A jig, which is a sinker, a bait with a hook, was originally invented for fishing in winter, but today fishermen are increasingly using such fishing tackle in the summer.
Fishing with jig tackle in the summer months is no less interesting than in the winter, but a jig for summer is usually made larger and heavier than a winter jig. And one of the reasons here is that when fishing on an ice-covered reservoir, the fishing line with bait is in close proximity to the fisherman, in the hole, almost under his feet. And in the summer, the fisherman has to cast the tackle at a distance of up to six meters, and in this case, the information communication along the “jig-nod-rod” chain is less sensitive. Therefore, in order to achieve mutual compliance of all components, it is necessary to choose larger jigs.
Rod
In winter, fishermen, using almost weightless fishing rods with light tackle, can play with bait with great frequency and only with movements of the hand. But when fishing in the summer, playing with a jig located at a considerable distance from the angler is both difficult and difficult.
Although the telescopic rod is made of carbon fiber to lighten the weight, holding and oscillating with such a “six-meter stick”, made even using modern technology and modern materials, is not an easy task, especially if you do it for several hours in a row. A six- to seven-meter rod is the optimal choice: with a longer length, it becomes very difficult to control the tackle, and if the rod is short, then you can only fish directly near the shore, where it is impossible to catch serious fish.
When fishing with a jig, skillful play with tackle is the main component of success. But casting distance is also important. There are no special rods for jig tackle, so each angler must choose for himself a rod of the required length, most suitable for his fishing conditions.
You can even use a spinning rod to catch bait such as a jig.
One of the options for a side nod at the end of the rod
Technique for catching crucian carp with a jig
Crucian carp is excellently caught not only in summer, but also in winter. The best time to catch crucian carp is in November, when the first ice appears on the lakes. A jig for crucian carp is the same catchy tackle in the winter as a float rod with an animal bait in the summer. When persistent cold sets in, and lakes with stagnant water are covered with ice of sufficient thickness, the fish hibernate. But in reservoirs where there is a slight current that enriches the water with oxygen, fish bite well in winter, just as in summer.
You will have good luck catching crucian carp in winter using a jig during thaw periods, when the weather is sunny and the atmospheric pressure is favorable for biting. On such days, the fish are active, they quickly move around the reservoir in search of food. A good bite is observed not only during the day, but also at night. However, when it snows, the fish lies down on the bottom silt and stops responding to any bait.
For winter fishing for crucian carp, ordinary ice fishing gear is used, made according to the same principle as any float fishing rod. There is also a summer jig for crucian carp, which is successfully used by experienced fishermen.
There are many techniques for winter fishing for crucian carp with a jig that consistently give good results on ice fishing. Some fishermen play with bait, then lower it to the bottom and wait for the fish to approach. The game with bait is played according to certain rules, the movements of the jig are smooth, careful, breaks between retrieves are at least 10 seconds. Too frequent and sharp manipulations will scare away the fish and catching crucian carp with a jig will be ruined.
Do not rely on a fishing method where jigs for crucian carp with bait simply lie on the bottom of the reservoir or are suspended motionless at a certain depth
This bait does not attract the attention of fish. By using a ready-made crucian carp jig, the likelihood of success increases
Fishermen on the same body of water use different types and types of jigs and attachments, while achieving quite impressive results.
There are many websites on the Internet with detailed tips on how to catch crucian carp in winter. For fishermen without experience, this is a real storehouse of knowledge that can provide a catch on their first trip to the ice. There you can also determine the catchability of jigs of different shapes and designs, find out the main types of bait play and which winter baits are the most catchy.
Fishing tactics
It was believed that fishing for crucian carp in winter was unrealistic, and fishermen who targeted this fish from the ice would be caught out. But numerous fishing trips prove the opposite - from under the ice this fish can bite just as well as in the summer on a float rod.
In winter, bait a few bloodworms in the form of a bunch on the hook of a jig for crucian carp; he definitely won’t be able to bypass this delicacy. Such well-known bait as semolina or a piece of earthworm is also suitable as a bait on a hook for winter fishing.
Fishing does not require particularly sensitive equipment; you can use summer tackle with a float. The main thing is to lure the fish under the hole, then the carp’s pickiness in biting and the habit of reliably swallowing the bait will play a role.
