Jump to content

A Hard Learned Lesson on the Upper End


rps

Recommended Posts

First the good stuff -> I went out at 8:00 this morning and fished until 12:30. I found the water to be 77 to 78 degrees and you could see bottom to about 2 feet, maybe 3.

I fished a 6 inch straight worm in purple with blue flecks, and rigged it jika style with a 3/16 sinker. I caught 17 or 18 fish with two keepers. One was a spot and one was a large mouth.

The pattern will not surprise anyone. Points with timber or flooded trees in 5 to 15 feet of water. Basically the edges of the flooded stuff.

Now the hard learned lesson. In the past I made some jika rigs using snap locks. I posted about it. The rigs I fished today are identical to the example pictured in the old post. As of today, no more. I hooked a sow today. Got her up to the boat where I could see her. I will say six pounds plus. She shyed from the net and then was gone. When I reeled in my line the snap lock was basically straightened. I just ordered some split rings and will, from now on, make the rigs the PITA old fashioned way.

 

fullsizeoutput_44f.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I liked the post, not because of the lost fish but because I have never heard of a jika rig.  Definitely going to try it in Canada.  The rocks are different there than TR/BS.  All granite boulders.  Very sticky to baits.  If you fish a plastic on the bottom it is unlikely that you will get successive casts back to the boat.  Thinking of going with the split ring to the hook and the lightest cheap snap I can find on the weight to the ring.  Might even try tying it with some 2lb or 4lb.  Just one of those things you never think of.  At least a hangup you still have a chance to get most of the $ back.

It used to be that when snagged on a t-rigged worm you just break off, retie and move on.  Plastics and hooks were cheap.  Now it's $1.00 for a hook and a plastic so I'm not as flagrant with breaking off.  Forget using jigs up there at $3.00 a pop for jig/trailer.  Fish are there, though so need to be able to contact them.  We have resorted to just cheap tubes/grubs on cheap bulk pack BPS ball jigs because it doesn't hurt so much to lose them and up there the SM don't seem to care what you throw but I'm sure we are missing fish that aren't interested in a tube.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Stein said:

I liked the post, not because of the lost fish but because I have never heard of a jika rig.  Definitely going to try it in Canada.  The rocks are different there than TR/BS.  All granite boulders.  Very sticky to baits.  If you fish a plastic on the bottom it is unlikely that you will get successive casts back to the boat.  Thinking of going with the split ring to the hook and the lightest cheap snap I can find on the weight to the ring.  Might even try tying it with some 2lb or 4lb.  Just one of those things you never think of.  At least a hangup you still have a chance to get most of the $ back.

It used to be that when snagged on a t-rigged worm you just break off, retie and move on.  Plastics and hooks were cheap.  Now it's $1.00 for a hook and a plastic so I'm not as flagrant with breaking off.  Forget using jigs up there at $3.00 a pop for jig/trailer.  Fish are there, though so need to be able to contact them.  We have resorted to just cheap tubes/grubs on cheap bulk pack BPS ball jigs because it doesn't hurt so much to lose them and up there the SM don't seem to care what you throw but I'm sure we are missing fish that aren't interested in a tube.

Good luck! I hope the rig works out for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, kjackson said:

Are you thinking split ring to hook and then small snap to sinker?  I like the idea of being able to change weights without fussing with the blinking split ring...

Exactly. I don't care if the weight pulls off.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.