Went fishing today with my 2 new eakins jigs.
"first time Jig fisher here so bear with me"
1. I missed about 10 fish today (caught 4), also had a few get off? is this the weed guard causing this and if so how to you trim it?
2. I lost 2 jig setting the hook the line just broke i felt line around where it broke and line was a little ruff.
Whats a good none abrasive line for jig fishing around a lot of cover.
Im using a GLoomis GLX 6'8" MH XF rod with a Revo SX
the line was P-line CX premium I was using Pline CXX and never ever broke off, but its so stiff was looking for something else.
I rarely trim. I spread.
Problem maybe be the hook set. Try to bring them into the boat with the hook set.
spread?
Also for my trailers this may sound dumb but my craw has a top and bottom do I rig it with the top of the trailer facing the open end of the hook? also how far do i bring the hook into my trailer?
this seams to be tricky for me it just don't look right when i do it and i think my trailer may be getting in the way.
I ALWAYS trim the weed guards down on jigs. I also wont throw a jig unless its on braid. It WILL NOT break lol.
QuoteI ALWAYS trim the weed guards down on jigs. I also wont throw a jig unless its on braid. It WILL NOT break lol.
how do you trim one>/?
Here is a picture of one of mine. Some people may go shorter but this works great for me. It makes the bristles a little stiffer too.
QuoteHere is a picture of one of mine. Some people may go shorter but this works great for me. It makes the bristles a little stiffer too.
I see,
Also what kinda jigs do you recommend all around. I've been using the eakins it seems ok but should i go larger, this is a 5/16 jig.
Can you post a pic of how a trailer would look.
also that hook looks really round very small shank...
I use just abpout every jig out there. I have had alot of luck with the jigs by Hawg Thrasher. He can make just about any kind you can think of.
As far as weight, to me it really depends on the cover im fishing and the conditions. If its post frontal i use a smaller weight with a small trailer of no trailer at all. Depends on the fall rate im looking for.
Here is a picture of how i do my trailers.
Different jigs for different applications. A bullet style head for grass. A football style for rocky areas. I personally use footballs for most of my jig fishing, unless its in the grass. I use them for rock, wood and docks. Shallow water I mainly use a 1/8-1/4 football w/ a traditional fiber guard, but also a 3/16 football w/ a single wire guard. This is a smaller profile jig that works great on smaller waters or when the bite is tough. I trim the skirt back to about a 1/4 inch past the hook and it really flares out nice. Add a single or twin tail grub and finicky bass can't resist it.
So u like the zoom super chunk?
I bought some paca chunk they seems to work ok but fragile. when i use a craw as a trailer will the hook run up through its back or belly?
QuoteDifferent jigs for different applications. A bullet style head for grass. A football style for rocky areas. I personally use footballs for most of my jig fishing, unless its in the grass. I use them for rock, wood and docks. Shallow water I mainly use a 1/8-1/4 football w/ a traditional fiber guard, but also a 3/16 football w/ a single wire guard. This is a smaller profile jig that works great on smaller waters or when the bite is tough. I trim the skirt back to about a 1/4 inch past the hook and it really flares out nice. Add a single or twin tail grub and finicky bass can't resist it.
the lake i fish on might have all of that structure in one area.
the lake i fish on might have all of that structure in one area.
cool, now line. i don't really want to fork out for braid but is floro 12-14lb a good choice?
I like the Berkley Fireline Crystal. Its not really expensive. For example on strength, i had an alligator bite down on my line and it didnt even phase it.
I've been using more twin tail grubs and craw style baits as trailers, then traditional chunk types. They seem to be workin better lately. As for line, I go with 15lb Berkley Trilene Big Game (Lo vis green) seems to hold up real well for most types of jig fishing all around. For really heavy stuff I go up to 20lb.
They look like they could catch some fish. I would still trim the weed guard level. That corner can deflect a fish's mouth.
also so when you rig a whole craw is it just like a chunk? it seems to hang off the bait a goodbit.
50 # braid is what I use when flippin and pitching a jig. Especially in heavy cover. I dont cut the weed guard. Try filleting the fish when you set the hook. Get my drift.
When rigging a craw think of it as you are putting it onto a jig head. Its supposed to hang off a good bit. Makes a bigger profile.
would 20# florocarbon or p-line cx work for jig fishing or is that to heavy?
20# is good but i still recommend braid. The abrasion resistance is always good. You never know if that fish is going to wrap around a lem or something under water. Its just an insurance policy i always want to have.
QuoteWhen rigging a craw think of it as you are putting it onto a jig head. Its supposed to hang off a good bit. Makes a bigger profile.
Like this?
Quote20# is good but i still recommend braid. The abrasion resistance is always good. You never know if that fish is going to wrap around a lem or something under water. Its just an insurance policy i always want to have.
fireline crystal is Braid?
Exactly. Thats atleast how i do it anyways lol.
QuoteI rarely trim. I spread.Problem maybe be the hook set. Try to bring them into the boat with the hook set.
X2...Speed of hook set is essential
20lb is fine. The whole craw is also good if your looking for a bigger profile. I normally cut the craw down a little, but I do trim the skirt back a good bit. For normal conditions I trim the skirt to about an inch behind the hook. For lighter, more finesse jigs I trim it back to about 1/4 or 1/2 behind the hook.
20lb floro is good, if you are using lighter jigs you can even go down lower to 14lb or so. Floro has more abrasion resistance than braided lines, braids cut easy on anything sharp, unless your fishing slop I would not be using braid, but that is just me
WHEN you trim a skirt im guessing you just cut it even across with scissors ?Quote20lb floro is good, if you are using lighter jigs you can even go down lower to 14lb or so. Floro has more abrasion resistance than braided lines, braids cut easy on anything sharp, unless your fishing slop I would not be using braid, but that is just me
Instead of trimming the weed guard like was previously shown, what I do is cut off about 50% of the bristols so there are only 10 or so left. You have a full weed guard only less of it.
