Help I have I jig problem

Senko86 · 04-04-2009, 08:34 PM

I fish jigs quite a bit in some pretty knarly stuff so I fish a 7' MH with 50lb powerpro and set the hook hard. I haven't had this problem until this year. The two biggest fish I have had on this year were on jigs including one that could have been my biggest ever. I hook the fish get them out of the cover are once they get half way to the boat they are coming unhooked. I have never lost a fish on a jig until this year. I was wondering what could be causing it, dull hook? too small of hook? or braid ripping their mouth? If you have any clue what could be happening let me know. I tie directly to a 3/8oz strike king pro model jig.

Bassinator · 04-04-2009, 10:02 PM

I actually had that problem today. I had a seven pound plus fish on today and lost him right after I hooked him. Jigs are just a hard bait to hook up with. Just make sure you trip your weed guard and set the hook straight upward. Also make more of a sweeping motion rather than a snap. I dont know why this works better but it just does.

hunter9 · 04-04-2009, 11:21 PM

A heavy action rod will solve the problem.

flippinbaits · 04-04-2009, 11:56 PM

trim the weed guard. make sure you are using a well known hook that is sharp like a gammy or mustad. keep constant pressure. fish will use the head of the jig as leverage to throw it. dont allow those big head shakes. also, make sure ur trailer is not getting in the way!

RayRe · 04-05-2009, 12:29 AM

I think the culprit might be your rod as well... but it's hard to say since rod powers vary greatly.

Senko86 · 04-05-2009, 08:37 AM

The rod could amost be considered a heavy the hooksets are always solid especially with the braid. Should I switch to a Jig with a bigger hook? I haven't trimmed the weedguards so I will try that. Do you guys know if the braid rips the hook from their mouth?

The Nothing · 04-05-2009, 08:43 AM

With the lack of stretch a power hook set could easily be tearing them out.

Hans Kochs · 04-06-2009, 06:54 AM

I Have fished jigs in heavy cover and have had the same problem. When you set the hook hard like you have to, you rip a good size hole. You must continue to apply presure on the fish and not alow any slack to develope. Also do not alow the fish to jump. Keep your rod low and keep the fish comming. This is not light line open water fishing. Think of it as hand to hand combat. Also open your hook gap some and trim the weed guard. Sometimes the guard acts as a lever and prys the hook out of the fishes mouth. Hope this helps. God Bless you.

Dave Smith · 04-06-2009, 08:19 AM

The first thing to keep in mind is that it could be pure coincidence that you lost two in a row. Honestly, with jigs, or any bait- it just happens sometimes!
Personally, I do the opposite of your set-up and that is I use mono and a really, really stiff rod and that has been the magic combo for me after years and years of jig fishing. I never had very good luck with a MH rod and then braid!
I would definately take a close look at the jig's configuration and sharpness, but if that is the jig that gave you a really good track record in the past, well........
Finally, check your boat positioning to the cover, the distance of the cast, how far back in the junk are you, what's the angle?, what's your "plan" for getting one out of there before you pitch in there, are you forcing the fish to turn around and get your jig like 90% of guys do, or are you letting her get it strait out, where the jig and line will be in the right position in her mouth when you set the hook, etc.
I have only fished twice this year and caught some fish each time, but lost a GORILLA both times, too, on jigs. Both were due to operator error on my part and my excuse is that I haven't had my heart and head into it, but that's gonna change here real quick.
DS

flippinbaits · 04-06-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Smith

The first thing to keep in mind is that it could be pure coincidence that you lost two in a row. Honestly, with jigs, or any bait- it just happens sometimes!
Personally, I do the opposite of your set-up and that is I use mono and a really, really stiff rod and that has been the magic combo for me after years and years of jig fishing. I never had very good luck with a MH rod and then braid!
I would definately take a close look at the jig's configuration and sharpness, but if that is the jig that gave you a really good track record in the past, well........
Finally, check your boat positioning to the cover, the distance of the cast, how far back in the junk are you, what's the angle?, what's your "plan" for getting one out of there before you pitch in there, are you forcing the fish to turn around and get your jig like 90% of guys do, or are you letting her get it strait out, where the jig and line will be in the right position in her mouth when you set the hook, etc.
I have only fished twice this year and caught some fish each time, but lost a GORILLA both times, too, on jigs. Both were due to operator error on my part and my excuse is that I haven't had my heart and head into it, but that's gonna change here real quick.
DS

ds,

could u explain this a bit more?

brackshooter · 04-06-2009, 10:01 AM

Dave,
When you say you are using Mono instead of braid, how heavy are you goin?

1bigfish · 04-06-2009, 10:45 AM

Not to answer for DS but here is an old post about mono and jigs.

