First post, and a beginner's question

[SenkoSlinger]

Hey everyone, 

 

I've been a frequent outside reader who has finally decided to make an account. This community has answered a few of my questions so far, and has many information filled topics. I got into bass fishing in the later half of high school, so I was a late bloomer compared to many. Ever since I started, I've only found a stronger passion for it. My grandfather was very dedicated to the sport, and some of my fondest memories with him are the late night conversations and lessons regarding bass fishing. I'll probably end up asking simple or novice questions, but I appreciate any and all advice! 

 

Currently, I take three rods with me everywhere I go. I mostly pond hop, and have finally adjusted everything to my liking. However, I keep finding that I am losing fish only on my 3/8 oz jigs. I generally add a trailer to them, either a bandito bug or craw. I have a Lews Mach Crush 2 spinning combo, medium power, 7 ft rod, with 30 lb braid. I also have a Ugly Stik LitePro model, medium power, with 8 lb mono. Whenever I set the hooks with these particular 3/8 oz jigs, I tend to lose fish. This doesn't happen on my other baits or lures. I recently bought a Lews Mach Crush 2 Baitcasting model in a medium heavy, and it is rigged with 12 lb mono. Would the medium heavy rod have more backbone to set these jigs better?

 

Forgive my terminology, I still have a lot to learn ? 

[Glaucus]

You're not getting a good hookset because those rods are way too weak for those jigs. You're also seriously overloading them. A 3/8oz jig with a trailer weighs far more than 3/8oz because only the weight of the jighead is taken into consideration, not the hook, skirt, or weedguard, and certainly not the trailer. You probably don't have to worry about the Ugly Stik breaking but don't be surprised if you do break the rods casting those. 

 

The MH rod is far better suited for this but the 12lb mono is not.

[WRB]

Technique has a lot more to with hook setting then rod power depending on the presentation being used. 

If you are relying on the rod to set the hook, as most bass angler do, then rod power and line types are important. Because I tend to make very long cast it is impossible to rely on the rod to move enough line to load the jig hook so I use a technique called reel set. I set hooks by keeping the rod tip down and point at the jig and when detecting a strike my 1st act is to crank the reel to tighten my line followed by a firm rod sweep while still cranking. 

If your line is more verticle, meaning straight down to about a 45 degree angle out then a rod set works good if your rod has enough to power to drive the hook through the basses mouth, this when rod sets work best.

Make sure the jig hook point is very sharp and easily scratches your thumb nail and check it often. Get a pocket size diamond hook hone and use it.

Tom

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, Glaucus said:

You're not getting a good hookset because those rods are way too weak for those jigs. You're also seriously overloading them. A 3/8oz jig with a trailer weighs far more than 3/8oz because only the weight of the jighead is taken into consideration, not the hook, skirt, or weedguard, and certainly not the trailer. You probably don't have to worry about the Ugly Stik breaking but don't be surprised if you do break the rods casting those. 

 

The MH rod is far better suited for this but the 12lb mono is not.

   From my experience, this is great advice. I have a MH/F casting rod and had been using 12 lb. Big Game, with decent results. I recently went to 20 lb. braid (Ultra 8 .... 8 lb mono diameter)  and my hookups improved A LOT.

   Needless to say, I swing for the fences, because they're in brushpiles.       jj

[Log Catcher]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I use M/H rod and 12# floro for jigs and soft plastics.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

General consensus here seems to be that your gear may be a bit under powered to both over come the grip on that jig that a solid fish may have on the bait with it's crushers as well as drive the hook point into the bass. 

I agree with it.

A-Jay

[Sam]

7 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

Hello and welcome to the forum. I use M/H rod and 12# floro for jigs and soft plastics.

X2

[Koz]

Exactly what the other guys said above. You need the right tools for the job.

[txchaser]

Definitely use the MH.

 

Assuming your jig is probably the thickest hook you are throwing, you might also try a jig with a lighter wire hook. You'll have a little more margin for error. Cheap and easy to test.

 

Also you are setting a hook into hard parts, if you don't change the jig try to set much harder.

 

[SenkoSlinger]

Update - 

 

Went out this morning and used the jigs on the MH rod, and set my hooks harder. Ended up with two bass a little over 4 lbs, (4.2 and 4.3), and a few others in the 3 lb range. A successful pond trip!

 

Thanks for the replies