Maximizing Opportunities

An Inside Look at the Max Jig

By: Andrew D. Buss
The opening tournament of the R & B Bass Circuit in 2010 on Winona Lake was dominated by a new jig. Joe DeNardo of Crown Point, Indiana, tossed his Max Jig to blow out the field. Their limit weighed over 16 pounds, which included the Starboard Choice Marine big bass award – a 5.92 pound largemouth. Their sack and fish were also the heaviest of 2010 (view Records page).

DeNardo feels his jig excels most during the pre-spawn stage, as was the case on Winona Lake. He explains, “A jig shines best when fish are first coming up shallow and relating to structure; this may be boat docks or weeds.” They caught all of their fish that day on shallow weedbeds. However, he confesses, “It is prime anytime between pre-spawn and early summer.”

For good reason, bass jigs have now been concrete baits in Michiana for a long time. They catch fish and are one of the most versatile baits in the market. But any trip to a bait shop to view the variety of jigs can be a dizzying experience: there are hundreds to choose.

Joe DeNardo (above) of Crown Point, IN, has been making jigs for nearly 3 decades. He created the Max Jig in 2004.
However, the defining characteristic of a Max Jig is one we should all consider: improvement in hook ups and landing ratio. On a Max Jig, the head is a triangular shape. The sides have eye sockets, called “cams,” which cause the jig to rotate during a hook set to insure penetration.

DeNardo clarifies, “The eye sockets make it broader, so [the hook] cannot come through the fish’s mouth on its side. When the cams hit the closed lips of a bass, it rotates.” Now the hook must come through the top or bottom of the fish’s mouth, forcing the hook to stand up or down on a hookset. Consequently, the hook is more likely to pierce the jaw of the fish.
The eye sockets, or "cams," (pictured left) cause the jig to rotate on a hookset This dramatically improves the landing ratio.
Mustad Ultra Point hooks compliment the Max Jig. The skirt is comprised of silicone material. Each layer has 22 strands and most Max Jig models have 2 layers. The weedguard is made of fiber.

The finished paint job has a beautiful wet, shiny appearance. DeNardo’s attention to detail is the groundwork for the shine.

After the jig is cast, he carefully removes all excess lead from the eyelet. DeNardo then heats each jig between 15 – 18 seconds before dipping it into powder paint. He then removes excess paint. The jig initially has a satin look but is heated again to give it the wet look.

The Max Jig was not created overnight. Quite the contrary, only after a trial and error process was the jig completed. DeNardo began making jigs in the late 1980s, “I bought an Arkie jig kit and made my own jigs.” However, the Tool and Dye Machinist was not satisfied with his finished product, “I had trouble fishing weeds so I wanted to create a Mango jig, but I could not duplicate [it].”

DeNardo has nearly 30 years of competitive bass fishing experience to aid his research for the perfect jig. The Max Jig has proven itself effective for both largemouth and smallmouth.
He settled for a bullet-shaped mold. This jig went through weeds well, “It went through weeds great, but I lost too many fish on it,” he admitted. Thus, he continued to tune his product. In 2004 the Max Jig was born.

DeNardo did not create the jig to sell, but popular demand gave him little choice, “At tournaments, I would give a few jigs to guys who would help me launch my boat; but guys came back for more.” It was a no-brainer, “Feedback told me I was on to something and it seemed like the logical thing to do.”
Skirt material on a Max Jig is made with silicone. Most models are made with 2 layers, which have 22 strands each. As evident above, the color scheme are made to blend in with the environment to mimic natural prey.
In 2010 DeNardo put his jig on the market. It is available in 5/16, 3/8, ½, and ¾ ounce sizes with a near limitless supply of colors. His most popular being green sunfish, green pumpkin, and black/blue, in the 3/8 ounce size. However, custom colors are available. To order custom colors, simply give DeNardo an email with a thorough description of the desired result.

Word is spreading quickly. Not only was the Max Jig responsible for the rout on Winona Lake, it was also responsible for a second Starboard Choice Marine Big Bass Award on Lake Webster. The fishing forum, Rick’s Ultimate Bass Fishing, has been littered with reviews during the 2010 season. Operator of the popular forum and big bass hunter, Rick Vogelbacher, used DeNardo’s jig through much of 2010. He quickly recognized, “They excel in stained water and along drop offs.”

The Ohio native used them successfully in a variety of conditions and bodies of water. Not only did Vogelbacher catch fish on small inland lakes, but also on Lake Erie. He admits, “I had my best success with [Max Jig] fishing rip rap along the shores of Lake Erie.” He prefers black and blue when working rocks, but prefers green pumpkin and sunfish patterns when vegetation is present.
Rick Vogelbacher (above) caught these 2 hefty largemouth off rip rap on Lake Erie using a black/blue Max Jig.
Vogelbacher landed this beast of a largemouth on Loon Lake, IN. He fooled the fish with a green sunfish Max Jig.
Max Jigs are only available through DeNardo, who can be reached via email (Joebass58@sbcglobal.net). All jigs are $2.50 regardless of color and size.

A well kept secret among several anglers is quickly losing its “secret” status. DeNardo knows why, “If you’ve ever lost a fish on a jig, you’ll know why.”
Custom colors are available. Below is a list of Max Jigs readily available.
Why toss a Max Jig? DeNardo insists, "If you've ever lost a fish on a jig, you'll know why."