Fishing with a jig: features of the technique, choice of bait

When going sea or river fishing, especially in a large reservoir, spinners have to take heavy artificial bait with them. Only they can count on a good catch. Speaking about effective types of spinners, it is worth noting jigs for sea fishing. With their help, you can fish both in the vast expanse of the sea and in the depths of a freshwater reservoir. You will learn about jig fishing, as well as the types of jigs, features of their use and fishing techniques in this article.

How does fishing with a jig differ from fishing with other baits?

In the classical sense, a jig is a heavy, narrow-bodied spoon, in which the length and width have a ratio of 6:1. Many models have round, hexagonal, rectangular or square sections. Due to its fairly large weight, this bait is easily buried and held in the fishing zone without being affected by the force of the current.

A jig, in fact, is a heavy oscillating lure, on one side equipped with a soldered loop to which a fishing line is attached, and on the other with the same loop, which is designed to attach a treble hook. To make the bait heavier, while maintaining a narrow elongated body, manufacturers use several technologies.

The simplest method used to produce spinners of this type is to use a profile wheel. The workpiece is cut at the required angle on both sides, holes are made at the ends or loops are soldered.
Many spinning anglers are familiar with homemade tube bait. Some jigs use tubular material filled with lead.
Some manufacturers, using special molds, cast the jig completely from lead, due to which the body of the bait looks like a real fish.
To make triangular baits, metal sheets are used, which are initially shaped into triangles, after which the seam is sealed. Molten lead is poured into the internal cavity.

Jig fishing can be done both in the open sea and from the shore in a wide freshwater body of water. The difference between baits intended for sea and freshwater fishing, although not too noticeable, still exists.

If we talk about sea fishing with a jig, then in this case the bait is distinguished by larger dimensions and greater weight. Thanks to these qualities, the process of catching cod, halibut or catfish is simplified. Fishing is carried out from a boat or other vessel in a vertical position.
For jig fishing for freshwater predators - pike perch or asp, you can use more compact models. Since the jig method is mainly used for such fishing, priority is given to the flight characteristics of the bait. However, vertical fishing from a boat is also possible.

Jig models designed for sea fishing can weigh up to one kilogram. But they cannot be used in freshwater bodies. However, spinning anglers make full use of smaller baits when they go fishing in rivers, reservoirs and lakes for asps, perches, pike perch, catfish and pike. For example, a jig designed for catching horse mackerel can also be used in closed freshwater reservoirs.

Advice! For rivers and lakes located in our climate zone, it is most advisable to fish with jigs weighing 15–40 grams, the length of which does not exceed 7–8 centimeters. In some cases, the spoon can be increased or decreased in size.

Among the advantages of jig fishing are the following:

You can cast over very long distances, fishing in promising areas remote from the shore, if fishing from a boat is not possible, or if the fish is located at a significant distance from the spinner. This advantage is key when catching asp with a jig.
It is possible to use different bait animation techniques in any water horizon.
Fishing with a jig is possible for almost all types of fish that live in our water bodies.
You can make jigs yourself using available materials. To make a simple spinner, a non-ferrous metal rod is suitable, which must be cut at an angle. The fisherman is absolutely not limited in realizing his fantasies. The shapes of homemade jigs can be very diverse, the main thing is that the fish bites on them.

Jig fishing is difficult in difficult conditions. This bait is not used when fishing in snags, in areas that are abundantly overgrown with algae.

Concept of jig, scope of application

A distinctive feature of all jigs is the elongated purlin shape of the body. Essentially, this bait is a heavy oscillating spoon. On one side of the jig there is a soldered loop for fastening with fishing line, on the other end a treble hook is attached to the same loop. To give the bait more mass while maintaining a narrow elongated body, manufacturers use several technologies.

Photo 1. Installation of the jig.

Jigs can be used both in open sea conditions and in wide freshwater areas. Drawing a line between marine and freshwater models is quite difficult.

In general, jigs for sea fishing are distinguished by their larger dimensions and greater weight. Such properties of the bait allow you to successfully hunt cod, halibut or catfish. Fishing is carried out from a boat or ship in a vertical position.
You can catch freshwater predators such as pike perch and asp with more compact models. Since fishing is most often carried out using the jig method, the flight characteristics of baits come to the fore. Although vertical fishing from a boat is also quite effective.

I won’t talk about the rest of the fish that can be caught with a spinning rod, but which I didn’t have on my hook. If necessary, you can find something on the Internet.

This is where spears and stereotypes will break. The information the reader needs most, if of course the reader trusts me and my experience. Rubber in fishing conditions in the warm season is more than 50% of all baits. It bites more consistently than anything else. Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of microjig fishing. Hundreds of silicone baits of various directions have passed through my hands. Let's go in order, I'll show you only the tires that went with me to the Black Sea.

