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Posts: 252
| Back about two months ago, my son and I bought some bondy baits and started using them.
We have had a blast with them. We had never vertically jigged for musky before and it was great to learn a new technique that really works, and sometimes works when not much else is working.
What we found out, and I guess this would vary from place to place, was that we were having approximately one hit about every 45 minutes with both of us jigging. We were only landing about one fish out of every four hits (one of these was definitely my fault, because I thought I had hooked into a stump and it wasn't a stump after all). Someone told us to change the 4/0 back hook out with a 5/0 hook for more success with landing the fish while jigging.
I changed out the back hooks last night and haven't tried the lures with the 5/0 hooks yet. Has anyone else tried this and had good results?
I figure that it can't hurt anything, but sometimes, I figure wrong... |
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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | Go one size bigger on the back hook. If you do the front, it will hang up more. I change mine out to Gamakatsu 4x hooks...expensive but worth every penny! |
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Posts: 614
Location: Michigan | Put a hook on the top of the bait as well. http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSEoFXnBv1NepC2MpxchmdAw4K8... |
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Posts: 719
| First of all thanks for buying the baits! My personal hook up ratio with them is about 75%. I've found that adding that extra hook helps, but I also use very stiff 8 ft or longer rods. The length will sweep up more line on the hookset, and a softer action rod will absorb alot of the energy you put into the hookset, so get one with a TON of back bone. I also stand up when I fish and constantly asking myself if I am in a good position to set the hook should I get a strike, which often I am not. Also, alot of fish will hit at the very peak of your lift, in which the rod tip is usually at my eye level. Setting the hook in a decent manner will the see the rod raised to 12 oclock. I often lose fish when this occurs because I can't reel down fast enough to catch up to them, and since the barbs have yet to dig in good, they may get away. I always start my guide trips out by telling my clients to not be alarmed, but when they get a bite I will be yelling at them to 'pull! pull! pull!' or 'Keep pressure on it!', which is the best way to put em' in the boat. The good thing is you are getting bites, so you've got the first half of the equation figured out. Thanks again and hope this helps....Jon
Edited by Bondy 9/19/2012 6:01 AM
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | No need to change out the hooks, just make sure they are sharp. As Jon said, most fish will hit at the top of the jig stroke & you won't be in the position to get a good hook set. When this happens you always need to keep the pressure on them. Back in June I landed a 51 1/2" fish in 35' fow that hit at the top of my jig stroke & the hooks never penetrated the fish’s mouth but I kept constant pressure on the fish & never gave her any slack. |
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Posts: 252
| Thanks for the replies!!
I'm going to try the extra hook in the back also. We hadn't thought of that, and, I'm planning on getting an eight foot rod. The rod I've been using is a 7 foot rod. I also try to stand most of the time that I am jigging, but it seems like I usually get my hook ups when I'm sitting down, running my mouth, and not paying attention...
Again, thanks for the help! |
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Posts: 1023
| Last spring I got a hit just as I was dropping the rod down while taking a head back all-out chug from a water bottle. End result= one lost fish, one very wet head and chest, one p'd off angler and one very entertained friend!
Landry |
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