jigging technique: what am I doin wrong?

[S.S. Fiasco]

So I have only caught 2 fish in 2 ice seasons via jigging (pike and a pout) I slowly bounce it off bottom aboot 4-6" or rapidly, rise it from 1'-2' at an easy pace or erratic quick rips, fast or slow, little or big jigs seems not to matter. I use lindy flyers, rattling flyers, buckshots etc., empty, tipped with whole minnow, head, head and tail, I get plenty of sniffers/lookers, some follow it off bottom a foot some I raise upto 4ft. I fish anywhere from 8fow to 25fow, I fish midday, evening, all hours of the night (got 2 babiess and a job so mornings are usually out). I get some nice pike off tip ups but for life of me I can't jig a fish for nithin! WHAT AM I DOIN WRONG?

[Steve Foss]

Jigging will produce well for both those species if conditions/technique all meet in the perfect storm. But day in and day out you'll do much better for numbers using static presentations such as deadbait tip-ups.

[harvey lee]

One of my first thoughts is are you targeting mainly pike or numerous other specie??

Yes, the deadbaits do work. I would guess I am jigging 75% of the time even for the panfish.

When you are jigging and you see a fish come into the area close to your bait whether it be from the bottom or the side, try and just let the bait sit still for a bit and see if it gets hit. If it does not hit the still bait, I would then try to raise it a foot os so and let it sit again. This works for me alot if the fish are not aggressive.

I would also try this and see how it works for you. Down one hole put a deadstick. Like a rod with a hook and as minnow with a ice buster bobber or a Venom bobber and have the top of the bobber at water level. Then jig with the other rod as many times the jigging action of one bait will draw them in and the deadstick will catch them. This works very well.

One winter on a lake, I jigged for pike with a bigger profile bucktail and whacked some very nice pike. For the pike, if you are using smaller jigs, maybe upsize them a bit.

I would much rather catch a big pike on a rod and reel than a tip up but that's me.

[S.S. Fiasco]

When jigging I have been after walleye, panfish, and perch. Thanks guys for info, its SOOO frustrating knowing there's fish down there and they just won't bite! My brother usually has a minnow/bobber in hole next to me though and he has no luck either. I wonder if there's not a "KEEP AWAY" sign on bottom of our icehouse

[Steve Foss]

I would much rather catch a big pike on a rod and reel than a tip up but that's me.

Many are in that camp. For those folks, static deadbait rigs using a baitcaster reel and rod work as well as a tip-up.

[shogun]

If you're fishing the harbor, I'd say go to a different lake if you want to catch fish. All of those sniffers and lookers on your flasher are ruffe, and more often than not, you won't catch much down in the harbor unless you really seem to know what you are doing and fish it 7 days a week.

[S.S. Fiasco]

I've fished all up and down the river, fish lake, island and a few others, all with same results, wife sAid next time I get skunked I am done for year beings as the rate of $ to fillets is terrible lol

[traveler]

Get to some lakes with clear water and jig in 10-12 ft of water (or less), lay on the floor, and watch whats going on down there (with your eyes!) I've learned more about jigging and fish "moods" watching fish react than anything else. Trout lakes are good for this, as are some panny lakes. Never found a lake to do it with eyes, but I'm sure there are some.

At the very least you'll be able to watch your jig and see what IT'S doing down thee.

[Jim Almquist]

One of the biggest problems people have when jigging is they expect to feel a tug but in reality most bites will not be felt because the fish comes up and inhales the bait and for the most part you will not feel that. When they have the feed bag on they will be more aggressive but in the winter there are just not enough of those type of days. What you really need to do is set the hook if the fish is right on your lure and something feels just a little different. When you are jigging a 1/32 or a 1/64 oz jig that difference is very slight.

[goblueM]

When jigging I have been after walleye, panfish, and perch. Thanks guys for info, its SOOO frustrating knowing there's fish down there and they just won't bite! My brother usually has a minnow/bobber in hole next to me though and he has no luck either. I wonder if there's not a "KEEP AWAY" sign on bottom of our icehouse

i'd suggest spring bobbers, you might be missing the bites, both with just a rod jigging, and with that bobber

[buzz1ng]

Try fishing a spot that doesnt get poundedby 50,000 people a day. The more they are fished, the later it gets in the year the more finicky they are. I would maybe try going to catch some crappies first and learn what your doing, they are incredibly easy to catch on a small jig if you go to the right lake. Should have no prob. getting a limit, or at least some practice.

[shogun]

Try fishing a spot that doesnt get poundedby 50,000 people a day.

+1

I stopped going to fish lake several years ago once I found it was getting HAMMERED year after year. Funny thing is, I think the majority of people fishing it are driving up from the twin cities.

I don't fish the harbor or Island lake either - I've wasted enough of my time on those waters. Try to find a lake that doesn't get that kind of fishing pressure - you will need to get away from town, I'd say at least a 30-45 minute drive.