I had just under 100 packs of rubber in my arsenal.

The Kraken is the only bait from the entire Luremax lineup that has had bites and catches.

A typical picture after biting a small crucian carp, which is not able to completely eat the Hogy Hog in one bite and thereby get hooked.

The best crustacean bait I had with me was Hogy Hog.

There were several packs from YoshiOnyx and the Pollywog model. The rubber is positioned (according to the seller) both for trout fishing and for the sea. He advised me to buy transparent and white slugs. Completely zero, after 30 casts I removed them and never took them out again. There's no need to talk about installation.

Tips for fisherman: Tackle for sea fishing in Crimea - What is the difference, pros and cons

A small series of pictures featuring Marukyu Power Isome.

Conclusion on silicone baits

Rubber is the most controversial part when choosing certain brands and models. Manufacturers sometimes themselves do not know whether their rubber is suitable for sea fishing. The best decision is to abandon budget models in favor of those designed for rock phishing. These are usually Japanese companies. Not cheap, but the result will definitely be.

Although if you are not too lazy to take hundreds of packs of silicone to the sea and experiment like me, it will be very interesting and unpredictable. After all, you can also find bait that was created for catching perch or trout, but has shown excellent results in the sea.

The last part of the article is about the fish that live in the Black Sea, their fishing specifics, behavior and way of life. I’m only talking about those fish that I caught myself. There is a lot of information on the Internet, so I will be brief. Maximum information and minimum theory from Google and Yandex.

Scorpionfish or sea ruff

Laskir or sea crucian

Rulena or greenfinch

Rock Perch

A bottom predator, its habits resemble our perch. It lives at a depth of 4 meters, lives on pebble areas or in algae thickets. It is not tied to areas where crucian carp and greenfinches live, otherwise it would be more often in the bycatch. I caught it blindly, while bottom fishing with crustaceans in the open sea. I didn’t see any consistency in the captures, so I can’t talk about him.

Blenny

Horse mackerel

bluefish

Gorbyl

I won’t talk about the rest of the fish that can be caught with a spinning rod, but which I didn’t have on my hook. If necessary, you can find something on the Internet.

I would like to express special thanks to Nadezhda Chernaya, our guide from the glorious city of Tuapse. If you want to understand sea fishing and absorb the necessary information while in this beautiful city, feel free to contact Nadya.

Well then, friends. There was really a lot of text; writing the article took me several days. I really hope that this material will be useful to someone and many will solve some issues with fishing in the Black Sea. I told you in as much detail as possible about what I understood myself; only you can draw your own conclusions. Protect the environment.

So, how to rig a jig . Take the winding ring. And we put it on our jig. As a rule, the jig is equipped from above, because the cone is often used when fishing in places that are quite heavily snagged. We put it on using pliers (Photo 5). And we equip it with, let’s say, “pepper”. This is what our cone equipped with a single hook with a silicone pepper looks like (Photo 6).

Equipment and spinning for jig fishing

To fish with jigs, you need a boat or boat. And this moment affects the configuration of spinning gear.

First of all, the fisherman will need a rod 2.4-2.7 m long with a casting of about 100 g. For a spinning rod, it is important to have a parabolic action, due to which the entire length of the rod can be used to practice catching pecked fish.
Whether the spinning rod is equipped with a spinning reel or a multiplier is solely influenced by the preferences of the fisherman. It is worth considering that when casting a heavy jig in cold weather with gloves on, using a spinning reel model will not be very convenient. Releasing a fishing line using a multiplier is much easier, and without losing the sensitivity of the entire tackle.
For this fishing method it is better to use braided fishing line. The diameter of the fishing line is influenced by the size of the expected production. If there is a possibility of being bitten by toothy predators, then it is better to use a metal leash.

The choice of reel for jig fishing depends on personal preferences and habits. You can use an inertia-free traction reel or a multiplier.

Both varieties have their own specific characteristics. The multiplier has a number of advantages compared to a spinning reel:

Considering that jig fishing requires increased demands on strength and pulling power, only a spinning surf reel weighing approximately 650 grams is suitable for fishing. This causes additional inconvenience, since there is extra stress on the hands. Therefore, using a multiplier with a weight of five hundred grams will be less tiring, due to the absence of a long mounting tab.
Fishing with a heavy jig using a spinning reel in cold weather while wearing gloves is quite problematic. When casting without gloves, the likelihood of cutting your index finger with the cord increases.
Casting a fishing line to depth using a reel with a multiplier is much faster, since in an inertialess model you need to open the bracket to do this, which can lead to loss of feeling for the bait.

The disadvantages include the fact that there are no spinning rods with multipliers of the required class on sale. That is, you have to make a spinning rod with a multiplier to order.

