Jigging the Most Versatile and Easy Fishing Technique

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Jigging Tips and Techniques

Jigging is a highly demanding fishing technique which demands both robust tackle and angler.

This technique is very effective for a great variety of saltwater fishes such as yellowfin tuna, cobia, mackerel and snapper as well as freshwater fishes such as walleye and smallmouth bass.

Jigging

This style of fishing is not new. But with improved technology and materials, Japanese's manufacturers of fishing tackle are able to produce suitable equipment for anglers to handle large and powerful fish from the deep with much fun and ease.

Rods

The rods for this fishing method must be extremely light and extra strong to endure long hours working and lifting heavy lures, and pulling large powerful fish from the bottom of the seas. Fast and parabolic action rods are much preferred by serious anglers for better detecting and handling fish. Suitable lengths for this style of fishing are from 5½ to 7 feet. They’re rated to the lines and the weights of the lures.

Reels

Large and strong saltwater spinning reels are favored for vertical jigging. But some anglers may prefer the use of multipliers. The choice is yours, but the reels used must be robust with superb drags. It’s wise to choose high-quality reels for this type of fishing.

Lines

Strong, thin diameter with less stretch braided line or PE line -- stands for polyethylene a chemical for making braided line -- is required for this job. Specialized multicolored braided line, often with 5 different colors, divided into 10m of each color is used by most jiggers. A strong, abrasion-resistant fluorocarbon leader is added to the braided mainline, usually 3-6m long. The mono leader also acts as an extra indicator for the angler to stop heavy motion to prevent the lure from springing up of the water when line is at the end of retrieving.

Jigs

These lures are artificial lures made from solid metal, often lead, comes in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors. Some are designed to flutter and wiggle during the drop. These are often used for shallower waters. They’re broad and weighted in the center. And some are designed to dive quickly. These are thin and long with luminous effect for fishing deeper waters as well as night-fishing.

Hooks

Some of these lures come ready with either a treble or a single hook, which is also called an assist hook. An assist hook is a solid wide-gape hook tied on to a Kevlar cord of about 3-5 inches long. Assist hooks can be bought individually over the counter. And they can be attached on the bottom or top of the lure. I prefer to attach it on the top. Because the hook will be hanging exactly on the middle of the lure, and that is the part where I believe the fish will strike most.

Techniques

Most of these lures are not designed with any resemblance of any prey. They need to be worked with some kinds of motions which impart erratic actions to the lure. Thus, it seems like an injured baitfish on the runs.

There’re many ways of working these heavy lures. From my own observations each individual can has his or her way of how the lure is worked. Because this is a highly physical game, age and one’s physical need to be consider.

The main basic technique is to lift the rod up and down off the bottom to made the lure come alive to fool the fish to bite. There are no set rules to follow. You can have your own personal styles. And from my own personal experiences, if the fish are there and in an eating frenzy mood, as long as your jig dances -- regardless of how it dances the chance of success is always there. And that’s part of the beauty of this game.

The most popular technique employed by most jiggers is clipping the rod under the armpit. The rod is lifted up and down to make the lure comes alive. At the same time collect back the loose line quickly by turning the handle one or twice.

Jigging is a very popular technique used by a large number of fishermen all over the world. The number of fishermen is increasing very fast because this method of angling proved to be productive, fun and easy. You must try it yourself and I’m sure you’ll get hooked. Until then, happy fishing!