Twitching Jigs - Back To The Basics You Never Knew

The Ultimate Guide to Twitching Jigs for Salmon Fishing

Twitching jigs are one of the most exhilarating, effective, and addictive techniques for catching salmon. In fact, it’s the only method I know of that lets you catch every fish in a particular hole. As the fish become more frenzied, they become easier to catch—especially when the lifelike action of your jig mimics an escaping prey that salmon can’t resist. This is by far our favorite way to target salmon!

Huge Silver caught on a black and chartreuse twitching jig

Coho Twitching Jigs vs. Salmon Twitching Jigs: A Common Confusion

Not too long ago, if you mentioned "twitching for Chinook" to a fellow angler, they might have thought you were crazy. After all, twitching jigs were Coho jigs, right? Well, not anymore!

Twitching jigs are deadly for all types of salmon—Coho, Chinook, Chum, and even Humpy. To clear up any confusion, you might hear them referred to by various names, like Coho Twitching Jigs, Chinook Twitchers, Twitch Jigs, or simply Twitchers. Regardless of the name, they’re all referring to the same highly effective jig.

What Makes a Great Twitching Jig?

If you're new to twitching jigs, the options can feel overwhelming. With so many flashy, synthetic colors out there, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of choices. But don’t be fooled by gimmicky jigs—let’s cut through the hype and focus on what really works.

The Key to Color: Don’t Overthink It!

After using over a million twitching jigs, we can say with confidence: darker patterns dominate when it comes to salmon fishing. The rule of thumb? “Any color will work, as long as it’s purple!”

In fact, purple is the go-to color for twitching jigs, especially when paired with shades like black, blue, or pink. If you’re not convinced, here’s a story from our recent filming trip on the lower Cowlitz River:

An old-timer anchored up 30 yards above the tail-out, rigging up a purple and black twitching jig. Within just 4 hours, he landed 18 Chinook and Coho salmon, leaving the troll fleet in awe. When we caught up with him at the ramp, he revealed that his jig of choice was a purple Aero Twitching Jig, often combined with purple and cerise, or purple and black patterns. He even had brighter variations for when the fish needed a different look.

Bob Kratzer with an amazing twitching jig and huge coho.

Why Hawken Fishing’s Twitching Jigs Are the Best in the Business

For over 15 years, Hawken Fishing’s Twitching Jigs have been the go-to jigs for anglers throughout the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Canada. These jigs aren’t just built to last—they’re designed for maximum productivity.

What sets our Aero-Twitchers apart?

Custom Gamakatsu 4x Strong Beak Point Hooks: These hooks are sticky sharp and WILL NOT bend out, ensuring you’ll keep your catch on the line.
Hand-Selected Grade #1 Bunny Fur: We source only the best fur, dyed to our exact specifications. This results in a vibrant, lifelike appearance in the water that drives fish wild.
Silicone Legs: Our custom-printed, super-soft silicone legs flutter in the water, adding to the jig’s lifelike movement and enticing salmon to strike.

Stay Tuned for More!

If you’re looking to take your twitching game to the next level, be sure to check out our upcoming blog posts on:

Choosing the Right Twitch Rods
Line Options for Twitching
Twitching Techniques That Work
The Best Places to Target and Catch Salmon