[Surface Tension]

I don't rip rattling flyers, buckshots or, pimple type lures when fishing eyes. I use slow 1' lift and let it free fall 6-12" off the bottom. Those lures I tip with half a chub. Your hit is on the fall or when the lure is at rest. Watch your flasher, the lifts are done when there you have no targets and should be around one lift every 5-10 seconds. When you have a target enter your cone angle it'll be marked as a weak color. That is your heads up to not make a sluggish eye work too hard to take your lure and a fast drop could end up flying in and spooking it. Make your lift but not as high and don't let it free fall. Include small and slow pumps. Not interested then a slow lift and hold can make an eye come up. Do not drop the lure below your target. If it leaves your cone angle drop down and softly bump bottom then bring it back up.

Crappies and Gills, when the bite is hot movement when they are in your cone angle won't spook them. I keep with the slow lifts and free falls to call them in but once there, keep to very little movement. Quivers and small bumps to perfectly still.

If you've ever watched a crappie or gill on and underwater camera you'll find out that they'll inhale without the slightest detection when the bite isn't hot. You'll also find out they'll spit out your lure before that detection. If I'm fishing with just a flasher I'll give a tiny lift when my flasher tells me the fish is hot on the lure. This tiny lift won't spook them and if they are holding on I'll feel it. Another trick is to move your line off to the side and watch how it moves. A very slow lift will entice a pannie to follow and take it, that will and give you that split second of feel to set the hook. Those are Super finesse type strike indicators without the aid of add ons. . I rarely use a bobber but when I do it is small and at neutral buoyancy Then onto spring bobbers, I don't use them but some people like them a lot. Use that same small lift and watch the tip, if it offers the slightest resistance set the hook.

Tiny jigs a gill will take whole, small dia lines that stay limp with ZERO coil, soft tip rods, and cat like reflexes. I've been using the Ice Red 2# mono and its worked well but recently started using Lindy's 3#. The Lindy has a smaller dia, stays limp and no coil what so ever. Something else I've observed with the camera. Those waxies that fall off and lay on the bottom you would think the Gills, perch, and crappies would clean them up. They'll pick them and spit them out. Be sure to change the bedding for your waxies before they turn sour. Corn meal works good and you don't have to sift through saw dust to find a waxie. For all those reasons I'm using plastics more often now.

I wish we could get maggies around here, for one reason when your using tiny jigs a waxie is too large and a couple wiggling maggies give that tiny movement plastic doesn't. So if your after gills and crappies once you call them in chances are your going to spook them off with movement. Also as a rule a lure dropped below them will spook them. If you have a crappie come in above you very slowly bring it up to them.

[BD110]

Great post Frank!! I thought I had a good idea of what was going on in the world of jigging, that was until I read the content of your post. There's always something to be learned on almost every trip out. I'm going to have to make sure that my wife doesn't take a look at the info you shared about going after Crappies. It's goes against just about everything I've been trying to show her this season about making them chase after the bait then use a sudden stop and feel for the hit. I also many times have dropped below the upper fish on the graph if they do not show much interest. I always thought of it as making them think that they just missed out on a meal that their buddy is going to get. It's been working for me at this point but I'm more then willing to try other methods.

My suggestion to others is if you can get out with other people and see what they are doing first hand there is no better way to learn in my way of thinking.

[Northlander]

I see your fishing the river so I will tel you a tip up can just as well stay home there. Especially in the bay. Unless you want a pout or sturgion than set it on the bottom. Dont fish for sturgion though there is no season on the river for them.

I will also say a lot of the marks you see down there are either ruffies, perch or very small eyes. The bigger marks that chase you around are nice eyes but they have been few and far between lately and they have been real finicky.

As stated get away from the crowds.

As far as jigging the Lindy Flyers, or any other spoon, this is what I do. I drop to bottom and pound a bit, lift 8" and hold, if no fish comes into my view I give 3 12" pumps and let settle for about 20 seconds. If nothing comes in I start the cycle all over. I dont mamby pamby around with them walleyes down there. If they are going to feed they will smack it. On the days they dont I have my deadstick set up with a big juicy fathead or shiner for them to see and hit.

I also make these fish chase. I have had fish hit 5' off bottom in 7' of water down there. If they wont hit the agressive jigging than just pound the rod tip getting the rattles going and when the fish comes in keep doing so as rising. At times they will just be a little added weight or absence of weight.

Dont get frustrated a lot of really good fishermen are struggling a bit on the river lately.

[S.S. Fiasco]

ThankS all! Dying to get out, this high pressure and cold got me holeD up by the fireplace at home lol be out saturday if gods willin n the creek don't rise

[The_Seasock]

Some guys I know have this problem, some dont. The ones that do fish with bobbers and do fine. Lots of guys like to play hockey, some are good enoghf to play pro, some arnt. Same deal, stick to what your good at.

[Northlander]

Welcome Seasock. Sorry but I disagree. Some guys may never play college or Pro ball but they can practice and get better at a sport. Good enough to stay competitive. I say practice jigging and watching your graph to see what the fish want. I wasnt good at it at the start but now Im pretty competitive with others on the ice.

DONT just watch bobbers! Thats boring and especially on the river you wont catch much.

[buzz1ng]

Agreed Northlander. I can usually catch 10 to 1 jigging over all. Obviously some days are different, but all in all, I think 10 to 1 is being conservative.

[Northlander]

Ya that would be conservative for sure. In my experience its more like 50 to 1 on the river. Thats unless you count pout, sturgion and perch. LOL.