Pay attention to protect the bearings from salt water. Also, do not buy reels with spools made of magnesium alloys, as sea water has a sharply negative effect on them.

Spinning rod for jigs

Spinning for jigs is the choice of every angler based on personal experience and preferences. In general, there are spinning rods designed for metal jig fishing. There are spinning rods for shore jigging, there are ones for fishing from a boat, if you are fishing with baits of 100 grams or more, and there are ones for light baits.

Specialized models for fishing with light jigs are often marked “Light game”, “Light Shore Jigging” and others. These spinning rods are available from Japanese manufacturers, such as Yamaga Blanks in the Blue Current series, Xesta, Tict and others. But unfortunately, the price tags for these rods are far from budget, and a novice angler will not be able to appreciate all the advantages of top-end rods due to lack of experience.

So what kind of spinning rod should be used for jigs in order to fish with them in the Black Sea? Let's look at it in order:

Length. You shouldn’t go too small with the length of the spinning rod for jigs. It doesn’t matter whether the fishing takes place from a pier or from the beach, a spinning rod shorter than 240 cm in height should not be chosen. I consider the length of a spinning rod for jigs to be 250 cm universal; it will be comfortable for fishing from the pier and from the shore. But if fishing takes place exclusively on the shore or concentrations of fish are often located at a sufficient distance from the pier, you should think about buying a spinning rod with a length of 2.6-2.8 m.
Tabular or Solid. For jig fishing, take only rods with a tabular tip. Soft solid tips will only interfere with wiring and prevent normal animation. They are needed for something else, for example, for rock fishing (although in this style of fishing many anglers prefer stricter sticks with Tabular or Hard Solid tips). Hard solid tips are also suitable for jig fishing.
Build. It is advisable to choose spinning rods with a fast action or, even better, a regular fast action. These rods are best suited for jig fishing.
Test. Since the main objects for fishing with jigs in the Black Sea are not very large, you should not use very large baits. But it’s also not worth getting smaller. The optimal top test for a spinning rod will be 12, 15, 18 g. In the summer, a lighter spinning rod with a test of up to 10-12 g will be enough, but in the fall, when strong winds blow, a jig of 15-18 g will seem like fluff. I also fished with heavier jigs of 30-35 g, but this did not bring good results. But even a medium mackerel, and sometimes small ones, readily grab a jig of 20 g.
Power. The rod should not be overly powerful. Fishing should be fun. Sea fish, even small ones, are very strong, but if you catch Black Sea garfish with a spinning rod that was designed to catch sea bass, you will not feel all the joy of fishing.

Pay attention to the fishing line characteristics of the rod; it is advisable that the PE value should not be higher than 0.8. The optimal value will be 0.2-0.6, 0.3-0.6, 0.3-0.8 PE for spinning rods with bait tests up to 20 g. If the spinning rod has an upper bait test of 25, 30 or more grams, then in this case the upper PE value will be optimal in 1-1.2 PE.

Weight. The lighter the rod is, the more comfortable it will be to fish with and the more sensitive it will be. Typically, the lighter the spinning rod, the more expensive it is. But even in a budget pricing policy you can find something that is not a log. So if you have a choice between two inexpensive rods with the same characteristics, take the one that is lighter.
Brand and price. I will say from personal experience that a normal rod for jig fishing can be found in the price segment even up to 3 thousand rubles. For example, I fished with a Royal Spirit spinning rod from AliExpress and overall I was very pleased with it. In 2021, I fished with a Favorite Impulse 832L-T spinning rod. This rod is already at a higher level and gave me even more positive emotions. I will write a review about all the spinning rods that I used for jig fishing in the Black Sea, so subscribe to updates so as not to miss new publications.

Jig fishing methods

Fishing with a jig in a plumb line

To fish with a vertical jig, you need a boat or boat. After the bait sinks to the bottom, you need to make a sharp swing of the rod upward to a height of 0.5 to 1.5 meters, and then lower it freely. Fishing should start from the ground, since this is where there is a high probability of catching the inhabitants of the seabed - burbot, halibut, scallop, sea bass, greenling.

To attract the attention of the fish, you need to start tapping the jig on the bottom, after which you should play with the bait. The animation is performed initially on the ground, then the bait rises a little higher, gradually moving through the water until it encounters cod, haddock, navaga or other schooling fish.

You can search for the level of fish in another way - by stopping the jig and playing with it in different water layers while lowering the bait to the bottom. The most convenient way to record the depth at which a school of fish is located is to use a reel with a depth gauge that indicates the level at which the bite occurred.

In order to find a fish site, you have to make numerous movements through the water. To fish at great depths, a boat or boat is driven over the point where the school was discovered. But we should not forget about both the likelihood of natural movement of the school, and the possibility of the vessel being drifted to the side due to the current.

