Questions on jigging

[iasus]

Curious how you guys jig flukes and bucktails. Say you're fishing deep over a school and slowly trolling. Do you just raise the rod a couple feet and drop it or do you twitch it up and down slow/fast? I've never jigged for striper, but I'm going to try it next time I'm out. Also, what color fluke/bucktails do you guys recommend? I currently have zoom flukes in pearl and just a standard white bucktail with red neck. And lastly... split-tail or paddle tail with how much weight on the jig head? Thanks guys!

[Deleted]

I use 3/4 oz. jig head...when I see fish, I like to get down fast. Pearl ice is my favorite, but pearl will work just as good. On the jigging motion, just depends on what the fish want. I'll start with about a 2 foot lift...just make sure you lower your bait on a semi-tight line, as the fish hit on the drop.....sometimes ( I call it dead sticking) very little or no movement will produce best.....even though the past couple years, flukes seem to out produce, don't forget spoons (I use a 2 oz. mostly...sometimes 3/4) as they can produce awesome results at times....... not really that hard to jig up fish.....just get out on the water and play around with it, you'll pick it up pretty quick.

just be careful with your numbers.....when you get in them good jigging, it's hard to stop..........


BentRod has a very good write-up on jigging on here somewhere......I'm to lazy to find it and post a link.......go back and read it......

[Deleted]

here it is.......albeit his write-up is for winter fishing, the same techniques apply in the summer months.



smlfishingforums.proboards.com/thread/1680/jigging-101

[johnr]

There was once a time when I wouldn't trade the world for a Hopkins shorty when it came time to jig. Since sbout 2010 though, the spoon just hasn't produced for me for whatever reason.

Now I just use white ice flukes on a 3/4 oz jig head for stripers. If I want white perch or largemouth, then I will use a spoon.

Bigun pretty much nailed the presentation techniques. Watch the fish react on your sonar and you will figure it out in no time.

Be warned, sometimes they don't want the jig no matter how schooled they are. Never figured out why, just happens sometimes.

[piper]

Jul 16, 2014 19:37:48 GMT -5 johnr said:

There was once a time when I wouldn't trade the world for a Hopkins shorty when it came time to jig. Since sbout 2010 though, the spoon just hasn't produced for me for whatever reason.

Now I just use white ice flukes on a 3/4 oz jig head for stripers. If I want white perch or largemouth, then I will use a spoon.

Bigun pretty much nailed the presentation techniques. Watch the fish react on your sonar and you will figure it out in no time.

Be warned, sometimes they don't want the jig no matter how schooled they are. Never figured out why, just happens sometimes.

Prob like anything...just finicky or full that day. Sat on a school a few weeks back. Boat beside me jigging with me pulling and downlining live bait. No takers and the school was large.  

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2014 19:37:48 GMT -5 johnr said:

Be warned, sometimes they don't want the jig no matter how schooled they are. Never figured out why, just happens sometimes.

Yep, very discouraging sometimes.....just because you've found the mother load, you can't make them eat. Couple years ago, sat on a monster school, everyday for 3 days before they decided to co-operate. 

[lund1]

I'm full of advice of what not to do..... Watch your tip when jigging. The line ( particularly braid) has a magical way of wrapping itself around the tip in the most intricate of knots. If your not careful you don't realize it until you set the hook and reel.... Take a guess how I learned this.
In my limited experience the hardest part of jigging is finding a decent school. Once you do it's pretty easy. It's a great way to learn the lake, slow scouting different spots. I've found humps and holes that I would've blown past if I wasn't still hunting. It's also good for beer drinking and pistachio nut eating....

[Gator]

The previous posters pretty much covered it. Only things I would add are don't get hung up on color and and depth. I will mark fish on the bottom and drop all the way down to them and just pick the jig up and they will nail it. As far as color goes I do use mostly white or something close to white ,but I also use pumpkin seed on a white bucktail. Oh, one other tip is when they have lock jaw I will try a smaller fluke. I just bite off a 3/4-1" section and set the hook further back and sometimes this will trigger a strike.

[iasus]

Thanks guys! I bought some white ice super flukes, but wanted to check with the board before I bought the jig heads. I'm going to buy 1/2 oz and 1oz. Any particular good/cheap jig heads you guys recommend?

[mwardncsu]

I like the triangle head ones (well at least 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4 - not sure if he has 1 oz). You can get them at Captains Quarters or sometimes VTSuperFluke on here has some made up.

Add a split ring and a decent swivel to the jig for best action.

[Gator]

CQ does have 1oz jig heads. Although I don't think you need to go that heavy. I use a loop knot on the jig head tied to fluorocarbon and a micro-swivel to tie to my braid. Works for me.