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1) Just how important is it that a jig hang perfectly horizontal when fishing straight down in a tree top or next to a stump or a stick-up?
2) How can a commercially made jig(jighead) or self-poured jighead be modified to hang horizonta in the water? This question is asked because many jigs with collars and other jigs that are not balenced do not hang horizontal.
check out gentz or genz heads they hang perfect..I take an modify them alittle..They will only come in ballhead though
Look at these, we use them just for the reason you posted. Larry makes the MO-Glo heads for Garland baits. www.crappiepro.com
I just pull the knot toward the point to get the most horizontal I can. Sometimes it makes a difference.
Try a loop knot, if it dont hang horizontal add the jig body and drop it in the water and see if it balances out? Bouyancy of the water really determines if they run level. Just my observations from tinkerin with jigs.Quote:
Originally Posted by skeetbum
How important is it? I would say if oyu are fishing a float and letting it hang there it is very important. Ifr not then the jigging action and falling of the jig wwon't be horizontal at all and and the fish won't care.
How to keep it there, there is a modified slip knot I found once that tied it perfect and it never slipped. Too bad it was over 8 years ago and I never found it again.
Usually when I"m vertical fishing, I drop the jig down to the bottom and retrieve it back real slow and I don't think it matters much to the fish. I do this usually when fishing around stick ups. But that's just me..!Thumbs Up
I agree with a couple of guys here. I believe there a days it doesn't matter but I also believe there are days it can make a big difference. Like Skeetbum, I pull the knot toward the point of the hook.
I found out about a knot this summer that is supposed to be the best knot for tying fluorocarbon. It worked great for holding the jig in place when you pull knot toward point of the hook. Much stronger knot too.
Do a search on Google for "What is the best knot for fluorocarbon?" There is a short video that will demonstrate what you need to know. Harder knot to tie but worth it.
I went to BPS yesterday and happened to catch a demonstration by a local guide on float n fly fishing. Taught me a bunch. Anyway, he addressed the horizontal issue. Long story short, if the jig is presented in a natural manner, close to horizontal, the presentation works much better than if it is hanging pointed toward the surface. This was decided by the fish, not the guide. And once again, less is more. The majority of the the time the smaller, less erratic movements work best instead of the violent, big movements used in striper fishing. Just barely shaking the rod tip made such motion on the jig, I couldn't believe my eyes. He was doing his demo in the aquarium, and the crappie were front and center. I'll close by saying that I now firmly believe that keeping the jig level will generate more action than one haphazardly tied on and thrown. The exception would be the days when you could do no wrong and they would probably eat hot dogs.
Here are my thoughts. the first question about it being vertical. It matters but when you get old and shake like I do I don't know how vertical my jig ever is. I like to think that the quiver that the jig has will make a crappie want to strike but that is just my hope. The truth is that it is more vertical than not most of the time doing this. For what its worth I use a loop knot on my jigs when vertical jigging.
The second question is more tricky. I would test each jig to see if it hangs vertical in the water. You can tweak them a little with a bend right behide the head if you like. Much harder with one with a collar. I don't use them very often. As with most of my jig I have custom made my own molds. These will set vertical in the water every time. They were made that way. I know that not every one can do this but I was blessed with a good teacher that had made every mistake twice and didn't want me to make one once. The Do-It molds that I do own do a good job but use my own jig molds most of the time.
Advice from me would be simple check and tweak the jig. Use a loop knot. If it is working for you use it and if it aint broke don't fix it.
All the best
Redman