Jig head weight can make all the difference in summer !

[Spoonminnow]

The lake I fished had water over 84 degrees and a surface layer of bright green algae. The shallows were the place to start after seeing the surface activity in 3' in the shade of overhanging limbs. At first I was was using 1/16 oz ball head jigs and different plastic designs, but though nipped many times, no hook-ups. Fishing in that type of water, shallow (less than 5') has always required going to a 1/32 oz jig that allows a bit slower retrieve. Doing so made all the difference and pan fish and a few bass slammed lures all afternoon in the hot sun from 12pm-5pm. Total caught between bass, sunfish, crappie and y.perch - 48 fish.










Note the color of the water in the background of each picture.

When I started fishing in water over 5', I went back to the 1/16 oz because with long distance casts and that much line in the water allows for a slow lure motion so important in hot or cold water. I experimented with eight designs and caught fish on all - even those I didn't have confidence in such as curl tail and rat tail grubs.

Note: curl tail grubs always have a much slower rate of retrieve because the the curl tail's resistance to rod tip or reel handle speed changes which seem to be less effective than for straight tail grubs.

I have a new appreciation of Leland's Crappie Magnet grubs which easily caught ten fish in one area of different species. (pictured under the photo of a finesse worm tail cut to 1.5".)

[FIN]

Excellent , Glad to see someone is having good luck ?

Sent from my LGMP450 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[skiptomylu]

Of course you know all 1/16 Oz heads that have a collar and barb will weigh closer to 1/12 than 1/16? Also usually a 1/16 with no collar is just a tad under 1/16.

Here is how it goes on Round jig heads that don't have a collar. Jigs that are 1/32 Oz no collar are the closest to accurate. Jig heads less than 1/32 will actually weigh more than stated weight on mold and jig heads over 1/32 will generally weigh less than stated weight.
Then with a collar they weigh more than stated weight. Note I have no 1/8 with a collar to weigh. Also note minnow heads without a collar are very close to their stated weight on both 1/16 and 1/8 minnow heads. I do have a 1/16 with collar and that one is about 1/12.

Just food for thought!

Skip

[trypman1]

Thanks for the post, good read!

[sinkermaker]

Thanks

[Ketchn]

I noticed what Skip posted about the "weight" of jig heads as well .....they are for sure not whats stated in many cases .....less and more in many cases and I fish the "fall" and its super important to have the rate of fall correct in the summer time warm waters ...
nice fish spoon and nice read ....

[Mike1234]

Good report


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[hdhntr]

Good discussion guys appreciate one knowledge.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Spoonminnow]

I noticed what Skip posted about the "weight" of jig heads as well .....they are for sure not whats stated in many cases .....less and more in many cases and I fish the "fall" and its super important to have the rate of fall correct in the summer time warm waters ...
nice fish spoon and nice read ....

Thanks Ketch

There are far more lure designs that catch fish than even I'll ever discover - and I'm always looking. But along with the design factor is the jig weight range that enhances a design allowing it to strut it's stuff. If I used a 1/8 oz with a 1.5" prong or rat tail grub, the overall profile is crap and the fall rate or swim speed much too fast any time of year. (BTW, I use the same retrieves for particular lures regardless the water temperature over 39 degrees.)

When it comes to pan fish or any other species when using light & slow tactics with small lures, the retrieve is a big part of what makes them more successful than most others, accounting for more strikes and hook-ups. The two days I fished, many hits were repeats after a miss by the same fish either during the same retrieve or on a second or even third cast near the spot of the strike. If the lure you're using never generates second chances, then maybe there are better ones that will and that IMO separates lures that are really good from, 'guess the fish aren't biting today'.

[etexbasser]

Thanks Ketch

There are far more lure designs that catch fish than even I'll ever discover - and I'm always looking. But along with the design factor is the jig weight range that enhances a design allowing it to strut it's stuff. If I used a 1/8 oz with a 1.5" prong or rat tail grub, the overall profile is crap and the fall rate or swim speed much too fast any time of year. (BTW, I use the same retrieves for particular lures regardless the water temperature over 39 degrees.)

When it comes to pan fish or any other species when using light & slow tactics with small lures, the retrieve is a big part of what makes them more successful than most others, accounting for more strikes and hook-ups. The two days I fished, many hits were repeats after a miss by the same fish either during the same retrieve or on a second or even third cast near the spot of the strike. If the lure you're using never generates second chances, then maybe there are better ones that will and that IMO separates lures that are really good from, 'guess the fish aren't biting today'.

Good post. Thanks for the information.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app