Great Soft-Plastics Rig!

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I recently found out about a rig known as the "jika rig" (I think that's how its spelled), and it is awesome. It is like a shakey head but has a different falling action. All you have to do to make the rig is take a Wide gape worm hook, and put a split ring on it. Then slide a barrel weight on that split ring, and tie your line on the split ring. It is great for dock fishing (I really enjoy dock fishing so that's what I have used it for mostly), and is very versatile. You can use it in a finesse style if you use a light barrel weight and small hook, or you can use it for bigger baits like a brush hog and just use a bigger hook.

 

Try this out and tell me how you like it!

[Ohio Dave]

sounds pretty interesting, toss up a pic if you can for us imagination challenged folks lol

[Fishing Rhino]

When you say barrel weight, do you mean the type that has a wire with an eye that passes through the weight?  I'm assuming that the eye is what is attached to the split ring.

[MrSwimJig]

Stacy King had a nice piece on this on the latest Bass Pro Show. Looked very interesting and he was having great luck with it.

[slonezp]

There are a bunch of threads on this rig in the "Fishing Tackle" forum. Search jika rig

[gripnrip]

When you say barrel weight, do you mean the type that has a wire with an eye that passes through the weight?  I'm assuming that the eye is what is attached to the split ring.

Rhino, yes that is correct. You can also use a bell sinker or in a pinch, I've used a BPS drop shot weight. In that instance all you do is spread the wire apart to let it freely move on the split ring. Owner makes pre-made ones but they are rather expensive.

Tie your line to the split ring. If you like Texas rig fishing you'll love this rig! The bait options are limitless. In my last tournament I used a rage anaconda with a 3/8 oz weight around Grand Lake docks. The fish loved it!

[Smallmouth Hunter]

When you say barrel weight, do you mean the type that has a wire with an eye that passes through the weight?  I'm assuming that the eye is what is attached to the split rinYu

Yup, just put the eye of the barrel weight (the wire part) on the split ring.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

[zachb34]

What separates the action of this compared to a Texas rig?

[Sam Fisher]

Jika rig keeps the lure off the bottom while at the same time giving it a more horizontal presentation.

[Kevin22]

I fished those last year, worked good. 

 

A few tips I have... 

 

1. use two split rings. The one closest to the hook eye you tie your line to, the end one you put your weight on. This will let the weight free swing without catching your knot and the hook will lay flat. 

2. use two different split rings. The one you will tie your line to (connected to the hook) you want a heavy duty x-strong stainless split ring. The one for your weight you want a light wire easy to bend split ring. 90% of the snags are your weight pinched between two rocks, this will allow the weak split ring to bend out and you will get your hook and bait back. 

3. Use braided line. 30lb+ 

4. drag it, don't jig it. Fish it like a football

 

 

Here is a 4/0 5/8oz rig. 

[slonezp]

I fished those last year, worked good. 

 

A few tips I have... 

 

1. use two split rings. The one closest to the hook eye you tie your line to, the end one you put your weight on. This will let the weight free swing without catching your knot and the hook will lay flat. 

2. use two different split rings. The one you will tie your line to (connected to the hook) you want a heavy duty x-strong stainless split ring. The one for your weight you want a light wire easy to bend split ring. 90% of the snags are your weight pinched between two rocks, this will allow the weak split ring to bend out and you will get your hook and bait back. 

3. Use braided line. 30lb+ 

4. drag it, don't jig it. Fish it like a football

 

 

Here is a 4/0 5/8oz rig. 

I'm using this exact rig except with 1 split ring and 55lb braid. Baits have been Rage Craws and Pit Boss'. It has caught many a fish this year.

[martintheduck]

What separates the action of this compared to a Texas rig?

 

The weight hits the bottom and the lure stays horizontal. You get WAYYYYYYYY better action with the jika. Now - each has it's own time and place to be used. I wouldn't jika rig a fluke and I will no longer t-rig a creature bait. 

[zachb34]

The weight hits the bottom and the lure stays horizontal. You get WAYYYYYYYY better action with the jika. Now - each has it's own time and place to be used. I wouldn't jika rig a fluke and I will no longer t-rig a creature bait.

When would you use the jika rig?

[ec1]

When would you use the jika rig?

You can use one practically anytime you would use a texas rig. No real differences in terms of weedlessness.

 

Honestly though, I am not 100% sure that it makes things horizontal when resting. From what I saw, plastics still point upwards - just like a texas rig. I just have a hard time believing that a fish that would have bit a jika rig won't bite a texas rig.

[moguy1973]

What separates the action of this compared to a Texas rig?

 

Great video of how to make the Jika Rig and how the action compares to a T-rigged bait.

 

[zachb34]

Thanks that was really good video

[Bluebasser86]

Jika rig is great for fishing down through cover because the weight is attached to the hook but then the bait moves a little more freely than a T-rig with a heavy pegged weight like you would normally use in heavy cover. Plus the sinker isn't in the way when you set the hook so you get better hookups. 

[zachb34]

If it's meant for fishing through cover I'm in lol

[Smallmouth Hunter]

You can use one practically anytime you would use a texas rig. No real differences in terms of weedlessness.

 

Honestly though, I am not 100% sure that it makes things horizontal when resting. From what I saw, plastics still point upwards - just like a texas rig. I just have a hard time believing that a fish that would have bit a jika rig won't bite a texas rig.

The bait does not stay vertical with the jika. Only if you jig it up then let it fall, and even then it will only stay vertical for a few seconds. It will eventually fall and be horizontal due to gravity..

[Comfortably Numb]

Alot more "stuff" to get caught up in weeds than a texas rig.

 

BTW it is pronounced Zeka rig

[Fishing Rhino]

I tried it, and I'm sold.  It works as advertised, and produces fish, period.   Though it looks like it might be a grass catcher, it does well fishing through grass and other vegetation.

 

But searching around for hooks, I went to Owner hooks, and found this.

 

 

 

They are expensive about four bucks each in tungsten.  Much cheaper to buy the components and rig your own.

 

Nonetheless, the Jika Rig works, and it works well.

 

[hookset on 3]

I tried it, and I'm sold.  It works as advertised, and produces fish, period.   Though it looks like it might be a grass catcher, it does well fishing through grass and other vegetation.

 

But searching around for hooks, I went to Owner hooks, and found this.

 

 

 

They are expensive about four bucks each in tungsten.  Much cheaper to buy the components and rig your own.

 

Nonetheless, the Jika Rig works, and it works well.

 

 

Good explanation and diagrams, Tom.

 

I've got to get with the program.

 

Thanks, hookset on 3

[Loop_Dad]

How the bait moves / rests depends on the angle of your line and how slow fast you move the bait. If the line is more horizontal and you have long pause, then weight rests flat on the bottom and bait is not off the bottom. Nothing different from t-rigged bait. If your line is more vertical and/ or fishing like drop shot, then the bait is off from the bottom by the length of your weight.

 

If the bait stay horizontal or vertical seems to also depend on how you move the bait. Hop or drag makes the difference I would think.

 

The way I like to fish is throw, wait till it hit the bottom, small hops, wait and repeat. So I do not see big difference in action. (I tested this in shallow one time.)

 

But if it works for your style, great,  more power to you.

 

However I had used modified version of this. Instead of split ring, I used a snap to attached the weight. With this I can change the weight on the fly which I thought was cool. However eventually I went back to t-rig for simplicity.