Mid Strolling Technique Help

[Bucks Bass and Bourbon]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a little help on the proper technique when mid-strolling a jig and minnow. Like many of us I picked up the technique recently but find even when I shake the rod tip minimally the jig and minnow bounce and dance instead of roll side to side as intended. I understand casting upstream and working the jig back helps with that but in situations with little to no current such as calm lakes I can't seem to get the roll. Any suggestions? Thank you!

[Tackleholic]

14 minutes ago, Bucks Bass and Bourbon said:

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a little help on the proper technique when mid-strolling a jig and minnow. Like many of us I picked up the technique recently but find even when I shake the rod tip minimally the jig and minnow bounce and dance instead of roll side to side as intended. I understand casting upstream and working the jig back helps with that but in situations with little to no current such as calm lakes I can't seem to get the roll. Any suggestions? Thank you!

Try using a loop knot would be my first recommendation.  Secondly, use a line that is not too heavy or stiff.

[softwateronly]

I'm finding a very narrow band of head weight to minnow weight and buoyancy for the most roll.  I also find a clip or loop knot makes a huge difference.  A rapala freeloader rolls easily and consistently with a 4.4g horizon head.  But, I like a little less roll in the cold water anyway, so I go to a heavier head or a less drastic shake.  Another way to maximize roll is to insert the hook about an 1/8" from the nose and on top of the head.  If you look at Raid's fish roller, they even have preset notches.

 

 

scott

[webertime]

You rigging them with the weight slightly on top of the bait?  Jighead have the right line tie?

[5by3]

Any jighead with a 90 degree line tie and a loop knot should do the trick.

[Bucks Bass and Bourbon]

Ok thanks guys. My typical knot is the double uni so maybe I need to just change that up and watch then weights a little bit. I’ll give it a try. 

[Reel]

Use a snap, a  Owner Roller head or a Bay Ruf head.

[WRB]

Owner Range Roller 3/32 oz w/ size 1 Hyper Weld snap with 3-3 1/2” soft plastic of choice. 
Tom

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I've tried quite a few heads to include the Range Rollers which are excellent.  The Deps MIDST (MID STrolling) is another purpose built rolling jighead, and they're weedless with a small wire guard.   But the best jighead for purely rolling action that I've found is easily the Queen Tackle Rollin Strollin Jighead.     It's a very unique jighead and line tie.    The only downside to them is that a loop knot is recommended.    I've haven't found the need for a loop knot outside of using this particular jighead.   

 

That said, my favorite strolling jigheads are Keitech Super Round Tungsten jigheads.    They're fantastic with rolling action, and I've never had a minnow not roll on those. 

 

Obviously not all minnows roll equally, but every minnow I've ever tried which is quite a few has rolled.    Nothing compares to a Drift Fry, it just rolls absolutely perfect.

 

So if you want to rule out everything but your own technique, buy some Queen Tackle Rollin Strollin Jigheads, and a pack of Jackall 4" Drift Fry. 

 

If those don't roll, then it's your technique or equipment.    

[Jigfishn10]

14 hours ago, 5by3 said:

Any jighead with a 90 degree line tie and a loop knot should do the trick.

Exactly...Perfection loop would be my preference

[Bucks Bass and Bourbon]

Thanks everyone. Much appreciated. I’ll pick up some of those recommendations and give them a go once we get out of this upcoming deep freeze.  

[WRB]

I wouldn’t be in a hurry until a thermocline sets up.

Tom

[Bucks Bass and Bourbon]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

I wouldn’t be in a hurry until a thermocline sets up.

Tom

I’m in Michigan so I’ll have ice for a while haha

[softwateronly]

@Bucks Bass and Bourbon I'm going to disagree with Tom, there's loads of fish that a jighead minnow will catch on or very near the bottom in a natural lake in 12-25 fow.  Even with moderate weed growth, the constant shaking, relatively small hook, and light head, means you can work them through or pop them free and trigger strikes.  Cold water, warm water, shallow or deep, it's currently very effective.  Throw it and get confidence in all sorts of conditions before the bass get used to it.

