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Author Topic: jigging for lakers  (Read 5806 times)

pikechaser

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jigging for lakers
« on: Jul 08, 2012, 06:45 PM »
anyoine jig them up in summer from bottom, like we do it in winter  ?  just wondering if it works ?

outdoorsman

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #1 on: Jul 08, 2012, 07:01 PM »
anyoine jig them up in summer from bottom, like we do it in winter  ?  just wondering if it works ?

It works very well, especially if you can keep the boat from moving so that you stay mostly vertical.
"I just want to get the work over as soon as possible so I can do some fishing. Fishing relaxes me. It's like yoga, except that I still get to kill something."

BIGJim223

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #2 on: Jul 08, 2012, 07:07 PM »
Yes, it works! I caught 13 lakers today vertical jigging see my posts at: 

http://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/index.php?topic=1357.285

 


Banged 9 last Tuesday in 90+ degree heat at 2 in the afternoon! You will need a good fishfinder that will pick up your jig in deep water and you have to be able to keep your boat anchored in very deep water. I use the same rod/reel as I do icefishing and the same lures, usually 3/4-1.5 oz., so a stiff jigging rod is necessary.
  There is lot's of info in the link above.

BIGJim223

pikechaser

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #3 on: Jul 08, 2012, 09:47 PM »
what are you using for jigs ? and why cant I dift and jig, if i stay on fish ?

outdoorsman

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #4 on: Jul 08, 2012, 10:15 PM »
what are you using for jigs ? and why cant I dift and jig, if i stay on fish ?

You can drift, we do that all of the time and just slow our drift with the motor or a drift sock.  We never anchor...I like to cover more than the fish that are right below me.  Drifting into an area with more (or at least less educated) fish is better than sitting in one spot and just getting one now and then after you hit a few.  The thing with vertical jigging in the summer is you really need to be vertical to keep in touch with your jig and bottom.  Too fast of a drift, and your line goes way off to the side and you can no longer find bottom (basically, you have lost touch with your jig due to drag on the line).  It also helps if you can see your jig and the fish on the finder, and to do that, your jig needs to be relatively straight down.  For deep water (100+ feet), you will want 1 to 1.5 ounce jigheads with sharp, light wire hooks.  The type of plastic that works well depends on the day...although usually having an assortment of colors, sizes, and designs does the trick.
"I just want to get the work over as soon as possible so I can do some fishing. Fishing relaxes me. It's like yoga, except that I still get to kill something."

BIGJim223

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #5 on: Jul 09, 2012, 06:48 AM »
Like Outdoorsman said, your line has to be nearly straight down, and in the cone of your fishfinder to be effective. You can drift fish but you will lose the jig on your sonar and be fishing blind. At 100+ feet even a 1mph drift will have your jig out of the average sonars cone (roughly 33' @100 ft, 20 degree cone). The trick is to see the fish when he or preferably THEY slash at your jigs, and then reel to get them to chase it. Don't worry, you can't reel too fast, they will catch your lure if they want it. The more fish that you see chasing/slashing your jig, the more likely you will hook one. They are very aggressive when they are in a big pack. Often 2 or 3 fish will follow a hooked trout still trying to get the bait as you play the fish out. The 9.75 lb fish (31 in) I caught yesterday had slash marks down it's sides  I presume from other fish that were slashing at the 4 1/2" jig hanging out of it's mouth. This is a very common thing.
  As far as lures, think heavy- 3/4 - 1.5 ounce jigs. I use 1oz most of the time. Pimples in the 4-5 inch sizes, airplane jigs tipped with a teaser of minnow/sucker/any fish skin, tube jigs 4-5 inches long (I use 4" Venom Bleeding Tubes in white/blood red with 1oz tube jigs), white/chartreuse bucktails made for striper fishing, just think big. And VERY sharp hooks! I replace all my hooks with premium trebles usually 2 sizes bigger.
  Your rod needs to be fairly stout. A fast tip will not give the action that the jig needs when you yank it up 4-6 feet at a time. I use 34" and 40" heavy action ice fishing rods made for lake trout fishing.  For line I use braid (PowerPro is my choice) with a 3-4' Floro leader with a small swivel connecting them together. Mono stretches WAY TOO MUCH! Plus with the braid you will feel everything going on down there.
  Go give it a try, it works very well for me. I was always a downrigger guy for summer lakers, about all I use my riggers for now is anchoring the back of my boat! I can catch 10 fish jigging for every one I catch trolling in my lake.
Good luck!

