09-19-2006, 03:51 AM
[black][size 4]For starters read this post...it has some good information including some pictures of jigs that some people use. [/size][/black][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=279368;#279368"][black][size 4]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=279368;#279368[/size][/black][/url][black][size 4]
Then if you want to read some more good information and narrow your search down a little you could click on MGB's name and it will take you to a screen where on the bottom corner it says see users posts. Then look through MGB's posts relating to Strawberry. It is no news to anyone that MGB is the king of strawberry jigging and he gives a lot of good information in his posts as to what depths he is at and color/type of jigs etc. There is a lot to learn from him and he has been very kind to share a lot of his knowledge.
To answer a few of your questions.....
"size of jigs, weight of heads, colors, etc."...... Tube jigs usually in pearl white or white with specks in it. On occasional days darker works better like smoke grey or watermellon. I use 1/8 oz heads when there is little to no wind (lighter heads float down rather than drop like rocks, the floating motion gets strikes). I go to 1/4 oz when it gets windy to keep a better vertical presentation. Once I tie the jig on I always slide the knot around to the back side of the eye closest to the shank of the hook. It moves the center of gravity that way and causes the jig to hang horizontal in the water more like a minnow. (Did ya get that...kinda confusing. You want a horizontal presention while vertical jigging....LOL) I have only used 2 1/2 and 3 inch tubes. I always fill the inside of the tube with some sort of scent before dropping it down. While ice fishing I can see the scent cloud around my jig on my fishfinder if I have it set sensative enough. I know it attracts fish.
"It also sounds as though you are jigging a few feet off the bottom??? How aggressive are your jigs?" Depends on what the fish want. This is where a fish finder is so important cause you can watch the reaction to your offering and also go after suspended fish. Some days they like it dead sticked and others a lot of action. Its trial and error but usually I am within a couple feet of the bottom and jig from the mud to about 2-3 feet up and let it fall naturally without any resistance. Lot of hits happen on the fall. It will often times help to bounce the jig in the mud a few times and stir up the bottom like a crawdad does.
"What's your opinion on tipping the jig with a worm as some do? Is it just a chunk of a worm just to sweeten things, or are you addding a couple inches of worm to give the jig more life?" [font "Times New Roman"][font "Verdana"]I always tip with a piece of chub meat or a half of a crawler to sweeten things up. Both can work well but some days they definetely want one or the other. Go prepared with both. I don't know what they do to the action of the jig or if it "gives it more life".[/font][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]"Unfortunately, while expecting my first child in a month, my budget doesn’t permit a fish finder to mount on my inflatable canoe. I realize that limits me from finding what depth the fish are holding on the Berry, but I’m determined enough that with the right techniques, I will find fish." Congrats on the first child on the way. Too bad for the lack of funds for the fishfinder. It is one of the more important tools for vertical jigging. [/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]"I am open for any and all techniques. If you’ve got a presentation that works for you, post it." The fall is a great time of year at the Berry. Casting a retrieving (quite fast and irratic) can be very good in the fall with white tubes as well as throwing out behind the canoe and paddling around. As long as it is sweetened with something they will often time keep hitting til they hook themselves. Long lining a black wooley bugger also works well this time of year or dragging it on a slow/medium sink fly line. If you don't catch fish move to a new location. There are so many fish in that pond but sometimes you need to look to find them. [/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]If you do a search for Strawberry and then look for posts from last year and the year before in Sept/Oct it will give you good information about what/where works this time of year. Also read the Strawberry archive board and look over the last couple years info during the fall time.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]The advice already given has been excellent as well and should be followed. Hope this helps![/font]
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Then if you want to read some more good information and narrow your search down a little you could click on MGB's name and it will take you to a screen where on the bottom corner it says see users posts. Then look through MGB's posts relating to Strawberry. It is no news to anyone that MGB is the king of strawberry jigging and he gives a lot of good information in his posts as to what depths he is at and color/type of jigs etc. There is a lot to learn from him and he has been very kind to share a lot of his knowledge.
To answer a few of your questions.....
"size of jigs, weight of heads, colors, etc."...... Tube jigs usually in pearl white or white with specks in it. On occasional days darker works better like smoke grey or watermellon. I use 1/8 oz heads when there is little to no wind (lighter heads float down rather than drop like rocks, the floating motion gets strikes). I go to 1/4 oz when it gets windy to keep a better vertical presentation. Once I tie the jig on I always slide the knot around to the back side of the eye closest to the shank of the hook. It moves the center of gravity that way and causes the jig to hang horizontal in the water more like a minnow. (Did ya get that...kinda confusing. You want a horizontal presention while vertical jigging....LOL) I have only used 2 1/2 and 3 inch tubes. I always fill the inside of the tube with some sort of scent before dropping it down. While ice fishing I can see the scent cloud around my jig on my fishfinder if I have it set sensative enough. I know it attracts fish.
"It also sounds as though you are jigging a few feet off the bottom??? How aggressive are your jigs?" Depends on what the fish want. This is where a fish finder is so important cause you can watch the reaction to your offering and also go after suspended fish. Some days they like it dead sticked and others a lot of action. Its trial and error but usually I am within a couple feet of the bottom and jig from the mud to about 2-3 feet up and let it fall naturally without any resistance. Lot of hits happen on the fall. It will often times help to bounce the jig in the mud a few times and stir up the bottom like a crawdad does.
"What's your opinion on tipping the jig with a worm as some do? Is it just a chunk of a worm just to sweeten things, or are you addding a couple inches of worm to give the jig more life?" [font "Times New Roman"][font "Verdana"]I always tip with a piece of chub meat or a half of a crawler to sweeten things up. Both can work well but some days they definetely want one or the other. Go prepared with both. I don't know what they do to the action of the jig or if it "gives it more life".[/font][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][font "Verdana"][/font][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]"Unfortunately, while expecting my first child in a month, my budget doesn’t permit a fish finder to mount on my inflatable canoe. I realize that limits me from finding what depth the fish are holding on the Berry, but I’m determined enough that with the right techniques, I will find fish." Congrats on the first child on the way. Too bad for the lack of funds for the fishfinder. It is one of the more important tools for vertical jigging. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]"I am open for any and all techniques. If you’ve got a presentation that works for you, post it." The fall is a great time of year at the Berry. Casting a retrieving (quite fast and irratic) can be very good in the fall with white tubes as well as throwing out behind the canoe and paddling around. As long as it is sweetened with something they will often time keep hitting til they hook themselves. Long lining a black wooley bugger also works well this time of year or dragging it on a slow/medium sink fly line. If you don't catch fish move to a new location. There are so many fish in that pond but sometimes you need to look to find them. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]If you do a search for Strawberry and then look for posts from last year and the year before in Sept/Oct it will give you good information about what/where works this time of year. Also read the Strawberry archive board and look over the last couple years info during the fall time.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The advice already given has been excellent as well and should be followed. Hope this helps![/font]
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