Rampage

I have gotten addicted to jigging this year. I have caught alot of fish jigging but none of any real size. The problem is i have hooked them but they keep breaking/cutting me off every time i get a big bite. I have been using 80lb Power pro and 60lb Fluro leader. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I get the bites get them hooked and they are there for 30-45 seconds then pop!! cut off... Is this normal or what should i do after i get hooked up??? I literally lost two jigs within 15mins last weekend...

__________________
1980' Mako 236 Inboard
"You gotta want it!!!"

JoeZ

Lighten the drag or up the leader size are my first options.

How are you connecting the jig to the leader? Through the split ring or the solid ring? I don't know which one is right but I always just use the split or straight to the loop embedded in the jig.

You can get away with the lighter drag in most instances because chances are you're up off the bottom and the fish will have a hard time getting you in the rocks/wreck.

It takes a little practice and a lot of finesse to get a horse AJ or grouper to the bottom with jigs. You can't just winch them up.

Chris V

Is the leader breaking or the main line? What connection are you using to join your leader to the main line?

This is my "all around" leader to line setup:<UL><LI>Form a double line in your braid with a bimini twist or Aussie braid</LI><LI>Take 10-15ft of 80-100lb mono or fluorocarbon and go through the loop in the double line</LI><LI>wrap your leader around both strands of the double line 10 times twisting towards the reel</LI><LI>insert the tag end back through the loop of the double and while holding the tag end start to slowly draw the knot down pulling on the leader. Gloves or a wrag help for this as it needs to draw very tight</LI>[/list]
This will go through your guides very smoothly and is a very strong connection for braid to mono or fluorocarbon. Hope it helps

__________________

JoeZ

TP,

Since I'm too retarded/lazy for a bimini, how do feel about uni to uni for this application? I've always used it for inshore and it's about the only knot I can tie for this app. Never had any problems on the line to line connect, just wondering if there was something as simple that might be stronger/better.

Chris V

Theres nothing wrong with a uni to uni connection as far as strength goes, especially if you double the braid first, but it is bulkier and doesn't go through the guides as well.

Joe, you can also use a spider hitch for your double and its very easy to tie even for the lazy/retarded.

__________________

Eastern Tackle

I use 100lb leader. Jinkai. Unless I'm tuna fishing, then seagar flouro. Tied directly to the solid ring with a uni knot.



If its kings cutting you off, there's not much you can do.



King bites **** me off. I had to edit a curse word or two here.

__________________
Find me on Facebook

JoeZ

Great! Now I want to go jigging. Damn it, why does everything have to be in a closed season?

Linda

Uni is good for connections of similar diameter lines. I wouldnt use it for braid to heavy mono connection . Use an albright or the no name not like tuna popper described. Doubling the braidgives me some piece of mind others may get by without it.

__________________
www.pckfa.com

www.captlinda.com

Heller High Water

Welcome to Jigging for Addicts. :letsdrink There is nothing wrong with your set up. I start light and work my way up as I get broke off. The cudas and kings are more than likely the culprits. Try using the Owner hooks with the steel wire, helps to keep hook-up ratios higher. And like others have said the uni to uni is not very effective and hard to tie when using 80-100lb flouro to 60-100lb braid, diameters and the flex in braid does not make it a viable option. I use a flat black swivel every time. I believe it helps the jig move more freely. Good luck, and for the most part jigging is a lot like bass fishing they are reaction strikes, large diameter litter most times will not effect the bite. On occasion I will even use a short 4-6in piece of steel to 80lb flouro to braid. Your AJ hook up goes down, but most times you stay hooked up!

Captain Woody Woods

Absolutely not.

Are you getting "owned?" As in, hooked up to a solid fish and he's just making short work of you? If you're on a productive spot where you KNOW there are big fish, make sure you go on ahead and have a belt and/or harness hooked up to you. As soon as you hook up. if your drag is locked down enough to where he can't strip any line but is just putting you on the gunwhale, then be a man and lift that rod and try to get 2-4 cranks on your down stroke. Don't just sit there and try to reel. Use leverage. There is an art to fighting fish. If he's stripping line, there is nothing you can do. Just wait. Another option, depending on where you are fishing (rig), is get someone to motor away from the structure in an attempt to drag the fish out of his hole and fight him from open water. I'm not a huge fan of bottom fishing, but when I do, I fish with a locked down drag only because I am using power pro and very heavy leader and I am definately not going overboard. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone though.


As for getting cut off, if you're in an area notorious for kings/sharks, then that is something you are going to have to deal with. Don't switch to wire leader unless you are wanting to land the kings/sharks/cudas. You will get less strikes anyway.

I would like to assume that your knots/connections are not the problem. If you think they might, go to a local tackle store and ask them to teach you the uni knot. I like to use a swivel when using jigs. Maybe a thirty-six inch flourocarbon leader with a swivel between it and the mainline.