Wednesday Oct 22

[techo]

We put in at Aunt's Creek this AM. We caught nine and two would have weighed. They were mostly in the 30 foot range near bluff walls. It was a tad bit breezy out. I broke my Oakley sunglasses, broke a rod tip and lost a few jigs. Most fish came on Eakins jigs with a fast retrieve. My partner loves the Texas rigged crawfish and did okay. He uses some sort of vibration craw with the pinchers facing inward.

[Spinnaker]

techo: Sounds like a pretty good day except for the glasses, rod tip and lost jigs. I guess we all have those kind of bummers now and then. I am not fond of breezy days for fishing because I have trouble staying on points without a lot of manuvering and of course I always break the rule on casting into the wind which causes backlashes. I need more practice! Couple of questions on fishing your jigs:

1. When you said fast retrieve, does that mean your jig was pretty far off the bottom?

2. What kind of trailer were you using?

[techo]

I basically used the jig like a swim bait today. The fish seemed to be suspended a few feet off the bottom, but came up for the jig. My partner found out the fast retrieve method when I had the trolling motor on high. I kept the jig about six or eight feet under I think. The baitcast reel retrieves fairly quickly so it feels like you are reeling slow, but the jig moves fairly quickly. I usually do the drag and reel method.

I tipped with the double tail grub. I mostly used the Yamamoto ones, but also worked the bass pro ones in when the blue gill were pestering us. I also had to move to a heavier jig with the wind today. I finally used the 1/2 ounce that Eric likes.

I am not sure this was the best way to fish today. I saw a couple of other boats out and hope to hear how others did and what technique they used. Not our most successful fishing day. It was still fun. I think today will be one of those remember when stories in the future.

[snakem]

We put in at Aunt's Creek this AM. We caught nine and two would have weighed. They were mostly in the 30 foot range near bluff walls. It was a tad bit breezy out. I broke my Oakley sunglasses, broke a rod tip and lost a few jigs. Most fish came on Eakins jigs with a fast retrieve. My partner loves the Texas rigged crawfish and did okay. He uses some sort of vibration craw with the pinchers facing inward.

Boy you must have been in a little pond,as u said [a tad bit breezy lol]

Snakem Out

[Bill P]

I've pretty much gone to spinning gear in high wind conditions. I'm starting to learn a bit of boat control now,and try to keep the pointy end into the wind. Hard to undo backlashes and fish in the wind at the same time.

I've been pointing boat into wind,and dragging jig/mojo rig. This way,I can cover a long stretch AND control drift speed.

Didn't have the guts to go out yesterday......too many leaves to blow.

BTW, has anybody had a problem with losing jig fish? Seems that even after several hooksets,and bringing the fish a long way to the boat,too many are releasing themselves close to the boat. Almost seems like they weren't really hooked, just opened their mouths,and swam off. Doesn't happen with the 'shorts'!

[dtrs5kprs]

Bill...if you mean what I take from the "several hooksets" you may in fact be causing enlargement or tearing of the original area of hook penetration. Usually one solid set should be plenty on things like Eakins jigs, as long as they have a quality hook and are not over an obstruction (boat lift, limb) that would deflect the force of the set.

Football jigs are a different story, at least for me. Lot seems to depend on the rod, depth, length of line out, etc. That big leadhead seems to cause shake offs, open mouths.

[Spinnaker]

I may have asked this before but I have fished the eakins pro spider and plain eakins jigs like a football gig with the same trailer and done well considering this is the first year I have dared to use a jig. I understand the football jigs are designed to wiggle a little differently on the slow retrieve from the others. Frankly I have used both and fished them in the same manner and had about the same results. Any advice from the pros?

[Bill P]

Bill...if you mean what I take from the "several hooksets" you may in fact be causing enlargement or tearing of the original area of hook penetration. Usually one solid set should be plenty on things like Eakins jigs, as long as they have a quality hook and are not over an obstruction (boat lift, limb) that would deflect the force of the set.

Football jigs are a different story, at least for me. Lot seems to depend on the rod, depth, length of line out, etc. That big leadhead seems to cause shake offs, open mouths.

Using Chompers football jigs w/Yamamoto twin tail grub. 6'6" MH Lowrider spinning rod,Eakins special casting rod. 8 or 10 # silver thread. I try not to 'horse' em in. That,I'm sure ,as caused some of it. May just be coincidence,but it seems to happen more when they're just 'on',without really feeling any hard strikes. Haven't felt many 'hard' strikes lately. The occasional SM will hit like a train,but most bites seem pretty soft.

As a rule,this doesn't happen that often. Maybe it's just a 'thing' lately. I rarely 'keep' fish,and I don't fish 'competitively that often,so I'm not really 'losing' anything......just few fish.

[Don House]

BTW, has anybody had a problem with losing jig fish? Seems that even after several hooksets,and bringing the fish a long way to the boat,too many are releasing themselves close to the boat. Almost seems like they weren't really hooked, just opened their mouths,and swam off. Doesn't happen with the 'shorts'!

Bill, try this little trick... Once you feel the bite reel down atleast 3 to 5 turns, move your rod towards the fish at the same time, then set the hook!!! Even works for those soft bites or just feels heavy!! You will see your loss ratio go down alot, I mean alot.. And once that fish tries to jump rod tip down.. Just little tricks I use..

Good Fishing

Don

[Bill P]

Thanks Don.