Equipment
The gear used when fishing with a jig, depending on the method of attaching the fishing line, is divided into two types: “dead” and “running”. At the same time, they say, for example, that this fishing rod has a “blind rig”, and some other one has a “running rig”. By “blind rig” we mean a certain method of attaching the fishing line to the rod, in which it is attached to it “tightly” and reeled in with a small reel, usually installed on the third knee.
It is impossible to release the fishing line to a greater length with blind rigging. And since the shock-absorbing properties of the fishing rod are limited, if the fish being fished is heavy, the fishing line may experience heavy loads and, accordingly, break off at the most inopportune moment. And if this happens when fishing for a very large fish, then it becomes simply a shame: after all, every fisherman dreams of large catch. Therefore, when fishing with a blind rig, you must always have a landing net next to you. And it’s better if this landing net has a telescopic handle.
The main difference between a fishing rod that has a “running” rig is the nature of the operation of this rig, which is “running”, that is, not tightly attached to the rod, but capable of being lengthened or shortened depending on the situation.
The rods of such fishing rods have guides and a reel. The presence of a reel allows the fisherman to timely increase or decrease the descent of the fishing line when fishing, which theoretically makes it possible to catch fish of any size. The fish, having made a jerk, does not break the tackle, but, overcoming the resistance of the reel brake, simply unwinds a small section of fishing line from it. “The line has run,” the fishermen say in this case. That is why such equipment is called “running”.
On a fishing rod with running equipment, either an ordinary reel that does not have a dead brake, or a fly fishing reel can be installed. And the fishing line chosen, as a rule, is 0.1...0.25 millimeters thick, depending on the circumstances. In summer, using running equipment, you can fish at almost any depth of the reservoir.
Nods
Nods on fishing rods with jig tackle can be lateral or straight. On long rods, side nods are more visible, which is why they are usually used.
In general, all fishing rods must have their own nods, which can be lavsan, steel or spring.
Side nods
The length of the side nods when summer fishing using jigs is chosen depending on the length of the rod. The longer it is, the longer the side nod it should be equipped with. A correctly chosen nod prevents sudden vibrations and allows you to make smooth and floating play with the jig. For example, if your rod is 6-7 meters long, then the side nod for it should be about 20 cm long.
Telescopic fishing rod with side nod
When checking the correct choice of nod, you need to keep in mind that due to the action of the weight of the jig, the nod is usually in a horizontal position or goes down slightly, while without bait the nod bends slightly upward.
And since the jigs used for fishing can have different weights, then the nods should be chosen to pair with them, also different in length. The option of adjusting the size of the nod during fishing is inconvenient, since this requires more time than the operation of replacing it with another nod. Therefore, when going fishing, it is best to collect many different nods with different lengths.
It is useful to put multi-colored signaling devices on the tips of the nods, made of some light, brightly colored materials, for example, foam or pieces of colored tubes.
Side nod
Tackle with a side nod is practically the side fishing rod discussed above. Only here a longer rod is used, generally its dimensions are 4-8 meters. The mounting of the guard-signaling device has also been changed from longitudinal to transverse. This way it looks more informative, because the distance to it becomes significant.
The nod should be clearly visible not only against the background of water, but also with an abundance of aquatic vegetation.
They are caught by lateral nodding from the shore or by entering the water in waders.
On a note! Sometimes tackle is also used from a boat, but in conditions of limited space from a watercraft, it is still better to use an onboard fishing rod.
Tackle
Tackle with a side nod is assembled on a rod with or without rings; the size of the blank can reach up to eight to nine meters. At the same time, you need to remember that only a physically prepared person can fish with a heavy rod for a long time.
If you are using a fishing rod with rings, it is advisable to equip it with a simple light reel. It stores a supply of the main fishing line, which is released in accordance with the depth of the fishing spot.
When using a rod without rings, a small reel is attached to the blank, which is placed closer to the tip and the nod itself.
One option for storing fishing line is a foam reel that fits onto one of the upper legs of the fishing rod.
The side nod itself is attached to the tip of the fishing rod. There are many installation options; industrial versions provide special tubes or cambrics. Fishermen often come up with various original methods.
Attention! There are many models of nods that you can make with your own hands, finding diagrams on the Internet or inventing them yourself.
The line is passed through the nod cambrics and brought out through the end ring. A jig is attached to it using a knot familiar to a fisherman. There is no need to invent something new; the best fastenings are those that you know well and are used to doing!
Schematic diagram of the device with a side nod.
Technique
What kind of winter jigs are there?
The technique of fishing with a summer jig is similar for a side fishing rod and tackle with a side nod, so we will consider them in one chapter.
