What size jigs under a float?

[BirdDog]

Is the drought over yet? I'd like to get some feedback on what size jigs people use under a float. I generally use a 1/4 oz. if visability is 12"-18"; drop to a 1/8 oz. @ 18" - 30", and 1/16 oz. when the rivers clear up. I see a lot folks using 1/32 oz. @ 18" - 24" of visability. What size, bigger or smaller relative to conditions, do you have the best luck on? 

-BirdDog-

[Andrew]

I almost always run an 1/8 oz. I'll fish a 1/16 oz. in really low and clear summer condition too, but the only time I go to a 1/4 oz. is when I'm fishing heavy water and having trouble keeping the lighter 1/8 oz. down deep enough. To tell you the truth, though, I tie 1/4 oz. so rarely anymore that I usually just end up setting my depth a little deeper to give the 1/8 oz. a little more room to drop.

I don't know if this is true, but I kind of feel like weight inhibits the action of the jig. It doesn't seem a heavy jig is going to be fluttered up and down/side to side as easily as a lighter jig, and I think the action is just about all that makes the fish bite sometimes.

As far as water clarity, small seems to be better when the water is clear AND warm, but clear and cold it doesn't matter so much. In colored water I don't change jig weight, just quantity and length of plumage (or color; see below), as evidenced by my monstrous 1/8 oz. "700 cfs special."

And about color... there are several proven fish catchers, and they'll all catch fish across most conditions. I don't much question any combination of pink, cerise, white, or black whatever the river looks like. If I had to choose, though... blacks for clear, pink/white for green, cerise/hot pinks for stained.

Hope this helps,

Andrew

[Bantam200]

I'll have to second what Andrew said. 1/8 oz almost exclusively. I do carry some 1/4 oz jigs with me though for that occasion where I am concerned about getting the jig down in a heavier flow. I use 1/8 in the summer too, just change up colors.

[Jiggy]

1/8th oz should be good in just about all conditions although i dont feel a jig is the best option in muddy water because they are a lure that needs to be seen to be taken. I would use up to a 1/4th oz in big deep rivers because i can cast them farther and get them down quick. Never tried the 1/32th oz but im sure in slower clear water they would work fine. Also a sand shrimp tail will sometimes get you some of the finickey fish that wont take a plain jig. Prawn has also been killer on chum so far and i dont expect anything less for winter steel.
Good luck Jiggy

[First Bite]

I usually stick with the 1/8th-oz size jigs for winter steelhead under normal conditions.  If the water gets skinny then I'll drop down and use smaller jigs.  For Chinook I use heavier jigs mainly because I'm fishing deeper water.

[Brian]

These guys pretty much covered it!   I only carry 1/8 oz and 1/16 oz jigs with me anymore and use the 1/8 oz almost 100% of the time in winter, where I use the 1/16 oz size alot in the low flows of summer.

[BirdDog]

Hey folks, thanks for all the input on jig sizes.  Looks like a few winter runs are trickling into some of the rivers according to the WDFW escapement reports. Maybe, just maybe we will have good returns this year.