Question

[gabowman]

Great info that I didnt have when I started longlining. Wished I did.:rolleyes: One thing I will tell ya though, you can run a 1/16th jig as shallow as two foot deep just by shortening your line way up out the back of the boat. You can also drag a 17' bottom with the same jig by getting it way out there and adding a small splitshot. I would recommend anyone wanting to get into longlining first off get a GPS to monitor speed, a remote controlled TM would be nice but not necessary, and get the boat set up with holders. Then get on the water where there are clean bottoms at different depths and learn for yourself where the jigs drag bottom with the boat at one speed (ex: .7 mph), jig weight, and amount of line off the reel. Once you drag then start experimenting one thing at a time...such as shortening the line and then later on moving up the speed. It wont take you that long before you'll have a pretty good feel for what depths youre pulling for a certain size jig by doing some fieldwork first. And, it will really help you out knowing youre keeping your jigs in the fishes face.

[skiptomylu]

One little other thing if you happen to pull a Roadrunner like I do and it's around Hydrilla like here then I sure would thinking about a willow leaf blade. I know it's a small blade even with the regular one, but Hydrilla can be very dense and if you fish it like I do then your gonna catch grass or you are not going to catch fish. The willow will just do better in grass and not hang as much grass which you want to hit it some, but you don't want it hanging on.

Just a thought.

Speed/depth of fish are both so important especially unlike bass crappie are not watching the bottom for food unless they are on it.

I have caught crappie in water as deep as a little over 20' on a 1/32 Oz. RR. It was the edge of a flat with lots of hydrilla and other kinds of grass and cat tails and such sticking up all over and dropped off very fast into a creek that got to 20' fast and then a little deeper farther over, but I was pulling in that 20' +- area and catching them.

Good luck,
Skip

[STUMP HUNTER]

What is the best hand tied jig to use while trolling or longlining. Is it a hair, feather, zonker or does it matter. I know Skip pulls a RoadRunner as he has talked about them before. Does the tail need to be short or long and how much action does it need.

Myself and a few others want to get some jigs tied up for the coming fall to longline and any help would be great. Thanks

Lots of good info if someone is wanting to learn how to longline. But are there any feed back on the question of what hand tied jig works best for you while longlining. Hair, feather or zonker.

[skiptomylu]

Lots of good info if someone is wanting to learn how to longline. But are there any feed back on the question of what hand tied jig works best for you while longlining. Hair, feather or zonker.

Actually I like the 1/32 oz. Roadrunners best with a marabou tail, but I think that you can catch as many most days with a regular jig. Again it's your level of confidence in what you put out there and if you have confidence in what you have tied on you will leave it out there longer and be more attentive.

I think rabbit will probably do about as well as marabou or even Hackle will do in this. It's like any other fishing guys, but with this you have to be pulling over fish and you have to have it running at a good depth for them to take it.

I think some soft plastics may be as good on some days and all you need is have a big supply of the tails you choose because you will tear, loose or what ever makes you have to put on another soft plastic. Trolling is one of the techniques that having a hand tied feather jig is best. You don't have to change anything if they are hitting it and you need good concentration as to your path and speed so forget all the things that draw your concentration away. I have never tried a hair jig doing this though, but at times I feel sure they will work even though you going to have a lot less action in the tail unless it's rabbit or Arctic Fox!

I have some new things that I plan on trying so will not talk about that yet as I don't know how it will come out.

I can say with complete confidence that I am telling it like it is, I when going to long line trolling will be tying on a 1/32 Oz Roadrunner or Pony Head with a marabou tail and that is a fact!

Skip

[STUMP HUNTER]

Thanks Skip. I like the Roadrunner's and will tie up a few with marabou to try this fall. Already tied some with zonker, deer body hair and hackle.

[burdawg]

Ronnie, I have caught 'em on both hair and feather...but I think the feather worked better. And the hair bites came when it was run in tandem with a curly tail on the bottom of the rig. The feather bites were running solo. FWIW....