Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: cutthroat22 on October 26, 2009, 06:17:29 PM
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I fished for a few hours off a bar in Richmond on the high tide both yesterday and today. I chucked spoons for the first hour yesterday with no bites. I then switched to some jigs which I used in the same spot for pinks with great success earlier this year.
Yesterday I was getting some big fish hitting the jigs in the last 1/2 hour I was there but had to leave and didn't connect.
Today I did the same thing and got some big hits and finally connected with approx an 8lb coho that took me for a walk up the beach and only got off because of a large log in the water.
Anyone else use jigs for salmon on the Fraser or tried them?? The hits were all no more then 20-40 feet off the shore. I'm still excited but can't go back till next weekend!!
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intresting, I will have to give this a shot. How were you fishing them?
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Mostly just reeling in with lifting the rod up (twitching) once or twice every few seconds.
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you can get them in smaller system with jigs too.
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So, Cutthroat22, were you fishing your jig under a float? If so, how deep was the jig? Thanks.
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from his description of how he was fishing them i would say no float just a jig bouncing off the bottom (but i could be wrong) :-\
only use this method if the bottom has little or no rocks
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I've fished jigs in the Fraser but found it difficult to fish them successufully from shore. It's hard to keep the jig at a good depth and with limited visibility it's hard for the fish to key on them and strike if you have too much jigging movement. You can still catch them this way though, as pointed out by cutthroat 22.
If you have a boat, it's much easier as you keep the cast distance to a minimum and focus on keeping the jig at a level depth as it goes down current. Very small jigging motion (two to four inches) gives the fish a good opportunity to grab it.
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(http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu44/cutthroat2222/DSC00471.jpg)
Not sure if this pic will work but this is a jack I caught on a clear stream Saturday before I went to the Fraser and there were plenty of these which I could see hunt down the jig. Notice the big pink thing in it's mouth :D
No Float and I try to keep it off the bottom or else I catch bullheads. I can't wait to try again next weekend and hope the bite is still on. The big pink jig had no flash or sparkle so I'm still surprised I was getting hits. On the Fraser I was fishing both days combined for about 5 hours and must have had 10-12 big hits within 40 feet from shore.
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OK, so not wanting to seem too dense, but if there's no float, how do you get a jig 40 feet from shore? Lead shot? Or something else to give you enough weight to cast?
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The jig itself weighs 1/4oz, not to hard to cast 40 feet :) If I had a better setup I could chuck it a lot further then that. No weight or swivel needed.
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jigs usually have enough weight in the head to cast 40ft with a spinning reel.it
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Where do you guys get your jig heads?
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Army and Navy has jig heads and so does Fred's in Chilliwack. Although the ones I saw at Freds are two piece jigs. They are intended for making jigs like the bent rod jigs. A&N has regular one piece jigs. Then you buy your plastics to slide onto the jigs.
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Where do you guys get your jig heads?
Army & Navy or WalMart in the States
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I would like to find better ones then I'm using because the hook is not strong at all and the point gets dull very quickly leading to many missed hits. I can actually straighten out the hook if I get a snag with 10lb line.
Fishing in Richmond for me is more of a "getaway for a couple hours" kind of thing but now I'm looking for meat :o
Re: casting. I am using an old crappy spinning real on a 7 weight flyrod with metal eyes and my casting range is very poor but still gets out for enough. Some of the fish hitting were right near my feet at the dropoff.
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hey cuttthroat22 i used a jig with white twister tail around ten years ago on the lower fraser and landed a spring with it 25lbs plus some very large pinks over 10lbs. just a few feet away it slammed it. it hit the jig so hard the hook went through its bony gill plate. i gave it up because i wanted to use spinners and lures more often. white and green tails were most effective for me back then.good to see the jigs still working on the lower flow.
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The bent rod jigs use a Matzuo sickle hook, this hook is very strong, have landed many 15lb chum on it, also snapped many off with 12lb test. You can buy the hooks separately and tie your own jigs or cast a lead head on if you want more weight. Also Gamakatsu has a nice jig hook but the wire is a bit thinner, these are also sold as plain lead heads from bent rods and others. Dont use the bass/crappie jig heads for salmon, they are very weak hooks and will bend fairly easily, especially the cheapo ones that come with tackle kits and rods, trust me.
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Most fish I catch on jigs are right in the roof of the mouth in the bony part and if I set the hook properly it's almost impossible for them to get off.
I'm am looking forward to trying out better jig hooks for sure as I think i could easily triple the amount of fish I catch on them.
My first jigs were tied with various colors of my mom's wool almost 15 years ago and people sure thought they were funny looking but I've always had success with them. The rubber tails are no better or worse but they are cheap and simple. I would also like to try some marabou ones with flash or even add a little flash to the rubber ones...hmmmm....
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http://www.bentrods.ca/coho-salmon-jigs.htm (http://www.bentrods.ca/coho-salmon-jigs.htm)
Ok so I see bentrods really know their jigs, those are very nice looking.
The technique described on the page works very well. Sometimes I "twitch" 2 or 3 times and on the Fraser i try not to let it hit bottom. Like stated on that page after the jig drops it often feels like a snag but actually it's a fish on.
