How To Set Up A Jig Line

Mechanical or vertical jigging with metal lures is not a new method of angling and has been around for many years both in New Zealand and overseas.

Nevertheless, a number of years back it was re-invented past the Japanese master jig fisherman, Yoichi Mogi, and his methods and techniques have proved to be deadly on most species of fish across the globe.

Many of Mr Mogi's skills were honed here in New Zealand at places like the 3 Kings and the Ranfurly Banks and he is now a regular visitor to our waters.

Jigging should come up with a warning as it'due south both addictive and an adrenalin rush, however it can be enervating and requires a skillful basic level of fitness to last a total day on the h2o.

For those looking to experience this fast-growing method of fishing there are a few things worth noting before you lay down any hard-earned cash.

Specialist gear and tackle is required to get the best results and the days of heavy stand-up rods and big capacity 50 broad reels doubling as a jigging outfit take long gone. Today's modernistic gear is super light and very powerful.

Getting started

So where and how does a budding beginner get into jigging? Well, it'southward not purchasing all the gear at the local tackle store where most would think. If you lot were planning on rushing out and ownership jigging rods reels and tackle then loading up the gunkhole and heading out to jig up a storm yous just might stop up existence horribly disappointed.

In fact the gear you have merely impulsively purchased will more likely end upward on Trademe when the results end in 'no fish landed'. It'due south non that the tackle is inferior, it's more the style you lot approached the whole thing.

The single best place to go into jigging is by booking a trip with a recognized jigging charter operator. They can have you to the all-time jigging spots where you lot can learn nearly the correct techniques and they tin show yous what to look for on your own sounder should you wish to requite information technology a go in your own boat.

You volition see how best to release your fish to protect the fishery, the knots and the difference between the jigs, the weights for different situations and drifts - in fact you lot will meet and feel the whole ten yards.

This will be one of the single best investments you will ever brand when getting started in jigging, or any form of line-fishing for that matter. Most good charter operators with have the gear for rent so there is no demand to blitz out and buy annihilation only nonetheless for this first-up experience.

Jig reels accept narrow spools, loaded with multi-coloured complect, and powerful lever drags like this JG5000 from Grab Fishing

Equally a bonus you volition more than probable hook up with some difficult core jiggers as they regularly volume trips with the top operators. These guys are more than than smashing to help you learn the tricks and if you similar what you see and experience then you can make an informed conclusion on how you lot spend the right coin on the right gear.

The gear

Equally mentioned, once you have fabricated your heed up to get into jigging it's critical to set yourself upwardly with the right gear.

The cheap and cheerful $299 set but won't cut it if you lot intend targeting hard-fighting kingfish. These monsters will destroy whatever below- par rig in no time flat.

All the same, good equipment does not have to interruption the banking company and you tin get set upwardly with a rod and reel to exercise the job for around $800

The reels

The option of jigging reels is growing every year and the latest overhead jigging reels are now being designed with narrow spools and retrieve ratios between 4.ane:1 and 6.ii:i.

The reason behind the reels being narrow is three-fold, firstly a dedicated jigging reel spool is designed for braid and it will lay itself more evenly beyond a narrow section spool than a broad section spool.

Jigs come in different styles weights and colours for different situations.

This is especially important when using correct jigging techniques. Secondly, a narrow spool helps aid and reduce any sideways torque or wobble when cranking the reel and tertiary is the weight cistron as they are lighter than a wider spooled reel.

The reel will need to have high drag chapters of betwixt 10-20kg to end a difficult-pulling fish. The drags also need to be smooth throughout their entire range, and this becomes credible when using braid as simply two things on your rig will take give – the rod or the elevate on your reel.

When that big one starts to run you want a shine just controlled fight, a drag that isn't smooth is going to put the odds with the fish and non the angler. There are ii main types of overhead reels particularly designed for jigging, the lever elevate and the star elevate. Both will exercise the job well and information technology becomes a personal choice.

The other type of reel which is widely used overseas and is becoming more pop in this country is the spinning reel for those who choose to apply spin rods. These are by far the most powerful jigging reels on the market with some putting out a staggering 65lb of drag.

Reels recommended for mechanical jigging in the overhead pick are the Shimano Ocea Jigger 4000p and 5000p, the Trinidad TN40N and TN16N, Torsa sixteen and 16N. In the Daiwa a good entry level would be the Saltist 30T then moving up into the top line Saltiga 20, Z30 and Z40, the narrow serial Accurates and the new comer Jigging Chief PE4 and PE5, other expert brands include, Avet, Alutecnos and Fin-Nor.

