Jig pole question.

[Mindog]

I've been looking to pick up a few BnM jig poles and have a question. I've noticed on a couple occasions the advice to always use a dip net. Is this in reference to not loosing fish,or not breaking pole tips? I would think you can surely swing a Crappie over the side with a quality jig pole. Just curious. We never had or used the specific poles in years past, so please excuse the me if I seem silly. I'd hate to find out the hard way that you can break one not using a net. Thanks a bunch,Mindog.

[CrappiePappy]

Generally speaking, it's probably for both reasons. The longer the pole, the more severe the bend in the tip will be when lifting/swinging the fish over the side. That's usually a broken tip waiting to happen.

When they're thumpin your jig, you're probably gonna stick them pretty good (and probably deep in the mouth) ... so those times you might worry less about "losing" a fish, bringing them in --- but, when they're biting much lighter, or short striking, and you still stick them, they have a tendancy to be hooked in the lips or not hooked very good, and that's when getting a net under them will save most of them from getting off.

The weight of the fish vs the line test (& condition of it) is also a possible concern. I've seen partners of mine fight a good sized fish to the side of the boat, grab the line & start to lift the fish over the side ... only to hear the 4lb test line snap. I'm using the same line, catching the same size fish, and hand lifting them over the side, without breaking the line & losing the fish. The only difference was "HOW" the lift was done. Their lift was more of a hurried "I'm gonna lose him if I don't get him in quick" ... where mine was a more experienced slow/steady lift, not creating more "weight/pressure" against the line than what the line can handle. These were only ~2lb fish, but a quick lift against that weight was enough to add more than 2 more pounds of pressure (weight) against the line.

Nowadays I carry a net onboard ... but, since I don't use rods over 9' long, it's not one of the long handled ones.

... cp

["G"]

The net is really for both reasons. I have a Ego Reach net.....slides out to about 8 and a half ft. I very seldom use it though. I lose very few fish swinging them in and have never broke a rod tip. I do get the pole almost verticle before I lift and swing the fish in.

[Locator79]

I swing fish in the boat all the time with jig poles. Fish that weigh close to a 1lb. and up, I'll lip or net.

[LA CrappieMaster]

I usually only net more aggressive fish like catfish, gar, and things of that nature to ensure I don't break my tip. I would probably net more often if I fished tourneys. Don't worry about silly questions, just see my posts for some of that. The way I see it, the only dumb question is the one not asked.

[arkcrappie]

I use a Grizzly Elite jig pole or my Browning. I regularly swing fish in the boat and don't worry about it. I personally never had good luck with B & M poles swinging fish in the boat.

[Mindog]

I use a Grizzly Elite jig pole or my Browning. I regularly swing fish in the boat and don't worry about it. I personally never had good luck with B & M poles swinging fish in the boat.

Was it a breakage problem,or just a backbone issue? I'm thinking about 3 of the BBUL rear seat and 3 of the BBUL forward reel seat rods from Grizzly Jig.

[slabbandit]

I've had the owner of BnM, Jack Wells, tell me that the BBUL was not designed for using 1/2 oz. double minnow rigs or swinging larger crappie into the boat. That's why it's called an Ultra Light. He said it was designed for the jig fisherman that likes using a single 1/32 oz to a 1/16 oz. jig and doing some ultra sensitive vertical jigging. He said to "always" use a dip net with this rod.
If you're wanting a BnM rod that can with stand swinging larger crappie into the boat then go with the BGJP or the Capps and Coleman poles. I have used 11 and 12 foot BGJP"s for over 25 years and never had one break swinging a fish in. If they bounce around on the edge of a gunwale or a tailgate they will get a small crack and will break right there every time. Any body's pole will do that.
Unless, you are very confident in swinging large crappie to the boat, I would recommend using a long handled net anyway as most of the time the hook hole has ripped plenty big for the hook to fall out with just the slightest release of pressure.

Good Luck,
Dave

[Big H trucking]

Get a BNM brushcutter and jerk and lift all u want

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[slabbandit]

Yea, I think that's about the toughest one that they make.