Told myself I would learn how to fish a jig this year...

[gilkeybr]

Turns out, you just have to throw a jig at a time and place where the fish want to eat a jig!

 

I had one of my more miraculous moments fishing this past weekend.  I tossed a jig near a weed line and felt a bite right away so I reeled down and set the hook.  Broke off immediately.  Sat down, grumbling "jig fishing is going to get expensive at this rate...", and started tying on the other jig I brought with me that day.  Once I was tied back on I cast to the same spot knowing that it was a shot in the dark to catch the same fish again.  Sure enough I got bit on the initial fall so I set the hook.  Reeled the fish in to find that there was only one jig in its lip:  Bummer.  Feeling slightly dejected I removed the lure and just before throwing him back I looked into his mouth more closely.

 

Low and behold, I see some skirt material in the back of his throat.  I figured it was useless, as he SURELY must be gut hooked with the jig way down inside of his stomach.  So I grabbed my forceps and started steadily pulling on the skirt/brush guard that I could see.  The fish gods were smiling down upon me, since against all odds the hook was not embedded in the stomach at all and the jig popped right out!!!  I'm shocked that I broke off on this little 2lber (20lb leader material on 40lb main line, it broke just above the jig head).  But all I can conclude is I broke off in/around his mouth and then he proceeded to try to actually eat it during the time I was tying on the new jig?  

 

I've never had much luck with jigs, but I also haven't put much time into fishing them.  I told myself this year would be the year where I try to work on it and develop some confidence.  This weekend I had an incredible day at my local pond, catching 20+ fish in under about an hour and a half.  Water temps on this pond have been pretty cold up until 2-3 weeks ago when the weather warmed up in Michigan and now they have gone from 50F to 75F in a short span of time.  I think this has put the bass into full blown spawning mode.

 

 

[eyedabassman]

Well sounds like to me that you have the jig fever! Great bait year around! Big fish bait also. My number one bait to throw hands down!

[Adleyfishes]

Love the jig!

[All about da bass]

My favorite bait, I have it on year round. If your looking for that kicker fish in a tournament, that's the bait to throw.

[Hook2Jaw]

Decided to learn jigs this year too.  One of my first jig fish was a 10 pounder, my current PB.  I haven't really stopped throwing them at things since.   I fish them pitching, but I also enjoy casting them.

[gilkeybr]

Ok, now i'm looking for advice:

Went out at lunch today to prove to myself that Saturday wasn't a fluke.  I tied on my recovered jig, this time on a separate combo which has straight 40lb braid (Power Pro) with a palomar knot.  I caught a few fish, so it was proven to not be a fluke.  However on the fourth bite I set the hook and the jig broke off yet again!!!

 

Is it possible there was some flaw in the line-tie or head of this particular jig leading to these line failures?  Or do I need to loosen my drag for less severe hook sets?

I have a feeling the advice I get will be "you must have tied a bad knot..." but I don't think that was the issue.  In the case of the FC line break the first time, the knot was still intact on the line tie, with the leader broken ~1/4" above the line tie.

[LCG]

Is the line frayed? 

 

Are the guides on your rod in good shape? 

 

What about the eye of the jig itself, Any sharp edges? 

 

What action is the rod your using? With braid there is no give, too fast of an action and a super hard hook set could be a problem, maybe. I have not experienced that but my hook sets are not insane either. 

[Shockwave]

Some people (I'm one of them) retie after catching a few fish on one knot.  Once I started doing that, I'm breaking off less.  

[Glenn]

This should help!

 

 

[BrackishBassin]

There has to be an issue with the jig (sharp edge), your rod (chipped guide), or the line (frayed to begin with). No matter how hard you set the hook, it’s awfully hard to break off 40lb test braid with hook setting force alone. I’ve bent jig hooks completely out on hooksets (usually on a log or rock) and pulling stuck lures out of wherever they’ve managed to bury themselves. Haven’t broken one off yet. They always come back to me. They’re bent, but I get them back. 

[Turkey sandwich]

If you're noticing line fray consistently above the knot, it's highly unlikely either is the problem.  Check your guides for grooves or damage.  There are reasons why guys spend the extra money to have high end guides on their rods, and one of the biggest is to stand up to braid.  

 

Also, if this is your introduction to fishing bottom contact baits, line wear comes with the territory.  If you're dragging that jig through laydowns, rocks, etc it's going to get damaged.  This is why I tend to retie often while jig or t-rig fishing.  Also, unless I'm fishing through grass, I almost never tie braid directly to my jig because of how badly rocks and wood can damage braid.  My go to leader for jigs has been Yozuri Hybrid for years because it's nearly bomb proof, but other guys also like Big Game and CXX for the same reasons.