How should a jig hang?

[The Overfishin Condition]

When I rig up for bobber and jig fishing, inevitably the knot on the jig ends up sliding so that the jig is hanging at a 45 degree angle to the water as oposed to perpindicular. I feel like this is bad, am I wrong? And if I'm not, is there a way you can get the knot to stay at the top of the eye so the jig stays straight up and down? Thanks a bunch in advance! TOC.

[Silver Hilton]

Does it catch fish? That should be the first question. But I suppose if it was, you wouldn't be posting the question...

I use the trilene knot (two turns around the hook eye) and it seems to grip the eye pretty well, allowing the jig to hang fairly horizontally. I still end up truing up the jig head every five or ten minutes.

[ampersat]

I use a knot that forms a standing loop so that the jig is free to rotate as needed. I feel like the jig gets better overall action this way. I'm terribly curious as to what other folks use for knots on their jigs though. The knot I use tends to go through a lot of my precious leader each time I tie a new knot.

[First Bite]

For the longest time I didn't even give it a thought...and caught a lot of fish. Only the last few years have I even messed with positioning the knot. For me it started when I purchased some 60 degree bend jig hooks. These hooks by nature allowed the position of the hook to sit much lower in the water. My theory is since most fish hit the jig from the same level or below, a hook that is riding lower in the water is a good thing verses a hook that is riding high.

The hooks that I use for my Salmon jigs are 60 degree jig hooks. I like the results so much that I purchased a different version of Owner hooks in the 1/0 size with the 60 degree bend for steelhead.

Now when I rig up I like to push the knot close to the jig head. By doing so it positions the hook lower in the water then if you were to simply tie a knot right at the bend and leave straight up.

Here is an underwater pic with the knot pushed to the brass bead.






Quite honestly...for the most part I don't think it really matters but I'm a detail nut. :tongue:

Mark

[The Overfishin Condition]

Thanks for the help all! I appreciate the picture Mark that helps! I'll try it out tomorrow, BUT I know most rivers are swollen, but we'll give it a go anyway.

[micropterus101]

I like my jigs to hang horizontal for more action. I carry a little tube of super glue with me and use it to keep the knot from slipping.

[Jennie@ifish]

Good point! This has been bugging me lately, too!

I think it tends to matter, and I will try these tricks! Superglue, huh?

By the way, here is a superglue trick. Ever get tired of it drying up? It tends to last longer, if you store it in the freezer.

Jen

[Hookset]

Try a palomar knot. I switched from the improved cinch or trilene knot to the palomar several years ago and never looked back. The 2 biggest problems I've had with the cinch knot is line breaking at the knot and the knot coming loose or strecthed out. You can wrap the line around the eye twice, wrap the improved version or just a simple cinch knot, still doesn't really make the cinch knot better.

The palomar is a 100% line strenght knot, no weakness. It won't come loose and is perfect for tieing on jigs. The palomar is a great knot anytime you tie leader to swivel.

If you don't know how to tie the palomar, just do a search.

best of luck,

Gregg

[ampersat]

Yep, that's the knot.

[Day Late Fishen]

Mine hangs to the right...that's probably becuase I'm right handed

[DanS]

The Palomar knot:

http://www.steelheader.net/knots/polamar_knot.htm

[float2ber]

I've been using the Tie-Fast tool to tie nail knots both on the swivel and on the jig. This knot can be used as a loop or pulled tight. The leader has never broken at the nail knot since it doesn't seem to weaken the leader material.

[The Overfishin Condition]

I think I may try ampersat's trick. I guess my biggest question was how exactly the jig should drift, like horizontally vertically, whatever, I used to just tie it on there at fling it out. I haven't done it much, but have yet to catch a fish, trying to improve my odds here. I've used the palomar (my favorite knot) cinch knot, uni knot, and trilene knot. Thanks for all the help! I'll just keep trying till I find what works.

[FISHNAKED]

Personly I prefer mine to hang form the mouth of a big fat fish.

[goodkarma]

every try putting a little ball of eggs on the jig? I'm a bait freak but want to try jigs again.

[Sublime]

Palomar knot, but y'all beat me to that one~ :tongue:

[fish-bones]

Originally posted by The Overfishin Condition:
When I rig up for bobber and jig fishing, inevitably the knot on the jig ends up sliding so that the jig is hanging at a 45 degree angle to the water as oposed to perpindicular. I feel like this is bad, am I wrong? And if I'm not, is there a way you can get the knot to stay at the top of the eye so the jig stays straight up and down? Thanks a bunch in advance! TOC.

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[fish-bones]

I,m not an authority on jig fishing for steelhead ,but i know that when you fish for bass and pan fish,such as crappy ,perch and bluegill ,you want the jig to hang horrizontaly.the way you do that is to have a tight knot on the jig eye.you than slide the knot on the eye towards the tail of the jig.when you put it in the water to check it ,you will see that it hangs horizontaly. check it out .

FISH-BONES

Originally posted by The Overfishin Condition:
When I rig up for bobber and jig fishing, inevitably the knot on the jig ends up sliding so that the jig is hanging at a 45 degree angle to the water as oposed to perpindicular. I feel like this is bad, am I wrong? And if I'm not, is there a way you can get the knot to stay at the top of the eye so the jig stays straight up and down? Thanks a bunch in advance! TOC.

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[KillerDave]

Try the Rapala Knot. I think it's the one Amp is talking about. It forms an open loop and is very strong.