Is Braid a must have when Jigging?

[Cool Hand]

I have been reluctant to jump on the Jigging band wagon but after reading the thread on Shimano butterfly jig and watching the video decided the next opportunity I would give it a try. After a grouper trip I am sold! My question is how necessary is Braid? Never used it, although we regulary tuna fish. Would like to hear the good and bad. I have spent the last hour going through post in the jigging section but could not find where it had been discussed. Primary fish will be grouper and snapper.

Thanks for the help!

[dodoman]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand

I have been reluctant to jump on the Jigging band wagon but after reading the thread on Shimano butterfly jig and watching the video decided the next opportunity I would give it a try. After a grouper trip I am sold! My question is how necessary is Braid? Never used it, although we regulary tuna fish. Would like to hear the good and bad. I have spent the last hour going through post in the jigging section but could not find where it had been discussed. Primary fish will be grouper and snapper.

Thanks for the help!

fishing with braid can be alot of fun.
ive seen them fray, snap, shread.
the rod guides are the key, as in having the right guides.

also a shock leader.
a short mono leader about 25 to 75 ft.

i personally strap on 100 yards of mono when surface jigging.
when bottom fishing, dont really need that much.

GOOD LUCK.

[paul708]

• braid has less strech
  you will detect hits better
  you will be able to "work" the jig better
  you will be able to use lighter jigs
  you will be able to set the hook better
  go out to a field with your rod using mono have someone take 150-200ft out, try jigging/ setting the hook..alot of strech, it takes alot to move the jig

do the smae with braid, you get more "feel" with the braid

[fishn'brewis]

I tried the "field test" before with 6 pound test, a sharp hook, and a business card. After about 50-60 yards I couldn't get the hook to pierce the card. I know it's only 6# test but its something to think about.

[Cool Hand]

Ok, so what connection do you use, which is easiest to tie?

[Tuna Meltdown]

Not really sure how to tie it but I have heard alot of good praise being given to the slim beauty knot. It is a great mono or floro to braid knot. I am also going to try wind on 80 pound floro leaders connected to 80 pound power pro through a loop to loop connection. This jigging thing is new to me but I will tell you this. You have to use Braid. Love braid or hate it you got to use it. I was on a canyon trip at the end of this past season. I brought a jigging rod and shoefish brought his rod. similar setups exept his was loaded with Braid and mine was mono. His rod took four 75-85# class yellowfin and I couldn't even feel the strikes.

[shoefish]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand

Ok, so what connection do you use, which is easiest to tie?

"Tastes Great!" "Less Filling!"
"Tastes Great!" "Less Filling!"

"Ford" "Chevy"
"Ford" "Chevy"

Yup, it's one of those. They all seem to be equally as strong for all intensive purposes, it's just a matter of who like to tie what. I use braid on every one of my set-ups, and use a uni-uni knot and knock on wood it has never let me down (if I have one fail this summer it's now going to be all your fault ). The other one that I've been playing around with that is easier to tie, but not as compact is the 6-time surgeon knot. I have no idea what the real name is, but instead of wrapping two or three times through you go six (I call it the Rippy knot because Riptidecharters showed it to me last winter).

Have fun with the jigging, it's something that we're all starting to give some attention to.

Shoe

[brandon558]

i personally wouldnt attempt to jig without braid...

[dodoman]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand

Ok, so what connection do you use, which is easiest to tie?

uni to albright has been good to me.

[gradyfish265]

Braid does help when jigging, it will get a jig down faster and allow it to act as it was designed to on the free fall. It also gives you a lighter setup to be swinging when jigging, rather then a bigger reel with mono. It also gives you better feel which is ncie when fishing deep or when hits are subtle. I use hollowcore braid for tuna fishing. I have found that it has slightly less issues then conventional braid. It is also nice to have a smooth connection between mono and braid. Using conventional braid will leave an exposed knot that i feel fray's over time and needs much attention. For inshore fishing I use power pro. I've use a uni to uni when fishing mono 20lb and under with 50lb braid. If my mono is heavier, I will use a uni to albright. Both have held up. Make sure whatever you decide to use has guides that can handle these lines. Most of the jigging rods out there are designed for the lines. The shimano trevala rods are well suited if matched with the correct reel. Also, Okuma just came out with a nice jig rod for around $100 which is also designed to be used with braid. Braid really does make life easier. In the NE many canyon fishermen are using small reels that can hold roughly 300-400yards of 80lb hollowcore for tuna chunking and jigging now, no more 50wides!!! If you plan to fish braid, make sure the reel you use has a drag system that can handle it. I have been burning out my calcutta drags like crazy since I started using braid. I have been switching to Avet's inshore and offshore without any drag issues. Just really personal pref but I feel Avet's are always a ncie match when fishing braid.