Small Jigs Deepwater

[flatfish46]

Well I'll go ahead and give you this very handy trick My dad taught Me years ago just never used it till recently for crappie fishing years ago I ask Him why he kept all his leaders fastened down with rubberbands on that old wood board He being wise told Me the straighter the line the easier to feel the bite well after further review I noticed he had the jigs and hooks in one end and the little rubber-bands were through the loop-eyes or swivels on the other end streching them they didn't have the product thats in the following pic. this is what I use when I fish 1/80 oz. jigs 30-40 feet deep the setup is simple I use braided line for fast response and absolute hookset I fish 1/2-4 oz bell weights the snap swivel in the pic clips on the loop in the beel weight creating a offset pull since the jig hanges below the bell making it increase's the felt movement of the jig.I leave these in the boat the colder the better the line will stay stiffer.

[Fatman]

I've used one of those to store snelled hooks but never pre-rigged jigs!!!!!!

Fatman

[flatfish46]

thats how I keep My small mono straight for deep fishing with small jigs summer time I keep it in the drink cooler.

[skiptomylu]

I can hardly see them in the pic, but sometimes smaller jig get more bites when they are picky and I am sure about that. I don't usually need to fish that deep because even in the summer at night I have a spot that is 31' plus and I think the deepest we got them there was like 18" down. I don't fish the winter as I am a old wimp now days and don't want any part of that 30 degree temps out on the water. Did all that when I was young and since I live on the water of this lake I just go when I want to.

I bet them guys freezing their tails off in the Chicken Coop would do well with that.

I have used a slip sinker up the line from the jig though and just pass it through the weight several times to keep it from being a slip sinker.

I have also used a pre-rigged jig set up too, but just wrapped it around one of them spungy things they use cat fishing and I think your deal with keeping it straight is a good idea.

[flatfish46]

It works we fished 30 to 38' last Saturday to catch what few we did we used 1/80 oz. jigs.

[skiptomylu]

It works we fished 30 to 38' last Saturday to catch what few we did we used 1/80 oz. jigs.

Last year or was it year before last? Oh well I was using a small jig on the bottom and even smaller on top with a slip weight made not to slip on crappie, but it was like only 21' of water and caught some on the tiny one. Let me see if I can dig up a pic of that top jig.

Here it is with peacock herl for wings. I think this one is 1/32, but can be much smaller too.

Skip

[GAMENESS]

Hey skip.....when tying bugs-should'nt the wings be on the other side for the right presentation ? (your jig was obviously productive, but its something I've always wondered when tying bugs)

[skiptomylu]

Hey skip.....when tying bugs-should'nt the wings be on the other side for the right presentation ? (your jig was obviously productive, but its something I've always wondered when tying bugs)

Tying flies is more in line with actual bug looking things and then yes or they may think you are crazy, but as far as I can tell no winged critter would be down 20' deep and still be alive so maybe he's upside down? I am not sure they fish will care if he's upside down or not.

Now if fishing a floating bug then it would be possible that it would make a difference to the fish, but I am not so sure about that either. I do think it has more to do with the fisherman than the fish and on a jig is so different than a fly since you can't make it run upside down like you can a fly tying hook. If I tried to put these wings on the other side I believe they would run into the hook after the bend. I don't think it possible to put the wings on the other side without jumping through hoops or something. Also then it would look funny to all the fisherman as I have tied them like that, but didn't care for it. I do know they will bite the one like I have in that pic.

Skip

[GAMENESS]

I have a very produtive fly pattern in a size 10 hook (has caught from 10 lb steelhead to bluegill) and since this jig tying is still a little new to me, I tied a couple in both ways and I'm waiting to try them both and see which is more productive., just waiting for spring or open water.

[brimreaper]

Hey skip.....when tying bugs-should'nt the wings be on the other side for the right presentation ? (your jig was obviously productive, but its something I've always wondered when tying bugs)

I have asked myself the same question G. I have gotten into tying "fligs" (jigs with a fly pattern on them) and I like the way they look. I have also started tying a crawfish pattern on a jig hook as well. It is a pain to work between the hook point and the jig head when tying patterns especially when using a sickle hook as your hands will get chewed up pretty good by the hook point. It's much harder but I like the "right side up" look to it when it is in the water. The shading on the patterns I tie are correct as far as natural color gradients are concerned as well (dark on top of the critter fading to a lighter color on the bottom) Trout fisherman have always been obscessed with life like presentations...me, I am just a nut with a tying vise trying new stuff. If a fish is hungry I don't think he cares if supper is upside down or right side up but if he is being picky and is not really hungry he might give it a better once over before biting into it. On those days the more closely the critter looks like the real thing the better in my humble oppinion....but like Skip said, Whats a winged bug doing 20' deep anyway. Fish don't know our rules of engagement so they just do thier own thing and we go crazy trying to figure out why they don't act right....lol...good fishing to you G.......brim