I should have made that clear on my previous post. What size jig heads do you recommend for throwing with a fly rod.
I should have made that clear on my previous post. What size jig heads do you recommend for throwing with a fly rod.
Again, it depends on what size rod you will be using. If you're using a 7 wt rod, you can comfortably cast a 1/32 oz jig-head fly. If you're using a ligher rod like a 5wt or a 3 wt, you'll find that the heavier jig-heads are no fun to cast. You'll either end up lobbing them out there with wide open loops or doing the chuck-n-duck routine to avoid getting hit by the fly. Beleive me a weighted fly is really moving when it zips by you ear or pops you in the back of the head. There have been a lot fly rods damaged or broken when a weighted fly hits the rod, especially if it happens to hit with the point of the hook which can shatter a graphite rod. I would recommend you try the 1/124oz or perhaps the 1/80th oz jig-heads like the ones from Cabela's in this link before trying the heavier weight jig heads. Just my two cents worth.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fly-T...h-All+Products
Jim Smith
I won't use over a 5wt. and probably go with a 4 wt. because that's the fun of it for me, feeling that fish bend the rod.
Thanks, James
Personally I find using unweighted jig hooks like the TMC 403BLJ or similar work much better for tying jig type flies. You can add your own weight, if desired. to the hook. I believe J.Stockard sells these types of hooks too.
Mike
I use 1/80 oz. on a 3 wt with no problems.
I use 1/124, 1/80, and 1/32 depending on conditions and expected fish. I use both the standard fly jigheads like those sold by Cabelas and the Super Jigheads. Both are sourced from Wapsi. I like the standard jig heads because the gold aberdeen hooks can often be pulled free from snags and the hook bent back into shape. The super jig heads have a wide gap, sharper, mustad black nickle hook that is very stout. These are less likely to bend and pull out if a large carp, bass, or catfish is hooked in a hard part of the mouth, however if they get stuck they can be more difficult to retrieve. I have my shop get both kinds for me in bags of 100 as this is more cost effective than the standard packages of 12. I then share them with other anglers.
I use 1/80th and 1/100th oz jigheads for crappie/bluegill microjigs. I've landed crappies up to 14.5" on them so far.
What size hooks do you use, 8, 10, etc?Quote:
Originally Posted by FishnDave
I believe the 1/80th oz jigheads use #10 hooks, and the 1/100th oz jigheads use #12 hooks. Those hooks are perfect for bluegills. For crappies you could sure use a larger hook, but I haven't noticed any issues in hooking crappies with these smaller hooks. Crappies LOVE 'em.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...23-2011_2b.jpg
I wouldn't use any jig on a fly rod. Too heavy. Instead, just tie your pattern with a beadhead, or clouser eyes. It will cast much better, and move better in the water.
I don't find that flys tied on micro jigs are any more difficult to cast than flies weighted with beadheads or dumbell eyes. And with the weight all the way forward and the hook eye position with the 90 degree jig hook can generate and undulating or jigging motion than is difficult to replicate with a beadhead or Clouser style tie.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gigmaster
Since I started experimenting with flies tied on jig heads a few years a go my angling buddies and I have found that in may situations, when the same pattern is tied beadhead style on a regular hook and on a micro fly jig head and fished side by side, the jig head version is often more productive. The jig head versions are also better for vertical drop presentations as the beadhead or clouser style ties tend to slide down at an angle when sinking and the jig head versions tend to sink more vertically. Most of our testing has been with largemouth bass, bluegill, and crappie. The use of jighead flies has produced the greatest improvement in catch rates for us when targeting bass and bluegill that are tucked into reeds where the most effective presentation is a vertical drop where the fly stays right against the cover as it falls through the water column.
But now we are getting into that same old argument about what constitutes fly fishing, and what constitutes a 'fly'. A 'vertical drop' is not fly fishing, even if you use a fly rod. . . That's jig fishing. And using a molded weighted head is a jig, not a fly. And there are people who would argue it the other way, as well. I use my fly rod with live bait sometimes, but I do not consider that fly fishing. I just like my fly gear.
I would do much better with a micro-jig with my ultralight spinning rods, than with my fly rod. I do sometimes put an ultralite spinning reel on my fly rod. It feels like you can cast a superlight bait or jig for a mile with this set-up, and it is very effective behind tailraces, but it is not fly fishing.
Just my opinion, for what it's worth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tailingloop
One of the good things that happens when fishing a light jig( or hook up fly) is that you tend to hook more crappie in the top of there mouth which results in fewer fish lost
If a vertical drop is not fly fishing then I guess high stick nymphing is also not fly fishing. What is the difference between placing a bead on a hook and having one already molded to it? I see little difference. To each his own. There are those that believe fly fishing only includes dry flies. That is a recent evolution in fly fishing. For hundreds of years there were only wet flies.
In fly fishing, fish are caught by using Artificial flies that are cast with a fly rod and a fly line. The fly line (today, almost always coated with plastic) is heavy enough to send the fly to the target. The main difference between fly fishing and spin or bait fishing is that in fly fishing the weight of the line carries the hook through the air, whereas in spin and bait fishing the weight of the lure or sinker at the end of the monofilament or braided line gives casting distance. Artificial flies are of several types; some imitating an insect (either flying or swimming), others a bait fish or crustacean, others attractors are known to attract fish although they look like nothing in nature. Flies can be made either to float or sink, and range in size from a few millimeters to 30 cm long; most are between 1 and 5 cm.
