More discussion about Jigs...

[meat]

I'm really anxious to try that next fall, Mark!  Is it basically the same tie as a steelhead jig but just a bigger profile? I assume that with a 5/0 you're fishing a rather large jig.....  Do you add bait?  Every year I rake in the tidewater chinook but am scared to move from eggs to feathers as the old saying goes "If it aint broke don't fix it."  That said, it would be much more friendly on my egg supply if these tidewater fish hammered jigs just the same.  How bout some color tips and patterns I can gander at?  Thanks in advance.....

[First Bite]

meat

I use 4-6 marabou feathers palmered one at a time.  I also like a long hackle tail typically in shrimp or pink matched with UV Pearl Krystal Flash.  Since you're egg fishing in tidewater simply cut off the bait hook and tie on a jig.  It's that simple.  My hardcore tidewater egg fishing buddies use my 5/0  salmon marabou jigs and have had jigs out perform eggs several times. 

Here's another way to look at it.  What's the cost of a good quart of eggs...$25-30 bucks?  I've had customers who have caught over a dozen kings on one single salmon jig.  It's money in the bank. 

Here's one of my favorite jigs for salmon.  In the last couple weeks I've caught several Kings, Chum & coho using this jig.

       

[RB]

I bought a bunch of his jigs last year. I haven't really had a chance to throw them too often but they do look amazing.

[meat]

Love it.  Thanks, Mark. 

[Chum Man]

I'm just amazed that any topic about jigs can take more than four minutes, much less four pages.

Blue, black, red, pink, white...and combos thereof.  If you put bait on your jig, skip the jig entirely and just use the bait...it's what they're biting for, after all.

See?  It only takes one sentence, not four pages.

Fish on...

Todd

guess it's one of those hobbies that can be enjoyed even while not on the water.

if all that mattered was catching steelhead over and over, i'd never need anything other than a 9' drift rod and and endless supply of sand shrimp.  variety is good!

[hooknose]

guess it's one of those hobbies that can be enjoyed even while not on the water.

if all that mattered was catching steelhead over and over, i'd never need anything other than a 9' drift rod and and endless supply of sand shrimp.  variety is good!
[/quote]


+1  Agreed, nothing wrong with enjoying all aspects of your craft/hobby/pursuit and expanding the breadth of knowledge therein.

[Ironhead]

Pretty telling that a supposed Steelhead guru would not grasp the concept of attraction as witnessed in this thread.

Jigs are much more than just a prawn holder, they are extremely effective at arracting the attention of the ever curious Salmon and steelhead, more often than not they will attack them whether there is bait present or not. That being said there is no reason why tipping them with a small piece of sumpin sumpin wouldn't be an added tool in the anglers arsenal. We are in the game for getting hookups and when a curious fish moves in on the pulsating intruder a little smell never hurts.

Most quality anglers realize this, sorta like wrapping a plug with sardine. I suppose some belive that an unwrapped kwikfish won't catch fish, but again the seasoned pro understands the relationship of scent to the decision making process of a fish in regards to biting.

I had a long time client fishing Chum this season that felt he could outfish me using nothing more than a jighead with a prawn on it, I was to use a baitless jig. 20 minutes later as I slid the 5th Chum on the bank, the client was losing his mind over not having hooked a single fish. Had I tipped my purple/cerise jig with prawn I may have had 7 or 8 to the beach, in any case the point was proven.

Blowhorn trolls aside , this is a great thread.

[Finfollower]

Thanks Ironhead. Truth is that I was looking for creative ideas because I wasn't pinning the ears back on fish as well as I wanted. I also wanted to get members talking about a subject that didn't involve who's invading who's territory, or how a technique if frowned upon because some jack wagons have turned it to the darkside.

When I first logged on this site I was, and am still impressed with the level of help and experience shared. This site has made me a better fisherman and I wanted to revisit those concepts. That and show proper respect to the manufacturers and members that have shared their information, tactics, and skills. I have seen some of the other sites, and felt that you have to post with asbestos gloves because of other meat heads just looking for a reason to flame you. I like this site, I'm loyal to this site, and felt respect should be payed to the goodfishermen of this site.

Everyone has their own style of fishing, and the gear that they believe is the best. That's cool. I'm of limited skills so I need more trick up my sleeve until I can get to that level. Well that and I like making jigs. It's an amazing feeling to hook and land a fish on the gear you have made yourself. Almost makes you think you have your shiat together.

[Grizz]

Blowhorn trolls aside , this is a great thread.

Nuff said 

[Grumpy]

I'm with Eddie and Chum Man on this one....you guys make some awesome looking jigs, and make my early attempts look totally weak in comparison. But no one Palmers a hackle like Mark A., and there's no better lead-head jig than a Rvrfshr. Absolutely sold on those two products.

Mark, thanks for sharing your inimitable expertise via the DVD...watch it over and over. Wish I could find the water you were working. Joe & Todd, hope your jig hooks will be available for a long time to come.

Some really fishy-looking jigs there, everyone. While I have landed chrome on a jig that I've tied (nothing better than that),  I'm really envious of creations in this thread and need to get the vise out again to refine my (by comparison) meager skills.

Thanks to all for sharing your creations. Great thread.