an extremely secure fashion.

The skirt flares and separates nicely in the water

That checkered texture allows the skirt to trap air bubbles that are released randomly as the bait sinks to the bottom creating a trail for bass to track and follow the bait before striking

Design & Ergonomics: Nishine Lure Works is definitely from the camp of less is more. They don't go overboard in colors or sizes with any of their bait products, and the Finesse Football Jig follows in that same vein. It is offered in just one size, half an ounce, and four colors. There's no crippling indecision on which size or colors to get. If you can't decide between four very different. bit basic colors, you might look into picking up a different hobby or at the very least just buckle down and purchase all four.

Given this jig's finesse tendencies, it feels like an oversized Ned Head

Price & Applications: Where they will get you with this little jig is its price. The Finesse Football Jig by Nishine Lure Works retails for $5.99 each. Once jigs pass that $4.00 - $4.50 threshold, anglers tend to look at them a little sideways. Of course not all jigs are created equal. For example, not every jig is hand tied, and this jig, while it may be expensive, is somewhat unique given its very compact profile and subtle details all around.