First, we decide on a comfortable release of the base. We lower the jig to the bottom and begin to release the fishing line until the fishing rod takes a horizontal position and the thread is stretched.
It is from this position that we begin to work with the tackle. In the future, we perform lifts, raising the jig up to one meter from the bottom.
Used jig animations:
- smooth ascents with stops and pauses of varying durations;
- frequent twitching with slow rise and fall;
- moving the jig along the bottom with small gaps;
- pulling along the bottom.
Real fishing will show which animation will be the most advantageous. But if it doesn’t bite, you need to try different methods.
Baits
In the fishing methods considered, in addition to the jig itself, various baits of both natural and artificial origin are used as bait. The choice of a specific one depends on the type of fish being hunted.
The following artificial additives are used:
- pieces of foam rubber;
- silicone;
- multi-colored hairs;
- feathers and lurex.
Options for attaching silicone to a jig.
Attention! Artificial baits are good for perch, grayling, whitefish and other predators. However, even peaceful roach can be tempted by deception if it is presented correctly.
Peaceful fish are most often caught using natural baits:
- bloodworms;
- maggots;
- pieces of worms;
- test;
- grains
Nozzle-less jigs are also used in the summer. They show especially good results during the summer of insects. Therefore, you need to use those models that most resemble one or another of their spider bugs.
Jigs
Summer jigs are usually larger than winter jigs. Moreover, the heaviest of them are used when fishing in reservoirs with large currents or depth. And also when they are going to catch obviously very large fish.
The main thing when fishing with a jig is skillful play with such tackle, which largely depends on the experience of the fisherman. The vibrations of the moving jig catch the fish. With the right technique for playing with the tackle, you can count on biting exactly the fish you are hoping to catch.
Fishing with a jig in the summer is more difficult than in the winter, since it is more difficult to ensure good play with it. With the help of a slow, almost motionless game, you can attract bream, ide, roach, and attract perch with the frequency vibrations of the jig.
You can also use the following equipment: tie a hook on a leash, put a white cambric on it, and tie not one leash, but two or three, and each with a hook at the end.
In summer you can fish with a jig both from the shore and from a boat. But in the latter option, the use of jig tackle becomes very effective.
Learning to fish with a summer jig
Photo by avtra
A summer fishing rod with a side nod and a jig is very popular today among Russian fishermen. This is not surprising: it allows you to fish from the shore, wade and from various structures. This tackle is very effective in the spring, when the bream and roach walk along the shore.
For catching bream and roach from the shore or by wading, a 6-8-meter telescopic rod equipped with a reel and fishing line with a diameter of 0.12 to 0.25 mm is suitable. A fishing rod made of carbon fiber attracts with its lightness. The equipment is blind or running, depending on the preference of the angler. In the latter version, a fly fishing reel allows you to quickly adjust the length of the fishing line when landing fish, releasing or reeling it in as necessary. Line reserve 20-30 m.
At the end of the nod, in order for the bite to be clearly visible, you need to attach a red foam ball. A passage ring for the passage of fishing line is mounted in it. The nod should be elastic: when a greedy bite occurs, it begins to “bow”, practically without bending. Often the bite is felt by the hand and looks like a kind of shock transmitted to the rod, but there are subtle bites, and then you need to feel the moment of hooking well. Good side nods are made from a clock spring. You can also cut a nod from a plastic bottle yourself.
As you know, bream usually sticks to depth, so it is better to choose fishing spots near holes adjacent to shallow water rich in aquatic vegetation. The bottom should be clayey, preferably uneven, and the current should be fairly calm. Such places can be found on rivers below rifts, rapids, near steep rivers washed away by the current. Large bream in medium rivers are very fond of snags, and in large rivers they often stand under dams. On lakes and reservoirs, this fish stays near thickets of reeds and sedges; also, when searching, you need to focus on steep clay banks - there may be holes under them; On a reservoir, it is useful to find the bank to which the bed of the flooded river comes close. The best time to catch bream and bream in open water with a jig is the morning and evening dawns. In cloudy weather, a good bite in a baited area can continue throughout the day.
