jiggerjohn
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2010
- Messages
- 547
Many years ago I was jigging a Canadian dock ,at our lodge, with a tiny nose hooked live frog that I'd found on shore. Immediately a big school of smallmouth bass zoomed from out under the dock, one inhaling the hapless frog! But,of course, it was the only frog I could find. My only other lure with me, just then, other than my small jighead, was a small floating Rapala. So, in a panic to get back to that mass of bass, I placed the small jig hook through the nose ring of the plug. As hoped, the jig weight was just enough to sink the floater ,slowly ; it didn't get far before another chunk sized bass latched on. My worry was that the plug, so loosely secured, would fall off the jig hook -in future situations it certainly did!
However,In recent years, at times, I've employed either a 1/24 or 1/32 oz bare roundhead jig with a fairly strong-for-its-size No.8 Mustad O'Shaughnessy forged jighook to pin on longer PRERIGGED plastic worms and eel types. That is, those straight tails that sport 2 or 3 exposed small sized hooks,threaded internally within the worm. I find that the small jighead takes these very slow sinking plastics down better, and affords them freer wobbling type action while swiveling around the small jig hook up front that carries them. Of course, I put a small piece of plastic,a rubber band square, or tiny Gulp maggot above the hook eye to secure the worm in place and prevent my above mentioned Rapala escape situations!
My favorite rigged worm was the pre rigged , tougher plastic Delong models -these already had the lead hook also buried in the plastic, so a simple matter to push my jighook through, and be assured it would NOT move up and off the hook point ! I mentioned the word "was" ,because Delong has been out of business for a decade. Imagine my surprise when I recently discovered that new owners in Ohio have recreated the entire line!! My supply was dwindling, but now I can revive my light jig tactic, and even apply it to their big ,always productive, famous witches and eels!! (yes, I WILL use this tiny jig pinning method for muskies and pike on my light tackle outfits!)
Remember,the the small hooked, crappie sized jigheads ,using this method , are mainly sort of functioning as "snaps" to hold the larger lure in back. Those prerigged bodies have very nice sized, sharp hooks, some with weedguards, to insure very positive bites into fish jaws! I can hardly wait to throw a few of the old time worms, tadpoles, and eels this season ! I'm sure others can envision some of their favorite soft plastic, prehooked models used in this jigging manner as well. Any of you out there have some interesting ideas to share?
However,In recent years, at times, I've employed either a 1/24 or 1/32 oz bare roundhead jig with a fairly strong-for-its-size No.8 Mustad O'Shaughnessy forged jighook to pin on longer PRERIGGED plastic worms and eel types. That is, those straight tails that sport 2 or 3 exposed small sized hooks,threaded internally within the worm. I find that the small jighead takes these very slow sinking plastics down better, and affords them freer wobbling type action while swiveling around the small jig hook up front that carries them. Of course, I put a small piece of plastic,a rubber band square, or tiny Gulp maggot above the hook eye to secure the worm in place and prevent my above mentioned Rapala escape situations!
My favorite rigged worm was the pre rigged , tougher plastic Delong models -these already had the lead hook also buried in the plastic, so a simple matter to push my jighook through, and be assured it would NOT move up and off the hook point ! I mentioned the word "was" ,because Delong has been out of business for a decade. Imagine my surprise when I recently discovered that new owners in Ohio have recreated the entire line!! My supply was dwindling, but now I can revive my light jig tactic, and even apply it to their big ,always productive, famous witches and eels!! (yes, I WILL use this tiny jig pinning method for muskies and pike on my light tackle outfits!)
Remember,the the small hooked, crappie sized jigheads ,using this method , are mainly sort of functioning as "snaps" to hold the larger lure in back. Those prerigged bodies have very nice sized, sharp hooks, some with weedguards, to insure very positive bites into fish jaws! I can hardly wait to throw a few of the old time worms, tadpoles, and eels this season ! I'm sure others can envision some of their favorite soft plastic, prehooked models used in this jigging manner as well. Any of you out there have some interesting ideas to share?