Reply With Quotecan't go wrong with a thill mini shy-bite, imo. good luck, ~brian
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Slabmaster
How do you fish micro jigs?
I am getting into tying jigs and want to venture into making BG and RE jigs. The smallest so far that I've made are 1/32oz, but are mainly intended for crappie. I tied a grass shrimp jig that has caught BG as by-catch while crappie fishing, but never specifically targeted them.
So when fishing 1/64 and smaller jigs, how do you go about it? Under a float? Dragged on the bottom? Cast and retrieve?
I know it could be any of the above, but what do you have the most confidence in?
Trophy King
Crappie.com Legend
Cast and retrieve only. No float.
It’s been working for me for over forty years.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
Cast and retrieve, light line, UL gear, loose drag......hang on. Shallow to medium depths are best covered with the 1/64 and lighter. , 1/32 to 1/16 will cover the rest of the water column. If you are fishing shallow you will be ticking the bottom some anyway, and a twitching type retrieve close to the bottom will mimic all kinds of goodies that Panfish are looking to eat, and again....hold on.
PickwickDam LIKED above post
Crappie.com Legend
Cast and retrieve...no float......and get yourself a good JDM mono 2# test with a diameter of around .120mm and you can cast a 1/64 jig very well. If you want to cast even further get you a good 2 or 3 pound test PE line...or as we call it braid.
Regards
Jamesdean thanked you for this post
Crappie.com Legend - Moderator Jig Tying Forum
* Crappie.com Supporter
What Alphahawk said about casting!! Tiny jigs and average American lines are an exercise in frustration. I have fished a 1/32 with a plastic body on 4lb line for a long time, but that rig just won’t cast anything lighter very well. Stren crappie in 2lb hi vis will help but it doesn’t compare to the JDM lines. To my surprise, the JDM line isn’t that expensive. The rods and reels, well......you’re on your own there. There are entry level and very good ones for you to learn about and choose from. Just like when you started fishing, a little at a time. I also use a strike indicator sometimes, really a very tiny float. Most times I’m casting with nothing but a jig. Prepare to lose some while you learn the new stuff. Slow retrieve speed is key or you’ll just be working the higher portion of the water column. The strikes are fantastic, and then the drag sounds off, and you feel like a 16 year old kid walking out the door on his first date. There’s no going back.
Creativity is just intelligence fooling around
Slabmaster II
"like a 16 year old kid walking out the door on his first date"
That's when my trouble started.
'at boy just ain't right.
Crappie.com 1K Star General
I use a tiny weighted Leland slip cork when fishing a 1/64 handtied jig. I can cast it along way.
Crappie.com Legend and Mississippi Moderator
Cast 1/32 oz. no float . Vertical jig ,no float(any size ) . 1/80 ,1/64, 1/100 cast under cork or clear bubble .
Crappie.com 2K Star General
It depends on a lot of factors. Here in Missouri I fish shallow weedy lakes and use a weighted 3/4" float with hand tied grizzly marabou jigs 1" or less in length. If the lakes are clear and I see fish then I remove the float to avoid spooking them and cast. Deeper water, no float with a 1/48 to 1/24 oz. head. Tipping these small jigs with waxworms or tiny pieces of scented plastics help quite a bit. I also use permanent markers to darken up the bottom of my floats to avoid spooking fish or having the fish hit my float instead of my jigs.
