Jig weight vrs bb weight

[cooter00]

Ok when I'm out I always use the lightest weight possible that I can still feal bottom in the depth and conditions I'm fishing no matter what I'm doing bb or jigging I know some talk about the oz per 10ft rule when bbing what is the reasoning behind it do you use the same rules when jigging?

 

[SDMF]

Ok when I'm out I always use the lightest weight possible that I can still feal bottom in the depth and conditions I'm fishing no matter what I'm doing bb or jigging I know some talk about the oz per 10ft rule when bbing what is the reasoning behind it do you use the same rules when jigging?

To answer your questions in order.

1. Drag on the bouncer, and even more drag if you have a spinner blade behind it (vs. a lindy on a bouncer).

2. No. Vertical jigging should be as close to that as possible. Current, wind, movement, and depth will all play a factor, but lots less drag on a jig. Size can vary by bait choice as well as the bait is likely to cause more drag than the jig itself. A lively large fathead needs more weight to stay vertical than does a leech or 1/2 crawler. Jig shape can change drag as well as how the bait hangs and/or sits on the bottom.

 

[sweeney]

I usually run 1/2 to 3/4 bb's but I fish slower than a lot of people, when over 1mph I will go heavier on inside rods and back rods I will longline, all depends on the fish that day I guess for me, try different weights and see what angle of water entry is producing the best!

 

[Fishmission]

If conditions permit I love 1/8 ounce jigs at that 2 to 8 feet maybe 10 feet range for jigging. 4 pound ultrathin mono or 6 pound nano tough to beat..something about that thump on light jigs.
get into current, deeper water, heavier wind etc. I'll go up to 1/4 or maybe up to 5/8 ounce jig if I'm in really deep water jigging sauger's, heaviest I have used on the Missouri River is about three eights maybe 1/2. That was in heavy current.

 

[Traxion]

I think it is really situational. While lighter can sometimes be better, say when pitching jigs in shallow, I tend to go heavier more times than not. I can't seem to fish without some sort of feel and if the wind is up or there is current I opt for more weight. I spent a ton of time jigging last fall in the 26-30' range and had a 3/8 oz jig on all the time. Right below the boat even in the wind with good feel all the time. With bouncers, shallow stuff less than 10' I use 3/4 oz. unless it is windy. But, as depth and/or wind increase, weight goes up quickly. I don't like dragging a 2 oz. bouncer but some days it's how I do best.

 

[cooter00]

I have never ever owned a 2oz bb I have never used anything over 1oz Evan in 60+ I just don't get it maybe I need to try it but I'll have to get a stouter pole first using a bb that heavy no matter the depth you would think your really stirring the mud up do you use longer then normal leaders to keep them away?

 

[KiYi]

I think it all depends on feel. I like to feel my jig so I tend to put on the least amount of weight I am still able to feel good. Weather conditions play a big role. As far as bb, I fish a lake with a river channel that winds through it so a heavier bb will fall to the bottom when going across the channel. A lighter one will likely suspend over the channel not getting near the targeted fish.

 

[ccarver80]

I've always used 1oz BB.... I've always used 3/8oz jigs as well... I never understood how people get away with 1/4oz..1/8oz jigs... maybe I'm trolling way to fast with them I usually go 0.8-1.2mph??? Maybe I need to just drift with that light of jigs???

 

[Fly Carpin]

Trolling jigs? I thought a guy was supposed to jig with jigs? Have I been doing it wrong my whole life?

 

[ccarver80]

Trolling jigs? I thought a guy was supposed to jig with jigs? Have I been doing it wrong my whole life?

Haha shoot! Maybe Ive been doing it wrong my whole life!
That's all I did as a kid with my dad... We would have BB out and jigs at the same time.... I don't think we ever did anything vertical ... I remember slaying some walleye on a pearl white jig with a white Mister Twister tipped with a minnow trolling 1 time... it was literally put your jig down and we had a fish on instantly. And I think I keep reverting to that time in my head and trying to repeat that so I keep trolling jigs

Sometimes I still revert to my old ways and I need to break out of my comfort zone and try new things now that I'm a full grown adult and can make decisions for myself haha! but somehow I always slip back into how I did things when I was a kid which could have been horribly horribly wrong LOL.

I'm getting better though I'm starting to troll cranks which we never did and do more pitching cast and towards the shoreline and catching fish research research research watching YouTube videos I've been learning a lot

 

[Duckslayer100]

The only way my grandpa Vern fishes is by dragging a jig along the bottom. He might twitch it now and then, but usually his pole is lifeless in his hands. And he catches plenty of walleyes. So I'm definitely not one to correct his methods.

 

[LBrandt]

Sometimes you have to think outside the box. Keep trying different presentations until something works. That's why they call it fishing and not catching.

 

[Holmsvc]

The reasoning behind heavier bottom bouncers is keeping your line at a 45. If you are fishing in a snaggy area its a lot better to be more vertical than long lining and dragging.

 

[Davy Crockett]

years ago someone was making "trolling jigs" is what I called them, They looked something like the flat bottom stand up jigs but with a lip running down both sides that gave them a diving affect, Even with With a spinner bait blade a 1/2 OZ would troll about like a 3/4 OZ BB I trolled many miles on Sakakawea with them, Seemed like the bigger fish were always caught on them. These were never painted and I'm sure someone local was molding them , Been looking all over for some but they seem to be extinct.

 

[Traxion]

I have never ever owned a 2oz bb I have never used anything over 1oz Evan in 60+ I just don't get it maybe I need to try it but I'll have to get a stouter pole first using a bb that heavy no matter the depth you would think your really stirring the mud up do you use longer then normal leaders to keep them away?

If you have feel at 1oz. and 60' good deal. I don't, so I use weight. I have also paid attention to line angle and who catches what in the boat.....and the people in my boat who keep their line at a 45 degree angle do way, way better than those with a lot more line out. But, each person is different.

 

[gone_fishing]

I have used a 3oz BB in 30' of water and still felt like I had to let a lot of line out to reach bottom (1.2 MPH). Seems like you would have to let a LOT of line out to reach bottom in 60' with a 1oz bouncer (unless I suppose you are trolling really slow).

 

[Allen]

Let us not forget that line diameter/brand/style along with quality of fishing pole all play significant roles in determining if a given person can effectively feel bottom, etc. It's not just speed and weight.

 

[NJL]

From what i understand on bouncers, is that you want to have about a 40 degree line angle. This gives the best bottom control & hook set. A lower, more vertical angle gives you worse hook sets. A larger angle with more line out gives you worse bottom control and more possible snags (especially on very rocky bottoms).