What brand and type of Jig do you prefer for minnows?

[norma]

I have been using short shank hooks for live bait. however a freind in Canada has shown me the error of my ways and the long shank jigs seem to work better. I've tried the C-store brand jigs, but the hooks don't seem to hold up very well.

Looking for opinions on what brand you use. Also interested in the long vs short shank hooks for live bait.

[ryan p]

Northland jigs are hard to beat, I dont like the long shank I think it is to much hook and the fish spit it out more often than the short ones.

[LoonASea]

I like the knuckleball jigs ,,,I dont loose as many as I used to when using regular jigs

[PerchJerker]

For minnows I like jjigs with short shanks and wide gaps - the fireball jjig is a good example of that.

I've seen guys use jjigs with longer shanks and hook their minnows by putting the hook in the mouth and passing it out through the gills and hooking the minnow in the top of the head or the back. I've tried it and haven't really liked that rigging. So I stick with the shorter shanks, wider gaps, and bring the hook out through the top of the head.

[jellio]

Northland jigs is what I use....Fireball to be specific. About the only time I use long shank jigs is if I'm vertical jigging in deep water.

[gregg52]

i'm far from a jigging expert but i also like fireball

[fishinfey8]

For the type of fishing I do, I really like the semi-stand up jigs by BPS. A lot of my jig fishing (on lakes)is casting and letting it sit on bottom for extended periods of time while watching the line. Those semi-stand ups present the bait just right to fish that pick it off bottom.

For vertical jiging, hard to beat a northland fireball short shank wide gap!

[fishfearme]

In my opinion the jig makes very little difference. It is the freshness of the minnow or the jigging action that catches the fish. That being said I just use the two-tone Northland long shank jigs. I don't fish jigs deeper than about 12' so usually 1/8 oz.

[FishLocker]

My favorite is the Northland Canadian Walleye Jig in Orange/Char...which unfortunately they stopped making. They used a hardened hook, so if you try to bend it, it just snaps...and I have never lost a fish because of it. I feel I have landed more, because they dont straighten out on you.

The big C store has made a copy cat once Northland quit making theirs...but I do not like their version. Their point is not alligned properly with the eye and the hook will bend.

Was fourtunate to buy almost 5 pounds of 1/8 oz when I heard they were discontinued. Down to my last box now.

[OnAFly]

Fireball all the way.

[reinhard1]

lindy fuzzy grub, pink head white body. good luck.

[gloomiseye]

Anything northland

[Jim Almquist]

I have my favorite jig and that is mainly because of the color pattern. I wish the hook was made by someone else but I did not get a choice when I had them made up.

I had them make me a 1000 just so my friends could have a few as well

For the most part it is the only jig I will tie on unless someone can prove they have a jig that will out fish it.

[reinhard1]

ok, pm me with a picture of it and i will give you my profesional oppinion . good luck.

[Jim Almquist]

ok, pm me with a picture of it and i will give you my profesional oppinion . good luck.

That would only tell you half the story. The first coat is white and the second coat is glow. Then they paint the jig

[Jim Almquist]

I forgot to mention that if you are in my boat I have no problem sharing

Its way more fun if everyone catches fish

[reinhard1]

yes, all kidding aside, that is the way to go. i'ts realy cool that you have something you have confidence in and share it with others you know. here is something i do in the shallow stained lakes that have a few snags in them and you are relutant to use a jig.

first i determine the depth of the area i am fishing. i rig myself up with a slip bobber and a jig and minnow or leach combination. i adjust the bobber so i am one foot off the bottom. this way i can cast my area and be certain where my bait is. just move the bobber a little at a time. bobber goes down set the hook.

i lost a lot of jigs before i thought to myself, hey, i fish for crappies that way in the spring, what's the difference. good luck.

[Northlander]

I use short shanked hooks for most minnows unless the minnows are real big then I use a long hooked shiner jig. 95% of my short shanks are Northland.

[bobbymalone]

I use northland fireballs most of the time and road runners the rest of the time.

[Sportland_Bait]

Northland Fireballs and FinTech Knuckleballs are the two best short shank jigs on the market. Both have their pros and cons. Love them both.

Jason Erlandson

[james_walleye]

If I use a plain jig itsva fireball, but I get a real kick out of catching fish on the bucktails that I tie!

[Mike Walerak]

I pour and paint my own short shank jigs. I just use the Do-it livebait jig. I also like the Oddball and knuckleball jigs too. I have some Fireball jigs as well.

mw

[manitobawalleye2]

For long shanks I use Northland. For vertical jigging there are times when they want the bait as horizontal as possible.You mention Canada and up here we use a lot of Salted Shiners as well as being barbless in Manitoba. The long shank is a must for keeping the bait straight. I will use Fireballs for livebait, and a lot of times it is, in the mouth out the gill plate, and thru the back as this holds the bait on barbless jigs better or vertical you can go thru the nose and use a piece of rubber to keep the bait on. The other benefit of having long shank Northland jigs on hand is that it is the preferred hook for pitching plastics.

[james_walleye]

I was jiggin 5" redtails on shortshank jigs near kenora last year and it worked fine.4 fish over 29", only lost 1 fish.

[NoWiser]

I use the short shanked Northland Fireball jigs when fishing minnows. It seems to work best for me. I always keep long shanks handy too, and last year, the weekend after opener, we used those with Gulp minnows, and outfished the guys with live bait 4:1. In the summer when I am pitching jigs with leeches in Canada, I usually use about a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce long shank.