Spinning jigs?

[THE_Cable_Guy]

I spent most of Monday sight fishing on the chain in about 8'. I had a lot of big gills come in and look but would always back off one my lure would start slowly spinning. Does anyone else think that because of the spinning lure, I couldn't get many takers? 

The fish would come in fast and hard but then back off real fast. Any insight on how to keep that from happening?

[IceHawk]

In line reels are the answer to that problem.

[gunner55]

We use a small swivel 2-3' up the line, tied to 2# flouro for panfish. They don't like it spinning. Check out some articles on Dave Genz fishing for panfish. He would pull some line off his reel & stretch it to get rid of some of the coils / memory that it has so it wouldn't spin as much. Fresh line can help with this too

[SpearPike]

Fresh line or strip off some line every so often to stop the spinning.

[Tom Sawyer]

Yes inline reels do work well in solving the spin problem, wouldn't think of using anything else it deep water. The addition of a swivel and another length of line will work also, but the fish may see the connection in clearer water and actually be attracted to it. Similar to adding a split shot.

In shallow water you should be able to get the memory out of your line by pulling it out from the reel, as mentioned by gunner.

[Stick in Mud]

I've always found if I look down the hole and then slowly walk around the hole in the direction the jig is moving, the jig appears to stay in place.  But if I walk the other way around, it spins twice as fast.  Whether this fools the fish remains to be seen.

In all seriousness, apart from what everyone else has said, I try to always keep a little tiny quiver on the lure.  That'll hold it steadier than just letting it sit perfectly still. 

[THE_Cable_Guy]

10 hours ago, Stick in Mud said:

I've always found if I look down the hole and then slowly walk around the hole in the direction the jig is moving, the jig appears to stay in place.  But if I walk the other way around, it spins twice as fast.  Whether this fools the fish remains to be seen.

In all seriousness, apart from what everyone else has said, I try to always keep a little tiny quiver on the lure.  That'll hold it steadier than just letting it sit perfectly still. 

I did try the spinning thing myself! Much to my surprise the fish came in and just looked up the hole at me!! Probably thinking 'who is this goofball'. Was hoping the dinner and a show idea would work! 

Thanks for all the advice!

[Naturboy]

One thing I always do is make sure your plastic is on straight. Watch your lure in the hole, let it drop 6 - 12 inches to see if it's spinning around the hole or going straight out to one side. That makes a bigger difference than using an inline reel. If your line has a lot of twist in it you can pull it off the reel with the drag set light to stretch the line a bit and it should straighten out. 

If your line still twists you might have to heavy of a line or it's time to change it. I use 2 lb test Berkely Vanish which I love to use but Northlands Ice Camo also worked well for or and is a little cheaper. 2 lb test is plenty strong if your reel drag is set right. You can land even 25" plus northerns with it as long as the line doesn't touch their teeth. Good Luck!

[Tom Sawyer]

23 hours ago, Naturboy said:

One thing I always do is make sure your plastic is on straight. Watch your lure in the hole, let it drop 6 - 12 inches to see if it's spinning around the hole or going straight out to one side. That makes a bigger difference than using an inline  Good Luck!

Great point Paul, plastic threaded straight and centered prevents your bait from spinning through the water column. However the problem of line twist and coiling, (memory) is greatly reduced, and even eliminated by inline reels. These are two separate issues, but somewhat related. Twist is normally caused from clicking your bail over and over and over, which turns over the line creating the twist, no bail on an inline. Memory is the coiling effect your line has from being on the spool. The biggest difference is the line rolls off the spool on an inline, just like the day you put it on; verses uncoiling from a spinning reel spool. The larger spools on inline reels, also help limit memory. Hope this helps to understand why inline reels help eliminate twist. 

https://youtu.be/xAPsrf3gTmo

[eyeguy 54]

Makes total sense on why inline stops it but I guess I am puzzled as to why clicking the bail closed makes line twist. When I reel in quick with just the jig and bait it spins like crazy at top when out of the water so I am thinking it's cuz of going around the bail. .I just let it stop and all is good when I let it sink again.  When I drop it down I watch to see if it spins.  If it goes real slow or not at all I dont worry, if it turns quick I just adjust meat or plastic. Might have to try an inline again someday. Did not care for the clam one.  I gotta have a drag where I can reel at the same time. We gotta get out next week if any ice left.   These older eyes need the 3 pound line, tried the 2 but hard to see sometimes.