Jig fishing, the ONLY technique?

ZaQ · 03-25-2001, 07:19 PM

I was browsing around and found an article written by Jim Erickson, it was on how to use jigs for steelhead.
1. He mentioned that it is NECESSARY to use a fixed float. Say what? That is different from anything I have ever heard.
2. He mentioned that the offering should be no more than 2 to 3 feet below the bobber. What if you are in 15 feet of water?

There are a lot of good jig fisherman on this site, and I would be interested to hear what you think the "necessary" rules to jig fishing are.

No, this is no slam to Jim, just a friendly discussion on jig fishing. (I hate having to write that crap) [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Jennie@ifish · 03-25-2001, 08:06 PM

Yup, I use a fixed float for jig fishing. Thanks to our Local Wilson River resident.
Actually, any type of steelhead bobber fishing I have used a fixed bobber.
Just easier to set your depths according to the water level.
I think the cork bobbers are very superior to the fancy little black ones, myself. I like the presentation. Plus, I catch fish using them....
The only thing that I don't like about the cork ones is that with the little long black ones, you can see what your jig is doing. If it is leaning forward, your jig is dragging, backwards, it is being pulled, and needs more weight. Straight up and down? It's right on!
Mark, why are the corks best?

Jen

Jennie@ifish · 03-25-2001, 08:09 PM

Another thing.. I have heard quoted to me, no deeper than 6 feet.
Jig fishing has totally revamped what I have learned about how to fish for steelhead. I always kept my bait on the bottom, re, drift fishing. It's what I knew!
Now, everything has changed. These steelies do come up and grab these jigs!
Kind of frustrating, after years of one belief to change to another, but I have fished them two to three feet down in fairly deep water and sure enough, they come up and grab it! A more natural lure? I dunno!
Jen

First Bite · 03-25-2001, 08:09 PM

ZaQ
I think it matters on what kind of water you are fishing. I prefer to run a fixed float mainly because the depth I normally fish is less than 8 feet. I vary the depth I'm fishing all the time. If the water is between 6-8 feet deep, I'll first run my jig through at 4 feet. If I don't get any takers, then I'll run through at say 5 feet. It all depends on the run I'm fishing and the time of year.
Mark

ZaQ · 03-25-2001, 08:17 PM

Hmmmmm. I like it. I am going to try it! I went to 3 or 4 of the talks Bradbury gave awhile back, and he liked a sliding bobber. He also liked to find the bottom and than come up 18- 24 inches.
I havn't had any success with that method, soooooooooo.................

Back to the drawing board!
Back to the river! [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

First Bite · 03-25-2001, 08:35 PM

Jennie
In response to why I like corks. The first reason is because they look so natural. This really makes a difference in the low water. I like the amount of weight they have too. This makes it easier to cast with. Most important I beleive the corks work best when you are mending your line it doesn't affect the movement of the jig. This gives you a more natural presentation. Especially when you let the jig swing through the end of your drift before you retrieve your line. Sometimes Steelhead will follow your jig and hit it on the swing. Other floats tend to submerge underwater when you are reteieving them and I think the fish can see this and it spooks them.
Mark

03-25-2001, 08:44 PM

Remember the TV commercial "When EF Hutton talks, people listen" That's the way I feel about anything Mark "stlhdr" Anderson has to say about bobber fishing. I've fished with Mark and the guy is amazing! No boasts just results. He has revolutionized the way I fish for steelhead now. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Stew

[ 03-25-2001: Message edited by: bigstew ]

Steelheader69 · 03-25-2001, 08:56 PM

Been fishing jigs about 10 years now. Used a fix float for a bit, but use a sliding float now. I never kept jig on bottom, I always have kept it up a bit. My big thing is I hate using spinning reels, so I found it's easier to cast a float with a baitcaster if it's on a slider. Hard to cast with a long lead between float and jig with a baitcaster. Could do it pretty easy with spinning reel (hence I hate them so won't work!!!).

Actually, if you think about it, almost anything that's interesting or "different" to a steelhead that sparks it's curiousity with make it leave it's nesting grounds and strike. Jen, you're still right, about getting bait to bottom. But, I have a secret that some already know that I learned very young on a gin clear river. When drift fishing you're bouncing lead off the bottom (hence getting bait to bottom). Yet, usually with any bait you use (if you're using bait) you have a corkie, rag, or some type of extra lure with it. I noticed way back when (I was about 10) that though my weight was ticking the bottom, my bait was a good 3-4' off the bottom (well above where the fish were holding). Basically drifting was backbouncing from shore towards the fish. Nice thing is I could see the fish come up and take my offering (though I thought those first couple years I was dragging bait on bottom with weight).

