Is anyone familiar with the "J Rig"

[Luke Barnes]

So this basically keeps the bait off the bottom while the weight is on the bottom? Hop it, steady retrieve? I'm so new to anything outside of a T rig. I threw my first Carolina rig this year. 

[Michigander]

1 hour ago, 5/0 said:

The picture above looks like the main line is attached to the split ring. I thought the line was tied to the hook eye with the weight on the ring. Also have seen two split rings used with the weight on the second. What advantage is there in this?

Yes, line goes to split ring so the hook can move more freely than if it was tied.

 

Second split ring lets you use vertical eye hooks like an Owner Twistlock, at the expense of slightly more hardware.

51 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

So this basically keeps the bait off the bottom while the weight is on the bottom? Hop it, steady retrieve? I'm so new to anything outside of a T rig. I threw my first Carolina rig this year. 

You basically fish it the same as a T rig. Just gives a different look.

[Michigander]

Oh, another niche case that this rig excels at over a T rig is pitching into lily pads. I often hit a lily pads with my T rig and then have to pull it off the side of the pad and often it can't get through anymore because it lacks any momentum. However, the free swinging thin weight of the J rig will fall off the pad before the bait and then pull it under most of the time. Saves a lot of casts and makes less commotion in the pads.

[Fishnski48]

 

Great feedback here thanks everyone.

I just did some searching on the net and came across this video,  Johnny Johnson is a local Pro here in AZ.  Start at 6:50 for the J Rig. This helped too.

 

 

[Eddie101]

So, what's the major difference between J-rig vs Tokyo Rig? Just the size/shape of the weight? And never drag it, but for pitching/hopping only? 

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, Eddie101 said:

So, what's the major difference between J-rig vs Tokyo Rig? Just the size/shape of the weight? And never drag it, but for pitching/hopping only? 

The weight in a Tokyo rig is attached via a piece of wire, therefore the hook/bait is a bit higher above the weight than a J-Rig. 

[Fishnski48]

 

you put the weight the wire on the rig and it has a greater possibility of snagging than the J rig if your dragging it.  From what I've found is the Tokyo Rig is used more for Punching than dragging or bouncing.

[snake95]

On 11/20/2020 at 11:47 PM, Michigander said:

VMC jumped on the Tokyo Rig early and scaled up the promotion.

I agree, the Jika Rig was out long ago (developed in Japan and implemented in North America several years ago).

Seems like VMC is to thank for the more recent Tokyo Rig hype.  I wish they picked a different name - we know largemouth are Big in Japan but it's hard to associate bass fishing with the city of Tokyo.

[Michigander]

4 minutes ago, snake95 said:

I agree, the Jika Rig was out long ago (developed in Japan and implemented in North America several years ago).

Seems like VMC is to thank for the more recent Tokyo Rig hype.  I wish they picked a different name - we know largemouth are Big in Japan but it's hard to associate bass fishing with the city of Tokyo.

Jika was originally a Korean technique like a lot of these rigs, and Owner produced something for it. Makes sense since they're a Japanese company,  they'll know about Korean trends before we do because of proximity.

VMC was probably just playing on the US fascination with JDM gear and techniques, and figured we would buy more if it sounded more Japanese, lol.

[snake95]

19 hours ago, Michigander said:

Jika was originally a Korean technique like a lot of these rigs, and Owner produced something for it. Makes sense since they're a Japanese company,  they'll know about Korean trends before we do because of proximity.

VMC was probably just playing on the US fascination with JDM gear and techniques, and figured we would buy more if it sounded more Japanese, lol.

Interesting.  Agreed about VMC.  Will admit I didn't know that there was a significant contribution to bass techniques from Korea.  Not surprised that is the case, just didn't realize that.  I have read about bass fishing there, but still interesting to learn that.

[Michigander]

9 minutes ago, snake95 said:

Interesting.  Agreed about VMC.  Will admit I didn't appreciate contribution to techniques from Korea.  I have read about bass fishing there, but still interesting to learn that.

A lot of these oddball techniques get developed in Korea and popularized in Japan. I was reading that the Jika Rig in particular was a shrimp rig originally.

[Eddie101]

2 hours ago, snake95 said:

 Will admit I didn't appreciate contribution to techniques from Korea. 

What's the problem with learning from Korea or anywhere else for that matter? Learning is learning. 

[Dens228]

So if the bait being on the bottom with a T-rig isn't working try using a J-Rig so the bait is 1/4 inch off the bottom??

[J Francho]

When I first started demoing this rig a little over ten years ago at outdoor shows, this was the #1 misconception about Jika rigs: the bait somehow magically defies physics, and will hover above the bottom. This is one of the myths that easily busted in a casting tank. People are amazed that C- Rigs, split shot, Mojo rigs, as well as Texas rigs all sit on the bottom. The only rig that hovers over the bottom is the drop shot. The point of the free swinging weight is to pull the bait straight down through the cover, pulling both the line and bait with it, instead of draping the line. In certain weeds, it works better. 

[detroit1]

C'mon RW, you can make these things. A split ring, weight, and a hook? Certainly you have the skills....

[snake95]

4 hours ago, Eddie101 said:

What's the problem with learning from Korea or anywhere else for that matter? Learning is learning.

I agree.  Sorry, did not mean it the way it may have come out. Probably non-standard usage of English on my part.  Fixed it.  Back to the topic at hand...

[Michigander]

21 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

C'mon RW, you can make these things. A split ring, weight, and a hook? Certainly you have the skills....

I also think that's why it was hard to sell these since there's no special equipment. Most anglers could open their tackle box right now and make one. LoL

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Michigander said:

I also think that's why it was hard to sell these since there's no special equipment. Most anglers could open their tackle box right now and make one. LoL

EWG hook - check

Larger split ring - check

Dipsy sinker - check

 

Yep - can do it here.

[Fishnski48]

i made a couple last night for my trip tomorrow..

 

2/0 and 3/0 EWG

Number 3 split  ring

3/16 Dropshot weight (I opened the top so it swings freely).

Going to put a Rage bug on the 3/0 and a 5150 blood red (this worm floats if it gets off the hook so it should stay above the silt) on the 2/0,  

Easy once I tried it.

[Eddie101]

2 hours ago, Fishnski48 said:

i made a couple last night for my trip tomorrow..

 

2/0 and 3/0 EWG

Number 3 split  ring

3/16 Dropshot weight (I opened the top so it swings freely).

Going to put a Rage bug on the 3/0 and a 5150 blood red (this worm floats if it gets off the hook so it should stay above the silt) on the 2/0,  

Easy once I tried it.

What kind/shape of drop shot? 

[Fishnski48]

A pencil (cylinder) shape, I used 3/16 1nd 1/4.  The trip turned out  to be tough fishing.. gorgeous day but the lake/reservoir is 10 feet below normal depth....they are pulling water out of it and the fish are not feeding.  got a couple of 1.5 pounders on the rig with a worm.  Rage bug had nada.  

 

 

[5/0]

I’m going to rig up a couple and give them a go. We fish a lot of foothill reservoirs with rocky banks and walls. This may be a better option to a bullet weighted T -Rig as far as hang ups are concerned. But as referenced in some of the posts grass or wood cover is needed for them to be most effective.

They seem to be similar to a swing head, a rig I tried recently for the first time. Did not have any success with it, but the fishing that day was really tough. It did come through rock really well. Better than a regular football head rigged with a trailer I’ve always used in the past.

[bx.versatile]

I use the Mustad Fastach on the split ring to quickly change weights or add a wire leader for a dropshot/tokyo rig.

[Michigander]

How timely:

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/jika-rig.html