I was talking with a local tournament fisherman recently, about bottom fishing t rigs and weedless jigs with soft plastic baits. This makes up the bulk of my summer fishing. He told me he fishes a t rig with a constant tight line, never allowing any slack in the line. Immediately after he cast, when his bait hits bottom, he quickly reels all slack line, and, after each hop or drag of the bait he turns his reel to have a constant tight line. This method is counter to the way I was taught, and the way I've fished t rigs for a long time. I was taught years ago to leave a slight amount of slack in the line after each hop. Not much, but a little slack. I turn the reel handle just maybe half a turn, depending on the reel, and always have a little slack in my line this way. When I have fished t rigs with a tight line, some bass have picked up the bait, and spit it very quickly, feeling some resistance when they strike. I've done far better by having a small amount of slack line. When I feel a strike, I quickly take up the slack, and set the hook. His method may work well for him, but, I'm inclined to think a small amount of slack line will hook more fish overall. What are your ideas on this? Do you do better with a little slack, or a constant tight line with a t rig?