 

scott

[Bucks Bass and Bourbon]

On 1/1/2025 at 1:28 PM, softwateronly said:

@Bucks Bass and Bourbon I'm going to disagree with Tom, there's loads of fish that a jighead minnow will catch on or very near the bottom in a natural lake in 12-25 fow.  Even with moderate weed growth, the constant shaking, relatively small hook, and light head, means you can work them through or pop them free and trigger strikes.  Cold water, warm water, shallow or deep, it's currently very effective.  Throw it and get confidence in all sorts of conditions before the bass get used to it.

 

scott

I'll probably do exactly that as soon as I get back out in spring, depending on when we get ice out. I was kind of thinking the same thing being it's such an effective presentations. Definitely worth exploring a little more.

[Reel]

If you want to go real economical...,  you can use 90 degree jig hooks that you use to pour jig heads and 1/8 or 3/16 oz split shots and just squeeze the split shot on the vertical shank.  Choose 2/0 hooks with a long vertical shank and it works fine.  You have to get the large split shot as high as possible.

[RHuff]

This is what I have learned and how I tend to view this technique..

 

Think of terms of a meter.. cooler water (42-55 degrees) fish are more aggressive and warmer water (65-80 degrees) fish are more finicky..  That 55-65 temp is spawn spawn baby…

 

Prespawn - bigger minnows (4in or bigger like the freeloader)

 

Summer - tiny fry size minnows (2.5” yum sonar minnow) 

 

Fall - midsize (3-3.5” like the mooch minnow) 

 

Bass near the bottom are hard to catch..

 

Bass suspended alone are hit or miss..

 

Bass following bait fish balls are hungry and aggressive..

 

Use jighead weight size according to wind

and current.. I like a 3/16… go 1/8 in calmer conditions and 1/4 to 3/8 in extreme..

 

If you cast into a school of bigger bass chasing bait it is of utmost importance that you keep them in the scope and fire back in there..  You can load the boat to make one gigantic bag but those suckers can also disappear in to the abyss at any minute…

[Rockhopper]

Would cutting a paddle tail off right at the paddle work to try this technique out without having to buy some more plastics?  I have quite a few paddle tails that do not see much use.  I would like to try out strolling, and I understand how to fish the technique and the differences in the baits.  Has anyone ever tried that?  Might be a way to test it out before going down the rabbit hole of buying specific baits for this.

[softwateronly]

13 hours ago, Rockhopper said:

Would cutting a paddle tail off right at the paddle work to try this technique out without having to buy some more plastics?  I have quite a few paddle tails that do not see much use.  I would like to try out strolling, and I understand how to fish the technique and the differences in the baits.  Has anyone ever tried that?  Might be a way to test it out before going down the rabbit hole of buying specific baits for this.

 

  Probably, haven't done it.  A top heavy bait rolls easiest on a jighead, if any of your paddletails have flatter sides and a wide back making a triangular shape when viewing from head on, you'll probably have success getting the roll right away.  I'm thinking of a xzone swammer, but I really can't see how any of them would be bad.

  I'm sure you have a fluke somewhere right?  They work too.  Basically, anything that behaves on a scrounger head seems to stroll well.  For most 3.5-5" baits, I find 3/16oz and 5/32oz to be easiest to cast and retrieve properly.

 

scott

 

 

[Bucks Bass and Bourbon]

I decided to make a small dedicated strolling box with a few of the Queens Tackle jig heads, a few Owner jig heads and some minnows based on recommendations here and from the Tactical Bassin video earlier this year on the topic (really good if you haven’t seen it btw. They do a vid on the technique and a buyers guide for strolling right before Christmas). I might even pick up a rod specific for it if intake to it. Thanks for the input. Looking forward to getting back on the water but it’s looking like a cold winter this year so it might be a while for a change from the last few seasons. Good for the ice fisherman!