Jigs are very effective, I haven't had a problem with my drifts. What I do is once I initially cast, I do a double mend before jig settles. This way I have the line with enough S's in it to keep no drag while line straightens out. Usually I can pretty much keep all the line off the water with the longer rod I use for float fishing.

In all, I've seen very successful float fisherman with very different techniques. It's all in your expertise in the technique you use. You learn how to use it and you're as effective as the rest.

smilesforu · 03-25-2001, 09:24 PM

To help cast a light jig with the bait caster on a fixed float let a little line slip on the backcast so the hard swing it takes to get it forward doesn't cause the excess spool spin (backlash). My float fishing started with the cork bobber in clear water for summer runs with a spinning reel..way back in high school. They work good in clear water for the stated reasons above with a dead drifted jig, but for other techniques used in float fishing (spin glos) they are not the best choice due to the closeness to the water. They work great for a simple fixed float setup and are very durable.
Spinning reels are the easiest to cast a light float and jig with. You do give up some of the line control but they are very simple to use.
A slip float is nothing more than a fixed float once it hits the stop. But if you allow drag on your line it will pull the jig towards your float. Thats why 69 is a mender.
Jen makes excellent points about what the pencil floats are telling you about your tackle.
Tight Lines

DanS · 03-25-2001, 10:20 PM

I prefer a fixed float that is affixed to your line with silicone sleeves......they are a snap to make depth adjustments.

I've caught at least a half-dozen fish this year with more than 10 feet hanging off my float. It's a pain to cast tham like that, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. Like S69, I hate spinning rigs, but it makes casting light setups easier. I think the whole 2-3 feet thing is bunk. I've seen fish rise 4-5 feet to take a jig, but I think you're still better off within a couple feet of the bottom.

The "only technique"? Hardly, but it's an effective technique. But remember, just like ALL other methods, there are no hard and fast rules to float fishing.

03-25-2001, 10:32 PM

Dan, what do you mean by silicone sleeves? I use a plastic wedge typething but I'm afraid it abrades the line too much. Could you post a picture?
Thanks
Stew

Fuzzybutt & Angel · 03-25-2001, 11:55 PM

For me, I fish a fixed float 100% of the time, a sliding float is nothing but a waste of time and energy, plus an added amount of unneeded tackle i.e. bobber stops and beads and the rest of the nonsense needed for slip floats. the simpler the better, a fixed float and one knot to the jig thats it.
I fish alot of pocket water when I fish jigs. and I fish where there are usualy alot of people around, so I prefer to fish the water nobody else will fish, or dont know how to fish. slip floats are useless in this type of water, if you are using a light jig say 1/16th oz. will that jig be heavy enough to pull your line down to the bobber stop immediately?? nope, not without some added weight, another pain in the butt, not only to rig..but to cast, if you do that, you now have a gangly three way weighted rig. bad news.I also fish spinning gear 100% of the time, spinning reels have come a long way in the last few years, mine has five ball bearings, and super drag. a long rod is a must as most of us know already, and mucilin on the line helps alot in keeping the line off the water. I use two floats, for 85% of my float fishing I use a cork float, either 7/8ths inch (mostly for summer, and very light jigs) or 1" I agree with mark, they have enough weight by themselves to cast well. I leave them the natural cork on the bottom 3/4ths of the float with a small circle of either chartruese, or flame red on the top, I can see the red in glare better, and the green better on cloudy or rainy days. for heavier winter flows I use a turned balsa float with a piece of surgical tubing on the shaft and some pencil lead to make it ride at just the right height for the jig weight I am fishing, I "peg" both with a toothpick, this doesnt abraid the line, and swells slightly when wet, I often fish 4# line in the summer with no problems.
I also dissagree with the 2-3 foot thought, and often fish several depths in any given hole, like was mentioned before, and its sometimes effective to actualy bounce, or slightly drag the jig on the bottom once in a while, sometimes its the only way to get bit on some days. I also "back down" in tailouts alot, meaning I set deeper than the water is at the tailout, and hold back on the float a bit, to get it to slide right off the bottom through the slot.this cannot be accomplished with the new thill float design, it will lay over, and fall downstream. contrary to popular belief there is alot more to succesful float fishing than meets the eye. and over that last few years my techniques have become very precise. I also agree its not the ONLY method, but under most curcumstances a good float fisherman can succesfully hook steelhead on any river, if the fish are present.