I also X2 on the hookset. as soon as you feel the bite, set the hook.
If the water is stained or dirty or you're punching weeds, straight braid is the way to go. If the water is clear I have been successfully using 55lb braid with 17lb flouro leader connected with an albright knot and krazyglue.
so i guess when i feel that tap reel down and set hook, i mess up a lot here, i tend to reel down feel if the fish is there and by then its to late.
I've never asked this but when i feel the "tap tap tap" do i have to set the hook between the taps or is the fish usually there right after the taps. usually the taps happen real fast and when they stop im like d**n i missed him.
Don't over think it. Once you're certain it's a fish set the hook. IMO a bass can detect the jig is not real faster than other soft plastics fished weightless is because of the weight issue.
Plus the location of the hook is right there.
On a worm, senko, or soft plastic jerkbait the hook is in the middle of the bait which IMO warrants a slight pause before the hookset to make sure the hook is in the fishes mouth.
I can tell between a fish thump and say a log or rock. im just asking is when the line quits thumping 2 or three times is the fish gone? Can i set the hook immediately after the "thump thump"QuoteDon't over think it. Once you're certain it's a fish set the hook. IMO a bass can detect the jig is not real faster than other soft plastics fished weightless is because of the weight issue.Plus the location of the hook is right there.
On a worm, senko, or soft plastic jerkbait the hook is in the middle of the bait which IMO warrants a slight pause before the hookset to make sure the hook is in the fishes mouth.
QuoteI can tell between a fish thump and say a log or rock. im just asking is when the line quits thumping 2 or three times is the fish gone? Can i set the hook immediately after the "thump thump"QuoteDon't over think it. Once you're certain it's a fish set the hook. IMO a bass can detect the jig is not real faster than other soft plastics fished weightless is because of the weight issue.Plus the location of the hook is right there.
On a worm, senko, or soft plastic jerkbait the hook is in the middle of the bait which IMO warrants a slight pause before the hookset to make sure the hook is in the fishes mouth.
from my experience, the 3 bumps you are referring to are usually due to the fish just inspecting the bait. there have been times where after the 3 bumps, the fish will come back and actually take the bait. I would not set the hook immediately after because then you will not be giving the fish a chance to strike again.
QuoteQuoteI can tell between a fish thump and say a log or rock. im just asking is when the line quits thumping 2 or three times is the fish gone? Can i set the hook immediately after the "thump thump"QuoteDon't over think it. Once you're certain it's a fish set the hook. IMO a bass can detect the jig is not real faster than other soft plastics fished weightless is because of the weight issue.Plus the location of the hook is right there.
On a worm, senko, or soft plastic jerkbait the hook is in the middle of the bait which IMO warrants a slight pause before the hookset to make sure the hook is in the fishes mouth.
from my experience, the 3 bumps you are referring to are usually due to the fish just inspecting the bait. there have been times where after the 3 bumps, the fish will come back and actually take the bait. I would not set the hook immediately after because then you will not be giving the fish a chance to strike again.
hmmm that make for a tricky situation lol
eh..
i havent caught a whole lot of fish yet on a jig. but im learning.
what i do "know" is that a jig bite is different than a t-rig bite. i think maybe you are treating them the same...
sometimes with that t-rig or even a c-rig bite... you feel the tap and then wait to feel the weight of the fish.. or count to three or whatever your method is. this doesnt seem to work as well with a jig. like mentioned before it seems the fish doesnt hold onto a jig as long as it will say a t-rigged worm and it bites and swims a second and then lets go.
from all that i have read and seen- and my little bit of experience, it seems to be better to set the hook hard and quick when fishing a jig. as soon as you feel it pick up.
also i have to vote for throwing braid. i use 15lb. flouro for t-rigging... and its great.. and you can use it for a jig, but i think that braid is a better option.
besides... most of the time braid is cheaper than flouro. or at least the same price.
and braid will EASILY last you all year.
Bass do not have hands so tell me again what you waiting for?
This is the way Shaw Grigsby put it to me, its call the three tap theory.
The first tap the bass has inhaled your bait
The second tap the bass has exhaled your bait
The third tap I'm tapping you on the shoulder asking you why you didn't set hook!
Drop the rod, reel the slack, & set the hook
The items listed below may be counterproductive to other goals,
but all serve to improve the hook-up ratio with a jig:
> Finer Wire Hook
> Smaller Hook Size
> Reduced Bristle-Count (weedguard)
> Higher-Modulus Rod
> Braided Fishing Line
> Instant Strike Response
Though I once believed the opposite, I now refrain from trimming the length of the fiberguard, which stiffens the bristles.
Leaving the fiberguard at full length gives the fish more leverage for bending the bristles.
A jig pickup will often feel "mushy", like a little extra weight
or just the opposite, like an eerie weightlessness. In either case, the time to strike is NOW.
I can't say that I've ever felt three taps, but I consider myself lucky when I feel one tap,
then strike immediately if not sooner
Roger
3 taps= fish picking up jig, fish turning head and feeling resistance, and fish spitting jig. Thats the taps you are feeling.
I also agree with Rolo on the trimming of weedguards, trimming them makes them stiffer, keeping them long keeps them flexible and proivides the nescassary leverage to drive the hook home on a fish. If you do anyhting to the weedguard fan it out or take some of the fibers away but do not trim it