Question Trout-Mini Jigging?

DoubletroubleII · Oct-30-2009, 10:43 AM

I jig regularily for trout, here in NorCal but mostly at Pyramid Lake Nevada. Jigging is a reaction bite and is great to try when they are not picking up bait, so pick a rod that has a fast response. Lightweight rods that are too limber won't work as well because it is harder to feel the attack.

I started with small versions of Marabou or Bucktail jigs they worked fine. But now I use mostly smaller Gibbs Minnows or my favorite Spro swimming jig.

I usually down jig until I hit the bottom or target depth, then jig at the bottom for a bit then start up jigging.

HTA · Oct-30-2009, 10:44 AM

I fish with the mini jigs quite often and have caught trout up to 14 lbs on them but what I find most effective is a 7 1/2 or 8 1/2 foot Microlite rod rated for 2 to 6 test using 2lb test for tossing the mini jigs further to cover more water. The longer rod allows for distance when casting 1/32 and 1/16 ounce mini jigs. When fighting a larger fish the longer rods act as a shock absorber when the fish takes drag the line does not snap in an instant, it is a slower load up allowing the drag to release in a more gradual manner. Heavier rods tend not to impart the action needed for mini jigs and when fishing 2 lb test the rod has no give when the fish goes off on a line scourching run. The 2 different actions that I impart on the mini jigs to create a reaction bite is......cast out and let the mini jig hit the bottom. Slowly reel in at a steady pace while twitching the wrist consistantly through out the retreive creates an action that trout just love and you are in constant contact with the lure and set the hook when the jig has been picked up or you can try a quick pop and fall between turning the handle but must pay closer attention looking for the pickup on the fall. Those are the two most effective methods for me

DoubletroubleII · Oct-30-2009, 10:57 AM

......I am reading above and most of the people here are using very small jigs. To be honest I used to use these........but I have had bigger fish on bigger bait. Maybe if your fishing high mountain lakes were you may be targeting small trout that would be fine.

My biggest cuttroat out of Pyramid Lake is 10lbs. 4oz. caught on the Spro. My average fish out of Pyramid is around 3 1/2 to 4lbs. Don't be afraid to try bigger jigs, they have worked great for me. The Spro is about a 1 oz. jig.......great for deeper water jigging........however my big trout mentioned above I saw the fish take the jig in about 5 feet of water on the way up.

MrSwimbait · Oct-30-2009, 11:10 AM

1 oz jig!! was it a by catch while fishing for largemouth? Plus the gear to throw that heavy of a bait with would be no fun to catch trout on IMO.

AngryAgent · Oct-31-2009, 08:06 AM

I could see using 1oz. in very deep water for some big boyz but nothing works as good as a 1/32nds for almost everything and if you need to go deeper then a 1/16th. What HTA talks about is very real advice. Not only does 2lb test cast farther especially with such a light jig but it also is far less visible then any other line available which in turn creates more strikes. I only step up to 4lb when I'm throwing a water bubble with a fly attached to the end other then that it's all 2lb with a 7' to 9' rod. Yellow and white or shad are bread and butter colors as well and my go to would be perch.

I gotta get up there to Pyramid and get at some of those toads

acentner · Nov-04-2009, 07:41 PM

Thanks to everyone for all the help. I am sure I will post later with more specific questions about mini jiggin but the season here is almost over and I will have plenty of time to read anything I can get my hands on. I did make it up to the White Mountains this past weekened and landed my first trout on the mini jig! That was all it took... Ill be spending as much time as possible with the mini jig this spring.

Thanks again!

big steve · Nov-08-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoubletroubleII

......I am reading above and most of the people here are using very small jigs. To be honest I used to use these........but I have had bigger fish on bigger bait. Maybe if your fishing high mountain lakes were you may be targeting small trout that would be fine.

