Football Jig

[Dpatt402]

So for this fall the football head jig has been the best fishing for me. I get on this afternoon bite that is just wild! Caught 3 four plus pound bass on 3 cast in a row. Just dragging, bumping cover, and occasional shake. My question for today is line.. I had been using 14# mono and I feel like I may have lost a few fish that I didn't even know we're there due to line slack and sensitivity. I am fishing probably 10-16ft in cold clear fall waters. I was going to put on braid but I don't know if the fish would be line shy and get finicky. The. I was going to go with braid and a leader. Or just straight fluorocarbon but I find it hard to cast with anything higher that 12# fluoro it is just so stiff and causes a loose spoil after cast and backlashes. I really want to use like a 14# Fluoro but I do t understand why it is such a pain. I have used the red lable seagar in the past and I don't know if they make a better less frustrating Fluoro with less memory. Any help would be appreciated thank you

[WRB]

Price is a factor, for moderate price point FC line that performs well is Sunline Super Sniper in 14 lb. With FC line a line conditioner is essential, I like Tangle Free in the 2 oz squeeze bottle and apply it throughout the days use.

Knots a very important with FC, tie them carefully and keep the knot lubricated clinching tight.

I use San Diego jam knot, easy to tie with a jig using it as a weight.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Like WRB said, get better FC if you're having a problem with memory. Honestly though, you can get by with 12 pound FC with football jigs usually because normally they're more of a structure bait, not used around heavy cover. You just have to make sure to tie a good knot and check your line often because it will need retied a lot from dragging through the rocks. 

I mainly fish copolymer with my football jigs and don't feel like I miss any fish that I was catching on FC and it's much cheaper. 

[roadwarrior]

Tatsue #12 or #15.

 

[webertime]

As has been stated 14-16lb Sniper and Conditioner.

[pawpaw]

Any time I'm casting a jig or carolina rig I like braid and a leader. I like it for feel, casting distance and the low stretch for hook sets.

[thebillsman]

If its not too rip-rappy I always use InvizX in 10 or 12lb and a San Diego Jam knot.

[WRB]

Keep in mind that Sunline 14 lb Sniper/ Seaguar Tatsu is only .012 dia, equal to most copolymer lines 8 to 10 lb. Line diameter matters regarding line drag under water, this where FC gives you a slight advantage over mono/copolymer lines, however FC isn't as stronge or abrasion resistant.

Casting jigs, T-rigged and drop shot worms are the presentations where I use FC line, it's a love/hate line....sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it when knots fail.

Tom

 

[JohnnyF]

Used to use invizx to fish football jigs but found it not as abrasion resistant as sniper. Had to retie my line almost every cast which got a little annoying. Switched over to sniper and have not had any problems fishing rock banks/bluffs on Lanier 

[cottny27]

15# AbrazX is thin and would work good in that situation.  I would use that over the InvizX.  It handles well for me with KVD L&L.  

[Big Bait Fishing]

i use 14lb. Sniper for jigs , i use it as a long leader tied to SX1 braid . if you're fishing 10-12 ft. of water , try a 6-8 ft. leader of Sniper , you'll have  excellent handling because of the braid plus great slack line sensitivity of the Sniper , best of both worlds 

[Turkey sandwich]

At this point, almost all of my spinning and casting rods run braid to leader.  There are huge advantages in cost, casting distance, and sensitivity and I can always change leaders to match conditions.  For football jigs, I'm usually fishing rocks and boulders in current and 12lb Hybrid is my go to for leaders.  Even if it's super clear, I'll take 8 or 10lb Hybrid over 12-14lb FC just because of the abrasion resistance in rocks.  Now, I will switch to InvisX if it's light gravel, or if I'm fishing something that isn't being drug along rocks, but for anything abrasive, Hybrid is the best of both worlds. 

[ChrisD46]

3 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

At this point, almost all of my spinning and casting rods run braid to leader.  There are huge advantages in cost, casting distance, and sensitivity and I can always change leaders to match conditions.  For football jigs, I'm usually fishing rocks and boulders in current and 12lb Hybrid is my go to for leaders.  Even if it's super clear, I'll take 8 or 10lb Hybrid over 12-14lb FC just because of the abrasion resistance in rocks.  Now, I will switch to InvisX if it's light gravel, or if I'm fishing something that isn't being drug along rocks, but for anything abrasive, Hybrid is the best of both worlds. 

Sounds like in your case - Yozuri Hybrid in a few different strengths + braid would work for a variety of jig applications (including football).

[Turkey sandwich]

Yep.  Braid + Hybrid can cover a lot of different applications.  The hybrid is low stretch, low visibility, handles great in rocks, and at 12# has a near 20# breaking strength.  Almost anytime I have a bait dragging or running into the bottom, I'm using Hybrid.