Casting jig fishing

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Casting jig fishing is done as follows. Casting is usually done from a boat or boat; its range is thirty meters or more. The large weight of the bait makes this task easier. The line tension immediately selected using the reel helps control the fall of the bait after it touches the water. When diving the tackle to depth, smoothly and widely pull and release the jig with the rod.

Fish can bite in the water column, and only when the bait sinks to the bottom. Once you feel that the jig has touched the ground, hook it immediately, as the fish may follow the bait. Quite often, a bite is mistaken for a jig hitting the bottom during a dive. After this, the usual jig wiring is performed in various variations, depending on the preferences of the angler. Good results are obtained by twitching, which is replaced by pulling along the bottom.

The wind force not exceeding 3-5 m/s is considered ideal for jig fishing. This allows you not to reel in the fishing line while fishing, since the speed of a drifting vessel is suitable for jig fishing. Wind speeds exceeding 5 m/s require the use of a water anchor-parachute.

When choosing the weight of the jig, it is necessary to take into account the duration of the pause (usually it is 5-8 seconds) maintained between the bait touching the bottom (at a distance of 30 to 50 meters).

A good effect in fishing with a jig can be achieved by leaving it in the water column for a while while lowering it to the ground for a long time. If, when jigging, the pauses between touching the bottom with the bait last longer than usual, or are absent altogether, smoothly lower the rod forward until the jig touches the ground. It is then, in most cases, that the bite happens. When reeling in the fishing line, the duration of pauses between touching the bottom with the bait is reduced. When they start lasting no more than 1-2 seconds, you need to pull out the line and cast again. Sometimes you can find a bite directly under the boat, but the catch is mostly small fish.

Features of fishing with a jig cone

Photo 16. Triangular jig with horizontal and vertical action

Punda or cone are used mainly in spring and autumn, when there is a lot of fish , it accumulates in certain places - local ones, in clogged places it accumulates, and it is good to catch it there.

We approach the fishing spot, find the fish, and stand either on the motor or drifting, if the current and wind allow. If the current or wind is strong enough, you can use a parachute anchor. It holds well and reduces drift speed to almost 0 km/h.

Here are some tips for rigging a jig cone for saltwater fishing. I told you how to use a self-tie, about winding rings, swivels, and how to equip a tee with an octopus.

Fish at sea, make the tackle simpler and more reliable.

Enjoy your fishing. All the best! Goodbye!

Fishing accessories in the online store Rybolov.ORG. A varied selection: hooks, swivels, rigs, cords, etc.

Coil

Spinning

The most versatile lengths are 7.3 to 8.2 feet (220-250 cm). The rod structure may be different, but fast rods are better suited for our tasks. Which rod to take - with a tubular or solid tip - is a matter of personal preference. By the way, the guide rings installed on modern spinning rods are not afraid of salt water, so it is not at all necessary to rinse them with fresh water after each fishing trip.

Another problem for fishermen who do not get to their vacation spot by personal vehicle is the transportation of spinning rods. For example, if you fly by plane, then in the vast majority of cases you will not be able to take poles with you into the cabin and, as an option, you are left with carrying them in your luggage. To ensure that spinning rods do not break and arrive safely to your vacation spot and back, you need a hard tube. I recommend not saving on the tube and immediately buying a high-quality and reliable one.

Tips for fisherman: Sea fishing in Crimea from the shore - How to best use

Coil

Fishing lines

And those who like microjig fishing should wind #0.2-0.3 braid on the reel to get maximum pleasure from catching even small fish. Since contact of the fishing line with various stones and bottom sediments is inevitable, I therefore recommend using four-core braided fishing lines, and also be sure to tie a fluorocarbon leash (0.14-0.22 mm) from 30 cm to one and a half meters long.

Of all the variety of braided and fluorocarbon fishing lines, I advise you to pay attention, first of all, to the products of such Japanese companies as YGK, Sunline, Varivas.

Well, to sum up some intermediate results, I want to say that you don’t need to be afraid to take gear with you on trips. The pleasure of catching fish at sea is priceless!

Crucian carp, by the way, is a worthy opponent. It can be recognized by its methodical powerful thrusts into depth. Rule: when hooking, it is better to raise the spinning rod up and not allow the braid to become slack, as the fish tends to escape from you into the crevices between the stones. Don't give her this chance.

Crucian carp, by the way, is a worthy opponent. It can be recognized by its methodical powerful thrusts into depth. Rule: when hooking, it is better to raise the spinning rod up and not allow the braid to become slack, as the fish tends to escape from you into the crevices between the stones. Don't give her this chance.

Broadly speaking, the category of artificial lures “pilker” includes diverse narrow-bodied oscillating spoons. They can be divided into the following groups: