Another Jig question

[Jacob Robinson]

Exactly. Thats atleast how i do it anyways lol.

[Catt]

I rarely trim. I spread.

Problem maybe be the hook set. Try to bring them into the boat with the hook set.

X2...Speed of hook set is essential

[backwater4]

20lb is fine. The whole craw is also good if your looking for a bigger profile. I normally cut the craw down a little, but I do trim the skirt back a good bit. For normal conditions I trim the skirt to about an inch behind the hook. For lighter, more finesse jigs I trim it back to about 1/4 or 1/2 behind the hook.

[River Rat316]

20lb floro is good, if you are using lighter jigs you can even go down lower to 14lb or so. Floro has more abrasion resistance than braided lines, braids cut easy on anything sharp, unless your fishing slop I would not be using braid, but that is just me

[Bamajoker]

20lb floro is good, if you are using lighter jigs you can even go down lower to 14lb or so. Floro has more abrasion resistance than braided lines, braids cut easy on anything sharp, unless your fishing slop I would not be using braid, but that is just me

WHEN you trim a skirt  im guessing you just cut it even across with scissors ?

[slonezp]

Instead of trimming the weed guard like was previously shown, what I do is cut off about 50% of the bristols so there are only 10 or so left. You have a full weed guard only less of it.

I also X2 on the hookset. as soon as you feel the bite, set the hook.

If the water is stained or dirty or you're punching weeds, straight braid is the way to go. If the water is clear I have been successfully using 55lb braid with 17lb flouro leader connected with an albright knot and krazyglue.

[Bamajoker]

so i guess when i feel that tap reel down and set hook, i mess up a lot here, i tend to reel down feel if the fish is there and by then its to late.

I've never asked this but when i feel the "tap tap tap" do i have to set the hook between the taps or is the fish usually there right after the taps. usually the taps happen real fast and when they stop im like d**n i missed him.

[slonezp]

Don't over think it. Once you're certain it's a fish set the hook. IMO a bass can detect the jig is not real faster than other soft plastics fished weightless is because of the weight issue.

Plus the location of the hook is right there.

On a worm, senko, or soft plastic jerkbait the hook is in the middle of the bait which IMO warrants a slight pause before the hookset to make sure the hook is in the fishes mouth.

[Bamajoker]

Don't over think it. Once you're certain it's a fish set the hook. IMO a bass can detect the jig is not real faster than other soft plastics fished weightless is because of the weight issue.

Plus the location of the hook is right there.

On a worm, senko, or soft plastic jerkbait the hook is in the middle of the bait which IMO warrants a slight pause before the hookset to make sure the hook is in the fishes mouth.

I can tell between a fish thump and say a log or rock. im just asking is when the line quits thumping 2 or three times is the fish gone? Can i set the hook immediately after the "thump thump"

[kLuo]

Don't over think it. Once you're certain it's a fish set the hook. IMO a bass can detect the jig is not real faster than other soft plastics fished weightless is because of the weight issue.

Plus the location of the hook is right there.

On a worm, senko, or soft plastic jerkbait the hook is in the middle of the bait which IMO warrants a slight pause before the hookset to make sure the hook is in the fishes mouth.

I can tell between a fish thump and say a log or rock. im just asking is when the line quits thumping 2 or three times is the fish gone? Can i set the hook immediately after the "thump thump"

from my experience, the 3 bumps you are referring to are usually due to the fish just inspecting the bait. there have been times where after the 3 bumps, the fish will come back and actually take the bait. I would not set the hook immediately after because then you will not be giving the fish a chance to strike again.

[Bamajoker]

Don't over think it. Once you're certain it's a fish set the hook. IMO a bass can detect the jig is not real faster than other soft plastics fished weightless is because of the weight issue.

Plus the location of the hook is right there.

On a worm, senko, or soft plastic jerkbait the hook is in the middle of the bait which IMO warrants a slight pause before the hookset to make sure the hook is in the fishes mouth.

I can tell between a fish thump and say a log or rock. im just asking is when the line quits thumping 2 or three times is the fish gone? Can i set the hook immediately after the "thump thump"

from my experience, the 3 bumps you are referring to are usually due to the fish just inspecting the bait. there have been times where after the 3 bumps, the fish will come back and actually take the bait. I would not set the hook immediately after because then you will not be giving the fish a chance to strike again.

hmmm that make for a tricky situation lol

[kikstand454]

eh..

i havent caught a whole lot of fish yet on a jig. but im learning.

what i do "know" is that a jig bite is different than a t-rig bite. i think maybe you are treating them the same...

sometimes with that t-rig or even a c-rig bite... you feel the tap and then wait to feel the weight of the fish.. or count to three or whatever your method is. this doesnt seem to work as well with a jig. like mentioned before it seems the fish doesnt hold onto a jig as long as it will say a t-rigged worm and it bites and swims a second and then lets go.

from all that i have read and seen- and my little bit of experience, it seems to be better to set the hook hard and quick when fishing a jig. as soon as you feel it pick up.

also i have to vote for throwing braid. i use 15lb. flouro for t-rigging... and its great.. and you can use it for a jig, but i think that braid is a better option.

besides... most of the time braid is cheaper than flouro. or at least the same price.

and braid will EASILY last you all year.

[Catt]

Bass do not have hands so tell me again what you waiting for?

This is the way Shaw Grigsby put it to me, its call the three tap theory.

The first tap the bass has inhaled your bait

The second tap the bass has exhaled your bait

The third tap I'm tapping you on the shoulder asking you why you didn't set hook!

Drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook 

[RoLo]

The items listed below may be counterproductive to other goals,

but all serve to improve the hook-up ratio with a jig:

> Finer Wire Hook

> Smaller Hook Size

> Reduced Bristle-Count (weedguard)

> Higher-Modulus Rod

> Braided Fishing Line

> Instant Strike Response

Though I once believed the opposite, I now refrain from trimming the length of the fiberguard, which stiffens the bristles.

Leaving the fiberguard at full length gives the fish more leverage for bending the bristles.

A jig pickup will often feel "mushy", like a little extra weight

or just the opposite, like an eerie weightlessness. In either case, the time to strike is NOW.

I can't say that I've ever felt three taps, but I consider myself lucky when I feel one tap,

then strike immediately if not sooner

Roger

[River Rat316]

3 taps= fish picking up jig, fish turning head and feeling resistance, and fish spitting jig. Thats the taps you are feeling.

I also agree with Rolo on the trimming of weedguards, trimming them makes them stiffer, keeping them long keeps them flexible and proivides the nescassary leverage to drive the hook home on a fish. If you do anyhting to the weedguard fan it out or take some of the fibers away but do not trim it