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Post by anglerxxx on Jan 11, 2013 13:01:30 GMT -5
I read a lot and talk to local guides etc., about how successful fishing with jig heads is, especially in the winter. I have tried a variety of the jig heads recommended to me, and have come to the conclusion that I F-ING hate fishing with jig heads on the river. I'm either doing something all wrong, or you guys have 100 times more patience than I. Almost without fail, every time I throw a jig head or weighted hook, I just end up getting snagged on the bottom. I'm talking about 9 out of 10 casts that end up snagged. What am I missing from the equation? Is this just because the New is so rocky? Is this because I don't use an anchor, and thus, am almost always in motion? Is it because I just suck?!?
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Post by vtwoody9 on Jan 11, 2013 15:17:23 GMT -5
Its hard to let a weighted bait sit on the bottom for a long period of time. Typically for me what works best when fishing jig heads I use 1/8 oz and 3/16 oz. If I'm getting hung up I'm fishing too slow. I know this time of year its best to let a bait sit longer. With that being said I go to a heavy jig n pig usually a football jig. 1/2 oz and even 3/4 work well for dragging the bottom. Kinda contradicting.
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Post by wvfisherman on Jan 11, 2013 18:57:54 GMT -5
Scott you dont suck. Fishing jigs is a art that takes a while to master. Being able to feel what the jig is doing at all times is the key. Smallies wont hit hard in winter, most of the bites will feel like you have a leaf or a stick hung on your bait or a mushey feel. Your rod must be sensitive and your line. I use fluorocarbon or power pro with a fluro leader. I only use real pork trailers in the winter because i think they feel more natural and the fish hold on longer. Yum crawfish spray will help. As far as jigs i use the ones with a fiber weed guard, this will help with the hangups plus a anchor couldnt hurt. Eakins, booyah and strikeking make very good finesse jigs that work real well in the winter.Jig and pigs are my go to baits for winter once you get the hang of it you will catch fish.
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Post by anglerxxx on Jan 11, 2013 19:16:07 GMT -5
Hi Greg, I've never actually tried the Jig n pig, but it has a legendary status about it with the local anglers I've talked with. I've used hooks with weed guards, but never tried a weighted jig with a weed guard. Makes sense though, I'll have to give it a try. Thanks!
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Post by hokiefisherman on Jan 11, 2013 19:32:35 GMT -5
Pig and jig close to the bank... Get it 6in from the bank and work it out and you will likely hook into a trophy smallmouth; at least that's been my experience on the New around Blacksburg
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Post by uncross on Jan 11, 2013 19:32:56 GMT -5
Jig and pig was my go to bait years ago, before the senko. I used the small roundhead jigs Butch Neil use to make. They do get hung up, but catch a lot of fish also.
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Post by vtwoody9 on Jan 11, 2013 20:07:13 GMT -5
Greg makes a good point. Being able to feel the jig on the bottom is key. For those smaller finesse jigs I like a 6'9 medium light rod with a fluorocarbon line. For the heavier jigs I go with a 6'6 medium action and braid. One of my favorite set ups is an 1/8 oz spot remover shakey head jig with a 4 1/2 inch black grape robo worm. I like to pick my rod tip up to where I can feel the jig resting on the bottom and lightly shake my rod tip. If the waters warmer and the fish are feeding more aggressively I'll hop the bait along the bottom. The best thing about the stand up jig heads is you can fish them weedless. And with just about any bait
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fishmad
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Post by fishmad on Apr 13, 2015 14:00:06 GMT -5
I have had some luck of the years with Strike King Bitsy flip jigs with a crawfish trailer in the winter months for smallies. You still lose some, but like Greg says the weed guard helps a lot. I think the thing that makes fishing smallies in the winter so tough is that they only feed at certain times and if you not there when there active it is tough to get hit.
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