Fishing small jigs

Over the summer I got on a kick of buying a bunch of 1/8,1/16,1/32 jigs and a lot of pretty grubs and just about anything that someone reported having luck with. i have a lot of pretty colors. My problem is, I have confidence in minnows and not jigs. i don't know what my presentation should be when fishing these light jigs. I am more confident when My line is down, and not at an angle to the boat, which always happens with light jigs and boat movement. My question is, when fishing small jigs, do you have to keep a tight downline, or is it ok to have an angle in my line.? (do I worry too much?)

An angle in your line is fine. Just remember that the greater the angle, the shallower your bait is going to run so you will need to compensate. You can also add a small splitshot to keep your line vertical if the smaller jig is absolutely necessary. I normally use a larger jig head when I am fishing deeper brush, and that helps keep the line vertical. Sometimes they just want the smaller profile, and thats when I will add the splitshot.

I take it you add the split shot to the line, maintaining the jigs small profile. So how far up the line do you place the split shot?:dono. Or does it really matter?

I would place the weight below the jig to keep from interfering with the action of the jig.

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Originally Posted by Bobo Greybeard

I would place the weight below the jig to keep from interfering with the action of the jig.

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That is an option, but I normally just put it about 18" above the jig.

I will try the added weight next time out. Maybe even a two jig rig. Here in North Carolina, it is almost always windy and makes it hard to keep a light jig down in the zone ( pontoon boat). Thanks again. Was really wondering about the angle.

When i saw the name of this thread I was thinking small jigs, not to be a smart a** , but small to me is 1/124 and 1/80 on a size 10 hook, does anybody else go this small?

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Originally Posted by jamiefranklin

When i saw the name of this thread I was thinking small jigs, not to be a smart a** , but small to me is 1/124 and 1/80 on a size 10 hook, does anybody else go this small?

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I didn't know they came that small! Might have to try those under a bobber.

You need light line if you fish light jigs, heavier lines make getting deep a problem sometimes.

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Originally Posted by Crewmax42

Over the summer I got on a kick of buying a bunch of 1/8,1/16,1/32 jigs and a lot of pretty grubs and just about anything that someone reported having luck with. i have a lot of pretty colors. My problem is, I have confidence in minnows and not jigs. i don't know what my presentation should be when fishing these light jigs. I am more confident when My line is down, and not at an angle to the boat, which always happens with light jigs and boat movement. My question is, when fishing small jigs, do you have to keep a tight downline, or is it ok to have an angle in my line.? (do I worry too much?)

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IMHO .... that would depend on "how" you were fishing. If you're trolling, you need extra weight only when you need to get the jig to stay down deeper than you can without it ... in relation to the speed in which you can effectively control your boat. If you're vertical jigging, boat movement causes a problem, so you may have to use a heavier jig.

I, for one, use most of the jigs or jigheads and "pretty colors" plastics that I have ... mostly when I'm casting. They're generally 1/32 & 1/16oz weedless jig heads/plastic bodies. If I'm trolling, it's generally a 1/16oz Roadrunner, Whirly Bee Pro, or a 1/16oz hair/feather jig (not weedless).

Like you, it never seems to be calm when I'm fishing ... and if it is, when or where I'm fishing, the wind seems to know that & comes and finds me :banghead :Rofl So, I do sometimes add a split shot sinker up the line above the jig (~12") ... but, only on the one rod/reel I have that has 10/2 PowerPro braid. On it, even light taps will transmit as pretty hard "thumps". When using the outfits with hi-vis mono, I don't try to "feel" the bite, but watch the line for any movement that I know I didn't cause. I cast the jig out, raise the rod tip up to about the 10 o:clock position, engage the reel & start my retrieve. I only reel fast enough to keep a slight bow in the line, and I watch the line for any slight jumps/jerks or a sudden slack in the line (when I know the jig couldn't possibly be on the bottom). Any of those "movements" in the line indicates a strike, and I set the hook immediately upon seeing them.

And ... if you like using minnows, or have more confidence in them :
Ain't no law says you can't put a minnow on your jig or jighead/plastic grub or a plain jighead ... & cast, troll, spider rig, vertical jig, deadstick it, or even fish it under a bobber !! You simply run the hook up from under the minnows mouth (in the V shaped section of its throat) and bring the hook out between the minnow's nostrils.

I'm not all that good at math, but I do know that any boat movement is going to produce a angle in your line ... even if you're using several ounces of weight. The prime factor in that scenario is that you understand that 10ft of line out is not putting the jig at a 10ft depth. You have to consider the distance between the rod tip & the surface of the water, when fishing straight down ... and you have to consider that the greater the angle of the line, the less depth your jig is running in. You compensate for those situations by letting out more line, equal to the distance needed to reach the depth you want your jig to be. That's where the "math" comes in :Doh: ... and, though I'm sure there's an equation that would quickly tell you the depth of your jig, in relation to the length of line out & the angle of that line ... I don't know what it is :dono But, then I'm not normally trolling or dragging my jigs or minnows around, so I don't fret over it all that much.

... cp :kewl

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Originally Posted by crappiepappy

IMHO .... that would depend on "how" you were fishing. If you're trolling, you need extra weight only when you need to get the jig to stay down deeper than you can without it ... in relation to the speed in which you can effectively control your boat. If you're vertical jigging, boat movement causes a problem, so you may have to use a heavier jig.

