Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: scouterjames on October 09, 2016, 05:32:24 PM
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Those that fish jigs - how do you store them when out on the water (or beside the water or in the water....)
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I make my own "ghetto" jig holders.
Go to Michael's and buy some of the little plastic containers/tupperwares that are designed to hold photographs.
Same store, buy some closed cell foam sheets. They are about 1/4 inch thick.
Take the container, place on the foam, trace out the shape, cut out with scissors.
Glue it in the container with a few dabs of hot glue or whatever.
Poke your jigs into the foam as you would flies.
Of course you can also you whatever box that is made to hold flies. But they are a lot more $.
Another tip on jigs: the ones you fished that day that are all wet and clumped together, esp marabou jigs. Do NOT just leave them in the closed box wet. The material will sometimes go skunky, almost like it rots. Instead take those jigs out and just let them dry out and fluff up, and then put back in the box.
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Sometimes all I use is a 4x5 piece of foam and just stick the jigs into that, then place it inside a small zip-lock bag.
As for when I am on the water? Well if I use a jig and want to switch to another color I'll clip it off and hang it off my vest on one of the many pocket flaps, let's it air dry and usually when I am done for the day and heading back the jigs dry off, but sometimes they do fall off so just be a little weary about that, I should really make a small little foam holder with some mono in a tube shape so I can just clip it on some where and then just stick the points in and let them hang. :-\
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Most of mine are pre tied on a leader board. The one not tied on are poked into the end of the board.
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I also have a cutout of foam from Michael's in my car strapped to my sun visor, by the time I make it home they are almost dry. I used to dry them on my heater vents but abandoned that after I dropped a few inside LOL
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Most of mine are pre tied on a leader board. The one not tied on are poked into the end of the board.
X2....when drying hang on rack use fan blow dry it, good to go in the morning
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If your jigs are soft, make sure the storage containers are "worm proof" as soft jigs are known to melt plastics and destroy lures due to the chemical reactions.
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thanks for all the replys! some good ideas that I'll be adopting!
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I have caught two coho, once, short floating a jig, compared to hundreds and hundreds of chum. Chym will take a twitched jig but they seem to prefer a dead drift (IMHO).
However, if you twitch a jig in the right water with the right technique, I believe it is probably THE most effective method of catching coho.
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I have caught two coho, once, short floating a jig, compared to hundreds and hundreds of chum. Chym will take a twitched jig but they seem to prefer a dead drift (IMHO).
However, if you twitch a jig in the right water with the right technique, I believe it is probably THE most effective method of catching coho.
X2 twitching in froggy water is a very effective way of targeting coho, technique varies depending on the weight of your jig and the depth of water you are covering. I find big dark jigs in purple/blue/black with a tiny bit of flash to be most effective especially at first light. I don't think I have ever had a chum hit a twitched jig so it can be very effective when there are chum around.
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Do any of you fish jigs for Coho much? I hear about it all the time but never really have success under a float or jigged on a spin setup. Do coho really take jigs like a chum would? Maybe it's a size/colour thing and I need to go small and shiny on my jigs for hoes? :D
In the salt myself and a couple fishin' buddies get coho all the time twitching jigs in places they hold (ambleside, furry etc type places) both from shore and floating around. Jigs are our go to (along with spinners) if we're not trolling.
In rivers, I've taken more than a few on the Harrison and Stave (more Chum than coho, but usually at least one per trip in between the dogs) both short floating and twitching. In my experience, the biggest trick with jigs and coho are not the color or the twitch but finding the fish - if you find them, they will come LOL There's a ton of youtubes on them - BentRod has a good one if I recall. Typically for me, I use the brighter colors (with or without flash) morning and eve or if its very dark cloudy and adjust to darker colors as the day gets light.
On the Fraser I honestly haven't played much, as I usually barf these days... I used to do well with spinners I imagine jigs would also do well.
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Do any of you fish jigs for Coho much? I hear about it all the time but never really have success under a float or jigged on a spin setup. Do coho really take jigs like a chum would? Maybe it's a size/colour thing and I need to go small and shiny on my jigs for hoes? :D
Dead drifting Jigs does catch coho, but there are a few tricks that you need to know to get em. One hint I can give is take a thin piece of coloured wool and tie it to your jig loop above your jig. You'll have to figure out colors yourself.
I'm keen to try twitching but I don't want to snag fish. Snagging seems unavoidable with this technique. Any tips?