BIGJim223

jager61

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #6 on: Jul 09, 2012, 01:21 PM »
Big Jim hit it right out of the park with his excellent tutorial on open water jigging! The only thing I could possibly add to this discussion is the effectiveness of going with a partner in a rowboat.  Take turns, one guy rows and controls the boat to keep the jig on the screen and the other guy jigs.  We usually trade off every three fish!   If you're lucky enough to hit a calm day both of you can jig.  This is the technique of choice for us guys down in southern NY on the NYC DEP reservoirs where no motors are allowed.  I completely concur with Big Jim regarding Downriggers.  They have their place but jigging is insanely more productive and a heck of a lot more fun way to catch them!  The heat of summer has no bearing on jigging productivity rather, I think it only concentrates the fish when the thermocline sets up.  Either way, your sonar is your best friend.  Find them and whack them on the head with your jig! LOL!

God luck-Mike

jager61

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #7 on: Jul 09, 2012, 01:23 PM »
By the way Jim, great idea using the DR as an anchor!  I got a 12 lb DR ball that I'm gonna try tomorrow! I'm up in IL this week with relatives from Germany! Going to try Tupper Lake tomorrow yanking lead for lakers and walleye!  Hope you're well Bro!

Mike

RIVERRAT2

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #8 on: Jul 09, 2012, 01:43 PM »
i do it all the time,over the side of the boat with a johnson silver spoon,lift and drop, bait helps
hope this helps
RAT
try to fish 200 days a year,cut back now,age

pikechaser

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #9 on: Jul 09, 2012, 03:28 PM »
thanks for the help, think i will try a jig head tipped with a 4- 6 inch white twister tail . Thats what i get them on in winter, or white pimple

jager61

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #10 on: Jul 09, 2012, 06:36 PM »
Oh yeah, the good 'ol white pimple! Big Jim is the Founding Father of Team White Pimple!

Mike

BIGJim223

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #11 on: Jul 09, 2012, 07:38 PM »
OK Mike, settle down! Everyone here knows that YOU are the founder of Team White Pimple! I am just your loyal disciple! Funny thing is, the 9.75 pounder was caught on a white glow pimple! And it is YOU that broke me from that nasty downrigger habit! They do work pretty good for the waldo's though.
  I don't know what happened here in the last week, but both the lake trout and the walleyes are on fire here! I hope it stays that way for awhile.
  How did you do in the great white north today? I am sure they were hitting for you up there too!

BIGJim223

jager61

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #12 on: Jul 09, 2012, 07:45 PM »
Haha, too funny! Yeah but at least we look cool having DR's on our boats! Who'd a thought that a jig rod and some pimples is all we would need? LOL!

Got nothing but shorts today on one of my better spots but fun nonetheless, that is until the 25 mph winds started and had a real circus trying to get my boat back in the trailer! Gonna take relatives from Germany here with me up to Tupper tomorrow.  Always wanted to try it up there for the lakers.  There's good walleyes in tupper also but have no idea how to troll for them.  Any advice? I have two DR's, lead core rods and regular 7' trolling rods along with the jig and yanking poles.  Have in line planer boards too. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks Bro!

Mike

BIGJim223

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #13 on: Jul 09, 2012, 09:36 PM »
Worm rigs and leadcore working here. Downriggers and Jointed Rapala's working too. The magic depth here is right around 22 feet during the day. Shallow at night- 1 1/2-3 feet.
Good luck!

BIGJim223

jager61

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Re: jigging for lakers
« Reply #14 on: Jul 10, 2012, 03:50 AM »
Worm rigs and leadcore working here. Downriggers and Jointed Rapala's working too. The magic depth here is right around 22 feet during the day. Shallow at night- 1 1/2-3 feet.
Good luck!

BIGJim223

Thanks Jim!

 



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