I, for one, use most of the jigs or jigheads and "pretty colors" plastics that I have ... mostly when I'm casting. They're generally 1/32 & 1/16oz weedless jig heads/plastic bodies. If I'm trolling, it's generally a 1/16oz Roadrunner, Whirly Bee Pro, or a 1/16oz hair/feather jig (not weedless).

Like you, it never seems to be calm when I'm fishing ... and if it is, when or where I'm fishing, the wind seems to know that & comes and finds me :banghead :Rofl So, I do sometimes add a split shot sinker up the line above the jig (~12") ... but, only on the one rod/reel I have that has 10/2 PowerPro braid. On it, even light taps will transmit as pretty hard "thumps". When using the outfits with hi-vis mono, I don't try to "feel" the bite, but watch the line for any movement that I know I didn't cause. I cast the jig out, raise the rod tip up to about the 10 o:clock position, engage the reel & start my retrieve. I only reel fast enough to keep a slight bow in the line, and I watch the line for any slight jumps/jerks or a sudden slack in the line (when I know the jig couldn't possibly be on the bottom). Any of those "movements" in the line indicates a strike, and I set the hook immediately upon seeing them.

And ... if you like using minnows, or have more confidence in them :
Ain't no law says you can't put a minnow on your jig or jighead/plastic grub or a plain jighead ... & cast, troll, spider rig, vertical jig, deadstick it, or even fish it under a bobber !! You simply run the hook up from under the minnows mouth (in the V shaped section of its throat) and bring the hook out between the minnow's nostrils.

I'm not all that good at math, but I do know that any boat movement is going to produce a angle in your line ... even if you're using several ounces of weight. The prime factor in that scenario is that you understand that 10ft of line out is not putting the jig at a 10ft depth. You have to consider the distance between the rod tip & the surface of the water, when fishing straight down ... and you have to consider that the greater the angle of the line, the less depth your jig is running in. You compensate for those situations by letting out more line, equal to the distance needed to reach the depth you want your jig to be. That's where the "math" comes in :Doh: ... and, though I'm sure there's an equation that would quickly tell you the depth of your jig, in relation to the length of line out & the angle of that line ... I don't know what it is :dono But, then I'm not normally trolling or dragging my jigs or minnows around, so I don't fret over it all that much.

... cp :kewl

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:banghead

Thank you for sharing this knowledge. Some, I knew, some I suspected, and some is good to try out.

:hesaid

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Originally Posted by Cmj

:banghead

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:dono

usually when it is windy the fish will move shallow. go with the flow. let your bait run higher in the water and see what happens. if you use lighter line it will help with small jig presentations. I like 4lb test most of the time unless im jigging real thick cover.

How do you keep your minnows down? A minnow on a hook is lighter than a 1/32 jighead. If you're used to a straight line then you must be adding some weight there. Do the same thing with the jig and plastic. If you want to build some confidence with your plastics try adding some scent, like Pro Cure, it makes a difference, especially this time of year when a slow presentation is in order.

for any lure to work you need to have confidence in what your using. you need to catch some fish to have confidence in a lure. this usually requires time and trial and error. never stop experimenting. that's what I like the most about fishing, the what, when, where, and how to catch them.

but I have a 15 yr old son that thinks banging the banks is the only way to catch fish. My wife and younger son don't mind me searching for bait and trying stuff out. All of this advise is great for me to file in the toolbox. When I was a kid and fishing from the bank, it seemed I could always catch em. Now I have all the gear and electronics and I have trouble catching the first fish!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find myself over thinking and relying to much on the gadgets to catch the fish I am after. all the gadgets are great but if you skip a step on the way they will not make you any more productive. a lot of times just relaxing and enjoying the day on the water can lead to better fishing. maybe that's why bank fishing was more productive. you didn't have to deal with what goes on at most boat ramps to start your day of fishing.

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Originally Posted by bluedrifter

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find myself over thinking and relying to much on the gadgets to catch the fish I am after. all the gadgets are great but if you skip a step on the way they will not make you any more productive. a lot of times just relaxing and enjoying the day on the water can lead to better fishing. maybe that's why bank fishing was more productive. you didn't have to deal with what goes on at most boat ramps to start your day of fishing.

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truth.....

Back to the title of fishing small jigs. Another way of using small jigs is called a drop shot rig. This is a rig where your sinker is on the bottom of your line and your jig is tied 1-3ft above, or more if you want. This rig works really well when crappie are close to the bottom but it can be used for suspended fish too. It can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it. I prefer simple because there is less time retieing ,and less tackle to lose if you get hung up. You can tie the jig on with most fishing knots and just leave a long tag of line. I will say that some knots are better with this rig, especially if your using lighter than 8lb test. You can pinch a split shot at the end of the tag or they make drop shot sinkers that will slide off if they get hung on the bottom and you will still get your jig back. Another common problem I see when people are using jigs is they over work the jig. A lot of times you just pitch the jig and let it fall on slack line and just watch for your line to jump, or stop falling when you know it hasn't hit bottom. This is a good way of finding what depth the fish are feeding. Sometimes they will hit it close to the surface and other times it may go to the bottom before you get bit. All of this depends on the mood of the fish. Its our job as anglers to decide what the mood of the fish will be, under certain conditions, and fish accordingly. That is where time on the water comes into play. SORRY FOR RAMBLING ON.

Agreed. Plus, back in those days, if i didn't catch, I didn't eat!

I hear ya!