I've only used (dare I say it?) wood floats and bait and only in special conditions. I've never tried jigs. I'm a lifelong drift fisherman. This year with all these fish coming in it's time to learn something new. Sizes and colors of jigs is what I'm looking for? Also I fish a lot of small rivers where flows are fast and theres little room for any kind of long drift with a bobber. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Gooose

It's always fun to try something new, I've been through it but bait is funner..
Jigs
Eggs

All for fun guys.
Keith

Okay, that's it! I'm going fishing! Don't stop me, cuz it's allllll your fault!

I picked up my jigs at Silent Approach. Nice people, and they've been successful for me in catching large barnicle-covered rocks and large squawf---er...northern pikeminnows. Not the jigs fault, more of the angler's.

There are many other fine folks around here that make jigs, each with their own plusses. Go grab that jig book by Mr. Herzog. Very good reading.

The jig book is actually Vedder's - 'Zog's is on drift and spoon fishing. And Silent Approach actually makes a "squawf***ing northern pikeminnow" jig. Apparently it works well. They also make fine steelhead jigs.

Gooooooooooose! You're a jig virgin?!? Oh man, have you been missing out on fun and productive feeshin. I read how you like to use gobs of black yarn for 'hos. Well jigs are sophisticated versions of that. And multi-colored. And weighted.

One of the advantages of using jigs under a float is that their inherant weight keeps the slack out of the line from jig to float - thus immediately detects fish strikes. Use the search feature for 'jigs' and see lots of tech and color suggestions. Check out firstcastjigs.com site for lots of info. >

As for the smaller faster water slots, I suggest trying 2 things. Use added lead weight a couple feet or so up the line from the jig, and big enough float size for it, to get the jig down quickly in a short distance. Also, people are finding out that you can drift fish a jig without a float, quite effectively in faster water. Have fun.

Thanks RT.....yeah I'm a jig virgin. Done or tried just about.....whoa hold it a sec I ain't going there around you guys. Suffice to say that Gooose has been around the block a time or two.
Anyway I'm thinking of using some color combosfrom my flyfishing days. How about a combo of purple, blue and orange?

Gooose

Goooooose!!! I think RT just hooked ya and reeled ya in--a jig virgin?? . Damn, I wish I'd have been on line earlier and beat him to THAT! Didn't you see those sweet jigs I got from silent approach I have in the boat? If I was a fish, I'd eat that!! Don't ask how many fish I've caught with them though My fault, but it's going to happen. I even blew the $$$ for a 10 footer just to fish them. The way the wind is howling and the rain coming down, I don't think it's going to be tommorrow though

Fish4Steel you know where I'm gonna be in the morning....FishOn!

Gooose

And don't be surprised if ya see a cowboy hat up there Gooose. I've got an empty front seat drift boat. Go figure.

I'm a jig/float virgin too. I carry some in my vest along with my rubbers, I mean my drift gear. Also throw a few spinners. I think its time to loose it.

[ 12-01-2001: Message edited by: Steelheadman ]

i want to try this too. i have some beu macs. are they any good? i use a ugly stick light that is 9.6. is that too short? none of the guys i hang out with like to fish so i do this by myself and have seen a few guys do it on a little stream by my house. i mostly just use eggs.

I'm still a jig virgin too. Well, technically not-I've tried them twice. But only for a couple minutes. Just "dipped my wick" so to speak. But dangit, it's time I got some more jigs and got on with this game! I've been savin' my pennis for a good jig rod/reel and I'm gonna check out all the suggestions I've got so far. But first I think I'm gonna get some quality jigs from you guys off the net. As of right now, I've got 8 jigs (all Beau-Mac's and Uncle Walts--I've heard Beau Mac's were okay, but what about these Uncle Walts?--mine are the yarn/bead ones and some have sparkly yarn).

OK all you jig virgins, get your rubbers .. ah, I mean floats ready. We have a good steelhead run going on under all that chocolate water this season. The jigs will work in colored water but they are most productive in medium to clear water. (when the heck is that going to happen?!?)

btw KB, can you clarify your quote of "I've been savin' my pennis for a good jig rod/reel"? Is that a kinky Freudian Slip or did you just forget the 'e' in pennies? >

Use the search feature to access a lot of recent and past excellant BB info on jigging techs here. Then just feel free to post questions. We have experts like Mark, Mike, and Roger to answer them for you. And lots of us decent jig fishers to help out also. I've taught a lot of people how to break their virginity, so this could be right up my alley too?

Soooo, we have 4 admitted jig virgins - not that there is anything wrong with that. It's OK. Really. ... muh ha ha ha ha jk How about a little first jig caught steelhead contest by Gooose, Schwing, Steelheadman, and Krome Bright. We'll go on the honor system; just like they did in the Jerry Seinfeld TV episode about self control. You 4, and any other jig virgins that want to confess and enter too, I will put up a separte post with some jigs as a prize for the first to break their jig virginity. >

Hey Schwing (pronounced Shhhhaawingggg?), your 9'6" length is plenty for float fishing bait or jigs in medium to smaller streams - but an Ugly Stick? I guess that's OK. Right guys?