Catch Fishing accept besides just released an fantabulous range of reels that accept proven to exist very good looking and proven performers at very competitive price points.

For spinning lovers there are entry models similar the Shimano Saragosa 8000 through to the top of the range Shimano Stella reels. Daiwa produce their ever powerful Saltiga range starting with the 4000 and moving up to the 6500 Expedition.

The temptation is to buy the cheapest possible reel to become the task done but you must take into business relationship the conditions yous will be using the reel under like depth of water, rod weight grade, and the fact that jigging places stresses and clothing on a reel similar no other method of angling.

Most reels will have later-market options like drag and handle upgrades all designed to requite added performance to the reel and comfort to the angler. A good entry level reel suited to jigging starts at around $399. The toll volition reflect the quality and performance, just do recollect the reel is the engine room of your setup.

Rods

If the reel is the engine room and so the rod is the chassis of the set-up. As with the reels the jigging rod is a specialized slice of equipment and every bit such has been designed to jig specific weight groups of jigs within a designated range.

Jigging rod developments are changing all the fourth dimension and jigging rods can exist dissever into two primary camps – the parabolic action rods used in the Taiwanese fashion of jigging like Xzoga'southward and Jigging Principal ranges, and the technical jigging rods used for the Japanese fashion of jigging.

The Japanese fashion of technical jigging rods accept a specialized tip section and mid- sections that offer greater lift and recovery over the totally parabolic action rods. This appears to exist the biggest change in recent times and nosotros will meet more and more of these high tech Japanese rods here in New Zealand in coming times.

All good rod manufactures should take placed an teaching characterization on the rod stating a range of jig weights that tin can comfortably exist fished. This will too include the maximum allowable drag setting for the rod. Nearly all maximum drag settings are worked out with the rod being angled at 45 degrees and with the tip of the rod pointed vertically towards the water.

Any angle greater than 45 degrees will see the rod condign point loaded in what is known as high-sticked. This is where most breakages tin occur.

The correct mode to hold a kingfish for a photo before releasing it.

It is most important that these labels be adhered to every bit well-nigh rod articles will not cover a breakage due to high sticking, plus information technology is more than obvious these days to tell if a rod has been cleaved due to high sticking.

Most rods volition but carry a minimum one year warranty period for faults under the Consumers' Human action. Inquire the tackle store owner to place a reel on the rod and thread it upward, so put a decent amount pressure level on the rod. If it was going to intermission due to a fault this is the time it volition happen and non a year down the track afterward many fish take been landed.

Things to look for in a jigging rod all start with the tiptop third or tip finish. This is the steering bicycle of the rod and the portion that imparts the action from the rod to the braid and into the jig.

A tip section that is also strong will simply non work the jig correctly, it will end up jarring the angler as the vibrations are transmitted back through the blank via the complect. It will also exist hard to maintain a good jigging rhythm equally the jig will bounce rather than flutter.

A tip section that is too soft only won't recover on the up motion of the jigging activeness thus making the jig ineffective and the rod not responsive. Ane thing to remember is a rod tin have all the power in the world but it is wasted if it tin can't first impart the correct action into the jig to attract the fish.

The mid and butt section of the rod is your power house. This area provides both elevator and the power needed to subdue the fish once hooked. One matter the very best jigging rod manufacturers are now doing is looking at the hurt factor placed on the angler by the rod when under load.

Grips and reel seat position are both disquisitional for all-twenty-four hours comfort and something that can only be found out by using the rod. A butt length that is too long volition have you stretching for the reel and foregrip, and visa versa 1 that is too short volition have y'all bunched and cramped.

Most of today'due south modern mechanical jigging rods will range in lengths from v' to 5'six" for both spin and overhead configuration. Ane thing that is for sure, all volition vary in cost and you lot get what yous pay for.

At the very peak of the jigging tree come the aristocracy crop of technical jigging rods, most of these hailing from Japan which are admittedly superb to use merely will toll to boot.

Some of the new technical style super jig rods will cater for a far wider range of workable jigs but these rods will be expensive and non aimed at the beginner.

The Peak Five Tips

Consider spending your first dollars in jigging on a good quality charter trip that specializes in targeting kingfish.
Have a reasonable level of fitness as this is a concrete method of fishing.
When choosing a rod and reel, buy one that volition handle the task and last the distance.
Match your line and jig weights to the rods make'southward recommendations.
Watch a skilful jigging technique tutorial on Youtube.

Complect

The new specialised braids are the best lines for mechanical jigging. They accept no or very trivial stretch. Having no stretch allows the angler to staying in touch with the jig and assists in creating a positive hook set.

Braids are now being measured in what is chosen a PE rating. PE simply stands for Poly – Ethylene which is the base material these braids are produced from.

There is a crude only simple rule of thumb to convert these PE weight classes into pounds. A PE3 braid is roughly equal to 30lb(14kg) breakingstrain, PE4 to 40lb(18kg), PE5 to 50lb(24kg) and so on upwards the scale.

About jiggers will choose to use a multi-coloured complect, not because it looks cool but because each section of coloured line is marked off in either 5m or 10m sections. This makes it piece of cake for the angler to work out how much line he or she has deployed when targeting fish at a certain depth.

Be sure when choosing your braid to match the line weight class with the rod maker'due south recommendations, which should country the maximum commanded PE rating also equally the best PE range for that particular rod.

Leader material

In that location are two main options for leader material : mono or fluorocarbon . Both take their own pros and cons; mono is less breakable and more often than not easier to tie with better knot forcefulness, while fluorocarbon has better invisibility properties in water and is more abrasion resistant. Either way a line of 45kg-plus is recommended and 90kg is non out of the question.

Recommended leader lengths range from four-7m, this will allow you enough line to cut and re-tie aid hooks or remove any worn or damaged sections without having to re-tie the complect-to-leader knot.

As with all fishing, it is recommended that you replace the leader after each trip. You lot never know when that trophy fish volition strike and information technology could be the very first fish next time out.
The knot of option to tie your leader to the braid is the PR knot.

This uses a small thread bobbin to tie the knot and when tied correctly the knot usually offers 100% line weight strength. This knot is very slim which allows it to easily pass through the small-scale guides on all jigging rods. It will also add less bulk when on the reel spool.

The knot from leader to the assist claw solid eye volition ordinarily exist an improved clinch knot but there are others as practiced if not improve and I will become through all these knots and how to tie them in the next issue.

Jigs

Since the revolution of mechanical jigging has been introduced into New Zealand nosotros are starting to see jigs of all shapes and sizes appearing in tackle store displays. Like the braid line, the jig weight needs exist matched to the rod you intend to use it on. This has several very significant purposes.

Firstly, the rod will accept a jig weight range in which it can exist safely used which I take already mentioned; secondly, if you choose a jig that is as well light or too heavy the rod won't impart the correct action into the jig.

The range of shapes of jigs available is immense and many have been designed to impart a certain blazon of action to attract fish. Colours also will range from the bright cogitating to nighttime and even glow colours. Some volition come pre-rigged with an assistance hook, which should be fastened to the top heart of the jig and so information technology hangs towards the middle of the jig.

Jigs to expect out for are Zest, Take hold of, Broken Arrow, Williamson and Jigging Main but there are many more brands available and prices will vary from around $10 to $40 depending on the weight, shape and make.

Assist hooks

Every bit mentioned many jigs will come pre-rigged with a cheapish assist claw to become you started but many jiggers volition adopt to remove this and tie their own assist hooks using better quality hooks and ameliorate quality cord. This is the slice of tackle that is attached to your leader line via a solid ring and it needs to exist robust enough to handle the pressures of big fish.

White Island jigging success

Hooks will range in size, just for kingfish expect for the bigger specialised jig hooks of around nine/0 to 11/0 in size. They will by and large be direct shanked and have longer beaks on the claw points for extra penetration and belongings power during the fight.

If yous utilise a brusk-pointed hook you run the hazard of the claw being flicked out if the force per unit area on the fish was reduced for some reason.

If tying your own help hooks use a good quality Kevlar cord like Suffix braided Kevlar or JigStar Kevlar. These cords are available in small packs or spools ranging from10m to 30m. This cord should be at least 45-70kg (100-150lb) breaking strain to be certain it won't snap or wear through during a fight.

The cord should then be looped to a solid stainless steel eye ring with a stainless dissever ring of 70kg breaking strain to attach the jig.

Other gear

Other items needed for joining the jigging scene are things similar a gimbal belt or gimbal bucket to place the rod butt in after the fish has been properly hooked. A good pair of heavy duty carve up ring pliers is a must equally is a good pair of braid scissors.

You can also clothes upward the assist hooks with fancy little squid-shaped squirts, and I will show these in more depth in the adjacent event and the purpose they perform on the aid claw.

While jigging is a physical method of fishing it is past no means historic period limiting.

It'southward super exciting then leave there and give it a go.

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