JIGHEAD
works the lure is different . Jigging under the Causeway with a heavy rod is going to give your lure a lot faster presentation on the jig , while a medium or medium-light is going to give you a slower jump of the lure as the rod is going to flex more ; and depending on what the fish want that day , it ’ s one of those details to which you must pay attention .
JIGHEAD
SHAPE & COLOR
A round head is going to rise and fall slower because there will be more water resistance on the round shape , whereas a bullet or flat-head style is going to shoot up and down through the water giving each head a different presentation and speed of fall . Color - while I use a lot of lead colored heads , I ’ ve found where chartreuse or red heads performed a lot better during midday periods than the lead head did . Details , details , details .
HOOKS
I know people who tie on a hook for one trip and three trips later , they ’ re still using the same hook and knot . Yep , they beat the man , they saved 17 cents each trip by not changing hooks ; but when their hook up ratio falls due to a dull hook , they look dumbfounded . I am as penny pinching as the next guy , but if you aren ’ t going to change your hooks , at least invest in a three-dollar hook sharpener .
KNOTS feel like sandpaper ; but after landing every fish , you need to check your line . It takes less time than a sip of beer . If you hook a trout deep in the mouth , those two gnarly spikes protruding from its upper jaw are damaging your line with every head shake that fish makes . Just run your fingers about three inches above the knot down to the knot , if there is any sort of knick in your line , then retie . Please don ’ t be that angler who says , “ The fish was so big it broke the line .” When in reality it ’ s because you landed 12 trout in the box and never retied your lure once , and you all know what I ’ m talking about . These are just a few common minor details which I see overlooked on a weekly basis with both beginner and experienced anglers . Sometimes we get so wrapped up in just being out there fishing that making another cast is more important than retying to ensure that the next cast actually results in an unbroken line . These aren ’ t tips to put you on the fish or make you a world class angler , but they are a few of the basics which should never be overlooked . If anything in this article made you think about your last trip or you thought , “ HUH , maybe I should ’ ve tried that last time out ,” then make the change , but not just about these tips . Start looking at everything you do on the water with a little more detail including anchor chunking , current lines , fish oil slicks , approaching your honey hole upwind and drifting to it , chasing birds quietly , and working islands away from the bank rather than to it . Start stepping out of your comfort zone , slow everything down and don ’ t be in a hurry , the fish aren ’ t going anywhere .
There are so many knots out there I won ’ t even begin to cover them , but what I will say is retie and retie again . All of our fish have teeth of some sort , some long and sharp and others that