Jigger's

[RHYBAK]

good luck with your new outfit

[Jay Thomas]

Good afternoon Jeff. While I use 30 pound Suffix 832 for bottom bouncing and love the line, I personally wouldn't recommend you use 20 pound Suffix 832 on your new Premier (PS66MLF2) jigging rod - you might break your new rod. As well, 20 pound braid for vertical jigging is overkill and might impact sensitivity (walleyes can bite extremely lightly). As I have mentioned earlier, I vertically jig with a Premier PS60MLF rod and 8/3 Crystal Fireline. 

Horizontal jigging is a different situation in my mind, one where I would step up the strength of line to say 14/6 Fireline in order that I could have a better chance of pulling jigs off snags.

I would be interested in learning which model St Croix Triumph rod RHYBAK uses.

Jay

[wvmedic]

@Jay Thomas

I understand what you are saying about breakage, I went with 20# incase I hooked a big Pike. I might just try mono and see how it does.

I also went with the Premier over the Triumph because of finish, the Premier has a better lacquer coating.

Jeff

[RHYBAK]

not 100% sure Jay , but I believe it is the TRS66MLF2

This year I am going down to the 15 pound J-Braid by Daiwa.

I found it at Le Barons and it is very reasonably priced.
Cheaper than the Daiwa Samurai.
Also a bit thinner in the same weight class.

[wvmedic]

RHYBAK, do you use a mono backing on your reel. I was thinking about uesing about 50 yards as backing. Though the Pflueger comes braid ready.

Jeff

[tbayboy]

For myself I tend to stick with 8-10lb power pro in a hi vis and a 3-4 foot floro leader (8lb usually) though I've also used fireline crystal in past with good success (usually without bothering with a leader).  No swivels or other hardware and direct tie to the jig going as light as I can - usually a 1/8 or 1/4 oz - all about the sensitivity when vertical jigging I find.

For the hardware my favourite is a 1000 series stradic on a 6' medium light fast action st croix avid.  Crazy light setup and give a fun fight. 

I'll cast a small swim bait/curly tail on the same with a thumper jig too (with the little spinner under the jig) and move to a more regualr 2500 series reel (a stradic ci4 but really anything decent) and maybe a medium rod but probably still a me lgith but at Kipawa its usually just plain vertical or else a float if I want it away from the boat.

[RHYBAK]

RHYBAK, do you use a mono backing on your reel. I was thinking about uesing about 50 yards as backing. Though the Pflueger comes braid ready.

Jeff

wvmedic

If you do not put at least a few feet of mono on your reel first, the braid will not lock onto the reel and will turn on the spool as a complete ball.
The mono locks onto the spool.
you NEED that little bit of mono.

How big is the reel?
I tend to use the smaller reels for walleye and they only hold about 75 yards of braid comfortably.
Don't need much more for casting.

[NortonJoe]

I've never used braided line...sounds like most on this thread prefer it.  Are there advantages other than having no "memory"?

[pike mike]

My Coca Cola group and I use 4 ft ultralight poles horiziontal jigging along the bottom using no more than 6 lb test mono (usually 4 lb ) and 1/8 jig heads .One of our group who is probably the most successful uses 2 lb test .All the tackle Im hearing sounds like hunting mosquitoes with a bazooka to me but that's just in comparison to my M.O.  Using really light line and light poles allow us to feel even the lightest bites . I havent had ton of break offs due to hang up and cant remember losing a fish to line breakage .I have also over the years brought in an 8lb walleye ,a 12 lb pike , 5 lb laker ,about 5 lb whitefish . Maybe I've got horseshoes you know where Not sure
Never been a tournament fishman so that fish has neer meant money or prizes but I know 1 thing for sure ....using ultralight poles ,with small reels and light line even the little guys are a major blast to catch and the biggins' ......LOOK OUT !!!!   

[wvmedic]

@RHYBAK That is what I thought about the backing, though this reel has some rubber inserts around the spool.

It is a 30 series of the president, 140 yards of 6# and 120 of 8# mono is what it's rated for.

@pike mike I hear you loud and clear, I have just been worried about abrasion resistance. I realize that is over kill for 99% plus for the fish one would catch. I have a tendency to go a little overboard on things I suppose. I just have the 10 pound Walleye and the 20 plus pound Northern on my mind when considering line.

For the average fish we catch, I would have no problem with 4# test.

Jeff

[RHYBAK]

My Coca Cola group and I use 4 ft ultralight poles horiziontal jigging along the bottom using no more than 6 lb test mono (usually 4 lb ) and 1/8 jig heads .One of our group who is probably the most successful uses 2 lb test .All the tackle Im hearing sounds like hunting mosquitoes with a bazooka to me but that's just in comparison to my M.O.  Using really light line and light poles allow us to feel even the lightest bites . I havent had ton of break offs due to hang up and cant remember losing a fish to line breakage .I have also over the years brought in an 8lb walleye ,a 12 lb pike , 5 lb laker ,about 5 lb whitefish . Maybe I've got horseshoes you know where Not sure
Never been a tournament fishman so that fish has neer meant money or prizes but I know 1 thing for sure ....using ultralight poles ,with small reels and light line even the little guys are a major blast to catch and the biggins' ......LOOK OUT !!!!   

Mike

i really think you should put your glasses on the next time your spooling line onto your reels.
You will finally notice the 1 in-front of the 4.

[Jay Thomas]

I've never used braided line...sounds like most on this thread prefer it.  Are there advantages other than having no "memory"?

No stretch and low visibility (e.g. Berkley's Crystal Fireline).

Jay

[limacharley]

you guys make me laugh......you are a retailer's dream!!!

i'm still using my 1984 model Shimano Aero reel with Shimano rod spooled with Berkley line from 2010. I pull off 20 yards of the stuff every spring and away I go.

[pike mike]

When I get to be your age Rhyback I will probably need glasses but so far no problem LOL

[wvmedic]

Well as far as being a retailers dream, I needed another rod. So I purchased a quality rod, it needed a reel. So, I bought a decent mid range reel. I don't buy or own a hundred rods and reels, I have a heavy trolling rod and reel, a ugly stick setup, a catfish/saltwater setup and now a jigging setup.

I try to be frugal, though when I put money down on things like this, money that I don't have much of. I try to buy the best I can afford, one so it will allow me to enjoy my time on the water with as little frustration as possible.

Two, in hopes that if I am still kicking and hopefully fishing in the year 2036. My gear lasted me that long, if that isn't the case. Well I hope my Kids or Grandkids are using it.

Jeff