Bait plays an important role in this method of catching bream, but you must not overfeed the fish, but only stimulate its appetite. Usually the bait consists of wheat bran, millet porridge, oatmeal, breadcrumbs, and cake. To make it heavier, crushed dry clay is added to the mixture. The higher the flow speed, the more oatmeal there should be, since it is a good binding component. Spicy additions to the bait include roasted crushed peanuts, egg powder, milk powder, as well as flavorings - vanillin, cocoa, sunflower, corn, burdock oil, and some fruit essences. Their ratio to the volume of the dry mixture should be minimal. It is very important to have a living base in the bait - small bloodworms, maggots or chopped worms. When fishing in still water, the ball of bait should be of such viscosity that when thrown it does not fall apart in the air, but only crumbles when it hits the water. For the flow, the balls are made stronger and thrown ahead of time (a little higher upstream).
The jig can have any shape and color, the main thing is that these parameters are combined with the color and shape of the larvae or crustaceans living in a given reservoir. For these purposes, “ant”, “wing”, “ovinka”, “pellet”, “droplet” (soft and medium-sized) and others are suitable. In areas with a depth of 3-4 m and a gentle current, small jigs such as “ant”, “lentil”, “pear-shaped” with hooks No. 15-18 are used. At great depths, heavier elongated baits with hooks No. 12-16 are placed. The color of the jigs should not stand out too much at the bottom.
The best bait for catching bream with a jig is a dung worm, subleaf, maggot, bloodworm. They are applied with a brush. It is advisable not to leave long ends on the worms.
When the bite is bad, it is important to immediately respond to the slightest rise or tilt of the nod. Usually, when a white bream bites, the alarm, after a short “nod,” straightens, as if freeing itself from the weight of the jig. This means that the fish has taken the bait and it’s time to hook. Sometimes, when playing vertically with a jig, the bite is felt as a kind of hook, but suddenly the end of the rod bends and the line goes to the side - this is how a large bream sometimes takes it.
Having caught a bream, you need to immediately throw in some bait and only then lower the jig into the water. Whether a school of bream has approached the feeding area can sometimes be determined by the pop-up bubbles. It happens that even with good bait there is no bite in the bream area. One of the reasons for this is the souring of the bait, which is generously poured out by different anglers in frequently visited places. In such cases, it is useful to change the fishing location.
Roach fishing begins as soon as shallow rivers, channels, canals, bays, where roaches go to spawn, are free of ice. At this time they usually catch by wading. Sometimes, in order to reach the coveted deep edge, under which large roaches like to stand, you have to take a rod 7-9 m long and use rubber overalls.
From spring to autumn, roach is caught from a boat or from the shore, usually using a medium-weight black jig of the “ant” or “droplet” type with a grain of yellow porous rubber or a tiny piece of foam rubber. However, there is good fishing with unpainted jigs such as “pellet”, “lentil”, “droplet”. Of the live baits during this period, preference should be given to maggots, bloodworms, small worms, caddis flies, and bark beetle larvae. Jig hook No. 15-18, preferably dark color.
As for plant baits, they are ineffective, however, some anglers manage to fish with them if they manage to give the bait a natural look as it falls to the bottom. A tandem of jigs can alert large roach, and it is used only when the bite is excellent at great depths, so that the bait reaches the bottom faster. When the bite weakens, it is worth tying an additional leash with a hook. The main line is 0.12-0.18 mm. The roach bite is accurate, so the nod should be very sensitive.
The insertion of the jig, both with artificial and natural attachments, should be carried out without sudden movements. Usually it is slowly, with smooth rocking, torn off from the bottom and, having been raised to a height of 50 cm, lowered with gliding movements. Sometimes the fish respond better when the rise and fall is carried out without swaying.
Good places for catching roach and other white fish are on capes separating channels, canals, rivers near the mouth - there is usually an intersection of fish paths and great depths near the shore. If you find a good place, the catch can be quite good.
Sometimes large flocks walk close to the shore. In this case, it is better to cast right under the sedge, then its tufts sticking out of the water provide at least a little coverage for the angler. Such places must be approached very carefully. In order not to scare the school with splashes, after hooking the fish has to be dragged through the air, risking tearing its lip. However, it pays off.
It happens that the roach follows the bait, but still does not take it. Then a short pause is necessary (when the jig sinks to the bottom), after which a smooth separation from the bottom often causes a bite. Sometimes roach, bleak and even ide bite in mid-water, but the bait should be brought to the surface.
Along with roach, large bream, blue trout, ruffe, silver bream, ide, chub, and crucian carp can be caught. With increased fish activity, the bite of roach, large bleak and crucian carp is characterized by raising the nod and then (if the nod is soft and its resistance does not alert the fish) by confidently bending it. It is better to hook the fish during the rise.