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I totally disagree that twitching jigs leads to unavoidable snagging.
Yes, it certainly is possible to foul hook a fish twitching jigs, or casting spoons/spinners, or stripping a fly in, and so on.
However when you twitch a jig you are NOT ripping the line violently, it is more of a light twitch of the rod tip, then lower the rod tip and reel up the slack, then twitch back up. The result is the jig "dances" up and down through the water. Coho often find it irresistible.
I will also add that I have twitched jigs for coho lots and never foul hooked this way. Whereas swinging flies and lures the odd time I'll foul hook a fish.
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Twitching has by far caught me the most coho over the last three seasons. I probably foul hook the fewest fish doing it too. Since the jig swims upside down you end up dragging/bouncing it over the fish's back without it hooking anything.
I still don't have a go to colour. I've found this to be totally varible day to day. If you feel you are in the zone around fish and they aren't biting, only make a few casts before switching colours.
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What knot do you guys use while twitching? I think I get the most action with the no slip loop knot, but it is way weaker than non loop knots in my experience.
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I use loop knot for all jigs wheather twitched or under float. I have not found the knot to be weak.
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SSAL, watch this vid. Brian Chan shows how to tie it properly. The knot needs to be tied 100% properly. Make sure your line exits out the correct "hole" in the knot before you pull it tight. As Brian shows the tag end should have a 90 degree bend in it. Also make sure you lubricate the knot (saliva) before you pull it tight, pull it tight slowly, and at the end make sure it's sitting down nice and tight. If it looks not fully seated, push down on the top of the knot a little with your finger nails while tugging a little on the tag end with your teeth or pliers. It should come out looking like a clinch knot with a loop on the bottom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6t1TIMv-Ok
I assure you this knot is very strong. I've straightened out plenty of #1 and #1/0 jigs on huge chum or springs and the knot never broke with 12lb leader.
If tied correctly it will not fail you.
IMO this knot gives jigs better action than a knot that is tied tight to the jig eye. That being said, I know guys who fish jigs and do not use a loop knot, and they catch a lot of fish too. I really doubt it matters much. But, if you're confident in it like me, I would rig your jigs and flies (if you fly fish) in this manner.
Lastly I'll say use a quality leader. And there is generally no need to go too light with jigs. I typically use 12lb and if targeting chum or springs I'll bump it up to 15. This is more to prevent their teeth from sawing through my 12lb, not that I need the 3lbs of extra breaking strength.
Unless your fishing is very dialed in and you are looking to step up your game in some very clear water with spooky fish, do n-o-t bother with fluorocarbon leader. Trust me. It is more brittle and if your knots are not tied with extreme care they will bust. I would buy the old standard, maxima ultragreen. Cheaper leader that IMO is still very good: Berkley XT (not XL).
Do not buy some crap noname spool of mono from Walmart for 4 bucks and expect it to fish well. Spend a few more bucks and buy quality line, hooks, swivels, etc.
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SSAL, watch this vid. Brian Chan shows how to tie it properly. The knot needs to be tied 100% properly. Make sure your line exits out the correct "hole" in the knot before you pull it tight. As Brian shows the tag end should have a 90 degree bend in it. Also make sure you lubricate the knot (saliva) before you pull it tight, pull it tight slowly, and at the end make sure it's sitting down nice and tight. If it looks not fully seated, push down on the top of the knot a little with your finger nails while tugging a little on the tag end with your teeth or pliers. It should come out looking like a clinch knot with a loop on the bottom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6t1TIMv-Ok
I assure you this knot is very strong. I've straightened out plenty of #1 and #1/0 jigs on huge chum or springs and the knot never broke with 12lb leader.
If tied correctly it will not fail you.
IMO this knot gives jigs better action than a knot that is tied tight to the jig eye. That being said, I know guys who fish jigs and do not use a loop knot, and they catch a lot of fish too. I really doubt it matters much. But, if you're confident in it like me, I would rig your jigs and flies (if you fly fish) in this manner.
Lastly I'll say use a quality leader. And there is generally no need to go too light with jigs. I typically use 12lb and if targeting chum or springs I'll bump it up to 15. This is more to prevent their teeth from sawing through my 12lb, not that I need the 3lbs of extra breaking strength.
Unless your fishing is very dialed in and you are looking to step up your game in some very clear water with spooky fish, do n-o-t bother with fluorocarbon leader. Trust me. It is more brittle and if your knots are not tied with extreme care they will bust. I would buy the old standard, maxima ultragreen. Cheaper leader that IMO is still very good: Berkley XT (not XL).
Do not buy some crap noname spool of mono from Walmart for 4 bucks and expect it to fish well. Spend a few more bucks and buy quality line, hooks, swivels, etc.
Thanks for posting this vid ill be sure to try it out on some other rigs as well!
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Just my 2 cents but the loop knot is not of much benefit when twitching but certainly cant hurt.
The main reason to use the loop knot for chironomid fishing is to allow the fly to hang perfectly vertical and move freely without being hindered by the knot, and similarly allowing float-fished balanced jigs to hang horizontally without the knot potentially screwing it up.
When twitching there is enough slack in the line that the jig is going to get plenty of action on the drop regardless. Does it get increased action over a regular knot? eh maybe, though I suspect you would be hard pressed to see any difference in success rates.
I find the loop knot to be slightly less durable due to increased abrasion on the loop, not because the knot is weak. Not so much an issue with coho, but more of a risk with bigger fish. Check it regularly and re-tie once in a while if it looks at all compromised and you will be fine.
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I totally disagree that twitching jigs leads to unavoidable snagging.
Yes, it certainly is possible to foul hook a fish twitching jigs, or casting spoons/spinners, or stripping a fly in, and so on.
However when you twitch a jig you are NOT ripping the line violently, it is more of a light twitch of the rod tip, then lower the rod tip and reel up the slack, then twitch back up. The result is the jig "dances" up and down through the water. Coho often find it irresistible.
I will also add that I have twitched jigs for coho lots and never foul hooked this way. Whereas swinging flies and lures the odd time I'll foul hook a fish.
Good to know, thanks! Guess I'll be trying the twitch next time I hit frog water.
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Maybe I'm just being sloppy and tying shoddy loop knots. I'm usually tying onto 10lb Maxima UG mainline, or 8lb leader below a swivel, so I don't think that it's the leader. Time to watch that video... Thanks!
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I totally disagree that twitching jigs leads to unavoidable snagging.
Yes, it certainly is possible to foul hook a fish twitching jigs, or casting spoons/spinners, or stripping a fly in, and so on.
However when you twitch a jig you are NOT ripping the line violently, it is more of a light twitch of the rod tip, then lower the rod tip and reel up the slack, then twitch back up. The result is the jig "dances" up and down through the water. Coho often find it irresistible.
I will also add that I have twitched jigs for coho lots and never foul hooked this way. Whereas swinging flies and lures the odd time I'll foul hook a fish.
I agree (I don't agree twitching leads to snagging)!! UNLESS of course you're TRYING to snag, like anything else you can. Properly twitching jigs doesn't lead to snagging anymore than any other type of fishing.
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update: ive actually switched from the loop knot for twitching jigs to just a standard improved clinch. It didn't seem to be a problem in past years, but this year ive had a few knots bust at the loop with fish on! It seems that the constant twitching motion was wearing the loop knot out.
I still use the loop knot for float fishing jigs as the knot is no subjected to much wear, and I feel it give the jig better action..
But for twitching I agree it is unnecessary as the twitching its self provides more than enough action, and a loop knot is more likely to fail.
To SSAL who said he is using 10lb mainline and 8lb leader....well, if this works for you awesome, go with it. I don't like line this light for a few reasons. Unless you are fishing a froggy pool for coho, this is a pretty light line combo. 10/8 is not a great separation in breaking strength. If you snag up and try to break your 8lb, good chance you'll snap your 10lb and loose the whole rig. A coho doing the roll will slice through that 8lb pretty fast. A twitching jig is so big and obnoxious 8lb leader is not needed. I think gear this light might be fine for tossing wee lures, or maybe float fishing clear water with a really small presentation. But for twitching a fat jig? I don't like it.
My twitching set up. 20lb braid mainline. Has the diameter of like 6lb mono. Casts like a dream. Small barrel swivel. 3-4 feet of 15lb ultragreen. This leader can handle the teeth from trashing coho, and is good to go if I hook into a chum or spring. I use the same set up for chucking spoons and spinners. Only if the water is really low and clear then I'll do about a 9 foot leader of 10-12lb and connect to the braid with a modified Albright knot.
There is a time and place for light line and gear, and IMO it's not jig twitching.