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthrea...light=jig+mono

Senko86 · 04-06-2009, 04:03 PM

Dave,
I have had good luck with the jig in the past. When I pitch into the junk ie trees I am only going into the stuff 2-3ft from the outer edge and and I am not casting that far maybe 10ft. I try to position the cast so I can pull straight out into the open water without having to dodge big branches. Could you please elaborate on the are you forcing the fish to turn around and get your jig like 90% of guys do, or are you letting her get it strait out, where the jig and line will be in the right position in her mouth when you set the hook, etc.
When I use braid I use a little lighter rod so I don't rip the fish loose as easy. Would a wider gap hook help in these circumstances? I am willing to change jig brands if it helps. I just want to increase my landing ratio as much as possible. In my opinion it is worse to miss the hookset on a ten pounder than to loose him at the boat it feels like you've lost a million bucks.

tnj8222 · 04-06-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunter9

A heavy action rod will solve the problem.

i agree i dont think the hook is penetrating.

Dave Smith · 04-06-2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippinbaits

ds,

could u explain this a bit more?

Quote:

Originally Posted by brackshooter

Dave,
When you say you are using Mono instead of braid, how heavy are you goin?

First, on the line- a minimum of 20 pound test and I change it very often- sometimes daily- I've respooled in the middle of a day before if I'm getting alot of my usual backlashes!

I like 25, too.

OK, on the fish position and the hookset- this is not proven science, just what I have observed over the years:
Over time you really learn where fish will position themselves on cover and where they will be on that cover throughout the day and in various types of weather, etc. Besides experience, you kind of know they like shade and like to face the wind (current) and also the main lake, and be able to ambush things while feeling secure.
I used to constantly skip my jig way back in no matter what and I found I lost alot more fish- even if I had a clear path to get them out. I go fishing with guys all the time that pitch right to or to the back of every peice of cover and I see these fish, who are sitting on the cover facing out, having to turn back and then tip down to get the bait. It sounds like it would be a perfect angle to hook them well and alot of times it is, bit the jig is always back in the smooth part of the vomer, or in the side of the mouth. Hooks in the vomer tend to tear large holes and fish hooked this way tend to scrape the line across the vomerine teeth throughout the fight. More than anything, the jig is often in a really strange position, sometimes even hooking the fish in the bottom of the mouth (mandible or tongue, etc.) when you do land them this way.
A jig pitched to the front of the fish usually gets bit on the fall and strait in line and out front and hooks the fish a little further forward which is almost always money! This is almost always how you hook fish that pick up a jig scooted along the bottom.
The other factor is those jigs pitched way back in are sometimes wrapped over limbs, which has a huge effect on the hookset (sometimes good, usually bad). There are times when you have no choice but to go way in there, but on those days, they usually bite less agressive, which actually works for you on the hookset.
So, I try to make just one, perfect cast into a peice of cover and make it count- don't make the mistake of staying way out on the first cast and drawing the fish out of the cover and then pitching back in and behind her! Alot of times those fish won't bite at all if you do that. Figure out where she will be and make a good, quiet pitch so she will see it in front of her, it won't scare her(by coming in behind), and she doesn't have to expose herself or work too hard to get it. If you have to make a long cast, then through all this advice out the window- he he. hard to beat a side of the mouth hookset on long casts. Hope something here is helpful.
DS

Senko86 · 04-07-2009, 08:53 AM

I think the with the hookset I'm using I could get a kitchen spoon to penetrate. 10ft casts on braid are more than enough with a MH I use this rod constantly and would consider it almost a heavy.

Dave thanks for the info that was helpful I have not considered the way the fish positions themselves in cover now I have a little more understanding. What is the vomer? when I hook fish and land them they all seem to be hooked on the roof of the mouth way in the back is that a bad place for them to be hooking up?

flippinbaits · 04-07-2009, 09:31 AM

vomer is a bone in the head/mouth of the fish

BassinFever · 04-07-2009, 02:19 PM

I have been following all the posts and there is some great information here!

Honestly, unless you have drasticly changed something, it's probably just a streek of bad luck! Or maybe just the way they were picking it up that day! Even KVD loses a fish once in awhile!

Senko86 · 04-08-2009, 12:48 PM

Dave
If I am always hooking them in the vomer should I use a wider gap hook to get more grab or should I try changing setup to heavy mono heavy rod. I really hate giving up the sensitivity of braid not to mention it casts like a dream.

Dave Smith · 04-08-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senko86

Dave
If I am always hooking them in the vomer should I use a wider gap hook to get more grab or should I try changing setup to heavy mono heavy rod. I really hate giving up the sensitivity of braid not to mention it casts like a dream.

If I were you, honestly I wouldn't change a thing. Two fish lost is not a reason to panick or change anything, especially if you have a system that's working for you. Changing jigs is no big deal and you should always experiement around and find out whcih ones skip well and hook well and get bit well (not that the fish really care).
A nice big round bend and wide gap is always nice- make sure the weedguard is at a shallow angle, not a steep angle- make sure the rattles are on the outside of the bend, not the inside. Make sure the trailer isn't filling up most of that gap, etc.
Just go catch a couple more fish and get your confidence back to full throt. Take a look inside and see where the hook is and how big the hole is (in the mouth- he he)
DS

Senko86 · 04-08-2009, 04:03 PM

Thanks Dave I think I will play with a few jigs and consider the holding position of the fish. You have been a great help I will let you if I loose another hopefully I won't. Oh just two after class on the first two casts but those were on senkos one was 4lb 14oz.