Areas of water near the coastal bushes are also an ideal place for catching any fish. True, at times you have to put down your fishing rod and make your way through the thicket of branches. Usually, upon hearing the noise, the fish leaves, but if silence is maintained and food is thrown in, it gathers again after a short time. If you choose a suitable gap between the bushes for fishing, fishing can be very rewarding. Sometimes roaches and other fish are caught by dragging bait. You need to imitate a larva slowly crawling along the bottom. In order for the bait to land next to a fish standing far away, you have to release the line longer than the rod and fish with the bait. With proper wiring, the roach chases the bait until it stops. As a rule, the roach takes the stopped bait. After catching the fish, you need to re-throw fresh larvae onto the hook as quickly as possible. It must be said that the roach almost does not react to the motionless maggot. But the maggot squirming on the hook is grabbed greedily, and a sandwich with bloodworms can be even more attractive.
Spring jig fishing usually leaves indelible impressions in the fisherman’s memory. This is not only tracking, biting and catching the desired trophies, but also communicating with the awakening nature.
Alexey Khludov June 3, 2013 at 00:00
Features of fishing from a boat
When fishing from a boat, you can use the same short fishing rod that was used in winter, while the line must be wound on a reel and pulled through the nod, and a jig must be tied to its end. Instead of a reel, a coil can be used. You need to choose strong hooks, and choose jigs that resemble live food in appearance. You need to fish either near the bottom or a little higher.
In the spring it bites well in shallow water, but with the arrival of autumn the fish begins to look for deeper places, so at this time it can only be found at depth: in holes and pools.
Why is it preferable to catch perch with a jig in the summer from a boat?
From any watercraft you can catch much larger specimens of perch than with shore fishing. In the summer he becomes quite capricious, not paying any attention to spinning tackle, in which case an ordinary onboard fishing rod comes to the rescue.
The simplest winter fishing rod is equipped with a more powerful nod, for example, from a clock spring. Wood that is too thin breaks easily in the heat, and in the sun it loses its strength characteristics faster. Therefore, the optimal cross-section will be 0.15 mm and even 0.20 mm. Of course, such diameters complicate the work with jigs, so there are two of them.
The bottom bait is selected based on the conditions of vertical fishing from a watercraft, since it rarely serves its main purpose and acts more as a weight. Higher up the central line, the main jig is tied on a 2-centimeter leash. This is what the humpback whale most often attacks, so you have to experiment with this bait, choosing the size, shape and color.
Reservoirs with clean water require the use of jigs of dark colors, since light ones work much worse. In cloudy water, silvery tones are appropriate - from polished to tarnished. True, often you have to select bait throughout the entire fishing trip, looking for the most catchy one at the moment.
It is much more difficult to fish with baitless jigs, but avid spinning fishers intentionally reject any natural bait. For a less picky person, fishing will be simplified if you string a worm, burdock, maggot and even a leech onto the hook. Bloodworm has always been considered the best, but in the summer it is almost impossible to get it.
Often, anglers, as an alternative, pin small pieces of edible rubber onto the hook, selecting the ones that are optimal for their aroma and color. In most cases, this works more efficiently than various beads and cambrics. By the way, instead of the top jig, they often use a regular hook, then the game changes somewhat.
How to fish in still water?
When fishing in lakes and ponds, you need to cast the jig as far as possible, and after it reaches the bottom, pull it jerkily or drag it along the shore.
The jig needs to be raised slowly, making stops, after which it needs to be lowered a little. While playing, you can tap your finger on the rod in the place where the reel is attached to create vibrations of the tackle at a certain frequency.
If the bottom of the reservoir is covered with vegetation, then the jig needs to be thrown into those places where there are no plants, and which are therefore called “windows”. The jig must be cast to the farthest point of the window, otherwise snags cannot be avoided during the game. If the bait is live bait, then you can also catch pike with it, but most often perch is caught in the windows. During the fishing process, you need to move all the time: you shouldn’t stand in one place for a long time, if there is no bite, after making several unsuccessful casts, you need to go fishing in another window.
Using a nozzle-free fish
The technique of fishing with a baitless jig is not accessible to everyone, but only to experienced fishermen. When fishing with a baitless jig, you need to have well-chosen gear and be able to create the required, usually high, vibration frequency. It is also important to be able to choose the “right” jig: for example, fish bite well on lead jigs with a light-colored hook. At the same time, you can experiment using PVC tubes of different colors.
Reelless jigs
