[#000080]OK, so I have been a die hard "troller" for years and have done pretty well at the Gorge, but now I want to expand my experiences and try jigging for the big boys. I listened to advice from Cabelas and Sportsman's "experts" who don't seem to agree on jigs, presentations, jig weights, and line. I looked on the Gorge archives, but don't see any recent posts.[/#000080]
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[#000080]Can someone share their secret information for success? A PM would be very welcome.[/#000080]
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[#000080]Thanks.[/#000080]
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[#000080]Steve[/#000080]
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Steve, be sure to share your new-found wisdom with another angler who would love to obtain the same information and skills. That has got to be the strangest looking Ford Truck that I have ever seen.[
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I would take that over a ford any day.....lol
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[#000080]Hi Kent, good to hear from you. I've gotten some pretty consistent advice on jigging from a lot of members. I'll let you know how we do. I'll try to give you the same detail of information that you have shared with me...[/#000080]
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[#000080]BTW, we need to plan for that Sturgeon trip this year. [cool][/#000080]
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[#000080]Steve[/#000080]
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I'll stay with my Ford at least I know I can pull the boat to the lake with no worries.[:p]
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i would tell ya to book with creative fishing but it would not end well.
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OK, so here's a picture of both of them..and I agree. Love those Fords
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I'm with ya Steve, I'm an ole steel liner and just can't get the jigging "technique" down. Gary
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PACKFAN'S rig.
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Nice set up Pete. I pull a 30' Cougar and my wife won't ride with me if I pull the boat behind that... [:p]
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[quote SportfishinSteve][#000080] I listened to advice from Cabelas and Sportsman's "experts" who don't seem to agree on jigs, presentations, jig weights, and line. I looked on the Gorge archives, but don't see any recent posts.[/#000080]
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[#000080]Can someone share their secret information for success? A PM would be very welcome.[/#000080]
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[#000080]Thanks.[/#000080]
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[#000080]Steve[/#000080][/quote]
Here ya go. The "secret information" you request: Tube Jigs. Big ones, little ones, short ones, long ones, it doesn't matter. I carry them all. Color DOES NOT matter either at lake trout depths, so all I use is white and green (light and dark). Everything else is a shade of light or dark at depth.
One ounce is what I use.
I use 12 lb P-line mono. line. Sometimes straight line, but when guiding my customers we use 30 lb. braid with the same 12 lb. P-line for a leader. NOT Florocarbon--that stuff is the biggest hoax in the fishing industry in the last decade, if not ever.
Presentation--That one is ever ongoing, ever-changing, a spur of the second decision based on the fish's reaction to the lure at any particular second, and the part most people will never get in their lives. Some people, for whatever reason, will never, ever, ever make a good presentation. Others can pick it up in 5 hours, or 10, or a week, or a month, or a season. It just depends on how well you can control your body and mind together. Boat control helps a lot too.
Every way you can think of to present a jig vertically can, and will, and has, caught lots of large lake trout. It depends on the moment, and the season, and the person fishing, and the person controlling the boat, and a bunch of other factors I can't think of unless I'm actually out there fishing.
Just focus, forget the snacks, forget the scenery, forget the conversations, forget what the other boats are doing, forget everything going on around you and in your head except the task at hand, for as long as you can.
Jigging for lake trout is as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Find Fish--You can't catch 'em where they aint, and they ain't in most places! Find your own damn fish too!
2. See fish--Sonar! See what they do. Watch them. Learn from them. Get frustrated from them. They will "tell" you what they think by their actions and reactions.
3. Catch fish--Keep your jig in their face until one eats. When you get a bite, you might want to jerk on it, preferably around the same time as they bite it and still have the bait in their mouth. See above.
There's my annual Jigging post for 2010. Archives have the rest.
OH, and PS-If the so-called "experts at Cabelas and Sportsman's Warehouse were really "experts," they wouldn't have to be punching a cash register or asking every Tom, Dick, and Harry, "May I help you find something" at either of those places! Last I checked, there wasn't much fishing going on inside those walls. Selling, not fishing.
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I don't pull tandem alot as I'm a "tad bit" over max length and it can get a little hairy in traffic. I bought a used truck camper last fall that I intend to use more this summer, and will leave the 5th wheel at home until hunting season.
I appreciate Jim's info that he provided on jigging for macks, I've never really tried them before in the summer but I have caught walleye verticle jigging.
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Jim, that is aboout the most informative post I have ever seen you write. Someone told me another trick. Go for a boat ride, do NOT bring rods, go learn the lake, find fish, mark spots where you see fish, structure, humps, do this all day, even a few days. It is not easy to "stumble" upon fish consistantly. Then go back, try to jig up those fish, get frustrated and troll for Kokanee !!
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Oh you make me jealous. I love the setup. That is exactly what I want...only problem is I need a lot more money! Gotta love the Fords
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Nice setup as well. You have the setup I want. You've got the nice truck, trailer and boat. Love the Fords, wish my Focus was an F-350, my tent a trailer, and my raft a full size boat! One day, one day!
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i used to pull a 35 foot trailer and a 22 ft cutty cabin over to the gorge alot pete,up until about five years ago.was coming home over the sister only going 55 when a gust hit the trailer,well the boat whipped lucky it had surge brakes,then the trailer whipped,which really got the boat going needless to say the ford truck went up on 2 wheels going down the last sister you could have snapped a pencil off in my but.i reached down hit the brake controller on my trailer and it dropped the truck back to the pavement on all 4 got her stopped finally got out my buddy was following me and he was white as a sheet. my 22 ft cutty was on its side on the trailer with 2 holes poked in the side.neddless to say i went about 5 miles per hour to the rest area called a tow truck for the boat,and drove home about 30 miles per hour,then sold the old ladys 5 wheel and bought as motor home. yes i had a over lenght permit,and im licensed for doubles and triples.[cool][cool]
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I like your way of thinking, that's what I would probably end up doing "trolling for Kokes".
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I leave my trailer in manila. it only costs 25 bucks a month and I only have to pull it a few miles and i have both my boat and trailer.
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[#000080]Jim,[/#000080]
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[#000080]thanks a bunch for the inside information. A guide willing to share is a rare thing and I appreciate it. I may just have to book a trip so I can learn first hand from the real expert. [cool][/#000080]
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[#000080]Thanks again and hope to see you on the water.[/#000080]
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[#000080]Steve[/#000080]
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[quote Gorgefanatic]I leave my trailer in manila. it only costs 25 bucks a month and I only have to pull it a few miles and i have both my boat and trailer.[/quote]
Thats a great idea, but I need mine for camping and Elk hunting as well so leaving it at the Gorge is out for me. I end up staying at the FG Motel in Manila most of the time.
See you on the water............. [cool]
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