My Next Fishing Trip.....jigs Only!

[carrollton-fisher]

My next fishing trip, which will hopefuly be this weekend, will be JIGS ONLY! I spent last year trying to become proficient with jigs. I fish a 650 acre reservoir that is rarely fished, maybe 1 or 2 other boats each time I go. It is has BIG LM and is loaded with spots too. I always spent a good portion of my time fishing with jigs. When I say fishing jigs, i don't mean pitching/flipping. I mean fishing offshore humps, creek channels, points, etc. I did ok last year but still not thrilled. I even spent the winter tying my own. My next trip will be as follows:

1. Mop Jig: never caught a fish with it, really want to

2. Black/blue jig. I really want to see if this jig color gets as many bites as I hear. I did catch my biggest bass of 2011 on it

(over 8lbs)

3. Standard football jig, crayfish colors/green pumpkin

4. Finess/ Flat top jig

5. Should I add another or just stick with these?

I have learned a ton on this site about fishing jigs, although there isn't a ton of info on fishing offshore with jigs. Any tips would be greatly appreciated....including hooksets. I seem to lose a good many fish half way to the boat.

Thanks!

[roadwarrior]

I suspect you are losing fish due to pumping your rod. Keep your rod tip up and reel steadily,

never allowing any slack in your line.

[aavery2]

I would add a swimjig and trailer to the mix, sometimes if the bite is more horizontal than vertical, a swimjig can be very effective.

[smalljaw67]

The fact that you already caught fish on jigs is a big help since you know what a bite feels like. And to me it sounds as you're looking for different ways to fish them and I can help a little bit. Try stroking a jig, it is usually done with a jig no less than 1/2oz and while there are propably a few different ways to do I know only my way and it works so if it isn't broke don't fix it. To stroke a jig you make a long cast, presumably to open water with some type of fish holding tructure or cover on the bottom. Once the jig hits bottom rip the jig off the bottom, I like to move my rod from the 8 o'clock position to the 11o'clock position, and then follow it back down letting the jig fall on a slack line. You will get a variety of different types of hits using this method, sometimes the line will jump, other times it moves off to one side rather quickly, these bites typically happen as the jig falls but when the fish are active you'll feel a solid thump but on the way down watch your line. I don't know how deep your fishing but I found this works best in 25' of water up to 15', I won't stroke a jig any shallower than that. I used to use a hula grub as a trailer as you want a trailer that has action but ever since the Rage craw was introduced it goes on the back of all my jigs used for stroking. For the football heads I just drag the jig slowly on the bottom, a few feet and stop then a few feet and stop, nothing special but the mop jig is different even if it has a football head. The mop jig is designed to create a larger profile but the big skirt can attract fish as well as just making the jig look big, and to get the most from it I fish it using short hops. When the mop jig hits bottom I let it sit motionless for about 5 to 10 seconds or so and then I hop it, lot lift and drop but hop it by moving my rod from 9 o'clock to 11 o'clock pretty quickly and then let it sit for a few seconds and repeat, what you are doing is making the skirt move even when the jig stops because the skirt will become tight together on the inital hop but it only goes up a little bit but when the jig falls it stops dead and the skirt will then begin to fall and indivdual strands start to dance as they make their way to a stable position. It is pretty neat when you hop that jig like that and about 3 seconds after it hits you get that thump, it really is a fun way to fish a jig. As for you losing fish, it happens but a lot of it has to do with how the lure is fished and how the fish takes it. What you need to do is worry about the hookset the most, I suspect that may be what you problem is as I had the same sort of thing happen to me a long time ago. When you get a bite on a jig, you must reel up the slack before setting the hook, if you don't most of that swing is for nothing as all you're doing is picking up line and only a small part of the swing is actually driving the hook into the jaw of the fish. Sometimes it is reaction, it was for me, you see the line move and/or feel the thump or tap and you swing and next thing you know you're fighting the fish and as quick as he was hooked is as quickly he is gone. Make sure your line is tight and try to avoid snap sets as you can break your line as well as just losing fish. A snap set is almost the same except right before you swing you drop your rod tip down and then "snap" the rod up into the hookset. It is harder to do because that instant you get the strike you want to pull that rod back but you need to remember to reel up the slack and then smoothly as possible begin your hook set and try to avoid lowering the tip and snap setting as your hook up to landing percentage won't increase that way either, good luck.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

I don't understand what you are saying about the snap set. This is my description: When you detect a bite,

reel down QUICKLY, then snap your wrist to raise the rod tip without moving your hands relative to your body.

[jkarol24]

With big jigs that have big hooks, i would guess that its nota problem of losing a hooked fish, but that you are not getting the hook in at all and the bass is just holding on or its just skin hooked. First, make sure you are using briad or low stretch fluoro along with a long rod. The long rod (7' or more) is essential as it will move more line on a hookset. There will be a decent amount of bow in your line fishing deep, so you have to move alot of it in a hurry. Reel down fast and set hard. I set it relative to my torso- i bend down when i reel down, and bend back on the hook set. Remember though, dont let that rod get past verticle on your upswing. If you are still having problems, you may want to try setting like you would with a carolina rig. Point your rod at the fish, and set sideways and continue almost a full 180 degrees around. With a 7 ft rod and braid, you will move about 10 ft or more of line.

[ClackerBuzz]

did you watch gene's jig interview w/ mark zona? 5:10 talks about the hook set

[carrollton-fisher]

thanks guys. i did watch the interview, he talked basically about reel setting the hook. i normally give a pretty good hook set. but zone talking about the reel hook set had me try to change BUT, most of my jigs are 3/8 to 1/2 oz. he said most of his were 3/4 to 1oz and i'm wondering if the extra weight is why he reel sets it, so the extra weight won't blow through the fishes mouth....just a thought.

[Sam]

I have done that with jigs, crankbaits and specific techniques and it is a challenge.

But go for it as you will be a better fisherman.

Remember, get to know the feel of the bait without a fish on it so if a fish picks it up you can tell there is a difference and set the hook.

You don't have to pay each time you set the hook so go for it!!!!

Have fun and don't drive yourself too crazy with only one bait.

[Dwight Hottle]

I would add a swimjig and trailer to the mix, sometimes if the bite is more horizontal than vertical, a swimjig can be very effective.

X2 Add a swim jig. Great search bait for a jig.

[smalljaw67]

Hmm...

I don't understand what you are saying about the snap set. This is my description: When you detect a bite,

reel down QUICKLY, then snap your wrist to raise the rod tip without moving your hands relative to your body.

Roadwarrior, a snap set is basically dropping or lowering the rod tip and creating slack in the line and then swinging up to set the hook really hard. A friend of mine was really bad, anytime he would fish worms or jigs and he would get a bite he would reel down and then insted of just swinging up to set the hook while the line is tight, he would drop the rod and then swing and it resulted in a lot of break offs. MLB hitters evelop a similar problem, they call it a "hitch" in their swing. Anyway, I see a lot of anglers that do the same thing, it isn't as bad anymore since braid has come on to the scene buteven with braid while you probably won't break your line you may lose a fish or two.

[Bryce C]

X2 Add a swim jig. Great search bait for a jig.

x3.....don't know what your water temps are but if they are over fifty degrees you should consider a swim jig.