Jigging Styles

[paul708]

ok now that we are getting some action here..lets see what style most of us are using..it seems that there are alot of different styles in different parts of the world..alot of the style around here seems to be ..drop jig down reel in fast and do over..or drop down to fish marks and jig slowly near where we make fish...LETS MAKE THIS..a 6' rod and under Jig post..lets hear how you jig with "the short Rod" and why

[ChrisW_]

OK, I'll kick off first!

I jig the Japanese style with a short rod 5' - 5'6" using a conventional OJ4000P or Blue Heaven reel. This style uses the same technique as the butterfly style as seen on Shimano's butterfly videos. Depending on the type of jig used, you should modify the technique to suit. i.e. for slim high speed jigs I would speed the technique up. For wider profile (centre weighted jigs that "glide") jigs I tend to slow it down and maybe introduce a hesitation before dropping the rod.

The Japanese call this technique "high pitch, short jerk". This literally means the rod is jerked up and down only a small amount and the cycle is repeated quickly (high pitch). With each cycle, the reel is turned once. The whole technique takes a little time to master and it is akin to patting one's head while rubbing ones stomach simultaneously. Once the technique is firmly engrained then you can develop a good uninterupted rythm and begin to increase your speed. This technique is also called "mechanical jigging".

Good practioners can make 2 turns per cycle for even greater retrieve speed but this i have found unneccessary for my fishing. During this technique care must be made not to lift the rod too high or jerk the rod too fast since the slack line must be picked up in one reel handle turn. Too much slack line will lead to poor rythm and the technique will suffer. Once your technique becomes sound and firmly etched in your mind, then you can begin to play around with the technique to suit the jig type your are using. Begin to experiment by introducing a hesitation or a long high lift with some short jerky retrieves mixed in (Fake jerk) and you will begin to really enjoy mixing it up and start to master the craft.

As mentioned prior, this jigging style can only be taken to this level with the proper balance tackle. By all means use what gear you have until you decide to upgrade. But when you decide to, get some solid advice from experienced guys who are doing this. Unfortunately few manufacturers outside of Japan fully understand these jigging techniques to be able to produce tackle to suit. But I am sure that this is changing as we speak.

[cbaker77]

I too prefer the the shorter japanese jigging rods and I mostly use the bottom weighted jigs like the butterflies. The jigging technique I normally use is the style they show in the butterfly jig video and it has been really effective for me. When jigging for bottom species, i let the jig sink to the bottom and then lift the rod and let it flutter back down.

[paul708]

OK, I'll kick off first!

I jig the Japanese style with a short rod 5' - 5'6" using a conventional OJ4000P or Blue Heaven reel.

As mentioned prior, this jigging style can only be taken to this level with the proper balance tackle. By all means use what gear you have until you decide to upgrade. But when you decide to, get some solid advice from experienced guys who are doing this. Unfortunately few manufacturers outside of Japan fully understand these jigging techniques to be able to produce tackle to suit. But I am sure that this is changing as we speak.

Chris, how does that Blue Heaven reel fit the PSSM? i have the OJ's here and they seem a little tight..and the accurates need to be refitted with the smaller foot...do you do anything with the reel feet for a better fit on the OJ?..

[ancient mariner]

WOW:


ANOTHER LESSON LEARNED. LOVE IT !


WACKM N STACKM
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner

[ChrisW_]

Chris, how does that Blue Heaven reel fit the PSSM? i have the OJ's here and they seem a little tight..and the accurates need to be refitted with the smaller foot...do you do anything with the reel feet for a better fit on the OJ?..

The Blue Heaven fits nicely in the PS palming reel seat, better than the OJ and Boss reels. Paul there will be a new model coming out probably October.
I don't modify any reel seats but I use reel clamps where I can.

[paul708]

The Blue Heaven fits nicely in the PS palming reel seat, better than the OJ and Boss reels. Paul there will be a new model coming out probably October.
I don't modify any reel seats but I use reel clamps where I can.

do you clamp the OJ in the PSSM seat?

[budddavid]

I use a 6' fast tip rod with an Avet LX loaded with 80# power pro braid. I use butterfly williamson jigs that are a copy off the butterfly system exept that it only comes with one hook. I add another hook to match the butterfly and use a 2' section of 80# fluorocarbon leader. This is for tuna out of OC md by the way.
I describe my style as looking like something is wrong with you. I drop to the bottom bring it up about 10'-15' and arc the tip 6' up and down. It looks goofy as hell and right about the time the charter is wondering what my IQ is the rod will hook up (on good days). Last season was the first that I used the butterfly type and I really like how the hook never fouls the leader. After I hook one up and pass it off to a customer they really get into it and play with it all day. It never seems to do as well unless I demonstrate just how foolish it should look.

Works for me, Do what you know how to do well i guess.

[striper101]

ok now that we are getting some action here..lets see what style most of us are using..it seems that there are alot of different styles in different parts of the world..alot of the style around here seems to be ..drop jig down reel in fast and do over..or drop down to fish marks and jig slowly near where we make fish...LETS MAKE THIS..a 6' rod and under Jig post..lets hear how you jig with "the short Rod" and why

My favorite way is to locate the depth of the fish and slowly drop the jig down by counting in feet till the jig reaches that depth. Then most of the time I just pop the rod up a foot or two and let the jig slowly back down, if this doesn't produce any bites then I do something that never fails to get a bite! And that is dance the jig and by that I mean lifting the rod no more than a couple inches and move the rod from side to side at the same time. For some reason this works really well in the water column and on the bottom. So next time your out there give this method a try & post your results!

[IanC]

I use the same technique as ChrisW described as I fish mainly with a group of Japanese guy's and I watch very closely the way they fish and if they change technique and hook up, you can't help but trying to copy them to try and increase you chances. I have also noticed the do mix it up a little as well by sometimes using a slow long jerk and wind particulary near the bottom, I assume to entice a strike from a bottom dweller and they sometimes even keep the same action further up the water column.

It does have alot to do with the type of jigs used and the ones with very little action need to have a bit more rod work to make them dance a bit and when fishing is slow it could mean the difference between a strike or none.

It also pays to imagine what the jig is doing down where you can't see it working and try to vary your rod work to make it dart, dive or be erratic, so it stands out from the bait school.

Cheers,

Ian