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You might also check out www.firstbitejigs.com. Quite a bit of variety here in terms of bead weights, hook sizes and tying materials. I bought a batch of supplies from them a while ago and was impressed by the quality. Also, probably cheaper than anything you might find in local tackle shops. Not to take away from Rod, but just more options.
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The bent rod jigs do look good. I actually like the ones they've listed as "steelhead" jigs better (see steelhead jigs on the website) for coho. I've experimented with a lot of jigs on smaller flows and found flesh color, pink and purple to be the best for coho.
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Well I started using jigs locally when I ran out of spoons and spinners and had leftovers in tackle box from visits to Ontario. Used jigs for bass, walleye, pike, sunfish etc...
I continued to use them because they work and because they are dirt cheap.
Those firstbite jigs are pretty as well but $3.95 and up is a way outta my price range. I swayed away from spoons and spinners for the price reason alone. I might buy a couple premade marabou jigs and see if they are more effective then the rubber tails and if so make them myself.
Anyone know if Army/Navy sells the good jigheads or just the normal crappy ones that are available everywhere else??
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Buy the Bent Rods jigs that are pretied and have the lead heads, they are a very strong hook.
This is ok if you are planning to use the set up as is but if your planning to disect it for the jig only, it won't work. The jig head and the hook are two pieces. I do agree however, the hook are quite good.
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Now heres a subject I know a little about since I am from Ontario and use them all the time. I cant wait to come to B.C. next year and try some jigs on salmon. There is no doubt in my mind that they will work. They are the most versatile way to fish under any conditions. I am going to try different weights and tie some maribous as well. With a float and without, and different hook sizes as well. I think from what I have read on here about you guys straightening out hooks that a 2/0 gammy should be okay. I only use gammy jigs, as far as i'm concerned all the others are junk. Just my personal preference. The jigs I use are stainless steel and there tough, the points stay sticky sharp much longer. I'm not sure what you guys are paying there for jigs but I buy them at my local bass shop for 30.00 for a bag of 50. Thats plain jigs then I doctor them up myself. Add some plastic and i'm sure i'll be in business.
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You're a bit wrong whereismyfloat. Bentrods has two styles of jigs, one with a cast lead head and one with the pin and bead. The lead heads are available at Freds with differnt colour powder painted lead heads and you can tie those up however you want.
On their website they also say they sell them at 3 different army and navy stores in the LM
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You're a bit wrong whereismyfloat. Bentrods has two styles of jigs, one with a cast lead head and one with the pin and bead. The lead heads are available at Freds with differnt colour powder painted lead heads and you can tie those up however you want.
Cool, I only saw the pin and beads when I was there.
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Went to Army and Navy in New West and did not see any of "Bentrods" jigs or any decent jigheads for that matter. I did buy some more of the "Compac" brand and at least the hooks will be sharp for my next test on the Fraser. Don't know if i can wait till the weekend to try them might have to call in sick one night :-X
I didn't see any "Bentrod" products at the New West store, does anyone know if the Langley store might carry them??
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I went to Army & Navy on Saturday specifically looking for the Bentrod jigs.
Downtown had none so I stopped in at NWest on the way home.
The NWest store had a bunch and I bought 4 of pink/purple silver beadhead ones.
Was going to fish them on Monday but it was raining too hard in the morning.
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The NWest store had a bunch and I bought 4 of pink/purple silver beadhead ones.
Really?? Darn it I should have asked but was in a bit of a rush. Where abouts are they located?? I browsed the whole fishing section and didn't see them where the other jigs are...??
Did they sell just the jigheads or did you buy the whole premade jigs?
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They were the pre-made jigs.
If you enter the store from the back entrance, turn right as you approach the fishing section (straight ahead).
I'm pretty sure the jigs were 2 or 3 rows to the right.
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Langley has them.
I also noticed that Hatch Matchr in Maple Ridge sells them. I was there on Tuesday and they had stock. If you're going to the Stave you could stop in on your way there.
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Big fan of the Bent Rod's jigs, caught lots of pinks on them and have caught several chum in the last week including my first fish on the Cap today. Someone told me to give them a little more slack line than in a standard drift as it helps with the action and it seems more effective. Haven't had any problem setting the hook as they just hammer them! Still trying for a coho on the jig.
Nick
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bent rod jigs are great. i think you can buy them at berry's bait and tackle in richmond.
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Posted by: nickredway
Big fan of the Bent Rod's jigs, caught lots of pinks on them and have caught several chum in the last week including my first fish on the Cap today. Someone told me to give them a little more slack line than in a standard drift as it helps with the action and it seems more effective. Haven't had any problem setting the hook as they just hammer them! Still trying for a coho on the jig.
Nick
I have caught plenty of cap coho on jigs, especially the jacks. However I generally am reeling in the line while jigging as my gear doesn't work well for float fishing/drifting. Find a nice place there where you can see the bottom and if there's coho you will see them hunt down your jig.
I think the marabou jigs have most of the action on the dead drift or when they stop and go where the rubber tails have most of the action when they are moving...
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I have always caught Pinks om jigs with my spincaster during the run, just a pink jig.
then while fishing the stave i was using roe with no luck, so i switched to a jig with a float.
First cast fish on, they work great
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Those jigs are also available at Pacific Angler