Fuzzy
Silent Approach Jigs

[ 03-26-2001: Message edited by: Fuzzybutt & Angel ]

Jennie@ifish · 03-26-2001, 06:07 AM

I like the 10 foot depth thing too.
Although I have not caught anything YET in this manner, I can't help but think that a dragging depth, with your bobber boucing around to prove it, with a jig and a pink worm should be killer.
Can you imagine a fish passing up a pink worm while dragging over and between the rocks at the bottom?
I will continue to try this method. It is a pain to cast, but I know it will produce. It just has too!
It is hard to cast a long fixed bobber, especially with my fishing cat trying to grab it, but I start out about half the depth of the water and work my way first across the river and then down in depth. I cover the entire stretch.
Someone told me with jigs, cast it 99 times... Makes sence. If you saw one of those things brushing by your nose over and over wouldn't you swat it?
Plus, I noticed Mark Anderson has the patience to cast long after I'm saying..."Let's move, there's no fish here"!! and then he hooks up!
J

Osprey · 03-26-2001, 07:22 AM

Fixed,Fixed,Fixed.....As much as I love my baitcasters a spinning reel is a must.round corks work Ok [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] but a fixed balsa sytle will out fish it hands down (imho)because it's more sensitive and you need to know what you're jig is doing down there,and it causes a lot less noise when retreiving.the silocone sleves that Dan S. mentioned are on the thil turbo master float,these work great in low clear water condtions......corks are for crappies [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

also I like to swim or stear my offering to an exact spot...you can't do that with a slider .....Os

[ 03-26-2001: Message edited by: Osprey ]

Fishin Magician · 03-26-2001, 08:42 AM

I agree with Mark on a few things-
~It depends on the water you are fishing ,If you are fishing water less than 8' deep then a fixed bobber will work. when fishing deeper water a sliding bobber works better. I have caught half a dozen fish or so this winter in 12+' deep water with a sliding bobber setup. I still prefer a sliding bobber just because it is how I learned , and I am good at it.I have caught a few fish this year using a fixed setup but it is still a little awkward to me..... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
~Since switching to a cork bobber I seem to have better results in clear water.In higher water I dont think it matters.
~Also I have been using a spinning rod lately and it has added a new dimension to the fight.

~Keep trying new things......There are many ways to skin a cat!!!!
Good luck ~John

Jellyhead · 03-26-2001, 08:56 AM

Yup, best bass lure ever made was a jig [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] In fact, the biggest bass I ever caught was on a jig. (No float, of course [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] )

But seriously, For steelies, jigs rock!! I use a thill bobber, on a slider, so I can fish w/a bait caster. Tried Dinks, cut too many in half, tried styro--too fragile. Thills have weight, cast nice and are quite sensitive if using the right size for the jig.

Now colors for jigs, that's one I'm keeping zipperlipped on!!!

Aaron

Tanner · 03-26-2001, 09:04 AM

I have been fishing a slider since I started jig fishing. Saturday I fished a fixed river master for the first time. I have caught tons of steelhead on the slider, but am going to start experimenting with a fixed a lot more. SOOOOOOO the jury is still out on this one.

DanS · 03-26-2001, 10:34 AM

'stew,

The Thill Turbomasters come with two silicone sleeves, which you slide up your mainline. Then, your float is held to the line by inserting it into the sleeves, one on top and one on bottom.

This is a light setup and works best in smooth, slow water. For faster, choppier water, the Turbomaster is a little difficult to see. I included a link so you could see what the Turbomasters look like.

Fish on..........
http://www.lindylittlejoe.com/produc...ll/tmaster.htm

ZaQ · 03-26-2001, 03:48 PM

When you guys say a cork bobber, do you mean a round ball type one?

Osprey · 03-27-2001, 07:10 AM

The main problem that I've found with round corks is they don't react like the taller Balsa styles.

You know how many times I've have watched my float just slowly lay doowwwn..."that's a real soft take" with out the down,chances are a corked would even go down or move much at all......My .02.........Os

B. Gray · 03-27-2001, 09:06 AM

Yup, gotta love the Thill turbomaster if you're in slow water with 1/8th to 1/4 oz jigs. Any more weight than that and they want to sink but for really light presentations (no weight besides the jig) they're great. I had been pretty much only using the foam dinks untill a recent trip showed how deadly the Thills can be. The wire really lets you know what's going on down below. Side to side wiggle = hookset.

Bruce