White River 9-30-13

[Ham]

I fished falling water (3000 CFS down to 1100 CFS) with Larry Richards yesterday. We fished Zig Jigs exclusively and released over 200 fish over the eight hours we fished. ALL of our fish were released.

We started off pretty slow, but we got on a pretty good afternoon bite and left them biting.

They were biting pretty well, but the strong breeze up river was a pain. I absolutely hate being blown upriver and I hate a big slack bow in my line. Less wing and we would have caught more. Lots more.

Lots of fish > 14 inches. I really think the minimum flow is leading to better fish and better fishing. We had one big Brown and saw several others running our jig and running away from us.

We used 1/16 oz and 1/8 oz jigs. I used Brown/Orange, Triple Olive, and Olive/Ginger. We fished 4 lb P-Line CX Premium and 8 lb Nanofil. Both have their benefits. I'll probably keep fishing both.

The White River Zig Jig website has a detailed description of how to fish these jigs. They work and that technique works. Learning to do this will make you a better bass fisherman as well.

[Ham]

I have an Ozark Mountain Tradiiton rod (made by Dorber in Flippin), a Cross Fire Rod marketed by White River Zig Jig, and a 1 power custom spinning rod which I think was built on a Rain Shadow blank.

I used a TFO light spinning rod, but it is too slow to feel the trout bites. It's an acceptable rod for light creek smallies stuff, but too dead for the delicate trout stuff.

I love my old Shimano Aero spinning rods, but I now reserve them for crappie.

The custom is really a little too heavy. It overpowers a lot of the fish so....

I want another OMT rod. I'd like the two OMT's and the Cross Fire rod to round things out.

What I'm doing is not really all that difficult. I do excell at staying mad at em. I'm not satisfied with 5 or 25 or 50.

[LittleRedFisherman]

I starting using zig jigs last year, loving them so far, but I havent' used them on White River yet, but have had good luck with them on the Eleven Point in the trout area. I have thought about trying that crossfire rod they sell, think they have a very fast tip? Plan on trying them out on the White river this winter!

Here's a pretty neat video of the creator of the Zig Jig, fishing with Wildman Wilson from AGFC. Catching some nice Browns to! http://www.agfc.com/resources/Pages/ResourcesVideoPlayer.aspx?Title=Zig Jiggin for Trout

[Ham]

Tell you what LRF. Let's try to fish together on the White or the Eleven Point and you can fish my Crossfire Rod and know if you're gonna like it. I've caught literally 100's of fish on mine. I do throw braid on it. Lately 10/2 Power Pro, but also 15/4 Power Pro.

It is a light action rod. It handles trout and panfish very well. I sometimes ask it to do a little much with larger smallmouth like a smallie just under 20 i nches from an overfished MO creek.

[LittleRedFisherman]

Tell you what LRF. Let's try to fish together on the White or the Eleven Point and you can fish my Crossfire Rod and know if you're gonna like it. I've caught literally 100's of fish on mine. I do throw braid on it. Lately 10/2 Power Pro, but also 15/4 Power Pro.

It is a light action rod. It handles trout and panfish very well. I sometimes ask it to do a little much with larger smallmouth like a smallie just under 20 i nches from an overfished MO creek.

Sounds like a plan to me, i'm ready to chase some big browns again in the White!! I've got to order some more 1/16 oz from Richard, I tend to use them a lot, I even use them on flyrods for Smallies...

[Ham]

The White River Zig Jig is a VERY good cool or cold water smallie jig.

[hoglaw]

I ordered a bunch on Monday of this week before I saw this post. Was hoping they'd get here in time for this weekend. They came in on Tuesday. 24 hours is a pretty quick turn-around. I have always thought they were well made and reasonably priced jigs. Maribou jigs were about all we used when I grew up fishing on the LRR. I maxed out on 1/16th and 1/8th oz myself.

The rod they market doesn't sound terribly impressive. They are charging quite a bit of money for an IM6 blank, in my opinion anyway. For that kind of money you could easily get into a much higher quality blank. But I built a spinning rod for my fiancee as a birthday present two years ago on a pink IM6 blank and it has become my one of my favorite maribou jig rods ever. I'm going to be building some more jig rods soon on some high end blanks for throwing the 1/16oz jigs. I'm a big fan of micro guides for that application, and with CX-premium you can just about cast all the line off your reel.

I haven't tried the nanofill trout fishing yet. I'll give it a shot this weekend. What kind of leader are you using? 4lb floro? I just learned the uni to uni connection and I'm gaining confidence in its strength.

[Ham]

I've used a bunch of different line for leader material, but I like the 6 lb CX Premium best so far.

I used the uni to uni in the past. It is a perfectly fine knot. No problems. I currently used the Alberto knot. Once you get the hang of it, it is no more difficult than the uni to uni and you get a slimmer knot.

I can't swear that makes a difference with casting, but I like the slimmer knot.

The Crossfire rod is the rod Richard uses. It throws those jigs a ton and protects light line well. I've used more sensitive rods before and I've used lighter rods before, but I've caught 100's and 100's of fish on the Crossfire. I'm never done looking for a better rod, but the Crossfire rods are proven with this game.

In my experience, Nanofil throws as well or better than mono or co-poly,

It certainly throws a lot better than braid.

Please let us know if you find a great blank for 1/32 to 1/8 oz jig fishing. I want a rod that I'd 7 foot long designed for 4-8 lb line that let's you feel a crappie bite really well and throws the previous jig weights well. It seems to be a rare bird indeed.

[Ham]

In case anyone is interested, the Ozark Mountain Rod I like is the 84UL model. They have another batch about to be wrapped up. They should be available in a couple of weeks. They will be $70 plus tax at Global Dorber in Flippin. It is a big,long lever to move line for sure hook sets. Soft enough to protect 4 lb line, but not near as dead a stick as my St Croix Pandish rod.

I'll be getting a phone call from them when they are ready and I'll let y'all know when I have mine.

[LittleRedFisherman]

Ham, I might be interested in one, none of my ultralights have the action I like for those jigs.. That's about half the price of a crossfire sounds like.