Jig Problems

[Caver]

Im new to jigging and I'm really finding it a fun way to fish. My main go to baits are plastics and crank baits. Anyway, the problem is I don't seem to have a very good hookup percentage when I do get bites. The fish is on for 2 or 3 seconds then they're gone. Again when I fish my go to baits hooking up and keeping fish on is no problem. I'm currently using a Revo winch with a medium heavy rod, and 50lb braid with a 14lb flouro leader for line. Any tips from you guys when fishing this style to hook up and stay hooked? Thanks in advance.

[Red]

Did you check your jig to make sure the hook is sharp? I missed a bunch of fish last weekend and finally checked my hook and it was jacked up. Also, if it was me, I would ditch the leader and go straight braid. That just me though, I know a lot of people use a leader with no issues.

Good luck.

Cliff

[I-wanna-fish-now]

I would not use the leader it might be stretching too much to get the hook to penetrate deep enough and without the leader u'll have better feel of the lure

[slonezp]

I think the setup is ok. Could be the jig, could be the weedguard. Depending on the bite you may want to let 'em take it a little longer. Also early in the season you may need to watch the line a little more closely. In cold water bass may just pick up the bait and swim with it, rather than "hit" it.

[Caver]

Thanks for your replies. Do you guys usually trim your weed guards down after purchasing a new jig? I'll try sharpening my hooks and going straight to braid to see if it makes a difference, but I find it a pain if I want to change lures frequently because the braids so strong! Really enjoy smoking those bass out of tight cover with the jig technique. Let's hope I can keep em on next time!

[Hi Salenity]

How long of a rod? I like a 7'6'' or longer.

[Caver]

7 footer. I'm a short dude so I don't like to use too much longer.

[Red]

Thanks for your replies. Do you guys usually trim your weed guards down after purchasing a new jig? I'll try sharpening my hooks and going straight to braid to see if it makes a difference, but I find it a pain if I want to change lures frequently because the braids so strong! Really enjoy smoking those bass out of tight cover with the jig technique. Let's hope I can keep em on next time!

A sharp pocket knife or a pair of kids Fiskars scissors will do the trick.

[Catt]

I think you maybe setting hook late, when you first feel the bite your jig is already in the bass's mouth so why wait?

You may not be setting hook with enough authority, I say this because you stated "the fish were on for 2 or 3 seconds & then gone".

As for rod length my grandson is 5' 2" & uses a 7' 2" flipping stick

[BrianinMD]

I agree with Catt on setting the hook immediately, and since the jigs have a thick hook make sure to set the the hook like you mean it. When you feel the bite or see the line twitch try to cross their eyes, if the thick hook hits a hard part of their mouth it will take some force to get it to penetrate.

[bwell]

I would also think about getting a reel with a higher gear ratio... I like to use 6.4 or higher for plastics and jigs.

[deaknh03]

Setting the hook on a jig bite takes practice, it's much different than other lures. Keep fishing with them and you'll detect bites quicker and learn when to properly set the hook.

[Hi Salenity]

A couple other things. What do you use for a trailer? Is it too long? I ONLY use a Rage crawl and I cut the tip cut off.

The fish may be dinks too small to be caught on your jig. I was missing bites the other day (like always) and a guy came by throwing a small crank and he was catching 6'' bass!

[HookSetDon]

What kind of jig are you using? I dont know about anyone else but I had some bad luck with strike king denny brauer jigs, Id set the hook on them fight the fish for a few minutes and come off beside the boat, Switched to another jig and never lose fish anymore, with that size hook and braid with a stiff rod you can really drive the hook home.

[aclark609]

First off, how heavy is the jig you are throwing? I wouldn't throw anything 1/2 oz or over on anything less than a heavy power rod. I also like a longer rod for jig fishing as well. I always have a 3/4 oz football jig tied on a Dobyns 734. (7'3" heavy power rod). Also that Winch has a really slow gear ratio making it harder to keep pressure on the fish once you hook em. A faster gear ratio will also allow you to reel down quicker before you set the hook if one bites when your rod tip is high. Also, with a jig, don't be afraid to swing for the fences when you set the hook and keep it tight. Don't give em any slack.

[smalljaw67]

I've been using jigs for a long time and I make my own from flipping jigs to finesse jigs and everywhere in between so I may have some tips that may help. The first thing is when you get a chance get a reel other than a cranking reel, I use no less than a 6.6:1 but mainly it is a 7.3:1 gear ratio and it makes a difference. A lot of times when you get a jig bite the fish will move left or right and even toward you, the fast reel will help get in slack to give you a more solid hookset. As for weedguards, I like to trim mine so that when I bend the weedguard down to the hook it will just barely cover the hook point, the ones I don't trim I fan out the strands, this gives your hook a broder area of protection but also makes it easier for the weedguard to bend on hookset. The last thing is the hookset itself, the most important part is to try and set the hook on a tight line, so many fish are lost due to snap sets with slack in the line, the slack means the set is half way finished before the hook is even in the fish so you don't get much hook penetration, it also is a big reason for break offs.

[slonezp]

A couple other things. What do you use for a trailer? Is it too long? I ONLY use a Rage crawl and I cut the tip cut off.

Also if it's a chunk trailer and the gap on the hook isn't that wide, may also cause hookup problems

[Pepul]

Hi guys, i got a finesse jig, 3/16oz, and i think the hook is very small, it is hidden in the skirt, is that a problem? And should i add a trailer?

[Caver]

Thanks for all your tips. Sounds like my cracking rod and reel setup was part of the problem. I think I was throwing 3/8 oz jigs at the time. Maybe next time I'll give it a go with my power spinning rod.

[Simp]

Thanks for all your tips. Sounds like my cracking rod and reel setup was part of the problem. I think I was throwing 3/8 oz jigs at the time. Maybe next time I'll give it a go with my power spinning rod.

Ya a cranking rod isn't what you want to be throwing a jig on. Generally a 7ft or longer, Meduim Heavy, with a fast tips is what is used for a jig rod. Heavy line is also usually used with these set ups, but water clarity plays a big factor here. When the water becomes ultra clear often anglers will down size there line and jigs. This often prompts a switch to Spinning tackle. With that said there is no reason why spinning gear cant be used for heavier jig fishing.

I personally want to stress how much jig fishing is a whole new ball game. You need to learn the feel of everything! Think about that for a moment. How long is going to take for yourself to fish and feel all the different types of grass out there, chuck rocks vs pebbles, logs vs the end of a branch where the limbs slim and flexible. How about learning how long it takes for your jig to fall? I can't tell you how many fish i've caught because I realize i should have felt bottom but instead feel nothing. Set the HOOK it's a fish! Learn all these things and a thousand more and your still going to set the hook 10 times a day with nothing there. Could of been nothing, could have been a bluegill, could have been a bass. Once things for sure if a leg of your trailers gone it was something so throw it back in there! So keep at it and have fun!