Artificial flies are made by fastening hair, fur, feathers, or other materials, both natural and synthetic, onto a hook. The first flies were tied with natural materials, but synthetic materials are now popular and prevalent. Flies are tied in sizes, colors and patterns to match local terrestrial and aquatic insects, baitfish, or other prey attractive to the target fish species.
Using a micro jig the fly line still carries the fly and therefor its fly fishing by the definition !
Vertical fly fishing = high sticking no matter what you use...
Agreed, what about czech nymphing where no fly line is used, only mono out the tip top? World competition fly fishing won by this method!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by lastchance
Flies started out with fur and feather but along came artificial materials.
A fly tied with only artificial materials such as rubber or flash is frowned upon by some.
Poppers for instance are tied with deer hair to float but what about the cork foam or plastic heads.
There are purists but where do you draw the line?
I personally love casting a line with a "fly" on the end. Some use moulded plastic flies or lures, is that still fly fishing?
In high stick nymphing, you are still using a fly. Not a jig. And you stated it perfectly. A fly is tied. A jig is molded. I have fished micro jigs on my fly rod, just as I also use live bait with my fly rod sometimes. It works, but it doesn't 'feel' like fly fishing. It feels like I am using my fly rod as a spinning rod of sorts (and I do use a spinning reel on my fly rod sometimes.....), just the opposite of when I have used a casting bubble or float to cast flies with my spinning rod. It works, but neither of these 'feels' like fly fishing. I am not saying I am right and everybody else is wrong. It's just a personal thing. And as far as I am concerned, anything that is legal, and puts fish in the basket is OK by me. It's just that traditional fly fishing has a 'feel' to it that is almost spiritual, sort of like doing Tai Chi in the water. When I use other things besides flies, that feeling just isn't there, for me. It's just catching fish (which is also OK).
Fly fishing means a lot more to me than just catching fish, and it is very important to me.....as I said, almost spiritual. It has allowed me to function in a world that I often feel ill-equipped to live and work in. When I fly fish, I feel like I belong, even if just for a little while. So if am a little over-protective of it, well.... I come by it honestly. And I mean no harm to anyone, ever. To each, his own, with my heartfelt blessings.
Maybe I am just weird. It wouldn't be the first time I have been a square peg in a round hole.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lastchance
Weird? I don't think so. We are all individuals and are free ( within the law ) to choose the angling techniques, tackle, and environment from which we derive the greatest enjoyment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gigmaster
Your opinions are well stated. And I think everyone agrees that flies ( or lures ) tied on micro jigheads and fished with fly tackle are effective fish catchers whatever the label applied to that combination and technique.
Let's clarify what you refer to as a jig head. Is it the moulded and painted fish head on a jig (90 deg hook bend) and a rubber premoulded curly tail or minnow body affixed or is it the 90 deg hook bend with a lead ball moulded onto the bend to which you dress up as a fly?Quote:
Originally Posted by lastchance
If the objection above by Gigmaster is the moulded weight what about a bead or bead chain tied at the bend on a previously unweighted not premoulded hook?
I personally like the 60 deg bend on a hook to allow a hook up ride, would that be a jig??
I bought some size 12- 1/124 oz. plain lead, round ball jigs. I thought I'd dress them the same way I dress any fly. I call that a jig fly. That's just my opinion.
OK, so because the fly has a moulded ball/weight on the hook it is not acceptable to be classified as a fly by some!!!???
My 2 cents is that using a "jig" fly is is still fly fishing even if some use a similarly designed hook & weight for conventional fishing. The weight you use is dependent on the weight fly rod you are using, heavier the fly heavier the rod. The weight 1/124 oz I would comfortably use with my 2 weight fly rod and possibly 1/80 oz.
Jig fly for blue gill is equivalent to Czech nymph for trout.:cool::)
In the past I have used the 1/124 oz. with about a size 10 hook. They don't seem to snag in the river as frequently as regular nymphs, I have tyed Prince Nymph and Copper Johns on them and done well. Bream and bass have fallen victim to them. I had an interesting discussion with a 6 lb. class LMB one Saturday morning before getting him to come over and say hello at a personal distance using my 3 wt. that is now in the bottom of the Hooch.
Congratulations on your meeting with Mr. Bass on your 3 weight using the "jig" hook tied fly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Jesse
That must have been a good old tussle. I too use ultra light fly rods for these adventures, this just proves the fish don't mind what shape hook they get snagged with. Only some fly fishers:):):):):)
I have been lucky enough to catch my largest bass, catfish and one 7 lb.(ish) grass carp on light rods. My all time personal best bass I caught on a ultralight spinning rod that woud touch tip to tip. I have caught a couple of bass in the 5 1/2 - 6 lb. range on my 3 wts. and spent 15 minutes (by the watch) with a channel cat a few years ago. There are a few trout in public waters around here in the real trophy range but they usually only show up on DNR survey using electroshock equipment. Although a local guide caught a 12 lb. brown fom the Hooch last year on a Rapala.
Watch the late Michael Verduin's Cap Spider video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzZekzILGRIQuote:
Originally Posted by lastchance
You will not regret the time... He was great tyer who LOVED bream fishing with 1/124 oz. micro-jigs. I fished with him many times and an tell you that they work!