SPOONMINNOW
Well-known member
I've found in the last ten years that light tackle catches me the most fish on any day. Being a lure crafter (jigs, spinnerbaits, in-line spinners,) before pouring soft plastics, I knew from experience that lures must be made and look a certain way in the water to catch fish. Crappie.com has given me many ideas over the years about lures that catch pan fish, but no one said they also catch many other species including bass, pickerel catfish.
I've sent packages of lure rigged on jig heads to many that asked (and no, I don't sell them), with little feedback. I'm wondering if they might not have worked because of the factors that must be addressed when using them. In the case of small lures rigged on light jigs, there are definite requirements that I think allow for the most fish caught. Here are they are:
When using a light jig, how light is too light. 1/16 oz has been the best jig weight in the warmer months. It is moved faster than a 1/32 oz because fish activity is higher than when the water temperature falls into the 40's that require a very slow lure swim. So in the last month as the water temp has dropped to near 50, I've found fish deeper but schooled tighter than the month before. 1/32 and 1/64 oz has been the ticket using the same lures I use all year long.
Along with light weight jigs is the necessity of using two lines: braid for the main line and a fluorocarbon leader of 4-6# test. The braid transmits light strikes from 40 feet away and being zero stretch, allow for better hook sets. The F/C leader is thin and allows the best action for light lures. (I could care less that it's invisible in water.) Usually one foot will do.
The rod can not be a medium action rod because fish that are more sensitive and less active reject a lures that doesn't feel right in its mouth. Slow presentations allow fish to strike a lure multiple times on the same retrieve and if the last strike doesn't hook them, the only thing I can think of is lure resistance because of a less limber rod tip. So, I chose a light action rod with a very flexible tip, not worrying I can't set the hook. Heck, fish do that for me when they panic! I like 6' give or take 6" as a good length. Too short or too long, and I struggle.
The reel must have a good retrieve ratio in order to control lure speed and taking up slack line when fish hit along with a high & away rod angle. Too little a ratio of reel handle turns to the amount of line taken in, the more difficult to set the hook and keep the fish hooked. Just because the reel box says 3.5:1 doesn't mean it is because spool diameter enters into the ratio and must be of a certain size. Test it on a hard surface to see how much a lure moves with one reel handle turn.
Who knew casting a light lure could require so much, but unlike heavier bass tackle, light lures used for less than active fish need to be presented a certain way, felt when the strike happens, hooked a certain way not using a rod tip jerk to set the hook and played keeping in mind slower retrieves are better bringing that fish in.
This system has allowed me 40-130 fish per outing depending how long I'm on the water. Last outing - 46 fish/ three species in three hours using only two small lures rigged on 1/32 oz, unpainted, ball head jigs, a spinning and a push-button reel.
I've sent packages of lure rigged on jig heads to many that asked (and no, I don't sell them), with little feedback. I'm wondering if they might not have worked because of the factors that must be addressed when using them. In the case of small lures rigged on light jigs, there are definite requirements that I think allow for the most fish caught. Here are they are:
When using a light jig, how light is too light. 1/16 oz has been the best jig weight in the warmer months. It is moved faster than a 1/32 oz because fish activity is higher than when the water temperature falls into the 40's that require a very slow lure swim. So in the last month as the water temp has dropped to near 50, I've found fish deeper but schooled tighter than the month before. 1/32 and 1/64 oz has been the ticket using the same lures I use all year long.
Along with light weight jigs is the necessity of using two lines: braid for the main line and a fluorocarbon leader of 4-6# test. The braid transmits light strikes from 40 feet away and being zero stretch, allow for better hook sets. The F/C leader is thin and allows the best action for light lures. (I could care less that it's invisible in water.) Usually one foot will do.
The rod can not be a medium action rod because fish that are more sensitive and less active reject a lures that doesn't feel right in its mouth. Slow presentations allow fish to strike a lure multiple times on the same retrieve and if the last strike doesn't hook them, the only thing I can think of is lure resistance because of a less limber rod tip. So, I chose a light action rod with a very flexible tip, not worrying I can't set the hook. Heck, fish do that for me when they panic! I like 6' give or take 6" as a good length. Too short or too long, and I struggle.
The reel must have a good retrieve ratio in order to control lure speed and taking up slack line when fish hit along with a high & away rod angle. Too little a ratio of reel handle turns to the amount of line taken in, the more difficult to set the hook and keep the fish hooked. Just because the reel box says 3.5:1 doesn't mean it is because spool diameter enters into the ratio and must be of a certain size. Test it on a hard surface to see how much a lure moves with one reel handle turn.
Who knew casting a light lure could require so much, but unlike heavier bass tackle, light lures used for less than active fish need to be presented a certain way, felt when the strike happens, hooked a certain way not using a rod tip jerk to set the hook and played keeping in mind slower retrieves are better bringing that fish in.
This system has allowed me 40-130 fish per outing depending how long I'm on the water. Last outing - 46 fish/ three species in three hours using only two small lures rigged on 1/32 oz, unpainted, ball head jigs, a spinning and a push-button reel.
