Snap Jigging?

[Guest]

Can someone tell me how to "Snap Jig"? I have heard of people snap jigging and having very good results for walleyes. Can you only snap jig with crawlers or leaches? I guess I am thinking it means to snap the rod real quick. How high do you want to raise the jig? How rapid do you do it?

Thanks, in advanced, for the info.
Ice

[IFallsRon]

The Griz uses a technique he calls rip-jigging. You've heard the old tale, "I set the hook so hard I heard it draging across teeth." That's about all there is to it. You speed-lift your jig and bait. Doesn't seem to matter what bait. I've had mixed results but it's in the arsenal when other methods aren't working.

[Fisher Dave]

This is hard to describe.. but I'll try.

*Snap Jigging* is a more rapid version of jigging .. rather than a moderate lift of the rod, it will be a *quick snap* of the wrist to reach your desired level of lift... usually used for vertical jigging to be most effective.

There is really no wrong way to jig.. some ways will be more effective than others, and the most productive method will vary day to day. The most important thing to snap jigging is the pause.. you want a long pause between jigging episodes... the fish will often come to look at your bait.. when the *snap* occurs it will imitate a bait trying to dart away.. all of a sudden the bait falls right back in the mouth of the fish that tried to pursue the quickly moving bait... Or triggered an impulse strike(in theory)... It will have a similar effect to a lure or a jig bouncing off a rock or weed.. a sudden irratic change that often produces a strike.

It can be a very effective method when it is an applicable(sp?) presentation. I like to use it when fish are deep.

[Dan Wood]

In addition to "snap" jigging, sometimes just a "jiggle" with a rattle jig is what it takes to get those bites. It is a technique used widely for bass with jig/pig combo's. Give a few snaps and then let it sit just a couple inches or less off the bottom and "jiggle" it for a 5-30 seconds (just short quick movements to get the rattles going). Often times they will smash it when you slow it down and give them some rattles in their face. JR's Tackle makes the best rattle jigs I've found for this technique.

http://www.jrstackle.com/rattlejigs.html

[This message has been edited by Dan Wood (edited 05-18-2004).]

[Guest]

Real Ice,

My snap jigging technique employs 2 key factors for success:

1. It gets your bait away from the boat when active Walleys are roaming in wind-blown areas (typically less than 10-ft. deep) activly feeding.

2. Jig size and line weight--I use 1/16 oz. long shank and 6lb. test with a 7ft. lt/med. live bait rod for increased bite detection.

Depending on the wind speed and boat drift, I'll use either my 90hp in reverse trimmed-up or my 74lb. thrust rear trolling motor; I'll toss out the drift sock if I need it too.

What you want is to get your bait hovering about 2-3 ft above the bottom by employing proper drift speed and adjusting the frequency you "snap" the presentation to keep it in the strike zone and off the bottom.

I typically cast my presentation 30-50 ft. away from the boat and begin my "drift" down-wind. Adjusting speed of the drift with your motor is all you need to do.

With some practice, you'll perfect this technique and it's quite deadly. The 'Eyes have no idea they've inhaled a jig along with the Minnow and your ability to sense the "take" with a quality Rod and light line is key. 99% of the time you'll feel the take before they realize what's going on.

Set the hook and have fun!

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Chells