My biggest cuttroat out of Pyramid Lake is 10lbs. 4oz. caught on the Spro. My average fish out of Pyramid is around 3 1/2 to 4lbs. Don't be afraid to try bigger jigs, they have worked great for me. The Spro is about a 1 oz. jig.......great for deeper water jigging........however my big trout mentioned above I saw the fish take the jig in about 5 feet of water on the way up.

not true! i have caught a 5 fish trout limit that weighed 55.5 lbs on 1/32 oz jigs and all on 2# maxima ultra green line. biggest fish going just under 19#s smallest 8.2.

acentner · Nov-11-2009, 10:34 AM

To everyone who has replied to this thread,

I want to thank you guys for all the help on mini jiggin! Went up to Reservation Lake in the White Mountains of AZ this past weekend and all I can say is those little jigs are so under rated in AZ! I have never seen anyone use them and multiple people told me the same thing when they came over and started asking me what I was doing.

I got to the lake early and it took a little while for the bite to get going but once it did.... game on! Nothing huge but steady fishing all day long on 10-14" fish. I caught them under the bobber, just the jig and with a splitshot a few feet above the jig. Can not remember the last time I had so much fun trout fishing! I did loose one tank of a brown trout right at dark, guess I need to spend a little more time with 2lb before I get the feel for how much it can take! Just makes me hungry for more...

I am hooked on this stlye of fishing! A couple of my buddies were fishing worms and powerbait right next to me and couldnt believe it when I was pulling trout 4-1 and they seemed to be a little better quality as well.

I was using a 7'6" UL rod that I found on clearance at the BassPro. Loved the rod but noticed several people saying they prefer an even longer rod. Are there any reasonable priced options out there? Im thinking maybe a 8'6"...

Thanks again guys!

The ocean will always be my passion but if im gonna be landlocked in AZ this mini jiggin thing seems like its gonna be shit tons of fun!

HTA · Nov-11-2009, 10:54 AM

Are you using the BassPro IM6 Microlite rated 1-6 lb......If so they had the same rod in a 8 1/2 footer at one time. I purchased 2 of them and they are mini jig flipping bomb throwers. But what really cranks is the Browning Fishing Six Rivers Noodle rods in the 9 1/2 and 10 1/2 footers rated for 1-6lb test. The action with 2 lb is awsome. I have yet to break off a big fish (5 lbs or more) with the rods ability to absorb the shorck of a sudden run and back spooling the reel you cant lose fish. Glad you had a great time catching trout on the mini jigs. If you got browns around try a rootbeer colored gitzit 3" model with a 3/8 oz bullet head.......be prepared.

billy b · Nov-11-2009, 11:12 AM

... and also new to mini-jigs. You say you were using a bubble ... followed by a split shot ... ahead of the jig?

Was there any water in the bubble? And what size ss did you use?

HTA · Nov-11-2009, 12:45 PM

Their used to be a method called "whipping" a long thin rod, 2 lb test with an in line bobber or float 7-8 feet from the mini jig. You would cast it out, let it set and start ripping the float across the surface in a start and stop fashion. The float created a disturbance on the surface, then the trout would come to see what the commotion was and see this hopping, skipping darting jig and you get a reaction strike from them. We never used a spilt shot on ours at any time. It always seemed to impair the action of the jig relating to fewer bites.

acentner · Nov-11-2009, 12:51 PM

No, those were the three different ways I caught fish. When fishing with a bobber I was using a 1" red and white float with a half dozen bb's inside as the wieght. To do this I drilled a hole in the float, put the bb's in and then sealed it back up with epoxy. The only other weight was the 1/32 oz jig head fished six or seven feet under the float.

During the middle of the day I had more luck fishing with a splitshot in front of my jig. When I did this there was no float just a small splitshot two feet of so above the line. Lost a few jigs to the rocks this way but caught fish.

Finally I fished the jig with no weight. I just cast and let the tube sink halfway to the bottom or so and swam it back while twitching the rod tip. All three ways worked very well for me. If you have not read it yet check out the article on mini jiggin by Marlon Meade mentioned earlier in this thread. Awesome article with lots of good info.