Go check the jig contest thread.

RT

Gooose, the nighmare pattern of pearl head, red chenile body with black yarn tail has netted me fish on almost every river I have tried it on.

A lot also as you know is confidence in the jig you are throwing. No matter how many patterns you try out sooner or later your favorite go to's will emerge.

FJ...out.

Aunty, I'll enter you in the jig contest thread. But let me get this straight - you, being primarily a saltwater fisher, haven't caught a steelhead at all yet? This needs our immediate attention. Get after the jig contest when the water gets clearer, and in the meantime work on drift fishings eggs or corky/yarn rigs. This is the year to get that steelie and more. Enough of them to quicken the learning curve in catching them consistently. You make 9 contestants and growing in the contest thread Marsha.

BTW, I understand about the Christmas shopping thing. I'm no great innovative guy in shopping for my wife, but how about those "shopping crackers" that buy their wives things to do more work in the kitchen with? Or the same perfume they gave last year and is only 1/3 used up yet. Get wise guys, buy them a GL3 and start them fishing. When they don't have time to use it I suppose you could find the time to make a little use out of it. ... jk jk jk

RT

Stick with 1/4oz jigs for winter fishing. I carry 4 basic colors for winter time.... white,pink/white, Nightmare(pearl white head, red chenille body and black tail) and a cerise jig. I also carry a selection of 1/4 oz jigheads to fish pink worms(pearl pink with black eyes are hot!). These will get you by in most situations.

"Yuppie elitist fly geek fish"? Oh Aunty, I'm glad of your change of heart about our favorite conventional gear game fish.

As for looking spiffy? Me? Haven't you seen any of my pics? I look like crap in them. And I buy All-Star and TH custom rods now - at a fraction of the price of those Sage and GL rods. And catch just as many fish with them. But that's all in other threads - get it; 'other threads' pun, meaning clothes or topics or both.

Frickin' A! Son of a gun! I just got back from the doctor's office. Slipped and fell a couple hours ago and dislocated my ankle! Heard a snap/crackle/pop sound similar to Rice Crispies. Then my vision went to complete black because the pain was so bad. Couldn't stand up for 15 minutes! Still hurts like a b-witch, too. Why me?! Go ahead and make fun of me now, RT. I deserve it for f*cking with you all the time.

Just read all your posts. Freudian slip, RT? Define a Freudian slip. Kinda know what it is, but not really. "Pennis" was just another typing error. Sorry I'll try harder next time. Contest sounds cool to me-but I wont be able to fish for a couple weeks now. Oh well, no matter, I'll still win. I don't have a digital camera to post the fish with a jig in its mouth, but I spose I could send a pic to ya RT. If I get one on a jig before these other folks do. Naw, I probably wont be the first to get a fish-all you other folks live up north, I'm down here in SW WA for God's sake! Oh shoot, forgot my confidence. I'm gonna win it hands down! I'll register in the contest right now! BTW, RT, my moniker is Krome Brite, not "Krome Bright"-type it (copy)right!

BTW, what did the moniker Schwing mean again?

Hey, AuntyM, I talked to fishead5 through email about the Allstar rods and learned a little through him. Don't know that I'll ever make it up to Shelton (where exactly is that?)to check his shop out though. Bob's in Longview in future weeks, maybe though. I know they'll probably be a little more expensive there, but oh well. I'm going to check them out.

When are we going hear about a cherry down?

C'mon Gooose your not worried about running out of breath now are you. That reminds me has anyone tipped a jig with Viagra yet. I'm willing to bet that the ones that get away will spawn like a muda! Endangered species would be non-issue.

Your already banging lead instead aren't you, what's that, OH only through the tailouts, OH, OK.

FJ...out.

FJ tried a cerise marabou this mornin below the cabin. Was great....must have been a hundred chromers in the tailout...hooked one just about every drift.They were all that nice beautiful chrome green,brown color with reddish tiger stripes like they get at Hoodsport!Hey do I win? Truly they were chrome ...well except the fins were kinda whitish ...but they were chrome? No?Crap a guy can't get a break!

Gooose

Aunty, I like all of my pics better than 'that' one. Of course it hasn't been proven that's me though. Even if it was, it must have been a Freudian Slip.

KB, you've had both a verbal and physical Freudian Slip recently. The verbal one was typing pennis instead of pennies. The physical one was when you slipped and popped your ankle. (sorry to hear about that - get well soon dude). You see, an F-slip is when you do something that your subconscious wants you to do, that your consciousness isn't aware of and wouldn't do intentionally. You left the 'e' out because your subconcious is nasty. And you slipped and hurt your ankle because your subconscious wanted you to have an excuse for not winning the jig contest. Or else I'm just full of shiyat.