Micro Jigs

[sasquatchmike]

I have read about using Micro Jigs on Taneycomo and using a strike indicator usually stated at about 5 feet up from the jig. Please give a little explanation about what Micro jigs are, i.e. weight, color, pictures, ect.

Mr. Lilley,

I have been holding off on asking this question because it may sound bizaar.

Last year around Memorial Day, my brother-in-law and I were about a quarter mile up from your lake place fishing from a boat. All of a sudden, a huge boil occurred in the middle of the lake about 5 feet across that lasted about 10 seconds. Has anyone else ever seen such a thing on the lake?

[loo10]

Part One: Micro jigs are exceedingly over-priced small jigs down to size

1/295th oz or so. Unfortunately they work. @!#&!

Part Two: The large water boil you saw was "The Beast";

known to swallow up small boats, big fish,

and every jet skier who passes by.

(in other words, I don't know either!)

[Champ]

I also saw that boil last year and I finally found out what it was a couple months ago.

That is the water intake for the City of Branson. Once in a while the push water out into the lake instead of sucking it in.

This clears the algea and crud built up around the intake.

Pretty earie.

[Seth]

I seen this boil last year also. I thought it was a monster trout flopping on the surface at first, but then when I got closer I didn't know what the heck it was.

Micro jigs are just really tiny jigs on jigheads 1/80 down to 1/265 or something. The microjigs you buy that come in the little plastic tubes are put together with a shrink wrap process to hold the marabou. I just tie up my own and use thread, they still work pretty good when the water is running.

I have had my best luck on pink usually.

[Phil Lilley]

You guys did good.

Micros- 1/125 to 1/256 oz but the real weight is about 1/80th and 1/100th. They are over priced but they do work. Olive, sculpin are the best colors. Pink when the water is running. They are made of puter, not lead and the feathers are supposedly hen hackle, not marabou. They use it sparingly.

[2sheds]

Phil has always said that micro-jigs do their best when there is a light chop on the water.

Why ?

I see 3 possibilities:

1. Breeze/Chop weather conditions herds the jig-like bait fish in a way that has the trout more actively seeking similar yummies.
   
2. Chop animates the motion of the jig in an irresistable fashion
   
3. Chop automatically manages slack line and ensures detecting subtle strikes - significant since most jig strikes are on the downward motion
   

There may be more.

Understanding this better might help simulate similar action in still weather.

Interested in your thoughts.

[jOrOb]

Wind definitely helps to place baitfish in one location, as well as to limit their mobility. Wind also helps to impart action to your drifts. But I think the light penetration is the biggest factor. The trout just don't see as well with chop.

With good chop, you can entice trout to take about anything with a good silouette.

[Steve Smith]

I second jOrOb's comment. A good chop with bluebird skys always improves fishing, even in the parks like Roaring River.

[Phil Lilley]

Wind chop is like a light switch... it turns the fish on. I think it brings the trout up towards the surface because they feel more secure to do so- like cover. It breaks up the light coming thru the surface and gives flies a whole new look.

Plus all the other things mentioned - all good.

[Bill Babler]

The last explaination was the best. Not only will wind help postion the fish in the higher water column, it also inspires them to feed at a more vigerious rate.

When fishing jigs, the wind imparts a more natural movement on the jig than either a dead drift or any simulated movement that you provide.

For reasons I have no idea about even deeper fish will bite better on surface movement. When we are deep fishing for bass on the rock, using either plastic or live presentations, a flat blue bird day is a killer till the wind starts.

Who would think that fish 40ft. deep should be activated by a surface breeze, but without a doubt, they are. Maby it just shakes our rods enough that it activates them to strike. Very Interesting.

One thing for sure, wind chop on taney, is like a automatic turn on. The second there is a chop the action starts. Today was a good example.