Lets Talk Football Jigs

[Whack'emGood]

Why does the stinkin fluro have to be SO expensive? I'm got lots of line from 4 lb to 20 lb already so I hate to buy more.

Are the main advantages of the fluro the increased sensitivity and the fact that is sinks so it helps your jig get down and stay down. I was hoping for extra abrasion resistance to the rocks.

I have used P Line CX Premium which is fluro coated, but I'm not sure you get the extra sensitivity or the stay down with it maybe just the abrasion resistance. Hmmm.

Fluorocarbon is extremely sensitive and super low stretch, so your feel is greatly magnified and your hook setting ability is increased. The biggest advantage for me is that flouro is virtually invisible. I believe I get way more bites with it than I used to with mono. It is also smaller in diameter (lb for lb) than mono. The only real setback in my opinion is that fluoro is not very abrasion resistant. It frays easily and you need to check and retie your line relatively often. Oh, also... you need to use line conditioner (Reel Magic or other) with flouro. It makes a big difference.

Whack'em

[CaptainJoe]

Nobody has mentioned braid...so here goes.

I use the Eakins Jigs, but I use 20 lb. (open, clear water, very little cover) or 30 lb. (heavy cover/dirty water) Spiderwire Ultracast Invisi-Braid line tied with a uni-to-uni knot to either a 4-5 foot leader of P-line Floroclear or Yo-Zuri Hybrid Clear (8lb - clear water up to 15 lb. dirty water) tied to the jig with a palomar knot. It is so easy to set the hook with braid and you can feel everything and see your line in all water and sky conditions. The leader provides near invisibility in the water. I can cast just as far with this braid and it lasts an entire fishing season, sometimes two seasons. I use a cheap 12 lb. mono for reel backing. I have used Fireline and PowerPro, but the Spiderwire Invisi-Braid is the smoothest, strongest, rod friendly, and casts the best.

I use the braid 15 lb./floro 6-10 lbs. setup on all spinning and baitcasting equipment for Shakey Head, dropshot, and all soft plastic fishing in clear water and little cover situations and step up from there for heavier cover/dirty water fishing.

My primary rod and reel is a G.Loomis MBR-843C with a Johnny Morris signature reel or the BPS Extreme Medium/Heavy with either the BPS Extreme Flipping Switch Reel or Shimano Castiac. All rods are 7'. For spinning, I use the wide spool BPS Extreme reel with a 7' medium BPS Extreme rod. The wide spool works great and eliminates all line twist and has a great drag for dropshotting.

[Ham]

I broke down and bought some Seagar Invisx line Saturday. I spooled up for a trip CajunAngler and I made to upper BUll Shoals. We had heard there was a pretty good Wart bite going on and with the weather getting nasty we decided to sneak in one more trip prior to the change. We took his boat which was a good choice because it was a little windy.

The wart bite didn't really happen for us, but the jig bite did. Smallies, LMB, and Spots. Size was a mixed bag. I wanted a limit of largemouth, but that didn't work out. I caught too many keeper smallies which I refuse to kill.

I could tell I was fishing a different line. I can feel the extra weight of the line when I cast. Reminds me of throwing a flyrod a bit. The Invisx didn't coil on me at all. It was more sensitive (I think) and held up well to the rocks. I did re-tie a time or three ; some of which might not have been necessary. I did not lose a jig all day. (I did tear the hook up on one getting it out of a fat pig spotted bass though) I am not overly concerned with the line being invisible, but it doesn't bother me that it is.

Cajun Angler caught more than his share of the fish, but every dog has his day. We caught 45 bass between us for the day and over 40 of those came on football jigs.

[steveearle]

Fluorocarbon does, in most cases, have as much and sometimes a little more or a little less stretch than mono, it is just a different kind of stretch. Mono has a rubberband, bounce-back stretch. Fluoro stretches and then stays elongated without the bounce back. The increased sensitivity is due to fluoro's high density. Its sensitivity and sink rate is the advantage. Fluro's abrasion resistance is, in most cases, higher than WET mono. It is sometimes more and sometimes less abrasion resistant than DRY mono. Fluoro does not absorb water so it does not matter if it is tested wet or dry. Mono absorbs alot of water so it is much weaker and much less abrasion resistant once it is wet. Also, if you are comparing mono vs fluro, compare by diameter not by rated strength. Fluoro usually has a lower diameter and breaks closer to rated strength. Mono, in cases like P-line or Trilene XT, has a high diamater, which is why you can get 20lb test to break at 30-35lbs...

[motoman]

.............Braid line tied with a uni-to-uni knot to either a 4-5 foot leader of P-line Floroclear or Yo-Zuri Hybrid Clear (8lb - clear water up to 15 lb. dirty water) tied to the jig with a palomar knot. It is so easy to set the hook with braid and you can feel everything and see your line in all water and sky conditions.

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I'm with you Joe, but I use a much longer leader, in case I need to re-tie. And I've been using the Hi-Vis stuff to detect the subtle line movements; works like a charm! I think Denny Brauer picked up on the Hi-Vis stuff this year, and said he wished he'd of done it sooner.

[CaptainJoe]

Motoman,

Yea, I am seeing braid being used more and more for the advantages I already stated. I will sometimes go to a longer leader in gin clear water. As you know, most breakoffs occur at the hook knot and not at the leader/braid knot; therefore, the leader usually lasts for awhile. The uni-to-uni knot is great. I like the crystal/white color of the braid. As stated, I can see it in all waters and sky conditions. Mike Iaconalli also uses the braid/floro combo, but only on the dropshot. Alton Jones also uses it once in awhile when flipping as seen on a Bass Edge show at Choke Canyon Lake.

Take care,

[motoman]

.... As you know, most breakoffs occur at the hook knot and not at the leader/braid knot; therefore, the leader usually lasts for awhile. .....

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Funny you should mention that, most people are concerned with the Braid to Fluoro knot, but you're exactly right; most breaks occur at the hook.

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For everyone else, sorry to get off topic. Now back to our regular programming about Football Jigs! (great topic! )

[techo]

I love the line discussion too.

[Ham]

I'd like to get some opinions on seasonal preferences for throwing the football jig. I have certainly enjoyed throwing it this fall. I'll probably keep one tied on once water temp hits the 60's and fishit hard when water temp hits the 50's. I caught fish on it the other day when water was 49'. At what water temp should I put down the jig and pick up a spoon?

Does early Spring give me another shot with the football jig? Maybe a CR like drag rather than an active hopping retrieve.

Again, I would look for low 50's.

For better or worse, lure selection is a LOT easier when water temp is less than 55'.

[Cajunangler]

Well Ham, as for the "every dog has his day", I seem to remember several previous trips where the numbers seemed to sway the other way. Obviously, those may not be quite as memorable to you as the other guy (ME) on the short end of the stick, but I like the idea of "turnabout is fair play." Additionally, if it wasn't for a 100 yard stretch of bank that yielded 6-8 fish in about 15 minutes the day would have ended up almost even. Heck, if I am remembering correctly it was only 28 to 17 at days end. I beleive the previous trip when we took your rig had totals at 33 to 25 in your favor.

I can't help with the jig question since you and I both have limited expereince with these northern fish but maybe in another 5, 10 or 20 years we will be the one's with the local knowledge.

I like the idea mentioned about the braid to flouro combo. My previous expereinces with braid has left me feeling less than satisfied. My biggest past complaint has been the slippage factor when setting the hook, and yes, I have been putting it on top of mono. I like to leave a my finger against the line to feel strikes and when the line slips it cuts a quick slice into that finger. I am sure it is because I am setting the hook harder than needed and I will need to adjust my technique.