Football Head Jig Questions....???

[Carrot_Stix]

1. How are you supposed to set the hook on a football head jig?

2. What is the proper equipment to fish 1/2 - 3/4 oz football head jigs from the shore? (Rod, Reel, Line)

3. Is the strike on a football head jig subtle (tap) or a aggressive inhale that gives you more time to set the hook vs the subtle tap?

[River Rat316]

1, Point your rod at the fish, remove all slack, and cross there eyes.

2.For 1/2iz-3/4oz Jigs I use a 7'6" Medium Rod. Mine is a Setyr, I like the extra sweep the longer rod allows on the hookset . Realistically though, any m-mh rod with a fast tip over 7' is going to be fine.

3. The hits can be anything, many times the fish is just there, you really don't feel the pickup, all you feel is weight, or just a mushy feeling.

[Nice_Bass]

1)      Reel in slack, use a firm sweeping motion to set, and reel down and set again. 

2)      I would use a fast reel to get in any slack  from wind, long 7 ½ rod, fast tip, and graphite to pick up the slightest pickup. Base your line off of the cover you are fishing, rocks- #20 mono and retie often, etc. 

3)      I usually get a sublet bite, or just feel the weight.  Depending on your reasons for fishing, a jig hooked bass is going for the surface, so don't let him, unless you want a fun fight of surface jumping.   

[roadwarrior]

When you detect ANYTHING DIFFERENT,

lower your rod tip as you reel down QUICKLY.

Snap your wrist to raise the rod tip aggressively

without moving the position of your hands relative

to your body: All of your power is transferred by the rod.

NEVER double set the hook...NEVER!

8-)

[Nice_Bass]

When you detect ANYTHING DIFFERENT,

lower your rod tip as you reel down QUICKLY.

Snap your wrist to raise the rod tip aggressively

without moving the position of your hands relative

to your body: All of your power is transferred by the rod.

NEVER double set the hook...NEVER!

8-)

I would have to agree under 99% of the situations, however when fishing a jig deep, I almost always give a secondary set so that if the strech of the mono did not drive it deep enough, the second may help. Albeit, the second "hookset" is not a power hookset, more of a slower, longer, and controlled pull.  This is also in relation to a jig with a heavy broad hook and a brush guard.

[Shad_Master]

Double setting may be necessary depending on where you are fishing and what line you are using.  For deep jigging with mono - it is almost a necessity.  For deep jigging with braid - don't do it (no stretch).  For flouro or hybrid - you may have to experiment.  If fishing fairly shallow - no need to double set.

[b.Lee]

Sorry to thread jack, but some people will tell me that the bite feels like a thump, or it is very subtle or it can be like *wham!* but I have yet to pick up a jig fish, and I may have had many opportunities to but just didn't realize.  I am using good equipment, but I think my inexperience is hindering my jig fish catching ratio any other ideas?

Using a loomis glx flippin stick

Revo SX high speed reel

PP braid 50#

What am I doing Wrong?!

[Nice_Bass]

Sorry to thread jack, but some people will tell me that the bite feels like a thump, or it is very subtle or it can be like *wham!* but I have yet to pick up a jig fish, and I may have had many opportunities to but just didn't realize. I am using good equipment, but I think my inexperience is hindering my jig fish catching ratio any other ideas?

Using a loomis glx flippin stick

Revo SX high speed reel

PP braid 50#

What am I doing Wrong?!

When using the jig..best bet is to case out specific structure.  For instance, mark off on your map several rock piles at 15ft.  Work those slow and grind the bait on the bottom, try not to lift and let fall too much.   Note any bites.   Work changes in bottom composition at specific depths and make notes.    Also have a few saddles marked out at specific depth/depth changes and fish those slow. I personally only use a jig as a deeper water bait, so I don't have to worry as much about vegetation which can give quite a few false bites with a jig.  Eventually, you can get accustomed to the structure at your lake that a jig works, probing these types of areas also has increased my size keepers.  Not a good search bait IMO, but I am sure there are many on here that use it as a first throw every time with success. Long story short, put it to use with a specific game plan; I would not worry so much about your equipment, I am sure what you have can and will do the trick. Also, with the braid, you should feel a bite, no need to overthink it.  Worse case senerio is lift it to see if there is any weight pulling back, if it lets go tell everyone about the 8 pounder you lost that day! 

[gobig]

Jigs are a bait that I use frequently. As for the set up it depends on the jig and the application. Football head jigs perform best around rocks. In open water with little to no vegetation I prefer a jig with no weed guard. In this case usually I turn to a gami football head paired with a GYM twin tail hula grub. The hook on this set up is a light wire hook (remember its exposed). There is no need to cross their eyes. A simple sweep of the rod does the trick. This set up can be used on a med to med-hvy action rod (spinning or baitcast) with 8-12lb line. My preference is P-line floroclear. Because of the lighter set up fish will hold this jig longer. They are less apt to spit it fast. On this set up they will just kind of be there in many instances.

The next application I use a lot is a flipping/pitching set up. I use this in areas with a ton of cover (and sometimes in the open if I want a bigger presentation). In this situation more often than not I turn to a 3/4-1oz dirty jig (I like to use a beaver as a trailer) paired with a heavy action flipping stick and 65lb power pro. If the water is clear I add a 20lb P-Line floroclear leader. I use a uni knot to join the braid to the leader. With this set up you cross their eyes. Don't wait. If you suspect a bite hit'em hard. I generally feel the traditional thunk on this style bait. If you feel a second thunk its too late. That is the fish spitting the bait.

Always let a jig fall on slack line. You really have to watch your line. Many of the bites will come on the fall. Any jump or twitch in the line is most likely a bite. Also be aware of the depth. Count as the jig falls. If you have a 10 count and it stops falling at 5 its probably a fish. Anything, and I mean ANYTHING that does not seem right assume its a fish.

Once the jig is on the bottom I let it sit (sometimes several min). There are several ways you can fish a jig. When the fish are active I start with a faster presentation. My favorite way to fish a jig is stroking it. This involves ripping it off the bottom and letting it settle with pauses in between. You can drag it like a texas rig, use a slow steady crawl, swim it or stitch it. I do not think there is really a wrong way to fish a jig (other style jigs are better suited for certain presentations). Just mix it up and see what they want.

I also want to add that I never use a double hook set. By doing so you are adding the possibility of dropping slack into the line greatly increasing the chance of loosing the fish. If I feel the need to have a better hook set I up-scale my gear or use braid. You can always attach a leader if there is a need.

[Pikesnogle]

When fishing with a jig I also do not always feel a bite or pick up. Usually a good give away is a weird 'soft feeling,' but the dead give away is watching where your line hits the water take off in a direction other than your retrieve. Then real in the slack and try not to hurt yourself when you set the hook  ;D. Good luck man.

[slonezp]

When you detect ANYTHING DIFFERENT,

lower your rod tip as you reel down QUICKLY.

Snap your wrist to raise the rod tip aggressively

without moving the position of your hands relative

to your body: All of your power is transferred by the rod.

NEVER double set the hook...NEVER!

8-)

X2